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What does the "filter" on the Stingray 5H do?

tbonesullivan

tbonesullivan

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Aug 24, 2012
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So, after having my 5H for a few weeks, I love the thing. The 5HS is now in the dog house. It sounds good too but it can't get "that sound". And by that sound, I mean that Bernard Edwards "Chic" classic stingray sound.

Anyway, the 5H Alnico versions don't have a single coil option, but instead in the middle have a "COIL 1 + COIL 2 + FILTER". So the big question is: what is the Filter? What does it do. I can hear some difference, but I can't tell exactly what it is. Anyone know?
 
If I were constructor I'd avoid that filter thing!

That filter produce fake single coil sounding tone, ...but I don't like it!

I believe parallel/series switch is just enough for a SR5 H bass!
 
I believe parallel switch is just enough for a SR5 H bass!) But sometimes single coil switch is very fun to. What is wrong with the filter sounding tone?
 
Nothing is really "wrong" with the tone. I just have been trying to figure out what exactly it is doing to the sound. Like, is it cutting off the top, or cutting the mids, cutting the bass? I mean it's not like having that kind of electronics is anything new. Varitone and similar controls have been around for years.

I will say though that the HS is the one current setup that has the most variety, and still hum free. I mean, they could have it so that the HH models had single coil modes, but that would result in hum.

on the other hand, hum has never stopped people from getting great bass sounds out of straight up single coils.
 
Gravesend Black said:
I believe parallel switch is just enough for a SR5 H bass!) But sometimes single coil switch is very fun to. What is wrong with the filter sounding tone?
Click to expand...

I could agree too with parallel only for a SR5 bass!

What is wrong with the filter sounding tone?, ...just everything, ...it's a fake for a single coil tone, ...I don't like fake things!
 
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keko said:
I agree with parallel only for a SR5 bass!
Click to expand...

Hi Keko - how's life with the white Reflex? I'm sorry but I do disagree with you guys regarding series on an SR5.

I use my SR5 as main bass in a blues rock soul jazz funk band....................seriously we play a song with those words in the title and it sums up what the band does. But to the point:-

When it gets rocky with heavy guitar and sax riffs the series setting is what gets you into the mix; when it gets funky or soulful with lots of space - parallel is great - AND it has that killer old school Musicman slap tone. When it gets jazzy, with walking bass parts and bits of high register stuff - single coil is the one.

The series setting is very good for recording as well, especially in a full mix.

So the SR5 - with its switch (mine's a ceramic with single coil as middle setting) - is perfect for me in this band (I tried every other bass I owned until I suddenly realised - it was a lightbulb moment).

So what does this filter do on the newer alnico basses?? I'm going to hazard a guess in the absence of other answers - a filtered series sound to thin it down and resemble a series single coil? Sounds cool to me.
 
drTStingray .

as You wrote, Your SR5 got ceramic pickup with phantom coil under, right?

In that case everything is just fine to me, ...I was talkin' 'bout alnico pickup version with filter...etc.

However, I'd like to answer to Your question, ...I'm doing it just fine with my white reflex, ....only would like to have more gigs, ...I'm in a hunt for a parallel band right now while my main wedding band is in a "stand by" situation, ...also I got some studio recording job offers, so ...I'm happy, that's only what counts I suppose?

When I find some free time, I prepare to record one brutal finger breaking video with my reflex, Brazilian fusion samba stuff (I practice, but it's pretty hard to play every single Jaco's note, so I think I'm gonna improvise a little bit).

Cheers!

P.S. ...we should continue through PM messages?
 
My bass (2008 ltd) has alnico PU's.
So the middle position is in parallel mode + filter

For me, it sounds thicker (fatter) and more "sweet" highs (less hard highs).
Most of the times I play in this 'filter' position.
 
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I've noticed that as well. I had heard that it is supposed to be an "almost" single coil sound, but I don't really hear it as sounding like one. It seems almost kind of mellow.
 
Well, the middle position on stingray 5 single H basses had always been a single coil option, until now. Some versions had the single coil with a phantom coil, while others were just half of the humbucking pickup. I assumed that the filter would be some attempt to emulate that, but it doesn't seem to be.
 
mobass said:
I think everyone should get rid of their SR HS. Just send them to me;)
Click to expand...
`
But .... thaz the version that DOES still solo the SC of the humbugger !
It's the only [fretted] SR5 I've ever had, cuz it's the only one that has
the really 'bassy' voices I dig. Altho I can solo the bridge SC, I use that
just for percussive "island" or Latin riddm. My fave config is position 2
[from the 'front'] which silences the bridge coil and combines the other
2 coils in a sorta "wide aperture P-bass" deal. Me likey.
 
Since the previous had the phantom coil to eliminate hum when in single coil position, I'm going to venture a guess on what the filter does. I'm guessing that is reduces the magnet strength of one of the coils so that it acts as the phantom coil did and allowing the other coil to sound like a single coil.
 
Freddels,

I don't think so!

I believe that filter is kind of active, or maybe even passive fixed EQ filter that produces a tiny tone, ...fake single coil tone!

Well, ...I'm just guessing, ...but I'm pretty sure it's something like that!
 
I never knew this. Now I'll have to listen to the middle position again. Still use 1 and 3 99% of the time.
 
I don't own my SR5 anymore, but pretty sure it was single coil with an air coil to make it humbucking.
When did they change that to a filter? And is there anything to corroborate that beyond internet hearsay?
 
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