My ray B string sux.

[JB1]

I concur that going to SD is prolly the best thing to do.

We're nice people and we DO try to help where we can though, right?

 

[Hutton]

No offense intended, but when you come onto a manufacturers site and complain about the sound of one of their basses AFTER it's been modified with an after-market pickup, then I have to question the intentions of the original poster. I mean, really, it seems to me he ought to post on Seymour Duncan's website and complain about the pickup's B-string response.

Let's try and be fair here. The original poster is playing an SR5 after all. The SD pickup would not be my choice as I cannot see why anyone would want to change the original. However, as has already been stated it may not be the pickup which is at fault. It may be a simple case of setup.

There is a new poster here who is going to be part of the family. Make the family bigger by showing a welcome, understanding, and helping the guy out. He'll then realise what a nice bunch of folk we are, what a great product EBMM make, and may even replace the SD with an EB pickup and get a good setup. Problem solved and another member to enhance the forum.

 

[bovinehost]

Also something to consider - that aftermarket pickup may have been in the bass when he bought the thing.

 

[Hutton]

Also something to consider - that aftermarket pickup may have been in the bass when he bought the thing.

From the wording of the original post I think you're probably right Jack. Perhaps Rhythmbug will let us know if the SD was in situ when he got the SR5.

 

[Randracula]

IME the B string on the SR5 is AMAZING...I don't know anything about SD pickups but i'm also guessing that that is the culprit. The SR5 preamp was made to match up to the original pickup, not the SD

 

[koogie2k]

Ok...first, it looks like changing the pick up could be the culprit......maybe pup height, set up...what ever.

Next, instead of the "My string sucks" line, you should have called Customer Service prior to cluttering Big Poppa's bandwidth with that line.....that is what Customer Service is paid to do...help fix problems. Even with your pick up change (whether or not you did it), I honestly feel Customer Service will help you. So, give them a call.

Now, I am sorry you are not happy with the B string. Instead of blaming the string itself or the bass, you should investigate the symptoms instead of going straight to the forum board with your post....no big deal, but, tact is what you need to use here. Inquiring with a better post will generate better responses. Try it....you'll see.

I won't get on the defensive side....believe me, I can.....so, do YOURSELF a favor and call Customer Service and let them try to help you. They are great folks who get paid to answer and diagnose problems such as yours....even if you don't have the original pick up in there......you never know.

 

[Rhythmbug]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your responses. For those offended by the title of my thread I apologise for polluting the integrity of this board with slander if that's how you feel, it was only a mere cry for help or attention getter.....which goal was acheived I really didn't expect the PC police to book me a ticket over it...

I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this problem and get people's opinions before I start planning more drastic measures. I really love this bass but have had some problems with it, such as this and a cracking polyester problem.....which I find really discouraging.
Customer service would be an international phone call, why would I resort to that as first option? Here I can get a conglomeration of people's thoughts and experiences and surface an otherwise unknown problem

I feel it probably IS the pickup at the root of the problem.
Yes I did get it fitted, the thing is I have the pickup mounted quite low because otherwise it distorts too much.

The Fernandes Gravity I own is no ordinary one, for starters its fretless, 40TW & 40DC pups, 18v upgrade + EMG BQS System.

So the next step is to take it to my luthier and get his opinion, will post the outcome...

 

[Hutton]

OK! Care to say why you got the SD pup fitted? Was the B string problem there with the original pup?

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

What's a B string??

ps: You might not get a hostile reaction if you don't open your pie hole with phrases like "suxs" in the title of your thread on a proprietary website, especially considering it's been modified....just a thought...YMMV.

Tude begats tude skipper.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your responses. For those offended by the title of my thread I apologise for polluting the integrity of this board with slander if that's how you feel, it was only a mere cry for help or attention getter.....which goal was acheived I really didn't expect the PC police to book me a ticket over it...

I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this problem and get people's opinions before I start planning more drastic measures. I really love this bass but have had some problems with it, such as this and a cracking polyester problem.....which I find really discouraging.
Customer service would be an international phone call, why would I resort to that as first option? Here I can get a conglomeration of people's thoughts and experiences and surface an otherwise unknown problem

I feel it probably IS the pickup at the root of the problem.
Yes I did get it fitted, the thing is I have the pickup mounted quite low because otherwise it distorts too much.

The Fernandes Gravity I own is no ordinary one, for starters its fretless, 40TW & 40DC pups, 18v upgrade + EMG BQS System.

So the next step is to take it to my luthier and get his opinion, will post the outcome...

So, basically the output of the pickup is too hot for the stock preamp so you have to have the pickup lower than normal to compensate, and then you can't understand why the output on the B string is lower than you'd like. Gee....that info might have been useful in your original post.

As for anyone else having that problem, you'd need to find people who have aftermarket pickups that were distorting the stock preamp and ask them.

Your Fernandes doesn't have that problem because the 40TW and 40DC pickups are made by EMG--so, it makes sense that they work fine with the EMG preamp. So, what that bass does is irrelevant.

 

[Hutton]

Bassmonkee as ever on the ball! The problem I have perceived amongst many bassists/guitarists is the thought that the stock instrument must be upgraded. That may work with some basses/guitars but some homework on EBMM products and a good look through these forums would have shown that EBMM basses and guitars are just fine the way they are.

 

[roballanson]

the 40TW and 40DC pickups are made by EMG--so, it makes sense that they work fine with the EMG preamp. So, what that bass does is irrelevant.

match the cuffs with the collar for the perfect result each time.....

 

[Rhythmbug]

bassmonkee thats a fair point, but it was my lutheir that decided against using a Duncan pre because the existing pre has a piezo circuit also and he was concerned there maybe a conflict. Fair points have been made but I'm not a technician or expert, and it is only the B string which displays output issues, none of the others. I've had other (unmodified) basses that don't like the B string sitting too close to the pups hence I didn't immediately jump to that conclusion.


Again I apologise for offence caused but I never said it was MM's fault I was just trying to pinpoint the problem and see if anyone experienced the same, you needn't hate on me simply because your a purist. Yes I've gone for something unique and different with chosing the duncan pup and I love it apart from said problem, but now know such issues should be taken elsewhere from this board.

However for anyone's interest I will let you know of the resolution and if indeed it is a pre/pup mismatch I will know to advise people in future.

peace

 

[Dr Stankface]

You'll have to excuse Jason. Us southerners are fiesty!

I think the simple resolution would be to put the original pup back in or work around the piezo circuit and put in a matching pre. Just a thought.

Hope everything goes well.

 

[Colin]

Rhythmbug I notice you're in Brisbane, PM me and I will point you in the right direction to solve your problem. My mate is the authorized EBMM repairer here in Brisvegas.