My First MusicMan

[PaulMack]

That looks just like My Ray, Bill! My Ray is a 2 band though .
Went by the music shop today and played a white/tortoise/rosewood Ray today.
The highs were no where near as harsh as on mine. I kinda liked that 3 band that it had. Working on eq'ing it last nite and went about it a bit differently than my usual method of madness. I've calmed the highs down a bit. Still can't dial in the slap tone that I like but that may just be me.
I have 2 basses with a P/J setup.. the G&L SB1 and the Mexican Precision/Rosewood with EMG's / 2 band. The PBass seems to be the one as far as MY definitive slap tone. Guess that's just what I prefer.
I dig the hell outta Fleas slap tone but my style is more Victor Wootenish. Love Victor's playin' but don't care for his tone. Marcus Miller on the other hand... 'nuff said.
The tone I am getting rocks. Playin' fast 16th note grooves like the Gary Willis or Rocco Prestia, no other bass that I have has the in your face attack and punch that the Ray has.
But on the other hand I don't feel that it's as versatile as some of my others which is why I've been asking about different wiring options or preferably, the ability to as have a way to switch between series and parallel.
Good friend of mine has a StingRay 5 string that 's gonna let my luthier look at the wiring to see if it's possible to setup a mini toggle to convert mine over.
Don't worry guys I'm have a temp control plate made before I have a hole drilled in the original.
So if I can get the answer to 2 questions: Are the electronics on the 5 string that my bud has close enuff to mine, his is 3 band,mine a 2 band to allow for me to do what I am suggesting? And where can I get a clear pickguard?
Thanks Guys I'll post a pic later this evening Peace.....Out

 

[strummer]

Paul
I think what you are looking for is either a normal Sterling, or a dual pick up Sting ray/Sterling. The normal Sterling has electronics much like the SR5, and those new 2 PU monsters have a lot of options tone wise. Do a search for descriptions.

My basses have lots of controls and stuff going on, but I don't use that. I used to tweak endlessly, until I realized my right hand was the reason I got such crappy tone.
Now, I'm not saying that your technique is crappy (I wish I could play gary Willis stuff), but to me some treble and bass boost on a SR4 is the Slap tone of the gods

 

[PaulMack]

T he 3 music stores in Wilmington NC usually just carry the low to mid level Ibanez and Fender crap. Last year one of them picked up G&L and I bought 2, the JB-2 and the SB-2. One of the others picked up MusicMan and I picked this one up.
If ya want anything on the high end the closest is 2 hours away in Raliegh. If they had these new basses in stock chances are I'd have walked away with one of them as long as it had a maple board and a clear or translucent finish which I prefer.
The friend I have here that has the SR5 says that he usually uses the series mode. I'm getting together with him this weekend so I can fool around on his bass and develop an opinion of what I like better.
I aint gonna spout off about what I like as far as tonal options on my L2000 or El Toro, lest I piss all you guys off here. They aren't the same bass but I will say that none of them has the growl/bark that the Ray does.
It is a single pickup instrument and all I want is the ability to choose
between series and parallel.
I don't know squat about electronics and wiring. That info would be passed on to my luthier. He may know how to accomplish what I'm asking and he might want some schematics to work off of. I haven't spoken to him as of yet as he's in the process of moving into the house he just bought. Probably wouldn't hurt to have the schematics in any case.
I'd like a mini toggle between the bass/treble knob to accomplish this. Would it be a bad idea for Ernie Ball to offer an upgrade to those who own StingRay's to accomplish this?? A factory upgrade whether you send them the bass or they send you what you need wouldn't hurt the value of the bass for those that are concerned with resale value.
That is something that I am not concerned with. I just want to get the most outta what I got.
I've heard that customer service is very good.... heard that before I bought this bass. Guess I'll just give them a call and see if they could help me out... All they can say is no.
Gotta buy my daughter a car soon as she will be 16 and aint in the market to get another bass.......yet Tryin' to work with what I got
Thanks