scratch01
New member
Greetings! I am a long-time lurker and a first time poster in need of some suggestions. But let me preface my tech problem with a (long-winded) backstory. After having several guitars and basses stolen (including my beloved early model Kubicki Ex-Factor) a couple of years ago, I purchased a couple brand-X basses to hold me over until I found THE bass as my true replacement. Although I certainly knew about Sting Rays I never gave them much thought, until inexplicably I had an epiphany, and could not think about anything else for months(seriously)! By June of last year, I had never even played a Ray when I went to an out-of-the-way music store that I knew carried them. I went in ready to order the one I had "designed" when I noticed two freshly unpacked 2007 LE HH Rays on the rack (a maple and a rosewood). I stared at them like a fool (I didn't even know they existed), until the sales clerk handed me the rosewood and plugged it in. I was in awe; I couldn't believe how well it played compared to the number of basses I had test-drove in various stores looking for a new bass. Before the sales clerk could say anything I said "I'll take it" and proudly walked out of the store with my beautiful Blue Dawn Ray. I had it for only a few days when a string of unfortunate events unfolded and I was no longer able to play. Fast forward to the middle of January and I was able to start playing again. I reached for the Ray and was thrilled to hold it after so long. But eventually I noticed something strange. Unamplified, I discovered that the E-string rattled and buzzed, although there were no dead notes. The other strings were fine, and though the action was low, it didn't seem significantly low, nor unplayable (quite the opposite--it seemed perfect). Then I plugged it in, and noticed that the E-string sounded dull, and lacked definition compared to the other strings. But what really confused me, was that although the E-string was weak sounding, at loud volumes it distorted my amp significantly--especially above the 12th fret! None of the other strings distorted at all. Rolling back the bass on the EQ cut some of the distortion but then also cut back a lot of bass tone. I tried a few of my other basses to see if the distortion was amp based, but it was not. I plugged the Ray into my Line 6 Pod X3 Live and listened through headphones. Although not as distorted, the E-string still sounded anaemic. I thought it might be the strings and battery, so I went out and bought both a new Duracell and Energizer 9-volt as well as a new set of Slinkys. Putting on a new set of strings and trying both new batteries did not change anything--the E-string still sounded uneven, weak, and yet distorted to no end. Band practice was crazy as I had to avoid using my E-string for most of the songs! Now I don't know if I was blinded (deafened?) by just owning the Ray that I didn't notice these quirks when I first bought it, or maybe sitting unplayed in it's case for 7 months affected it (keep in mind my other basses were in the same area as well--two in cases and one on display--for 7 months and still play well). I have read a lot about the G-string being weak on some Rays but nothing about the E-string. I suppose I could do some adjustments, but would rather read what others might suggest before I start messing around with things. Thanks for bearing with me and please help me get my E-string groove back!!!
