Problem with pickup! Need your advice

[Vit]

Hi

I am from Moscow, Russia. We have no Ernie Ball service centres here, so I need you help with my problem.

Receintly I've bought new MM Stingray 5 with piezo. It's absolutely new, looks fine, it's perfectly tuned and bla-bla...

BUT

When I've start playing with my band using it, I've noticed that B-string sounds much more louder than E-string and others
When I play on B-string the sound is great, it's aggresive, powerful and thick.
But my parties on E-string and other strings get lost in total instrumental mix and on record too. The sound of these strings is thin and unexpressive.

I would to ask - did anyone have similar problems with new MMs?

So, I've looked and noticed that the space between B-string and magnets of pickup is smaller than the space between E-string and it's magnets and similar situation with others strings.

Ernie Ball guys have ajust the height from each string to fingerboard perfectly and I don't want to get strings lower and higher.

I would to ask - does the construction of MM pickup permit to ajust the height of it's magnets for each string? Can I get E-string magnets higher to string and B-string magnets lower?

Thanx for your answers and advices guys

 

[JB1]

You CAN adjust the screws on the pickup to alter the height, but not for each string.

You could also try raising/lowering the saddles to get an even sound level.

Good luck.

 

[Father Gino]

1. You are sure the strings are OK? They're brand new, not a mixed set?

2. Have you tried a new set?

3. What kind of strings are on it now?

4. Do you have the same problem with:

A. Just the magnetic pickup?

B. Just the piezo pickups

C. Both magnetic & piezo?

5. Someone here (not me unfortunately) should be able to give you some kind of factory specified pickup height.

 

[AnthonyD]

Father Gino's asking all the right questions. Assuming it's a clean and complete set of strings, the pick-up to string height is key.

Also, I believe there are individual adjustments re: the sensitivity of each piezo saddle.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hi Vit and welcome to the Forum

Try this:

Depress the B string at the last fret and measure the distance from the bottom of that string to the top of the pickup magnet for that string. Adjust for a distance of 4/32 inches. Do the same with the G string but, this time, aim for a distance of 3/32 inches.

Final adjustment may have to be made to the G side by ear, so that the volume is even across all strings.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Any updates Vit?

 

[sandaas]

All advices given above are what I think you should/could try.

I had the same problem with my SR5 when I bought it brand new.
I put on a new set of strings and lowered the pickup a little bit on the B-string-side. That did the trick, the strings evened out and the B-string got a lot more sustain


Good luck buddy!

 

[Vit]

Thanx a lot for your answers!

Sorry I have no time to answer earlier...

String set was installed on my bass on Ernie Ball factory.
I don't know is it new or not and which brand is it.
But it looks and sonds as new one.

By the way, did you know what strings set is usually installed on new Stingray 5 basses? Erne Ball Nickel Slinky? 045-065-085-105-130? Or not?

I didn't have problem with sound if I use only piezo pickup. The sound of all strings is equal and flat.

2 Rod: I've followed your advice and measured the distance from the bottom of 1st and 5th strings and their magnets. It have ajusted perfectly.

And one more.

The distances between strings and fingerboard have been ajusting perfectly. And if I will raise or get lower any of them it will uncofortably to me to play or bring the jingling. I don't want these troubles and don't want to do it.

If I will get lower the pickup a little bit on the B-string-side the E-string get still more higher over the magnet and will sounds more quietly than earlier (

Indeed the ajusting of magnets is impossible? ah...

 

[strummer]

Hi
Strange problem, and I'm eagerly awaiting the solution. I have never experienced this with a MM bass...

Your bass, I think, was shipped with Regular Slinky® 5-String set in 45-65-80-100-130.

Good luck

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Any pictures of your bass Vit?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>2 Rod: I've followed your advice and measured the distance from the bottom of 1st and 5th strings and their magnets.

>>>It have ajusted perfectly.

Did that fix your problem or not (not sure what you mean)???

The Piezo is different! That has to be adjusted from the back of the body on your Bass.

 

[Vit]

2 Rod: No, the problem did not been fixed.

The distances from the bottom of 1st and 5th strings and their magnets are OK, but the distances between other strings (d, a and e (!)) and their magnets are bigger than normal.

But if I will get lower the saddle of E-string - it will really lay on the fingerboard