series parallel on stingray?

[Marchisgonebass]

how are stingrays wired? im pretty new to electronics and wiring and that sort of thing. can someone help me, are they wired in series or parallel? and do they have a knob to switch between the two?
if not can you put in a push/pull pot to switch between them?
what difference would it make?

 

[mynan]

Stingrays are parallel only.

 

[phatduckk]

All the various flavors of the Stingray 4 are in parallel: H (3 band & 2 band), HH and HS.

 

[Marchisgonebass]

oo ok and can split the pickup at all?

 

[mynan]

oo ok and can split the pickup at all?

I'm sure it's possible if you know what you are doing. If not, take it to someone who does...just wouldn't recommend doing anything that isn't reversible.

 

[Marchisgonebass]

hmm ok. and what about rhe sterlings? are they series or parallel and can u split their pickup?

 

[mynan]

Sterlings with a single humbucker have a three-way switch...series, single-coil, parallel. Dual humbucker Sterlings are series only.

 

[drTStingray]

oo ok and can split the pickup at all?

The multi-pick up versions of the Stingray have a coil selector switch which allows various combinations to be selected - including combinations of single coils from each pick up. Altogether a v versatile bass, but still with that great Stingray vibe.

 

[aphekgreg]

They are very easy to modify, if you have basic electronics and soldering skills and in my opinion, it's worth doing. On my Stingray, I added a toggle switch between the treble and mid knobs to split it to single coil. Yes it involved drilling a small hole in the control plate. I considered getting a push pull pot, but wasn't sure it would fit, with the circuit board needing to be where it is. I used the coil closest to the neck, as I preferred that sound to the one closest to the bridge, having experimented with both options on my SR5.

 

[Stephen]

You might want to consider this:

When developing a new instrument, the crew at EBMM are going through all these options - series, parallel, on one PU, cross multiple PUs ... you name it, they have most likely been there and then made some choices which end up in how your selector switch is wired. These choices are balanced to give you a wide range of tonal options for any given instrument and to put said instrument in a distinctive spot within the product family.

In short: tinkering with these setups might make your bass somewhat different but hardly better (or more reliable, for that matter). And if you think of ever selling that bass again, think twice about messing with the electronics ...

Cheers, Stephen

 

[Basscake]

Hi.

As said before: Stingrays always in parallel (Except SR5: series/SC/parallel)

I have a series/parallel switch installed on my 83 Stingray. It meant to drill a little whole in the chrome plate but I bought a aftermarket-"banana" for that reason.
The Sound in series is louder, has less of the Stingray-Smack and is bit midrangier and gnarlier. Not a typical Stingray-Tone but imho a valid alternative nontheless.

The 1PU-Sterlings have a series/singlecoil/parallel Switch.

The Multi-PU Sterling have a 5-Way switch for various different coil combinations. But you should know that they don't offer the parallel option. On HH and HS Sterlings the Coils of the bridge Humbucker are always in serial!

 

[Nounouk]

I also put a switch on my SR4. Here is a little video I made to show the possibilities it gives.
Parallel then series then split:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdoQ0kbyM3g"]YouTube - Stingray switch demo[/ame]

 

[oli@bass]

I also put a switch on my SR4. Here is a little video I made to show the possibilities it gives.
Parallel then series then split:

While I don't think that the series mode is something I'd want, I really like the spli mode as an alternative! How did you wire it?



BTW, one word: http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/38977-gamechanger.html

 

[Marchisgonebass]

dude it sounds pretty beast with that mod. iv been looking at stingray4's and 5's and sterling 5's. if i end up with a sting4 i will probably do that. and call me crazy but i kind of like the tone and sound on sting5's alot better than on sting4's.

 

[Nounouk]

As aphekgreg did, i wired the coil closest to the neck.
The SR pickup only has 2 wires, you need to re-wire it in order to have 4 conductors.

The split option has medium-ish tone, I like it with a pick
The Series tone is close to parallel, but it allows more output and less highs. For example, listen to RHCP's aeroplane song, you could use it for the bass solo.

 

[RaginRog]

I also put a switch on my SR4. Here is a little video I made to show the possibilities it gives.
Parallel then series then split:
YouTube - Stingray switch demo

Your bass sounded really good. I'd say that would be a great option for the single H Stingrays.

Nice loop you were playing too!

 

[aphekgreg]

You might want to consider this:

When developing a new instrument, the crew at EBMM are going through all these options - series, parallel, on one PU, cross multiple PUs ... you name it, they have most likely been there and then made some choices which end up in how your selector switch is wired. These choices are balanced to give you a wide range of tonal options for any given instrument and to put said instrument in a distinctive spot within the product family.

In short: tinkering with these setups might make your bass somewhat different but hardly better (or more reliable, for that matter). And if you think of ever selling that bass again, think twice about messing with the electronics ...

Cheers, Stephen

This is not aimed directly at Stephen or anyone else and I don't want to get people offside, but I don't understand the anti-modification attitude around here. What's the big deal? People aren't saying Ernie Ball instruments are "ok, but you need to upgrade parts or modify them before they sound any good", which is certainly the case with a lot of brands. They're talking about minor tweaks to get them closer to the sound they want.

With something like adding a coil tap or series switch to a Stingray, you are just widening the tonal possibilities of the instrument. Generally, I love the standard parallel wiring, but there have been nights when only the coil tap position has sounded right to me and I'm glad I have the option available.

 

[Basscake]

+1

 

[Stephen]

This is not aimed directly at Stephen or anyone else and I don't want to get people offside, but I don't understand the anti-modification attitude around here. What's the big deal? People aren't saying Ernie Ball instruments are "ok, but you need to upgrade parts or modify them before they sound any good", which is certainly the case with a lot of brands. They're talking about minor tweaks to get them closer to the sound they want.

With something like adding a coil tap or series switch to a Stingray, you are just widening the tonal possibilities of the instrument. Generally, I love the standard parallel wiring, but there have been nights when only the coil tap position has sounded right to me and I'm glad I have the option available.

No offense taken!

I do understand musicians (motorists, cooks, ... ) who have a desire to tweak and tune their gear to meet their personal needs or preferences as closely as possible.

It's just about how this is done and how far these tweaks are taken: from my personal experience deeper modifications mostly affect resale value and sometimes reliability. If this is OK for any given owner, great, go ahead.

Personally, from a certain level of quality (or rarity) I take an instrument (vintage car, chef's knife, ... ) as what it is and enjoy it like that. I just try and set it up to perform the best way possible and if in the end this doesn't work out for me at all, I sell it again and keep looking.

But then again, that's just me.

Cheers, Stephen