Tone controls on my Stingray

[bigjohnyeti]

Hello all,it`s my first post on this forum,and I hope you can help me....
I just picked up a used Stingray5 and I love the feel and playability,but I`m having a bear of a time dialing in a good sound.The tone controls seem to push/cut frequencies that create mud(bass control) an obnoxious nasal tone(mids) or more string clank than I can use(treble).I don`t have any trouble setting up with my Carvin LB75 or my Hamer Cruise5,in fact,the amp`s settings are almost identical,slightly different voicing coming through(of course) but with solid,punchy clean sound.
But when I plug the Stingray in I have to roll off a lot of highs and push the 150-600 hz sliders to the top and roll off almost everything else in order to get some kind of sound I can accept.....Then when I come back an hour later to see how I like it ,it always is lacking "something".
My question is-Does anyone know what components I can change to raise the bass frequency band,lower the mid band to somewhere to the 200-500hz range,and drop the highs a bit to not pick up/accentuate the fret /string sound?
Or if there is a different pickup I can put in/or electronics mods?
By the way,I`m running an svt 3-pro with the 610hlf bottom,or mostly a fender bassman 15 bottom with a 600 watt eminence speaker(for portability).
Thank you for your time,
Big John

 

[Aussie Mark]

There are a lot of variables in this question. Strings, cabinets, playing style, genre of music, the tone you "like" etc.

If your cabs have a horn or tweeter, either dial it down to zero (assuming the cab has an attenuation pot for the horn/tweeter) or disconnect the horn/tweeter completely.

Start with your amp EA controls flat, and EQ your preferred sound using the tone controls on the SR. For what it's worth (I use flatwound strings, play with my fingers, and am partial to a little mud), I run my 3 band SR EQ with the treble dialled to zero, the mids flat, and the low dimed.

 

[bigjohnyeti]

My 610hlf has a horn but I have it turned off,the 115 bassman cab doesn`t have a horn.They always sound tinny and brittle to me.
I play fingerstyle,classic rock and today`s country,so I need a solid sound.
I keep starting with the controls on the center detent,the amp controls basically flat.I always seem to wind up with the bass slightly above the detent,the mids about halfway below the detent,the treble dialed way down.The eq on the amp winds up looking a bit like a sine wave,the high mids on the baseline and a slight taper up on top.But there is always a transparent,mushy sound that I can`t dial out,not a solid crunch.I changed the battery and the strings to what I use on my other basses(stainless rounds) thinking they might be dead,but no real change.
Is there supposed to be a significant tone change between the front and back pickups?I don`t hear a lot of change unless I use the front (both) position.I don`t hear as much difference as in standard configurations (j bass style) but since the layout is different I don`t know for sure what I should hear.I just know something seems to be missing in there.It seems to lack a natural punch.And I know the reputation these puppies have,that`s why I bought one.
John

 

[Father Gino]

My 2¢... Unless there's something wrong with the one you have (battery is good?)...

What have you got for strings? Put a new set of your favorite strings on it. Set everything (amp & bass) flat and adjust the volume only, making sure you're not overdriving the amp. If you do use any EQ, be subtle about it. Those tone contols are very powerful.

That's what a Stingray sounds like. Maybe you don't like it. Maybe you've got to get used to playing it. Give it some time. I find it a very expressive bass. You can coax lots of different sounds out of it with your hands. It is what it is and doesn't necessarily sound like lots of other basses. It's not a P bass for example. It's not a J either. It's a Stingray which makes it one of the 3 classics of bassdom.

Unless you really enjoy making modifications, I'd leave it alone. If you find you really don't like it, get another bass.

Most important of all. Don't judge what it sounds like while sitting alone in your room. Take it out and play it in a band setting. That's where a Stingray really shines IMHO. Suddenly, the audience is actually going to hear what you're playing.

 

[Figjam]

If you are using a stingray, what are you refering to as front and back pickups? They only have one.

 

[bigjohnyeti]

I`ve been starting out with everything flat and usually wind up with about the same settings.
I`ve used it at two jobs(yesterday,one outside in the afternoon and one last night at a bar we play at a lot) and all night I kept looking back at the amp to see what I could do.
I did change both the strings and the battery as soon as I got it home since I bought it used at the guitar center.
What I was referring to as pickups was actually the front and back coils of the pickup.I hear very little change in the switch position,that`s why I ask. I was just trying to find out if my bass was working correctly or have I found why the last owner traded it in haha.
I was just playing around some more with it and I did notice a tonal difference between when I go direct and when I go wireless.I may be overdriving the wireless a bit(it`s a Samson synth32). Are you guys using the active pad on your amps or are you going straight in and just cutting the input gain down?In the past anytime I used the pad on active basses the tone would drop off drastically so I really haven`t tried it with this one.
John

 

[Samingo]

In my, and from what I've heard others' experience, it's best to use the active pad with MM's as they're just really hot basses with a lot of power. There is a huge difference between the sound passive and active, as there should be.

Though, from what it sounds like, it seems like this bass just may not be for you. I'm not at all trying to deter you from MM's, hell, it's all I play! I would, however, prefer that you are happy with your bass as all bassists deserve to be. All I'm saying is that if you run out of options, maybe that Particular bass isn't what you're looking for. Every bass does have it's own sound after all. Plus, now there's a lot of other MM models to try! Anyhow, good luck with it!

 

[phatduckk]

[i think] that ive noticed that if the gain on my Ampeg is higher than how i normally set it, then i notice very little difference in the tone of my Sterling when flipping the pup switch. so assuming im not on crack ... this coupled with you noticing that the bass sounds "more likable" when going straight may suggest that you could be driving the amp too hard ... these EBMM's have a pretty hot output

Have you tried any other active bass with this rig (esp. thru the wireless)? that could be wortha try if you can get your hands on one. that could help u determine if the way you plug your bass in (wireless, no 15 pad etc) is causing this

good luck buddy ...

--------------

so my disclaimer ... i accidentally moved my amp's knobs while transporting it back from a gig and at the next reherssal when i reset the EQ etc i forgot the reset the gain ... things sounded "wrong" and the pup switch was not making a noticable difference. i dont remember exactly how "off" the gain knob was but im pretty sure it was around 6.5 and i normally have it at 5

 

[Aussie Mark]

I use a Samson Airline wireless, and it's got a 15db pad on the transmitter. If your Samson has a pad, that's the pad you should be using, rather than the pad on your amp. Otherwise, the pad on your amp is just turning down the volume on an already distorted signal.

 

[phatduckk]

I use a Samson Airline wireless, and it's got a 15db pad on the transmitter. If your Samson has a pad, that's the pad you should be using, rather than the pad on your amp. Otherwise, the pad on your amp is just turning down the volume on an already distorted signal.

good call

 

[bigjohnyeti]

Okay....
Today I tried a few things as you guys suggested.With all the amp controls set flat,starting with the bass set flat and now,with the active pad pushed in the tone was OUTSTANDING!!!Exactly what I was looking for.Evidently,I was overdriving the front end.I also readjusted the transmitter on my wireless(no pad,mine has a gain pot)and reboosted the receiver output to the same volume as when I plug direct with a cable.No tone difference...Also,now I can hear a difference in the different pickup switch positions.
This bass sounds amazing,everything I was hoping for.
The next part,after the summer season,is the refinishing.I bought it used,and it has more "character" than I like to have on my basses.Worn-through finishes,to me,show that the bass has been used,and cared for,which is a good thing.But a bunch of nicks and dents show lack of respect for a beautiful piece.This one is finished in a transparent clear to cherry burst and has outstanding grain showing through.I`m going to do it over in a slightly "aged "clear coat.Does anyone know where I can get gold hardware for mySR5?I think it would look superb that way.
I`m rambling again,sorry.
I want to thank all of you for responding so fast and with good advice.It`s nice to be able to go on a forum as helpful as this one.
John

 

[Father Gino]

Glad it was something obviously wrong that was easy to remedy. I guess this forum actually does serve a purpose sometimes. Welcome to the club!

 

[phatduckk]

its great that you figured out the problem ...

 

[bovinehost]

Hot damn, problem solved and I didn't even get involved!

I like that. "Self-policing" indeed.

 

[tkarter]

Yes, and that help came from the other side of the world too. Isn't this Internet an amazing thing?

tk

 

[JayAmel]

Hello all,it`s my first post on this forum,and I hope you can help me....
I just picked up a used Stingray5 and I love the feel and playability,but I`m having a bear of a time dialing in a good sound.The tone controls seem to push/cut frequencies that create mud(bass control) an obnoxious nasal tone(mids) or more string clank than I can use(treble).I don`t have any trouble setting up with my Carvin LB75 or my Hamer Cruise5,in fact,the amp`s settings are almost identical,slightly different voicing coming through(of course) but with solid,punchy clean sound.
But when I plug the Stingray in I have to roll off a lot of highs and push the 150-600 hz sliders to the top and roll off almost everything else in order to get some kind of sound I can accept.....Then when I come back an hour later to see how I like it ,it always is lacking "something".
My question is-Does anyone know what components I can change to raise the bass frequency band,lower the mid band to somewhere to the 200-500hz range,and drop the highs a bit to not pick up/accentuate the fret /string sound?
Or if there is a different pickup I can put in/or electronics mods?
By the way,I`m running an svt 3-pro with the 610hlf bottom,or mostly a fender bassman 15 bottom with a 600 watt eminence speaker(for portability).
Thank you for your time,
Big John

My $0.02 on this.
Unlike the "classical" Sting Ray, the SR5 (and the Sterling too) uses cut and boost electronics.
Some experience here and there, and not only with MM basses but most generally, tended to show me the less you boost the lows onboard, the tighter you final tone is.
It's not an absolute rule, it's just what I experienced.
Keep the lows flat on the SR5, even cut them a few, then tweak your preamp/amp to adjust your final tone.
In another hand, I happened to try an SVT-610HLF once, and did not find it to be very tight in low frequencies.

Hope this helps,
Jay

PS. No spam intended, but you may here a demo of my SR5 in my home studio, just plugged direct to the board : http://www.jean-lancon.net
(requires Windows Media Player)