no low end?

[mike jungle]

heh...i'm finding it hard to pull a really bassy sound from the stingray. i know it's supposed to be a funk, slap, blah bass, but i'd like some low end.

is this how the bass is supposed to be or have i set it up wrong?

and the eq knobs are as follows, correct?
volume, treble, mid, bass

thanks...i need help eqing

 

[prickly_pete]

Well, I run the controls on the bass and the amp pretty flat. A really bassy sound just causes problems for your sound man. However, the controls are: volume, treble, mid, bass. Turn the bass knob up for more bass.

 

[mike jungle]

flat? i see.

i don't mean like...a REAL bassy sound. the stingray just sounds sorta like a guitar right now. and not a bass. that's what i mean not all i thought it'd be. heh...i still like it, but even the E string sounds guitar-ish. i really want to fix that problem.

 

[prickly_pete]

flat? i see.

i don't mean like...a REAL bassy sound. the stingray just sounds sorta like a guitar right now. and not a bass. that's what i mean not all i thought it'd be. heh...i still like it, but even the E string sounds guitar-ish. i really want to fix that problem.

The Stingray has way more balls than say a stock jazz bass. What are you comparing it to? It has a bridge located humbucker, its not going to sound like an EBO.

 

[mike jungle]

oh, not a jazz bass, a six string carvin, with a mm style pickup at the bridge. similar set up.

yeah...i don't want flak from you guys, but i like the sound on it better. i got this bass so i could just...get wild on it. the six string looks more like a bass that a jazz session artist would use, and not something that i would like to go all out on. and what do you mean by balls? haha. i'd like you to be a little more specific.

 

[prickly_pete]

oh, not a jazz bass, a six string carvin, with a mm style pickup at the bridge. similar set up.

yeah...i don't want flak from you guys, but i like the sound on it better. i got this bass so i could just...get wild on it. the six string looks more like a bass that a jazz session artist would use, and not something that i would like to go all out on. and what do you mean by balls? haha. i'd like you to be a little more specific.

By "balls," I mean that a stingray can sound louder and fuller than a stock jazz.

I don't know what to tell you. The bass guitar, even one with a preamp, is a pretty simple machine. If you don't like the sound, then take it back and get something else that you do like. Didn't you play a Stingray before you bought one?

 

[mike jungle]

yeah, that's the thing. i did play one at guitar center and i feel like it sounded different. maybe i need to try and fiddle with the amp some more, but the amp was on the settings that i liked it best with the carvin and the bridge pickup, and i thought it'd yield similar results.

very satisfied with the high's in the stingray, but i'm searching for the low...yeah. thanks for your help. if you've got anything more to say, please do.

oh yeah. are there other preamps available for stingrays? do you know how they sound?

 

[TSanders]

Ive always said if you cant do it with a StingRay maybe it aint the bass.

 

[bdgotoh]

Sounds like you have a 3 band preamp, my fave setting is highs rolled off, mids flat, bass boosted. Make sure your pickup is not too far down away from the strings and the top of the pickup is parallel to the strings.
I don't think you can find a better preamp out there, I've tried most of the aftermarkets and I prefer the stock EB preamp, very low noise with really great tone.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Sounds like you have a 3 band preamp, my fave setting is highs rolled off, mids flat, bass boosted.

On the money. Flatwound strings and playing finger style also ensures a Stingray has "more than adequate" low end.

 

[LeftyLB]

On the money. Flatwound strings and playing finger style also ensures a Stingray has "more than adequate" low end.

+1 on the settings and the finger style, but I still find roundwound OK

 

[JB1]

"......the amp was on the settings that i liked it best with the carvin and the bridge pickup, and i thought it'd yield similar results."

Not likely.

Have a fiddle - that's the only way to find out the best setting for the bass.

And can I say to you others out there who have been ragging relative noobs (both to this Forum & MM Basses) in recent threads to lay off a little?

I understand & share your passion for the instrument we're all here to discuss, but you're being too defensive. Remain objective and our new guys will appreciate your positive, constructive feedback. That way they'll stay here & add to the 'gene pool'.

Peace.

 

[Joshua]

Does the Carvin have more low end when you solo it's bridge pickup (I'm assuming it has a neck pickup)?

The bridge pickup positioning on the SR should naturally result in more "punch" than "low end", but it shouldn't sound like a guitar by any means. Assuming all else is working well (strings, setup, battery, etc.), you should have plenty of bass in the sound.

And while I have a 2 band on my SR (I boost a tad on bass and keep the treble flat), if I had a 3 band I imagine I would be setting it much like the others here have advised...

 

[bass thumper]

If after you adjust the eq's on the bass and your amp and it is still "guitarish", there may be a problem with the onboard preamp on the bass. If so, take it back where you bought it and let them check it out.

 

[0557]

for Bovine

This one sounds like another quote to use. Its almost as good as the one bovine uses at the bottom of his page.

 

[dlloyd]

yeah, that's the thing. i did play one at guitar center and i feel like it sounded different. maybe i need to try and fiddle with the amp some more, but the amp was on the settings that i liked it best with the carvin and the bridge pickup, and i thought it'd yield similar results.

The problem's with your amp settings. You have to match them for every bass for best results. Start with flat eq on both the bass and the amp and work from there.

 

[mike jungle]

the thing is...i've turned up the bass all the way on the eq and on the ray, but it doesn't quite produce the sound i want. i'm going to try it on the bass amp at church, and maybe i'll learn more about the sr. there's plenty of punch, but not enough of the bass i was looking for.

the carvin has a jazz pickup in the neck and a mm style humbucker in the bridge position. has a really nice preamp. dangit. i don't know. i feel like it should have a similar sound.

maybe i do need to adjust the action and pickup height? i haven't really looked at that yet.

it does sound a little better when i run it through my sansamp gt2 and turn up the bass a little.

 

[FireAarro]

On my SR5 I boost the bass about 2/5 up or 1/2 up, same with the mids and the treble a little. That gives me a fat, deep punch.

Pickup distance from strings may be a factor.

 

[dlloyd]

the thing is...i've turned up the bass all the way on the eq and on the ray, but it doesn't quite produce the sound i want. i'm going to try it on the bass amp at church, and maybe i'll learn more about the sr. there's plenty of punch, but not enough of the bass i was looking for.

the carvin has a jazz pickup in the neck and a mm style humbucker in the bridge position. has a really nice preamp. dangit. i don't know. i feel like it should have a similar sound.

maybe i do need to adjust the action and pickup height? i haven't really looked at that yet.

it does sound a little better when i run it through my sansamp gt2 and turn up the bass a little.

How old are the strings on the carvin?

 

[JB1]

....I feel like it should have a similar sound.

Why?

SR's don't have the same pickups (let alone in the same configuration) or pre-amp.

You're really just going to have to play around to find out, but I would suggest rolling off as much mid as you can, same for top.

Have fun....