Why does my SR5 sound so much better than my SR4s?

[Baird]

I can't figure this out....

I have 3 brand new Stingrays (see pic) and I brought all of them to a gig last night. The SR5 soulded much fuller and had a great low end punch. My 2007 LE and 30th just sounded clicky, trebly and thin in comparison. I played 2 songs each with the SR4s and the rest of the night with my SR5 as it just sounded incredible.

Based on the build dates in my signature, am I missing something? Different pickups, etc?

I am not easily impressed, but this SR5 sounds better than my new Sadowsky MS5, my Fenders and my old Bongo 5 or Lakland 55-02. I am absolutely blown away at how good this bass sounds on a gig.

[/IMG]

 

[mynan]

Your SR5 has ceramic pickups and therefore, a different preamp than your SR4s, which have alnico pickups. Your SR4 pickups are wired parallel, so the parallel setting on your SR5 is probably going to be closest to the SR4, but with the different pickups it won't be the same.

Your SR5, technically, is closer to the Sterling that you just sold.

I don't know why your SR4s would sound thin, though.

 

[sloshep]

You posted in another thread that you liked the the middle setting (SR5)which is single coil. This sound is closer to the series sound than the parallel sound. As stated above the SR4 is wired parallel. With the ceramic pickup(SR5) you are going to get a more aggressive tone than alnico(SR4). Try boosting the mids and bass a little on the SR4 and see if that helps. Personally I like the parallel sound better. Just me though.

 

[Baird]

With the ceramic pickup(SR5) you are going to get a more aggressive tone than alnico(SR4). Try boosting the mids and bass a little on the SR4 and see if that helps.

Thanks for the advice. The basses are all new to me and I am still trying to get the EQs right.

 

[oli@bass]

Thanks for the advice. The basses are all new to me and I am still trying to get the EQs right.

IMO, the SR4 with the 3 band EQ in generally does not need any major adjustments, but I do like to:
- turn the treble down by a quarter for reggae type sounds
- turn up the bass just a tad over the center detent on some models
- turn down the mids just below the center detent on the 30th

You'll always get a good amount of mids, and that is what makes the bass be heard loud and clear. For the bottom, it's generally not that much of an issue, because of boomy rooms or overdone subs... hardly ever can exscape from either, and somtimes not from both together. So, the mids are your real friends

 

[LowMoJo]

I hear the SR5 and Stingray differences the same way. I don't play 5 strings, but still want an SR5 cuz it's hands down my favorite tone. The Sterling doesn't quite get there for me despite sharing the same pickups and preamp. I've always wondered if the extra mass of the neck and body have something to do with the tonal differences as well.

 

[Baird]

I spent a lot of time with these 3 basses over the weekend on a gig, practice and lots of tinkering at home. I ended up adjusting the pickup and string height as well as the intonation on one case ensure they were all set up roughly the same.

My finding changed slightly, but I still prefer the SR5 to the 2 SR4s.

The SR5 (Single H, Natural ash with rosewood) has more of the big, full booming tone I get out on my Fender Precisions and the Bongo 5 HH I used to own but the articulation across all notes is as good as my Sadowskys (incredible clear). It is great for older rock to the craziest slap and everything in between.

The 30th Anni SR4 has some of that fullness/roundness of the SR5 when the tone is rolled almost right off and the bass boosted almost to full. It is more trebly and definately not as loud. Very versitile and has a great feel to it. Excellen for older stuff but still can sound modern and is a slapping machine. VERY comfortable to play. Plus it is just over 9lbs which makes it the lightest of the three.

The 2007 SE SR4 (Single H, maple board) is definately MUCH brighter than the other two basses. The action was initially super low and that led to some of the clicking and enhanced the brightness. I raised the action a bit and it seems much better balanced tone-wise now. It is still bright as hell as most basses with maple boards are, but it is much more versitile than I thought after figuring out the many different possibilities the 3 band EQ give.

Conclusion? I have 3 great basses that sound different (in a good way) and I love them all. I can bring my SR5 and either of the SR4s to a gig and there really aren't many styles of music I couldn't nail.

I finally have found bass nirvana (for now - I heard the QC of Wishbass is on the rise.)

 

[backagain1]

I love my SR5 too. I especially like to play on the bottom two or three strings, and will go far up the neck to remain on those strings. Maybe you just like the sound of the heavier gage strings that the SR5 provides.

Best wishes,

backagain1

 

[Baird]

I love my SR5 too. I especially like to play on the bottom two or three strings, and will go far up the neck to remain on those strings. Maybe you just like the sound of the heavier gage strings that the SR5 provides.

Best wishes,

backagain1

They all have Regular Slinkys!

I went though a long ardious testing of most brands of strings and EB Slinkys for me are by far the best (on any bass IMO).

 

[Big Poppa]

baird just understand that when you cut the eq you need o boost the gain to compensate.

 

[freddy]

I can't figure this out....

I have 3 brand new Stingrays (see pic) and I brought all of them to a gig last night. The SR5 soulded much fuller and had a great low end punch. My 2007 LE and 30th just sounded clicky, trebly and thin in comparison. I played 2 songs each with the SR4s and the rest of the night with my SR5 as it just sounded incredible.

Based on the build dates in my signature, am I missing something? Different pickups, etc?

I am not easily impressed, but this SR5 sounds better than my new Sadowsky MS5, my Fenders and my old Bongo 5 or Lakland 55-02. I am absolutely blown away at how good this bass sounds on a gig.

[/IMG]

I played my SR5 for several years in church before using it on funk/blues gigs. Wow, I really noticed how great it sounded in the mix. I am wondering if the longer effective length of the E string might make a difference as well compared to the 4-stringers. I also boost the bass slightly and sometimes slightly cut the mids and treble. Flatwounds are my next move in the tone quest.

 

[Baird]

baird just understand that when you cut the eq you need o boost the gain to compensate.

Got it! That was part of my weekend learning process.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I think it's just what SR5s were born to do.

 

[Rano Bass]

I also like SR5's a little more than regular SR4's. I think it's because i prefer ceramic magnets.

 

[backagain1]

They all have Regular Slinkys! )

Yes, but the low string on the SR5 is .130, which is larger and sounds fuller, or more thumpy.

I went though a long ardious testing of most brands of strings and EB Slinkys for me are by far the best (on any bass IMO).

I really like the Slinkys too. But then again, I just put on my first set of EB flatwounds, and I like those too! Different, but nice. I think the first few frets on the low B string sounds tighter on the flatwounds. Above the 15th fret on the low B string, I like the regular slinkys better. On the highest 2 strings, the flatwounds seem to have a little more thump. I like the flatwounds for sliding; they almost sound like a fretless bass. I like the bitey tone of the regular Slinkys.

I like them both, for different reasons!

backagain1

 

[b-unit]

My SR4 has a slightly hotter output then my SR5 and I think I prefer the tone of the SR5 just a little more. Its so growly and rich sounding. The SR4 tone is a little more agressive and in your face if that makes any sense. I always use Slinkys on these babies!