Question MusicMan Stingray pick-ups.

[Gravesend Black]

Greetings!
I'd like to know some more info about these monsters. Recently I purchased used MM SR5. I've found that it has an "MM Alnico humbucker" with ceramic magnets from MM serial number database. While searched for this kind of instruments I've seen some MMs with just "MM Humbucker". Is there can be another pick-up models?
If someone will explain me the difference that would be great because I want to know more about this great bass and it's components.

P.S. Btw I'd like to know when MM started to create Stingray basses with new design compared to classic ones and why did they do that.

 

[Golem]

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Re: "Alnico humbucker with ceramic magnets" .... thaz a non-starter.
Alnico and ceramic MM PUs represent an "either-or" scenario. Please
read post #3 in this recent thread elsewhere on this forum:

Link:
http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/53932-educate-me-musicman-basses-please.html


`

 

[Gravesend Black]

Yeah sorry, I failed with alnico-ceramics. So I really want to now about that stuff more.


Ok, the seller said that this is Alnico, but database says that's ceramic :=c
HTTP://angeldust.com.ua/images/stories/bass/mm_sr5_94//IMG_6546.JPG
That is MM SR5 '95

The pick-up has significant scratches on it so I can see it's grey or white inside. Looks like ceramic I guess.

What is the difference between these PUs? Which one provides canonical stingray sound?

 

[Gravesend Black]

C'mon guys. Help me out)

 

[Golem]

`

A '95 is ceramic. It is essentially a Sterling, but it
is called a StingRay .... Back when the SR5 was
introduced [around 1988 IIRC] for the first coupla
years it DID have alnico PUs, so the StingRay tag
was logical .... and marketwise, since it was such
a success, it made no sense to change the name
when the hotter toned ceramic PUs became std.

The Sterling 4 always had ceramic PUs, and was
created to offer a 4-string version of the ceramic
SR5 to those who prefered the SR5 tone but did
not prefer 5 strings.

Years later, when the Sterling 5-string was finally
introduced, as a Sterling, it then made sense to
return the SR5 to alnico PUs. Otherwise, EBMM
woulda had 2 interchangeable bass sold under 2
different name tags. 4-strings have a difference
in the necks but there has only been just one
5-string neck ... so two REALLY interchangeable
basses woulda occurred !

Therefore, the "canonical" StingRay sound could
easily be either type, since the ceramic SR5 was
so many players' fave for those 15+ years until it
quite recently reverted to alnico. OTOH if history
matters much, the more original and earlier tone
would be the alnico, especially with 2-band EQ.

OK. That should cover it .... I hope


`

 

[Gravesend Black]

Thank you very much for the info.

So in spite of that bass is called Stingray but has ceramic magnets does it still sounds like Stingray in general or it is more like an old Sterling but with the 5th string?

 

[Golem]

`

The ceramic version SR5 IS a Sterling in all but name.
That is why the 4-string Sterling was developed .....
Plz re-read my prior reply ... s-l-o-w-l-y this time


`

 

[Gravesend Black]

Thx for your patience) Did not notice that you've edited your previous post before posting my last question