modifying a Sterling

[Guitarburetor]

Yes, it can be done...

The stock Sterling pickup will function as a passive pickup. There are 3 coils on the pickup, and they can be wired in series or parallel, but the magnetic polarity and phase relationship must be correct for it to work properly in the passive scenario. This will need to be considered when you rewire the switch for passive operation.

The "output level" is a pretty meaningless spec, as it could only be measured in a controlled test and there is no real standard for this. It all depends on the strings, pickup proximity to the strings and most of all how hard the string is played.

You should know that the Sterling preamp has two differential inputs, both of which are used in the Series and Single modes of the switch. In the Parallel mode the second input is grounded and the pickup is connected in parallel.

Good Luck.

 

[silverburst]

I don't see why you can't try it, and if it doesn't sound the way you want, just solder it back the way it was before.

Go for it.

 

[brooklynfall]

The stock Sterling pickup will function as a passive pickup. There are 3 coils on the pickup, and they can be wired in series or parallel, but the magnetic polarity and phase relationship must be correct for it to work properly in the passive scenario. This will need to be considered when you rewire the switch for passive operation.

Oh yeah. Forgot that when I did my thing, I removed the 3-pos switch from the circuit.

Phil

 

[5Stringer]

Go For it!

I think you've gotten plenty of good advice here. It's sort of like writing a car company and saying " I like the way the car handles, but I'm sick of the engine" I wonder how much advice would be given there -

anyways - it's time to go for it and put this thread to bed.

Dan

 

[artiefacts]

The stock Sterling pickup will function as a passive pickup. There are 3 coils on the pickup, and they can be wired in series or parallel, but the magnetic polarity and phase relationship must be correct for it to work properly in the passive scenario. This will need to be considered when you rewire the switch for passive operation.

Thank you! Are there schematics for this bass somewhere that can be purchased/downloaded?

The "output level" is a pretty meaningless spec, as it could only be measured in a controlled test and there is no real standard for this. It all depends on the strings, pickup proximity to the strings and most of all how hard the string is played.

I realize that, I was really just trying to determine if the PU was high output impedance or not. Some PU manufacturers publish these kind of specs. I had received info from ernieball.com that suggested that the factory Sterling PU was low impedance, which would make sense from a noise perspective. I understand now that this is not the case.

Thanks for your post,

Artie

 

[silverburst]

Hi

You can find a schematic for it here:

http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/techinfo/controls/cfd_sterling.pdf