Pickup for sub

[MM Scarborough]

Hi guys,need you're expert help again. As many will know the SUB comes with a two band EQ, unlike the sterlings which is three. I know MM produce the best pickup's around but Im after a three band for my sub. Is there anything that come close or am I best of hangin on for a second hand stingray pickup? Obviously it needs to be a close to the true MM sound as possible, also there are only three knobs so will I have to invest in another?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

To change from 2 Band EQ to 3 Band EQ, I believe a new PUP is not necessary. As far as I know, there is no difference in the PUPs with regards to which of the two pre-amps are used.

What you need a 3 Band pre-amp circuit. One from a Sting Ray would probably be ok electrically but you've got other problems!

The SUB control plate only has 4 holes which will be taken up by the new 3 Bander mod.... volume, treble, midrange and bass. That leaves you without a hole for the lead jack. There's no jack on the body.

You could use a 5 hole plate as used for Basses with the piezo option but I think that's a longer plate???? The whole proceedure may require drilling the body and re-routing the control cavity to fit the 3 band circuit board. If a crescent moon 3 band board wont fit the cavity, an older rectangular 3 band board may.

.

 

[MM Scarborough]

many thanks for you're reply. Il try and find out if it has a different control plate then? Am I right inthinking the dimensions are exactly the same for a SUB as they are a SR 2 band internally?

 

[MM Scarborough]

looking at the schematics on the wesbite it seems as though jack output is not on the control plate on the 3 band EQ? does it exit in the body somewhere?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>Il try and find out if it has a different control plate then?

On reflection, the control plate would have to be larger in length. But Jon will know for sure.

>>>>Am I right inthinking the dimensions are exactly the same for a SUB as they are a SR 2 band internally?

I think so. THe SUB pre-amp is on a crescent moon circuit board. I don't have measurements but they look the same.

>>>>looking at the schematics on the wesbite it seems as though jack output is not on the control plate on the 3 band EQ? does it exit in the body somewhere?

It exits from the body underneath the control plate ( but to the left looking at body face on).

IMO, the only way to do it is to get the five hole control plate. You need a full 3 bander pre-amp with pots etc. Perhaps re-routing to fit it all. The cost may be more than what you paid for the Axe. Once you start, there's turning back to original.

Matter of economics here

.

 

[Mobay45]

>>>>Il try and find out if it has a different control plate then?

On reflection, the control plate would have to be larger in length. But Jon will know for sure.

>>>>Am I right inthinking the dimensions are exactly the same for a SUB as they are a SR 2 band internally?

I think so. THe SUB pre-amp is on a crescent moon circuit board. I don't have measurements but they look the same.

>>>>looking at the schematics on the wesbite it seems as though jack output is not on the control plate on the 3 band EQ? does it exit in the body somewhere?

It exits from the body underneath the control plate ( but to the left looking at body face on).

IMO, the only way to do it is to get the five hole control plate. You need a full 3 bander pre-amp with pots etc. Perhaps re-routing to fit it all. The cost may be more than what you paid for the Axe. Once you start, there's turning back to original.

Matter of economics here

.

Couldn't you just drill the body for the jack plate and put the 3 pots in the control plate? I don't think that would be too difficult, would it?

 

[Mobay45]

I need to get my Stingray and compare it to my SUB. I can make a side by side comparison later today. That should give us some answers.

 

[MM Scarborough]

cheers guys, very much appreciated. I wished they'd fitted a 3 band to the SUB aswell as the SUB sterling. I would like to have that exta EQ, as I do find that Im stuck with a very similar sound, i know with the option of a mid eq this may not change dramatically but I think il be able to add a little more colour to the sound.

thanks again

 

[Morrow]

Scarborough.....there are those who think the older Stingrays with the two band eq sound better than the newer ones. Has anyone compared a SUB with a vintage two band Ray? Is your SUB active or passive? I have only played SUB's briefly in stores but I was thinking that it was a lot of bass for the price.

 

[skabassist13]

you might consider seymour duncan. they have a custom shop and they will make you just about any pickup/ control configuration you can imagine. of course it will cost you more because of the custom configuring, but it would be the easiest instillation wise. you could ask them for a volume, stacked bass and treble, and mid( or stacked high and low mids if you really wanna go all out) to go into a sub/stingray control cavity. if done correctly you could just put the new controls in the plate, attach the pickup and viola!, 3 band sub(or 4 if you want). plus it would probably not require any modification to the body, as stated in other suggestions, therefore if you ever needed to sell it you could put the original controls back in and the resale value would stay the same. thats my thought.

 

[Morrow]

" RESALE" Humbug. Back in the old days you had to modify basses as soon as you got your mits on them.They made crap in the old days anyway. Brass nuts , dimarzios, extra pickups, switches, knobs..... Back then when you put in a badass you had to route the body to drop her in. These were "improvements' and increased the value of the instrument.

 

[MM Scarborough]

No I havent but I really should compare them both to be fair, I should compare it to a three band aswell. I think Il try the seymour duncan option, they've been recomended to me by a couple of mates aswell. As far as Im concerned i ain't that bothered about resale. I would probably lose £200 or so if I sold the bass and it's been used extensivly so it's not worth selling, plus the additon of a three band eq and drop d tuner should surely put the value up. On more expensive basses I do see you're point though and you shouldn't raelly have to modify them as there good enough anyway!

 

[jubjub721]

i say

buy a new bass
save the head ach and possibility for a death in the musicman famly