** Musicman bass suggested settings thread **

[uOpt]

The parallel is the most used sound in stingray history all sr4's are wired this way and always have been. Only the sr5 and the sterlings can be wired in series. I used to really like the series sound, in fact i recorded our entire album with my sterling in series but i really prefer the parallel mode now and i get the extra bite and clarity out of my preamp. Imo the series sounds just a bit sterile while parallel sounds smoother and less agressive.

Yeah but the SR4 preamp correct the resonance peak. If you run the SR4 pickup, which is parallel, in passive it sounds very odd, thin.

What I gather from this conversation is that the SR5 in play here doesn't do the same thing to its pickup, although it puts it in parallel. I dunno whether that is by design or a broken preamp.

 

[Mrrstrat]

The preamp appears to get loud to quiet in parallel mode as you would think, but it does not sound like a Humbucked sound. With the last explanation, it should sound different. I assumed that the switch back was full power mode (like on a guitar). Two single coils in parallel will sound different that a normally wired Humbucker, and that's what is going on.

I just have not used the parallel mode since I got the bass 6 weeks or so ago. I'm sure it will find it's way into use.

 

[drTStingray]

The SR5 in rear switch position gives a classic Stingray humbucker sound * the front position is series humbucker and fattens the sound a little and gives more mids.

* I used mine last night at a gig and on returning after our break I selected parallel H and got a thin sound. Reselected series and got around twice the volume - I toggled the switch back and forth a couple of times and then selected parallel - hey presto correct volume - reckon I have a dirty switch or faulty connection. I've had the bass since new in 2003. Perhaps this is the problem Mrstrat has? The rear setting should sound as loud as the front only maybe marginally thinner? The slap sound and solo sound in parallel on this SR5 is fabulous also.

Settings were bass and mid on centre detent - slight treble boost. LM3 largely centre and no filter selected - tweeter on one of two 2 x 10s boosted 50% the other off - long narrow room with carpet. Speakers set 1 metre from back wall. Genre was blues funk with some jazz, rock and classic blues throw in.

 

[Mrrstrat]

The SR5 in rear switch position gives a classic Stingray humbucker sound * the front position is series humbucker and fattens the sound a little and gives more mids.

* I used mine last night at a gig and on returning after our break I selected parallel H and got a thin sound. Reselected series and got around twice the volume - I toggled the switch back and forth a couple of times and then selected parallel - hey presto correct volume - reckon I have a dirty switch or faulty connection. I've had the bass since new in 2003. Perhaps this is the problem Mrstrat has? The rear setting should sound as loud as the front only maybe marginally thinner? The slap sound and solo sound in parallel on this SR5 is fabulous also.

Settings were bass and mid on centre detent - slight treble boost. LM3 largely centre and no filter selected - tweeter on one of two 2 x 10s boosted 50% the other off - long narrow room with carpet. Speakers set 1 metre from back wall. Genre was blues funk with some jazz, rock and classic blues throw in.

Maybe: my bass is from 2006, but the guy never really played it. He had about a dozen basses and this was his #12 on the list. He sold it because it never was played out, never used it. He bought it new from Guitar center and had maybe 20 hours total play on it. I don't think it's a bad switch - I get sound, and it's loud, but not like a classic Humbucker in fatness. It makes sense it's two singles in parallel and does have a little twang of reverse coil sound. But it's not like a jazz bass with both singles at full volume...it's more if one of the pickups was wired reverse to the other and in parallel.

 

[Mrrstrat]

Just discovered this: the parallel setting sounds great when volume is at 30% on my SR5.

This bass has hidden tones I discover each time I play it..definitely there is a simple secret to the SR5 and it's not using controls full blast..

 

[Golem]

....... ...definitely there is a simple secret to
the SR5 and it's not using controls full blast..

Way true, but thaz not unique to the SR5
or unique only to MM. It's the Golden Rule
of amplified sound.

As you'd put it, this rule is ... and verrrrry
unfortunately so ... something of a secret.
One can experience the unfortunate result
of such secrecy ... perhaps better referred
to as ignorance ... at most any roadhouse,
rib joint, bar, etc on most any weekend :-(

 

[tunaman4u2]

I just found the most awesome Sterling HH or HS setting...

Parallel mode with the mids all the way up! Its like a super warm punchy G string tone while the other settings have grindy edge to the upper notes.

Super cool

 

[Mrrstrat]

You gotta watch the settings on the SR5: I got a tone out of it that sounded like a honking goose at 1500 watts...not pretty at all. We were playing a couple of bad company tunes we do. This might be the kiss of death for the pickup in the bass for me...