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gafbass02

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Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
83
Hi all, I just picked up my first 'Ray a '97 model refinished (badly) in black with a black pearl scratchplate. I bought the bass primarily as a back up for my Warwick FNA Jazzman, which is fitted with a seymour duncan alnico mm style humbucker and seymour duncan active preamp.
Ive found that the 'ray is going to need a bit of work, (and a respray!) i have to play down tuned in both my bands which is a major pain esp with my heavy right hand technique, and this bass seems to have a lot of fret rattle, so at the minute its got a pretty high action, also the jack socket tends to cut out, but that should be an easy fix.
However, after taking her to the studio last night for a rehearsal i found that although the sound was great, i was so chuffed that it sounded like all those recorings you know, Flea, RATM, Neds, Cass Lewis etc but it lacked weight and punch next to my Warwick.
So im thinking if i add one of the seymour duncan humbuckers and the seymour duncan stingray (3 band) preamps to it, will it still sound like a 'ray, only with the balls and punch of my FNA, or will it just not sound like a 'Ray anymore, which is a sound i love, i just need 'more'!, also the A and D polepieces are very high and the edges are quite sharp, on the duncan they are flush, so less clacking, and less risk of injury!!
It was the sound of a stingray that made me pick up bass in the first place so i want that sound, but from a practical point of view i need to match up with the other, sorry for the long post, any thoughts?...................


heres a dodgy pic, dodgy cause im in it, looking very tired! but at least you can see the bass..
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shamus63

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Aug 8, 2005
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Location
San Mateo, CA
Hi Gaf - I can't really offer any thoughts on the EQing (personal tastes vary), but as far as down-tuning and fret rattle you might want to try some higher tension strings to take up the slack...along with a proper set-up.

Good Luck! :cool:
 

Oldtoe

Intestinal Poltergeist
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,215
Location
Paris, TX
Try a heavier, nickle-plated string and a setup before tackling something like a preamp. I would even suggest some TI flats for a 'Ray (not that I'm a flat player, but they do work magic on that particular instrument.)
 

gafbass02

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Apr 12, 2006
Messages
83
cheers

cheers for the thoughts guys, im using 45-105 Elixirs at the minute, roundwounds, never tried flats will they still have the aggressive edge for a classic rock band and a metal band?
 

shamus63

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Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
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Location
San Mateo, CA
gafbass02 said:
cheers for the thoughts guys, im using 45-105 Elixirs at the minute, roundwounds, never tried flats will they still have the aggressive edge for a classic rock band and a metal band?

Probably not aggresive...but then again, Steve Harris uses flats.
 

gafbass02

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Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
83
gah!

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! everywhere i go that name follows me! lol, I never heard or saw Maiden, but last year it got nuts when we went on tours with Styx and Dokken and people kept coming up to me after gigs saying "blimey youre a bit like that Steve Harris arent ya!?!", now never having actually been into rock, more of a grunge, indie, funk kid in my day i had no idea who they were on about, it got so out of hand with people saying it it became a huge joke and our vocalist lent me a dvd so i could see what all the fuss was about, and yeah, i kinda see it, albeit im younger!, and now the British classic rock boards and folks call me Steve junior!, so its kinda funny you should say that!
GAFLIVE.jpg

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It might be the hair, foot on monitor, rapid fingerstyle triplets that does it!, i swear i had no idea!
 

ras1983

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Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
150
Location
Melbourne, Australia
try restringing it B-E-A-D. you'll get those lower notes, and the tension should be better. my teacher has done that with one of his basses, and the results are surprisingly good.
 

gafbass02

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Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
83
good idea

Good idea sadly i tend to use all four strings with lot of chords too, i use a six string bass on some songs, oh well, thanks for the advice guys.
 
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