My dull and flat Stingray help!

[JNRYJD]

Hi!
Thought I'd ask you guys what you thought of this. I have a '94 Stingray 5 with a maple, un-coated (or maybe satin) neck and an orange "Sunburst" finish and lately it just seems flat sounding and a bit lifeless. It's not bad with new strings for a week or so but then it just goes back to its old dull ways. A new battery hasn't helped either.

I've notice on some youtube vids that some Stingrays sound quite vibrant and brigh, almost like a Fender Jazz but definitely not mine. I use stainless steel strings by the way... I always hear how the Stingray is so awesome for slap but when I do it it just doesnt cut through

Im wondering if it's something to do with the pickup? The poles have some corrosion on them but nothing outrageous...

Anyhoo - anyone have a similar issue?
Any suggestions?

 

[jlepre]

JMHO, but could it be your rig?

 

[rizzo9247]

Can you post a sound clip?

 

[JNRYJD]

JMHO, but could it be your rig?

Nah I have a Markbass Little Mark III and a Schroeder 1212L cab. My other basses sound brilliant through this rig as does my friends Musicman

 

[JNRYJD]

Can you post a sound clip?

Yep - I'll record it tonight

 

[tbonesullivan]

when is the last time you cleaned the pots and changed the battery?

WD40 and a Q-tip can help stop further corrosion from happening.

 

[JNRYJD]

when is the last time you cleaned the pots and changed the battery?

WD40 and a Q-tip can help stop further corrosion from happening.

Hmmm the last time the pots were clean may have been 1994 he he
Thats a good call I'll give 'em a clean AND change the battery just in case.

Do you reckon it's worth upgrading the pickup? I hear the musicman pickup cant be beat but maybe if it's gettin a bit old...

 

[tbonesullivan]

I have not heard of a musicman pickup going bad due to age.

 

[sanderhermans]

Also no single bass ever sounds the same... my classic sr is verry bright, have to turn treble down to 50% and bass 100% while some stingrays have more bass. Also depends on fretboard and eq.
My sterling sounds much more growly and low. I can set the eq flat on that one, the rosewood fb also decreases the highs. (In my opinion)
But one thing that shouldnt happen is a bass sudenly changing tone... then it must be an electrical problem. But i have never heard of a bass changing tone. If the pots are dirty or electronics are faulty i would expect no sound at all or cracking/beeping/...

All i can say is that my sr sound way too high with new strings on it. I really hate the first few weeks untill they get a bit more normal sounding.

 

[uOpt]

So you say it did change or has it always been that way?

 

[nurnay]

And maybe it could use a setup?

 

[donkelley]

I suspect setup. Also if bought used it might have a poorly selected/installed shim which can suck life from an axe.

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[uOpt]

Which part of the setup, specifically, is supposed to be responsible for this?

 

[sanderhermans]

Which part of the setup, specifically, is supposed to be responsible for this?

I would say string and pickup height could effect your sound in 2 ways.
If the pickup height is too low, less output
if the string hight between the fretboard is too high it will sound cleaner without alot of fret "noise" i tend too set my strings not too high so i have some wanted fret noise. (Not too low because of fret buzz)

 

[uOpt]

I would say string and pickup height could effect your sound in 2 ways.
If the pickup height is too low, less output
if the string hight between the fretboard is too high it will sound cleaner without alot of fret "noise" i tend too set my strings not too high so i have some wanted fret noise. (Not too low because of fret buzz)

Well the OP clearly isn't interested in fixing this but let's theorize.

Low pickups make for less volume and less distortions. They don't make it sound dull.

Strings too low cannot make it sound dull without lots of fret snarl.

I am really not a friend of all these "magic" things attributed to a "good setup". If the thing sounds like a turd and the strings swing freely it is not a setup problem.

Of course the OP isn't even interested enough to answer basic questions such as whether this bass sounded better in the past.

 

[donkelley]

I would say string and pickup height could effect your sound in 2 ways.
If the pickup height is too low, less output
if the string hight between the fretboard is too high it will sound cleaner without alot of fret "noise" i tend too set my strings not too high so i have some wanted fret noise. (Not too low because of fret buzz)

Exactly. Or variations on this.... huge differences can be made

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[donkelley]

Well the OP clearly isn't interested in fixing this but let's theorize.

Low pickups make for less volume and less distortions. They don't make it sound dull.

Strings too low cannot make it sound dull without lots of fret snarl.

I am really not a friend of all these "magic" things attributed to a "good setup". If the thing sounds like a turd and the strings swing freely it is not a setup problem.

Of course the OP isn't even interested enough to answer basic questions such as whether this bass sounded better in the past.

I have found the opposite with a couple dozen used "bad sounding" basses ive bought, setup and then used peofessionally through the years.

Its a factual thing.... along with shims and nut setup etc wildly affecting tone. Pickup tone changes with distance.... sometimes further is better though.

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[jlepre]

Also let's not forget if the pups are too high they can impede the string vibration. Viola! Dull bass. JMHO

 

[uOpt]

I have found the opposite with a couple dozen used "bad sounding" basses ive bought, setup and then used peofessionally through the years.

Its a factual thing.... along with shims and nut setup etc wildly affecting tone. Pickup tone changes with distance.... sometimes further is better though.

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Right, so can you be more specific about which part of a setup you are talking about here?

Also let's not forget if the pups are too high they can impede the string vibration. Viola! Dull bass. JMHO

Dull? Never heard that when pickups go up to the strings. More distortions mainly.

 

[Mu5icM@n]

I've got what sounds like the same bass--same year, same wood, same finish. It sounds terrific. Those basses have the Flea bridge, which has mutes. I would check the mutes. If they are just barely touching the strings they'll take out a lot of high end without noticeably affecting your sustain. This sort of situation can happen if you recently lowered your action, which might put the strings in contact with the mutes.

I'd try to either lower the mutes or remove them entirely just to take them out of the equation.


Tom


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