New Pickup

[jmbstudios]

Hi,
I was thinking about changing out my pickup on my '77 Ray. Maybe something like an active EMG.

Any suggestions on a new pickup?? Its a 4 string, if you were wondering.......

thanks
jeff

 

[RobertB]

Its a 4 string, if you were wondering.......

Being a '77, I guess it would be, since there were no SR5's or other denominations back then. =)

Looking to replace the MM pup, huh? Well, makes no sense to me, but to each his own.

Maybe try to find a Lane Poor "MM-style" humbucker - they were the first pups that went into the first Modulus Flea Basses (all Flea's basses have that pickup), and are highly sought after among Mod FB players for their tone. They're hard to find, though, especially outside the body of one of the early Modulus Flea Basses. Lane Poor no longer exists.

Another possibility would be a Bartolini "MM-style" humbucker. Bartolini is considered a "high end" pup, but that's going to be a smoother sounding pickup. Those are easy to find, because Bartolini still makes & sells 'em today.

It may be the case that the voicings of each of those pickups are tweaked for 18V preamps - definitely the case with the LP - not sure about the Bart. In either case, you may love or hate the result. Keep us posted.

Happy Hunting,
Robert

 

[EBMM7181]

There is no better pickup than the original Musicman pickup thats in your bass now.

If the Lane Poor and Bartolini '' MM Style '' pickups were better that the original Musicman pickups, then they would leave the facotory with Poor / Bartolinis

Its your bass, and you can do whatever you want with it, but the only reason I would replace the pickup is if something is wrong with it, then, I would replace it with the exact same pickup, Musicman.

 

[RobertB]

Agreed. I didn't say the Lane Poor or Bartolini were better. Since he didn't indicate otherwise, I assumed the original MM pickup is still working perfectly, which means he's just curious to try a different pickup with different (not necessarily equal to "better") tonal characteristics. Otherwise, my suggestion is exactly the same as StingRay's. Replace it with MM!

 

[Ken Baker]

Sniff... Sniff...

I smell brimstone.

Ken...

 

[sloshep]

I would leave the 77 alone. If you want to experiment buy a SUB and mess with it. I still think you won't get a better sound than you are getting now. The cheapest way to really mod your sound is try some different strings on it. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[bovinehost]

Hi,
I was thinking about changing out my pickup on my '77 Ray. Maybe something like an active EMG.

Any suggestions on a new pickup?? Its a 4 string, if you were wondering.......

thanks
jeff

Jeff,

That's worth quite a bit more with the original pickup....but then you wouldn't just toss the original in the trash, right?

Is the original not in service or are you just looking for a different thing?

Jack

 

[RobertB]

I like sloshep's suggestion about the SUB. And what a coincidence - today when I did my daily "stingray" search on ebay, I saw this pickup by Carvin. Looks like a cheap way to experiment. I have NO idea what it would sound like. I've never touched anything made by Carvin before (not for any particular reason - just haven't).

Later,
Robert

 

[jmbstudios]

Alright, let me clear it up a little here....

First off, I am the second owner of this bass. The first owner never played it and it sat in a closet for 4 years. Then my dad bought it and gave it to me for my 8th grade graduation. It has been played an average of 2 times a week since 1981-2. Some weeks none, some weeks everyday, almost all day....

I do not want something else, or a different sound. But the original pickup seems to be getting a little weak. Before you ask, the battery is fine! So I am looking to put something in the bass while I have this one looked at, refurbed, rewound to orignal specs, or whatever needs to be done. If it takes me 2-3 years to find the guy that did it in the original factory, I will wait.

By no means do I want to change my '77. I just want her back to normal.

I should have put all this in the original post, but I just figured I could do a quick post and some suggestions would be thrown out there. I didn't think I would get crucified by the bass gods..

The "its a 4 string" statement was for the boys that don't know the history......

SO, all that being said, I appreciate the help on this. I would never demoralize my Musicman bass. It is the one that has been by me the whole way. I have owned many basses, but after a short stint, I get rid of them and go back to her..... I love her....


OK, sorry to 'not fill you guys in'. That is my fault......

 

[RobertB]

Cool. Now that we have the 411, I'd even more readily say why not fool around with the Bartolini MM4CBC while you're getting your original pickup looked at? It'll definitely yield a significantly different sound - a quality sound, but a different one. It won't be as hot or aggressive sounding, but I'd think it'd be a good one to "vacation" with while your baby's original pup is away. Since this will just be a temporary infidelity for you, might as well throw some quality variety in the mix. =)

BTW, hope I wasn't one of the ones who made you feel "crucified". Looking back at it now, I guess my first statement could easily have come off as sounding pretty smartass'd. Didn't mean it that way at all.

Have fun & do "report back" on what happens!
Robert

 

[kompressaur]

I think the Bart MMC/MME is quite big,round and warm sounding,nah call it polite
The Duncan basslines replacement is better imo.more glassy/razor like bite to it.Mines is the ceramic version though I'm pretty use they offer an alnico version too (or did)
I've also heard that the Nordstrands are very,very good
I have almost identical basses (neither is MusicMan)one with the Bart and 1 with the SD basslines,and both with the 3 band Duncan MM circuit so my opinions are derived from that.
the duncan also looks the part with the exposed polepieces
Komp

edit : the '76 voiced alnico version is still on the SD basslines site

Progressive - 4/5 string for Music Man® (alnico) SMB-4a & -5a - Seymour Duncan/Basslines

 

[jmbstudios]

No big deal! It takes a lot to get me irritated.... I don't get butt hurt....

But I do like to throw back some sarcasm....

I see a Bartolini MMC on ebay right now for $90.00. Is that a good deal... Is that the one your talkin about???

jeff

 

[RobertB]

Cool beans. Yessir, I took a look - that's the one. Looks like a good price, lower than shown on the Bartolini site. Says it's brand new, factory sealed.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Bartolini's are like neutering a dog....
Stock pickups show up all the time on ebay, I would just do that. Maybe pm bdgotoh, he seems to have stock pickups available quite often.

 

[bdgotoh]

Dang Mike, it's freaky when you read my mind like that!

 

[thunder]

i have a 88' stingray with a bart. pre amp and mmc and sub with the duncan pre amp. not impress with the duncan but the bart was very nice (different but nice). but to do it to a 77' i wouldn't. if your bored and want to do somthing. by a project stingray (my 88' i got for $500.) and restore it. i see your feel the pick up is weak.... call eb see if they have one hiding somewhere and keep an i out on ebay. i belive the pick up is the same up until the 90's or get a little pre amp pedal it might help. last thing if your compareing the pick ups of the 70's with the modern stringray pick ups..... the mordern stuff is more powerfull and clearier (changeing it my not make a differance). hope it helps.

thats my story and i'm sticking to it!

 

[oli@bass]

IMO, try some of these:

Seymour Duncan Basslines, go for the alnico to have a similar sound as your original, or go for ceramic to get something more aggressive which might be an interesting option.

Norstrand could be a good equal sounding replacement for your worn pickup.

Magnetics would be able to exactly duplicate your existing pickup, so you have one which sounds the same but will be fine for the next twenty years.

Or try to find an original of the period on eBay. That could be pretty difficult...

 

[Kirby]

If you cannot find an original, I would go with the Nordstrand. I have heard them in Rays and really like them. They are wound to exact factory specs and resistance so I think they would be the closest to original. The Bartolini pickups do sound a bit polite, but are very warm from the ones I have heard. I think you can pick up a Nordstrand for around a hundred bucks or so if I remember the last time I looked.

 

[jmbstudios]

Thanks for all the help. I think right now, I will contact the gentleman that has an original and go that route.

I had a bass with EMGs and really like the funk sound it gave me. That is why I threw that out there.

IF I could find a older MM like an early to mid 80's for a really cheap price... Maybe a beater that was a solid player, with a straight neck, I would pick it up and play around with it....

But usually when I do that (done it with a couple of guitars) I end up restoring them and getting them back to original condition.

I guess I am more into originals then making it a hot rod.


BY THE WAY......
What is with the SUB basses..? They seem to be a less expensive MM. What about the quality?? How do they sound??


thanks guys, I appreciate the help.

Jeff

 

[the unrepentant]

I just bought a sub bass, the quality, i've not had it long so i can't comment on the build quality but the only discernable differences are the textured paint job (it's a bit cheap and tacky), the fact that the cutoffs on the back and front of the body aren't there like the SR where you rest your wrist and where it leans against your body, and the 2 band EQ (which some SR's have anyway), in my opinion it sounds just as good as a stingray as it has a stingray pickup and a stingray EQ, same wood (i think), it's a nice bass for the money. But as you say, they're much less expensive and ernie ball weren't making a lot of money out of it so they discontinued them a while ago.

As for the pickups, you could always try and find a stock MM pickup while your old one is being rewound or whatever.

I like the bartolini suggestion, they're quality pickups

Also the lane poor could be a good idea too, i like the sound of those.... a lot. Flea gets some nice funk tones out of that.