MM volume tests

[treshombres]

Hello everbody,i'm the proud owner of 4 MM basses,2 Sting Ray 5,1 Sterling 4 and 1 Stingray 4.
here is the question:
i've noticed that recording all 4 basses in a row,all with fresh batteries and strings and the eq flat,my older one,a MM Stingray 5 bought in 1999,sounds noticeable lower than others,more than 3 db's.
after that i tested a stock MM Stingray 5 from a friend of mine,one of the firsts imported here in Italy,bought in 1990.
that bass annihilated mine in terms of volume and sound.
anibody out there thinks there'e a reason for it?for example factory change of components during years,or there's an electronics problem?
thank's y'all,forgive my english.

 

[The Swedish Owl]

Hello everbody,i'm the proud owner of 4 MM basses,2 Sting Ray 5,1 Sterling 4 and 1 Stingray 4.
here is the question:
i've noticed that recording all 4 basses in a row,all with fresh batteries and strings and the eq flat,my older one,a MM Stingray 5 bought in 1999,sounds noticeable lower than others,more than 3 db's.
after that i tested a stock MM Stingray 5 from a friend of mine,one of the firsts imported here in Italy,bought in 1990.
that bass annihilated mine in terms of volume and sound.
anibody out there thinks there'e a reason for it?for example factory change of components during years,or there's an electronics problem?
thank's y'all,forgive my english.

Benvenuto!

The first thing I would compare is how high the pickups are set on each bass. Thi higher they are set, the higher output you get, to a certain point. If you have them too high, you will get magnetic interference with the sound.

Second, I would compare the thickness of the strings. A thicker string generally produces a higher output.

I'm not to familiar with EB/MM preamps, but I'm guessing they have an output attenuator like other preamps, where you adjust the gain?

 

[treshombres]

Benvenuto!

The first thing I would compare is how high the pickups are set on each bass. Thi higher they are set, the higher output you get, to a certain point. If you have them too high, you will get magnetic interference with the sound.

Second, I would compare the thickness of the strings. A thicker string generally produces a higher output.

I'm not to familiar with EB/MM preamps, but I'm guessing they have an output attenuator like other preamps, where you adjust the gain?

i use EB medium gauge strings, 45-100 and 45-130 respectively.
i set action and pick ups exactly the same on all basses.
i have the same problem with the 3-band eq active on all basses,still that one sounds lower in output and midrangy in sound among others
tak aniway!

 

[sloshep]

1990 Stingray 5 has a different preamp and pickup from the 1999 model
in 1990 the SR5 had a alnico magnet pickup in it.
around 1992 EBMM reworked the the preamp and switched to a ceramic magnet pickup.
Now fast forward to 2008 they have switched back to alnico magnet in the SR5.
That may have something to do with the output difference.