Greggo

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]

Oh I found this :- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np9q95HCxu8 Same reviewer as your video but more detailed analysis. Can hear a bit more B string too.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1380491691' post='2226220'] Wow, that's great thanks Greggo! I can't download your track on my phone for some reason so I'll check it out on the pc tomorrow at home. Cheers! What's the weight like on your bass? I'm hoping they're lighter than the MM Stingrays (a deciding factor in the sale of my own Stingray - great bass, weighed a ton). My Vintage V4 Pbass weighs 8 3/4 lbs and the Vintage V96 Jaco fretless Jbass I had weighed around the same (I agree, wonder why they changed the model names around? Confusing indeed!) Seems the eastern poplar is a good sounding and light tonewood. Thanks again! [/quote] No worries! I'm not too sure of weight but it's lighter than my Yamaha BB414 that's for sure. It's definitely not a back breaker. I just watched that you tube clip, the bass sounds ok in that clip to be fair. I don't know if the preamp has been changed at all for the newer model. Either way, the stinger preamp I installed just gives the tone that stingray type of voice. I couldn't say for sure how close to the real thing it really is, but based on clips I've heard of a ray its well over halfway there at least. I'm in the process of modding the pickup on mine - it has two ceramic bar magnets, which I'm going to swap for two alnico v bar magnets which in theory should sweeten the tone more and hopefully get it even closer to the tone of a real ray. Well as close as you can for a non EB sub £200 bass with £45 of total mods!

After a long time of not having an amp in rehearsal room and having to DI, I'm having an issue getting my sound through the now repaired amp to be right and the info in this thread is useful. The guitarist is pretty mid heavy so I will try a reduction in mids to see if this helps me fit in better with band sound. Using the DI seemed to work well, the EQ of the preset I used just seemed to work no ifs no buts. If I can't get it right with amp will just stick to DI.

This endeavour is back on... Using a flat blade screwdriver I took out the ceramic bar magnets and I should receive the alnico replacements any day.

I own a Vintage EST96 which is the previous name of the V96 (not sure why they renamed them - the v96 used to be a jazz copy iirc). As stock they are not great as the preamp in them is not good. It is too muddy and the treble does nothing. When I got mine I wired it passive thanks to a wiring harness from basschatter KioGon and this made it sound much better, and the actual pickup is actually really good. Does give a decent imitation of the stingray vibe. However, I discovered this inexpensive preamp : http://probass.co.uk/StingerEQ.html Easy enough to install and the bass sounds great with it in! It's a clone of a 2EQ stingray preamp and this genuinely gives this bass the stingray vibe it is missing as stock. In regards to the B, I find it is okay, it's not too floppy with a decent guage string and is perfectly usable. I do recommend bass, it plays really nicely and the unfinished maple neck is pretty quick. It does play better with a straight neck so may need a tweak of the rod to get it there. If you do get bass definitely pick up one of those preamp and bin the stock One! Cheaper than a John East too Here is a song my band were working on which has the bass with the new preamp in - bit rough but gives an idea. Just direct into digital 4 track no post processing. https://db.tt/xthQSQaU

These strings arrived so will whack em on bass soon! They are made in Korea so probably mass produced OEM strings re branded but they will do the trick I'm sure! I used legacy strings on my other bass that were £8 and they were fine!

My last acquisition was a swap of my Yamaha RBX 5 (which I originally got as part of a swap for an Encore bass which cost £120 years ago) for a Yamaha BB414 and I love this bass more and more each time I use it. After fearing the truss rod was broken and the neck was doomed to be bowed forever, a bit of perseverance and turns out the rod was just seized so I've got the neck relief spot on now and the bass just plays so nice. So all told this bass has not cost me anything as it's a product of various swaps over the last 12 years and it's better built and plays nicer than the bass I purchased last year (which in itself is a budget instrument - a jhs Vintage stingray lookalike) Having said that the last bass I bought I've had fun with because I've done various mods to it and learned a lot about wiring / soldering so it's not all bad!

I had cobalt strings on my 5 string and although they feel nice I could never get on with the action on them, they seem to be higher tension. Sound ok though, but they aren't very bright but that may be good for some.

I saw an interesting YouTube clip of a guy who tried to prove that wood could have an effect on tone of guitar. He basically had two capos on the middle of the guitar creating a gap of one fret and cloth muting strings between the capos. He theorised that when strings were plucked in front of capo the vibration of strings through the neck / body made the strings after the capo vibrate on sympathy. All well and good but the guy had to have the gain up to pick up this vibration and the pickups could have been very microphonic for all I know. Based on this I would think that if the pickups are also picking up body vibrations due being microphonic, the tone the pickups pickup could be a blend of say 95% string sound and 5% body sound. Which then makes me think that high end guitars probably sound so good because the pickups are better and don't pickup as much body vibration because they are better potted, better made, etc Therefore wood doesn't get a look in. Just my theory anyway. Still fascinating stuff!

Bellended off

[quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1380204881' post='2222290'] Might want to keep an eye on this one: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OLP-Ernie-Ball-Sting-Ray-Style-Bass-/171131576710?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27d83ca186"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OLP-Ernie-Ball-Sting-Ray-Style-Bass-/171131576710?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27d83ca186[/url] [/quote] Dammit why does he have to live so far.. I've got a 2 band stingray preamp clone just waiting to go into one of these!

Lovely BB. Big fan and I just have the BB414 bet that is a delight to play

Dammit me too.. I need to get some funds and quick!

Anyone used one of these MM pickups from axesrus? I've got a Wilkinson mm in my vintage but wondering if these axesrus favour any better. I'd like a less hot pickup ideally as Wilkinson one is pretty high output. Site - http://www.axesrus.co.uk/Axesrus-MM-5-string-Bass-Pickup-p/mm5.htm

Anyone heard of/used castle strings. I have ordered a 5 string set whilst buying various bits and bobs from axesrus website for £6, thought it be worth a punt.