My First MusicMan

[PaulMack]

Just got my SR4 'bout two weeks ago. ( Natural with maple board..black pickguard )I'm very pleased with it but I do have a couple issues.
Why isn't a coil selecter offered as an option? Though I find this to be one the most punchy and articulate basses that I have. The tonal options are quite limited. This bass would sound great doing material such as Tribal Tech finger funk grooves but I can't get much else out of it.
I can dial in a monster slap tone using a Nathan East NE-1 parametric thru my rig which consists of an Ampeg SVT4 with a Sonic Maximizer running thru an Ampeg 1X15 and 4X10 cabinet, but it ain't happenin' with this bass.
Even with my horn off the highs seem harsh with not much in the middle.
I've read thru a few of these post and have found that swapping the PUP is a no no.
What do ya have to do to rewire it? I would like the option of being able to switch between series and parallel.
Buying another bass that has these capabilities is not an option for me.
Don't get me wrong I do love the bass...has the fastest neck that I've ever played.. just probably wont get played that much as is.
Also why just one year on the warranty? That doesn't seem that long when I have 10 years on my G&L's. Unfinished necks?
1984 G&L El Toro
1989 G&L L2000
2005 G&L JB-2
2005 G&L SB2
2004 Ibanez 506 upgraded with Bart P2 pup's and ntmb electronics
60's reissue Jazz bass
and a couple upgraded Mexican Precisions I wouldn't dare buy an American one!~

 

[bovinehost]

Paul,

Welcome to the forum. I can tell you some things that you probably already know.

Why isn't a coil selecter offered as an option? Though I find this to be one the most punchy and articulate basses that I have.

A Stingray is a Stingray - never had a coil selector and probably never will, unless you go to one of the new dual pickup models (VERY useful five way switch on those). On the single pickup models, you'd have to go with a Sterling or a Stingray 5 to get the coil selector.

This bass would sound great doing material such as Tribal Tech finger funk grooves but I can't get much else out of it.

With my Stingrays, I couldn't possibly get Tribal Tech finger funk out of them because I string them with flats. Stingrays are sensitive to right-hand position as well. As I'm sure you know, up near the neck - fat and deep. Back by the bridge - crisp and funky. Strings can of course change everything.

I've read thru a few of these post and have found that swapping the PUP is a no no.

Well, some people think it's a bad idea and some don't. I'm in favor of doing what you want to do to make your bass sound the way you want it to sound. That said, I like the stock pickup just fine - but variety is the spice of life and all that.

Also why just one year on the warranty? That doesn't seem that long when I have 10 years on my G&L's.

The way I see it, if anything is instrinsically wrong (and thus covered under warranty) with the bass, you'll know it long before the year is up. But I've seen EBMM customer service go the extra mile time and time and time again on basses that are WAY out of the one year warranty period. The support from the company is remarkable.

As far as wiring, I'll let some of the tinkerers weigh in on that.

Again, welcome.

Jack

 

[strummer]

Welcome Paul
Remove the pick up and you'll see all you need to rewire the pup any way you like.

About the slap tone: Dude, I'm seriously trying very hard to stay calm while typing this, so...
That happening killer slap tone you get with another bass is the bass together with the boxes, amp and speakers. Don't make the mistake of using the same settings with the SR, as it's not the same as any of your other basses.
Start by setting the Ampeg flat, turn off that nathan-box and just play the SR flat. Then, dial in the wicked tone right on your bass with the on-board eq. Should be real easy. chances are you just have too much tone adjustments with the parametric and amp eq.
Stingray IS killer slap tone, period.

 

[Mr Light]

I agree,

Starting off with your amplifier full of color seems to hinder the natural sound characteristics that distinguish a MusicMan. Flat your EQ, and dial in from your bass first. That is one fine instrument you have, and it is NOT like any other. This is not only a good way to show you how great the instrument is, but also a way to test how good your rig is, as well.

In my opinion, a good rig is one where you do not have to color (EQ) the amp so much, because hopefully, you bought the bass because you like the sound of the bass and not how the bass can sound if I [fill in the blank]...

Also, what could help is listening and getting familiar with what the traditional StingRay sounds like, here are some suggestions:

Sade (The bass player has always used a StingRay --- full round tone)

John Scofield (Particularly Loud Jazz, Blue Matter, and Pick Hits Live ---funk tone)

The Brothers Johnson (the song "Stomp" features Louis Johnson's slap solo on a MusicMan)

My list can go on: Early Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc., but I guess you get the idea.

 

[Golem]

A little reality about alternate [non-EB] PU conversions. Everyone will remind you to keep the original PU, pre-amp, etc whenever you instal alternatives, in case you ever part with the bass. Not bad advice. OTOH, if you like the result of your modifications much better than the original, you can also just sell the MM parts you removed. They will bring you a price roughly equal to the loss of value that occurs to the bass when you mod it. Then you don't have to keep track of the parts and re-install them if you part with the bass.

Obviously, you want to keep the MM parts for many months to be sure you don't intend to reverse the mods. And equally obvious is that the EB forum and the Dude Pit are not the preferred venues for selling a modded MM bass. Peddle a modded ax on the open market, as exactly what it is: "Duncan converted StingRay" [or whatever]. Offer it without apologies and at a realistic price. No problem.

I bought my Ray used, pre-modded. Never even realized that most StingRays PUs do not say "BassLines" on them til I'd played it for a couple of years. Never questioned the price I paid [which actually was quite fair, being bought from a musician-owned music shop]. I bought my Ray the way we all want to buy an ax: It caught my eye. I plugged it in. It followed me home and never left [7 yrs ago and counting]. Some MM buffs want to treat me like a I married outside the religion. "No one knows what goes on behind closed doors"? Not in this case. All the friends who've played this wife want to keep her. Maybe cuz she's only 15 yrs old

 

[Randracula]

We need pics to prove the existence of this Stingray that you speak of.........

 

[Aussie Mark]

Tone is in the fingers. Jack's comment about right hand position is right on the money.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Tone is in the fingers. Jack's comment about right hand position is right on the money.

Waiting for Psycho to chime in.....

Andrew

 

[PaulMack]

Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers but I had a feeling that it might happen.
( Especially that thang about my slap tone)
I always start off with my eq flat on my rig and get the best out of the instrument first, then I engage the Maximizer. I never use the rotary eq on my Ampeg. Depending on the bass it's the 80 or 150 on the graphic that will get boosted. If I use the Nathan East box which is selected thru an A/B box it's just for the slap thang.
The tone that I do get,I dig the hell out of it but the highs are a bit harsh. It could also be that my ears are accustomed to the basses I've been playing. My G&L JB2 has a great slap tone but I generally don't play it when I'm slappin because of the lack of a pickguard. Why? Too much depth under the G string allows my finger to dig in to hard and hampers my poppin' .
I dig the sound of a P/J setup for slap as on one of my modded Mexi P Basses. If ya dig thru enuff of the mexican made ones you can get one that sounds as good or better than an American one without paying the ridiculous price that they want.
G uess it's what my ears are accustomed to.
Depend on the line I'm playing or the tone I want I do shift my hand between the bridge or towards the neck but each bass I have has a "comfort" zone where it falls naturally and is the most comfortable. On the StingRay it's just in front of the pickup.
Still would be cool if there was an upgrade kit for the StingRay that allowed the addition of a coil selector without modding the bassto the point that it decreased it's value.
I still would like info on how to rewire the pickup to series? ( in parallel stock, right?) To see if I could get the tone that would be more useful to me. Every instrument is different and will sound different depending on who's playin' it.
Thanks guys

 

[PaulMack]

Oh yeah How do I post pics of my bass? Would also like to find a clear pickguard as this piece o' wood is too pretty to be covered up.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Oh yeah How do I post pics of my bass?

Explore the icons that appear above the compose window after you click on "reply". Someone like yourself who has the skills the rewire a pickup should be able to work it out.

 

[Bill]

Welcome to the forum, and I like your taste in Stingrays!

 

[Samingo]

Tone is in the fingers. Jack's comment about right hand position is right on the money.

I'm so very pleased to see I'm not the only one that thinks this. I wanted just that out of my StingRay a few months back; Variety. So I went and started playing around with positioning and now have discovered the StingRay has a wonderful array of tones.

I'm glad somebody else agrees on this, I've been called all sorts of crazy when I tell people about the possiblities in the Ray.

Alright, Hijacking over.

Paul, Welcome to the board and good luck with the rewiring, I hope it works out awesomely for you.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I'm so very pleased to see I'm not the only one that thinks this. I wanted just that out of my StingRay a few months back; Variety. So I went and started playing around with positioning and now have discovered the StingRay has a wonderful array of tones.

I'm glad somebody else agrees on this, I've been called all sorts of crazy when I tell people about the possiblities in the Ray.

By the time you factor in the tone controls, string types and right hand position/technique, you've got many, many tonal possibilities from that one trick pony.

 

[Randracula]

Welcome to the forum, and I like your taste in Stingrays!

You taunting me with that thing Bill?

 

[Mr Light]

Welcome to the forum, and I like your taste in Stingrays!

I've said it before, and I say it again: That is the best picture I've seen of a natural 'Ray!!!

 

[Bill]

Thanks, y'all!

 

[Moondog]

I've said it before, and I say it again: That is the best picture I've seen of a natural 'Ray!!!

yeah, Bill romantically fondling his Ray in front of the fireplace works for me to

 

[Bill]

yeah, Bill romantically fondling his Ray in front of the fireplace works for me to

 

[Joshua]

Can I play?

Welcome, PaulMack. 2 band or 3?