Turn my pickup around?

[ricknote]

I'm wondering if anyone has a suggestion for this pickup configuration.

I have a single pickup Stingray 5, ceramic mag, around 8 years old.
In the middle position of the selector, the single coil mode activates
the coil closest to the bridge. It's a cool sound, but I would rather have
the coil closer to the neck be the dominant coil for more of a P Bass tone.

1. I could just flip the pickup around and drill new screw holes. I'm not sure
if there is enough wire to even do this.

2. Is there a way to re-wire it this way on the inside?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[TheAntMan]

I take it this is just "guess work" on your part as to the resulting tone or have you actually heard that it sounds "more" or even "like" a P-Bass?!?

If I want a P-bass, I buy one. If I want a Stringray, I buy one. Not a big fan of butchering a fine tool / instrument for guess work. That's just me.

Good luck with your quest.

-- Ant

 

[oli@bass]

Try turning the pickup without drilling any new holes. Should work for a test.

However, I assume that the wires will be too short, and that the shape of the pickup does not fit when flipped.

 

[RocketRalf]

There should be some way of rewiring it without messing with the wood...

 

[ricknote]

Antman

I take it this is just "guess work" on your part as to the resulting tone or have you actually heard that it sounds "more" or even "like" a P-Bass?!?

If I want a P-bass, I buy one. If I want a Stringray, I buy one. Not a big fan of butchering a fine tool / instrument for guess work. That's just me.

It's not really "Guess work". Moving a pickup coil closer to the neck will result in a phatter and darker sound than if it's closer to the bridge.

Actually I have a Fender P and a Mike Lull P5. I just don't want to take them
all to my gigs. I used the SR5 and my P about half and half on my band's CD.
The Stingray is the only bass I take to my gigs 90% of the time.

I have no interests in butchering my beloved Stingray. I'd just like to
personalize it for my own use if it's simple to do so.

RocketRalf

There should be some way of rewiring it without messing with the wood...

This would be the perfect solution. I think I'll email Ernie Ball directly
and find out for sure.

Thanks for the great suggestions,
Rick

 

[MrMusashi]

if you want p-bass sounds you should take a look at the new dual pickup basses..
if you have a gc nearby drop by and take a test drive. put the selector switch all the way forward and youre closer to the p sound than you will be with rearranging the coils on your ray

MrM

 

[GGK]

Antman


It's not really "Guess work". Moving a pickup coil closer to the neck will result in a phatter and darker sound than if it's closer to the bridge.

Actually I have a Fender P and a Mike Lull P5. I just don't want to take them
all to my gigs. I used the SR5 and my P about half and half on my band's CD.
The Stingray is the only bass I take to my gigs 90% of the time.

I have no interests in butchering my beloved Stingray. I'd just like to
personalize it for my own use if it's simple to do so.

RocketRalf


This would be the perfect solution. I think I'll email Ernie Ball directly
and find out for sure.

Thanks for the great suggestions,
Rick

Let is know what they come back with

 

[nicjimbass]

if you want p-bass sounds you should take a look at the new dual pickup basses..
if you have a gc nearby drop by and take a test drive. put the selector switch all the way forward and youre closer to the p sound than you will be with rearranging the coils on your ray

MrM

I too am interested in a possible re-wiring option, and I have an HH Bongo, so I have the dual-pickup option covered. I had a Bart pickup in my SR5 for a while and I remember being able to wire it for either neck or bridge coil for the single coil option. I'm pretty sure I had it in the neck position and it approximated a P pretty well.

It'd be nice to be able to buy a new bass for every new tone I (we) need, but it's not very practical or financially smart. If we can swap a wire or two and get a better useable tone, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

 

[MrMusashi]

we all have different feelings about our instruments
my opinion is that if the good people at ernie ball didnt implement it, it wasnt worth having there... but the good thing is:
it doesnt matter how i feel because, after all, it is your instrument. if you want to mod it you should go ahead

the schematics indicates that the coils are connected separately to the switch. it should not be a problem to rewire it, or replace the switch if needed. perhaps a 4 way switch could give you all possible combinations?

also, you wouldnt want to destroy your bass, now would you?
so just a friendly nudge: if you are just a tiny bit unsure of how to do it, get a pro to do it for you..
im sure there are knuckleheads in here that can recommend one in your vincinity that does good work

schematics here:
http://www.music-man.com/pdf/Stingray5.zip

MrM

 

[strummer]

I think the simplest thing would be to flip the pick up inside the cover...

 

[bassmonkeee]

This would be the perfect solution. I think I'll email Ernie Ball directly
and find out for sure.

Thanks for the great suggestions,
Rick

Good luck, but don't be surprised if they don't offer any suggestions in modding your bass.

 

[ricknote]

MrMusashi

also, you wouldnt want to destroy your bass, now would you?
so just a friendly nudge: if you are just a tiny bit unsure of how to do it, get a pro to do it for you..
im sure there are knuckleheads in here that can recommend one in your vincinity that does good work

I'm in Nashville and I'd be taking it to the worlds best.

strummer

I think the simplest thing would be to flip the pick up inside the cover...

I'm loving this possibility! That would be nice and simple.

I sent an email to Brian Ball. We've spoken before and he's been really
awesome. He's out of the office for a couple of days. I'll let everyone
know what he suggests when I hear from him.

All the best,
Rick