Greggo

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1381184924' post='2235659'] I doubt it... but then I'm not big on the theory of tone woods in an electric instrument. [/quote] Haha funny you should say that, I'm not a big believer either but I guess there's always hope!

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1381180801' post='2235608'] You be surprised. I've been recreating a well known G&L pup placement for a few basses then recently decided that I'd try something new. I moved it about a cm neck-ward and voomp! All of a sudden we have new harmonic overtones. [/quote] In theory (if the whole body wood does make a difference rings true) if I moved the pickup back so it is right against the wood in the cavity would this have a positive impact on tone as well? At present it sits in the middle of cavity so the pup doesn't touch any wood (oo er!)

I've never had an issue with string tension over pickup. I may just experiment by moving it - it makes no odds if it doesn't sound much different can just put back into the correct place so pickguard fits.

[quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1381174831' post='2235469'] 21st fret to centre of the pickup on my Vintage is 160mm, probably not enough to make much of a difference... [/quote] Haha jinx doing it at same time. I'm happy that the Vintage is pretty dammed close. The alnico magnet mod definitely makes things so much sweeter for nailing that tone! May get some clips up

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1381139840' post='2234730'] From the centre of the 21st fret to the middle of the pup on my 'ray is approximately 169mm. HTH [/quote] Just measured centre of 21st to centre of pickup on my Vintage and it is approx 157mm so is further. There's actually less wiggle room to push it back than I thought, another 5mm. However I took measurement of 21st to centre of p pickup from my Yamaha BB414 and that's 120mm exactly so it's closer to ray sweet spot at least!

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1381173216' post='2235430'] For added cosmetic help, you could cur the front bit off the bridge, or even get one of these [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHROME-BASS-GUITAR-BRIDGE-FOR-MUSIC-MAN-Style-5-String-Guitar-/160983855039?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item257b62afbf"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHROME-BASS-GUITAR-BRIDGE-FOR-MUSIC-MAN-Style-5-String-Guitar-/160983855039?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item257b62afbf[/url] [/quote] Proper lookalike bridge

[quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1381155661' post='2235052'] Is there anywhere else to fingerpick a Stingray-type? [/quote] I fingerpick at the nut, gives a very unique tone

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1381154719' post='2235034'] It is my belief that the pup placement in the 'ray (or any other bass) is integral to it's sound. I'd go for it. [/quote] If I can get the pup in the sweet spot using the available space, I will have to see about getting a new pickguard. It isnt a pretty bass without a pickguard - the pickup looks like it is in an unfilled grave!!

[quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1381143250' post='2234802'] I've never measured it but in terms of 'feel' when A/Bing my VS96 with a SUB fingerpicking on the Vintage seemed a little looser with the same gauge strings, so I'd take from that that the pickup IS a little further forward - shall be intrigued to find out for definite though! [/quote] Is that when playing over the pickup? I think from sight alone it looks like it is further foward, thinking perhaps getting into P-bass territory. Its not a bad thing, Im not trying to make it sound EXACTLY like a stingray, just trying to make it closer to that tone, (seeing as it is based on that design). Will be interesting to hear if it sounds any different if I screw the pickup down a bit further back using the generous space the they have routed for the pickup (seriously, the size of the cavity they've dug out for that single pickup is huge! Could probably fit about 4 or 5 single coils in it!)

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1381139840' post='2234730'] From the centre of the 21st fret to the middle of the pup on my 'ray is approximately 169mm. HTH [/quote] Ah thanks I may measure mine and see how it fairs - is it the positon of pickup relative to last fret that counts as opposed to distance from bridge? I've never been too sure of these kind of things, but as Im getting more interested in tinkering it is good to know.

Been playing around with my Vintage 'ray copy and I've been trying to get it sounding as good as I can do on a tight budget. Its already got a clone of a 2 band stingray preamp in and I've swapped out the ceramic bar magnets in it for 2 alnico v bar magnets and the results are pleasing. I did notice though that when comparing pics of the real 'ray to my copy , Im sure the pickup positioning in mine is further towards neck than the real ray - almost in the P position? (top is the vintage and bottom is the real thing - images not mine but is of same bass - pinched from google) What does anyone else think? The pickup routing in the body is massive though and in theory i could move the pickup further towards the bridge by about 15mm.

Does the 2 eq ray have a big sweep in treble when turning? I understand treble is cut/boost but I don't know if I'm expecting something that was never there or not. In position 10 its got the sizzle but from position 9 (approx) to about 3 there is a reduction but not gradual (same sound) and then the first few "positions" is like the cut and sound the same (so effectively 3 tones over the range of the pots motion) The pots are probably just cheapies (not even alpha) so that's why I'm thinking may be worth replacing. Bass control is fine though.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1380974001' post='2232969'] Those are the same pot values he's put in the diagram for them so presumably that's what you have already. [/quote] Yeah I never originally looked at diagram (had no intention of trying to make one myself) but I see that now

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1380967829' post='2232857'] If anyone was doing a clone of that preamp, then they would definitely use the same value pots for it, as anything else wouldnt make it a clone. One was you can check the values is by taking them off and getting a multimeter on them. Get the resistance straight away. But according the the widely available stringray preamp diagram the values are as follow: Vol: 25k log Bass: 100k Log treble: 1meg reverse log. May i ask where the clone preamp came from? [/quote] From probass.co.uk. Thanks for info, I think the issue is with the pots themselves,think the volume and treble are a bit duff. With the exception of the bass control which works fine (can detect the changes through the whole turn of the pot) the Volume only seems to have one setting ( which 1 is same volume as 10)and the treble has about three sounds as the pot sweeps. Will order a new vol and treble with those values and see what happens I think. Preamp itself sounds great though nonetheless. I've just done a mod to the pickup as well - swapped out the ceramic bar magnets in the Wilkinson pickup for alnico bar magnets and it sounds even better.

Can anyone with a pre EB ray tell me what the pot values are for all the controls. I've got a clone preamp of a 2 band but want to replace pots as they are a bit poor (very on/off in nature). I'm not sure if the pot values on this are necessarily the same as the original. Are they all mixture of log and linear too? Thanks

Anyone ever fitted a badass to a yammy bb414?

Further to this, I've got the polarity of pickup correct (one magnetic was facing wrong way at one stage and the sound was out of phase) but does anyone know if the magnet has to be right way up too? The output is much lower than expected - unless battery is dying in preamp my passive bass is considerably louder even taking into account lower resistance of pup now. Pickup is raised relatively high too. EDIT - this seems to have sorted itself out. The foam underneath pickup has dampened the vibrations so less noise when tapping on pup and I think the output is correct given that the alnico has lowered output of pickup. The passive bass I'm comparing it to does have hot pickups anyway EDIT 2 - i can only assume because magnets are not big enough to fill to completely cover all pole pieces completely the output is too low to be usable - i may order a custom size set to match the size of original ceramic bars! (or just buy a nordie!)

New alnico are in. Definitely a different sound, much rounder slightly punchier sound and the advantage is that I can have pickup higher. The preamp feels more responsive and you can hear more of a change when sweeping bass/treble controls. I'm happy with the sound! Only snag is the pickups are also bit more microphonic and if you can hear finger sounds over the pickups and if you tap the pickup even gently it is amplified considerably. I think some of the wax over the steel slugs may have come off would this cause it? Is it worth rewaxing them and placing magnets down?

I love that shreddocaster! The Japanese theme works so well and is tastefully done. How did you age the chrome? Not normally a fan of relicing but what you've done is spot on, it looks like a guitar that has a story to tell and I'd well used in. For me personally a Ibanez maple neck (wizard iii?) from an RG would have looked more suited, but the tree of life does add something to the Japanese theme. Enjoy!

[quote name='d-basser' timestamp='1380635813' post='2228204'] I think what Foxen meant was that the magnets do not really need potted. I personally would test fit the magnets dry and if you like the sound then more securely fit them using epoxy. [/quote] Ah ok - yeah sounds like a plan.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1380628044' post='2228003'] The coil needs potting, rather than the magnet, magnet isn't made of various loose bits that can move. [/quote] Coils are not exposed when I took the magnets out, just the metal slugs that the magnet will sit on.

[quote name='d-basser' timestamp='1380620237' post='2227833'] Out of interest what size where the magnets in your pickup and where are you getting the replacement Alnicos? I am currently sourcing parts for a build and finding the right size of Alnico bar magnets is proving to be pain [/quote] The magnets in my MM type pickup are 80 x 15mm, but the ones Ive ordered are a bit smaller (62 x 12mm) but will still cover all the steel pole pieces as I measured. The tech guy from AxesRus gave some good advice - he said to dip the new magnets in melted wax thats still warm then place in pickup - the wax will seal them in better with them being a bit smaller size and will pot them as well, which is a bonus. I got magnets from this site in the end as bit cheaper than axesrus for the alnico set :- [url="http://www.cermag.co.uk/buy_guitar_pickup_magnet.html"]http://www.cermag.co...kup_magnet.html[/url]