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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Looking for that Stingray "growl"

I've just had a day tuning and checking over my basses, and the Classic Ray 5 H (2 band as well) has the most grit and grind!

I think it's your setup...can you set it up via the Musicman recommendations page?
 
Hello! The bass had a full setup some months ago, and it's "working" fine. Maybe the problem are the strings, so I think I will try new strings for the first time in years.

I've been using Rotosound and that was the only brand I've ever used. So, right now I'm thinking about Ernie Ball or DR or Elixir, but I'm feeling a bot overwhelmed by the variety inside each brand.

For instance, Ernie Ball has Cobalt Slinky, Coated Electric, Nickel Wound and Stainless Steel. Which of these would be better to really bring that Stingray growl up? Any ideas?

I really like to play with strings that feel "more loose" and not so "tight". I'm not sure if I'm making myself understand... Right now I feel the Rotosounds a bit "tight" on the Stingray. By tight I mean with a lot of pressure, making the strings feel a bit like hard wires...

Any help/advices here would be great!

Thanks!
 
modular said:
Hello! The bass had a full setup some months ago, and it's "working" fine. Maybe the problem are the strings, so I think I will try new strings for the first time in years.

I've been using Rotosound and that was the only brand I've ever used. So, right now I'm thinking about Ernie Ball or DR or Elixir, but I'm feeling a bot overwhelmed by the variety inside each brand.

For instance, Ernie Ball has Cobalt Slinky, Coated Electric, Nickel Wound and Stainless Steel. Which of these would be better to really bring that Stingray growl up? Any ideas?

I really like to play with strings that feel "more loose" and not so "tight". I'm not sure if I'm making myself understand... Right now I feel the Rotosounds a bit "tight" on the Stingray. By tight I mean with a lot of pressure, making the strings feel a bit like hard wires...

Any help/advices here would be great!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Rotos are much tighter than Slinkies. I use Cobalts - very comfortable, bright and aggresive sounding strings. And it stays fresh much more time than swingbass 66
 
Last edited:
Really? So the "problem" was always on the Rotosounds? Agh!!!

How would you compare the Cobalts to the Stainless Steel?
 
modular said:
Really? So the "problem" was always on the Rotosounds? Agh!!!

How would you compare the Cobalts to the Stainless Steel?
Click to expand...

I do not really know if it will solve your problem. The time I used swingbass on my SR - I had no problems with the sound. Cobalts are more "durable". It lasts longer. For the first days it sounds very aggressive and pushy. But after some time they become just very clear and powerfool sounding strings. The best ones I used by far. Steel strings have less output and clarity as for me. But they make the sound gummy.
 
I really need to buy new strings for sure. I really never felt "great" with this bass, and this bass IS great. I have some cheap Warwick strings on my Precision and it feels so much lighter and better to play...

I think I will drop Rotosound for good. They used to be perfect for my Jazz Bass, but I sold all my Jazzes years ago.

I'm wondering, which one has"less tension", the EB Cobalts or DR High Beams?
 
I mentioned it above, I would try DR's hi-beams. They are still stainless steel but they have the round core. So you don't get that SS brightness and they are much softer than hex cores.
 
modular said:
I really need to buy new strings for sure. I really never felt "great" with this bass, and this bass IS great. I have some cheap Warwick strings on my Precision and it feels so much lighter and better to play...

I think I will drop Rotosound for good. They used to be perfect for my Jazz Bass, but I sold all my Jazzes years ago.

I'm wondering, which one has"less tension", the EB Cobalts or DR High Beams?
Click to expand...

Setting a premium segment axe with cheap strings (like Warwick) is not great idea as for me. By far I've used Dean Markley SR2000, Rotosound Swingbass 66, EB REgular Slinkies and EB Cobalts on my Stingrays. The Cobalts are the best from that list for my experience. #2 is Regular slinkies.
 
modular said:
I really like to play with strings that feel "more loose" and not so "tight".
Click to expand...

You might try Thomastik-Infeld "Jazz Bass" flats. Very flexible with plenty of tone, and not as snappy as rounds. (Certainly not like the Rotosounds.) I love them on my SR4H. Because they come from Austria, they're expensive here in the US, but they may be a bit more affordable in Portugal.

The JF344 length fits the SR4 just fine.
 
In terms of tension, Ernie Ball flats Group IV should be pretty close to the TIs. Also great strings.
 
Maybe late to the discussion but if there' a string that has a unique sound and changes most bass sounds, it's the Rotosound roundwound ones. Furthermore they wear down pretty fast when playing and the sound gets dull. But when new they sound like the archetypal rock bass sound (I prefer DR Lo-Riders as they are close to the Rotosound sound and don't wear down so fast, but I would neither use Lo-Riders for growl sounds, maybe Hi-Beams instead, or EBMM strings.)
 
Yeah... I'm just going to order a couple of new strings: a set of EB Cobalts and a set of DR Hi-Beams. Then I will check which is best for me.
 
Didn't ordered the new sets of strings, yet I've found a new set of Rotosounds in a box. I've just putted them on the bass and I still can't get that typical Stingray growl. Even with brand new strings!

I sure hope the Cobalts or the DRs change this, but I'm beginning to wonder if I just had "bad luck" with my bass :(
 
modular said:
Didn't ordered the new sets of strings, yet I've found a new set of Rotosounds in a box. I've just putted them on the bass and I still can't get that typical Stingray growl. Even with brand new strings!

I sure hope the Cobalts or the DRs change this, but I'm beginning to wonder if I just had "bad luck" with my bass :(
Click to expand...

All bass tones are slightly different but there is no such thing as bad luck.... a stingray is always good. Except if someonne had been messing with the electronics or the setup.
 
Hello! Looks like it's my amp that is "eating away" all that Stingray growliness. I just connected the bass to iRig on the iPad and I immediately noticed the typical Stingray sound.

I wonder why is this happening. I've tried to tweak the knobs on the amp and I can't seem to bring the true Stingray to life. Even though it sounds OK, I just can't seem to listen to the "snappiness".

Looks like I have a couple of solutions: either buy a Sansamp Bass Driver DI, or just buy a new bass amplifier that is more suited to this bass.
 
modular said:
Hello! Looks like it's my amp that is "eating away" all that Stingray growliness. I just connected the bass to iRig on the iPad and I immediately noticed the typical Stingray sound.

I wonder why is this happening. I've tried to tweak the knobs on the amp and I can't seem to bring the true Stingray to life. Even though it sounds OK, I just can't seem to listen to the "snappiness".

Looks like I have a couple of solutions: either buy a Sansamp Bass Driver DI, or just buy a new bass amplifier that is more suited to this bass.
Click to expand...

It is good to hear you've found it out. Just take your axe to some big music store and try it out with several amps untill you find one that satisfies you.
 
Gravesend Black said:
It is good to hear you've found it out. Just take your axe to some big music store and try it out with several amps untill you find one that satisfies you.
Click to expand...

Well, that is a problem. There are no big music stores in this town. Well.. there are a few "big ones", but way too lame for bassists. Pretty much 90% of the stuff we can find there is either for guitar players or for keyboard guys. It's going to be tough and looks like I will have to rely on the internet for reviews, etc.

I'm looking for very small combo amps for bass, but most of the times small combos mean "small quality", because they are cheaper. I'm not looking for something cheap, just something small. It's for home play only and the GK BK 112 I have is already quite big - even though it's small, haha.

Any ideas?
 
GK has its own growl, indeed. MarkBass might be your best bet, of all bass amps me thinks that one preserves the best the original bass sound.
 
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