Mod'ing a Stingray 5 to HH?

[MarkF786]

A friend is asking for some help with mod'ing his Stingray 5. He currently has the single humbucker model, but he'd like to add a neck humbucker. On most guitars or basses this would seem like an easy mod, but I see there might be some challenges on this one:

1) I've heard Music Man won't sell parts (like additional pickups or the electronics); is this true? If so, Seymour Duncan looks like one good option for the second humbucker, but are there any good after-market options for a new preamp to accommodate the second humbucker (since I imagine the stock preamp wouldn't)?

2) It appears that the H model uses a 3-coil pickup while the HH model uses 2-coil pickups. I think it would be cool to use the 3-coil pickups in both positions and use two 3-way switches; one that would function like the existing switch (series/parallel/single-coil) and one that would select between the two pickups (bridge/both/neck). Again, are there any preamps that will support this stock configuration?

3) Are there any other challenges I haven't thought of?

As I mentioned, if this were a normal guitar or bass with passive electronics, this would be an easy mod (I have experience with with doing some pretty complex wiring in guitars, building effects pedals, etc.) but the active electronics with an active EQ on the Stingray makes it more complex since I don't have much experience in this area.

I guess my first task is tracking down some schematics for both the H model and HH model...

Thanks for any advice.

Kind regards,

Mark

 

[adouglas]

You're right… you can't buy parts, only trade broken ones for new ones.

If he's trying to create something that does not exist in nature that's one thing, but all he's doing is replicating a standard production model, right?

Much, much simpler to trade it in and buy an HH. I would argue that it's also much smarter, but that's just me. It's his bass, he can and should do what he wants with it.

Pros of selling and buying a factory HH:

- Guaranteed success, superb workmanship, zero chance of messing it up or getting an unexpected result.
- Retention of resale value. I wouldn't touch a Frankenbass with a ten-foot pole and I doubt many would.
- Easier. Instant gratification.
- Probably less expensive in the end. Projects like this have a habit of being more involved and costly than expected.

Cons:

- No pride of doing it yourself.
- Nothing else that I can think of…..

Just my $0.02.

 

[TommyK-Stingray]

You're right… you can't buy parts, only trade broken ones for new ones.

If he's trying to create something that does not exist in nature that's one thing, but all he's doing is replicating a standard production model, right?

Much, much simpler to trade it in and buy an HH. I would argue that it's also much smarter, but that's just me. It's his bass, he can and should do what he wants with it.

Pros of selling and buying a factory HH:

- Guaranteed success, superb workmanship, zero chance of messing it up or getting an unexpected result.
- Retention of resale value. I wouldn't touch a Frankenbass with a ten-foot pole and I doubt many would.
- Easier. Instant gratification.
- Probably less expensive in the end. Projects like this have a habit of being more involved and costly than expected.

Cons:

- No pride of doing it yourself.
- Nothing else that I can think of…..

Just my $0.02.

+1 to all of that!
I add my £0.02 to his $0.02 your Stingray5 HH fund is growing!!

 

[Caca de Kick]

I agree this seems foolish all the way around. You're going to pump money into a bass you're going to completely destroy the value of (irreversible I will add!). It's a loose/loose deal, especially when plentiful HH's exists new and used.
Sell it and buy a used one, you'll be within 1-2 hundered bucks.

 

[smokey]

+1 to what has already been posted. The quality control of EBMM is to such a high standard. Advise your friend to look at getting a SR5 HH (Used or New).

 

[Chuck B]

Would you do such things with a Mercedes Benz or BMW car?

 

[MrMusashi]

find a frankenbass to do the modding on

modding can be good fun, but it will never produce the result of an original version..

MrM

 

[strummer]

Would you do such things with a Mercedes Benz or BMW car?

Yes of course, with german cars there is always room for upgrades;-)

 

[Chuck B]

To whom do Saab belong now?

 

[strummer]

To whom do Saab belong now?

Well at least it's not chinese like Volvo