dincz

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1411064430' post='2556171'] What about a proper Stingray pick up? Available on Musicman-UK website as spare parts (as are various EQs). [/quote] Thanks for the tip. I hadn't even thought of that. It's an option but then there's the thrill (and necessity ) of keeping costs down. I might consider it if the experimental phase looks promising enough.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1411041499' post='2555819'] I suspected it would be the sizzle you are missing, a two band pre eb replica would be ready to make and certainly add some top end. [/quote] Had a play with my amp settings and with heaps of high boost on my rack preamp's parametric + a BDI21 with full treble and presence it actually comes close but that's an enormous amount of boost. The Stingray pup and/or preamp must be seriously bright. Original MM pickups measure only 4kohms per coil (2kohms in parallel) so I'm guessing they're also fairly low inductance so brighter. Anyone?

Routed and put back together: [URL=http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/dincz/media/P1000241_zpsb1b2f497.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u493/dincz/P1000241_zpsb1b2f497.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The pickup is wired with coils in parallel direct to the output jack at the moment but it's already an improvement. Much more growl rather like low piano strings. The high end Stingray sizzle isn't really there and that might be the Wilkinson pickup or the lack of a preamp - apparently the original MM 2 band preamp has 20dB of treble boost available. Waiting on a reply from a local(ish) pickup maker and planning to build a Stingray 2 band preamp on veroboard. Pretty pleased with the result so far.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410803937' post='2553385'] Any of the branded ones should be good, basslines, Seymour Duncan, Bartolini would probably be my choice, I'd get a John east preamp too. [/quote] OK, thanks. I did read somewhere that the original Stingray pups measured only around 4Kohms per coil compared with much more on typical "MM style" pups. Are the ones you mentioned electrically the same as a real one? There's also a guy over my way - actually next door in Slovakia - who does custom pickups for very reasonable prices. His website is in Foreignish though - [url="http://www.electrosonic.szm.com/html/str1.htm"]http://www.electroso...m/html/str1.htm[/url] As far as the preamp's concerned, I'm so impressed with the sound of the SX with the preamp bypassed that I'll hold off on that decision for now. I might even see how it all sounds with the Cort preamp, which is absolutely uncoloured with the knobs centred.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410798167' post='2553279'] We need pictures! [/quote] This is the best I can do so far [url="http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/dincz/media/P1000240_zpsf5a25ef8.jpg.html"][/url] So what pickup do you recommend? [color=#ffffff]?[/color] [color=#ffffff]?[/color] [color=#ffffff]?[/color]

The plot thickens. I just read this on TB: "I've never heard that Stingrays were known for any growl." Maybe we all have different interpretations of "growl" but for me it's this (as posted by ahpook on another thread) : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcyfPXF770U[/media] and that's very much the sound that appeals to me on my SX 5'er. I've taken the plunge - stripped the Cort and took the body to be routed for the same pup position as the SX. It should be ready by the end of the week. So meanwhile, what pup is likely to give me that sound? There are plenty of MM style pups available but I guess they vary a lot in sound. I'm going to play around with the Cort pups (2 wire only) and a spare Wilkinson 4 wire which should give me some options - split/series/parallel.

[quote name='LeftyJ' timestamp='1410690103' post='2551898'] Isn't the C4H already equipped with two MM-style humbuckers? The regular C4 has two soapbars. You're describing a PJ-setup, which slightly puzzles me because there's never been a C4 with PJ. All I can think of is the Cort Action Bass - which shares its bodyshape with the Artisan C4. Why not get a C4H or C5H instead, with the two humbuckers? [/quote] In the beginning there was the C4H with 2 x MM's. The next experiment was upgrading the P pup on an Action bass - good but the sound of the Stingray clone even with the preamp bypassed has got me hankering for the same sound in a 4 string. After doing some reading here and on TB, I'm now thoroughly confused. As usual there are polar opposites of opinion as to what contributes most to the Stingray sound. Pickup design, position, preamp. All valid, and then there's wood - call me a sceptic.

So what is the right pup position? My SX MM is 165mm from 21st fret to centre of pup.

In terms of playability, my favourite bass is my Cort Artisan C4H. Neck size/feel, string spacing just fit me like a glove but the sound is kind of bland. Upgraded the P pup in a PJ and it's a step up soundwise but doesn't feel as good as the Artisan. I recently bought a Stingray 5 clone as I was keen to dabble with 5 strings.and the sound is exactly what I've been missing but the neck feels big and clumsy and it's heavy I don't think a fiver is ever going to be my main bass Based on my own observations and what I've been able to find out, the key to the Stingray sound is pickup position so I'm toying with the idea of modding the Cort with a humbucker in the MM position. I'd remove the two existing humbuckers, rout the space between them and fit the replacement there along with a suitable pickguard to hide the excavations. If all goes well, I'll finish up with a pretty decent 4 string that sounds close to a Stingray. If not, then I'll have blown the resale value of what is a fairly cheap bass anyway. To rout or not to rout?

[quote name='Magic Matt' timestamp='1410522115' post='2550306'] So you'd have to remove the highpass protection filter... how would you stop the gravitational influence of the moon affecting your signal? [/quote] I'd leave it as is. Prefer a natural, organic sound

[quote name='MB1' timestamp='1410447407' post='2549544'](The Baird of Salford) [/quote] Didn't he invent television?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1410461034' post='2549762'] Ah. So a square wave with a period of 20 years is not the same as DC to a speaker..?[/quote] That's why I avoid drop tuning

[quote name='Magic Matt' timestamp='1410456160' post='2549674'] Read the comment about clipping being DC and cracked up! LOL! How could anyone think clipping is D.C.!?!? [/quote] I think it's because if you look at it for a short enough time period, it is DC. Not correct but understandable.

The middle finger is longer and so has to curl more to reach the same point as the index finger - meaning there's more nail contact. Keep the nails short and/or raise your right hand slightly so the fingers are straighter.

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1410348051' post='2548355'] I wonder if it would be worth having a push/pull volume pot where you could bypass the internal preamp and switch it into passive mode direct to the output jack since you like the sound you're getting? [/quote] That might be worthwhile if the new preamp is any good. Otherwise passive with the EQ on my rack preamp should take care of things. It's got low and high shelving and 2 fully parametric mids.

When I had a chance to try the SX at home I was a bit underwhelmed. The sound was kind of nondescript which I put down to the old strings, and when digging in even a bit there was really nasty distortion. I thought the level was too much for my preamp (in fact it was about 1.5V!) but it turns out the onboard preamp was clipping. Faulty or bad design? Wired the volume pot direct to the output jack and it's now a different animal entirely. It's come alive - even with the old strings - and has a glorious barky (but not distorted) sound on open strings and low frets when played hard. I've ordered what appears to be an identical 3 band preamp off Ebay, but it will have to be pretty impressive to tempt me away from the direct-wired passive sound. I was already thinking of selling it on before too long, but now it's really growing on me and I'm getting used to the tight string spacing. Never having played a real Stingray, I don't know how it compares. Is "aggressive bark" how you'd describe the sound? And have any of you had a chance to compare them side-by-side?

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1410251497' post='2547429'] Is a low F# even audible? [/quote] And even it is, can you tell if it's in tune or not?

600W is the maximum power an amp should send to the cab. A bit like the speed rating on a tyre - you don't have to drive that fast

I got as far as multiplying wattage by 1.414. He obviously doesn't understand what he's writing about.

[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1410048523' post='2545722'] A little mixer like the behringer xenyx 502 with a good headphone for bass like a Sennheiser hd25-1. [/quote] OK with active basses but the low input impedance will noticeably drop off the highs with a passive. Most small mixers don't offer a high impedance (instrument) input.

As the heading says, I bought it. In almost as new condition cosmetically except for one very small dent on the back bottom edge. [url="http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/dincz/media/SX1_zpsa6ac122e.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/dincz/media/SX2_zps2af07bfa.jpg.html"][/url] Strings are pretty dead - to be remedied tomorrow. 3 band EQ but the mid control has no effect whatsoever. Decided to get it anyway and the preamp is a generic Chinese block of epoxy so not repairable. [url="http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/dincz/media/SX4_zps160ef491.jpg.html"][/url] However, it looks identical to a Chinese preamp on Ebay for £5. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Band-EQ-Preamp-Circuit-For-Bass-Pickup-Active-/140772803001?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20c6b681b9"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20c6b681b9[/url] I'm now wondering whether to replace it with the Ebay one or just wire it passive volume and tone to the output jack. I don't fiddle with the eq much and my preamp has a very good 4 band EQ section with 2 parametric mid controls. I've ordered the preamp anyway and will try both options. Can't really say much about the sound until I get new strings on it, but I can say it's heavy EDIT: Seems to have loads of output level. In fact it drives my BDI21 into previously unheard levels of dirt even with EQ set flat (although the mid EQ fault might be involved).

Going for a look tomorrow - a fair way so I hope it's worth it. Yes, the photo is odd. Looks like he used a zoom and the perspective is wonky.

Better for a valve amp to drive a slightly low impedance than a higher one, so use the 4 ohm setting to drive a 2.7ohm load. In either case the mismatch is very slight and wouldn't be a problem - especially when you consider that a cab's impedance is just a nominal figure and in practice it varies wildly across the frequency range.

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1409816790' post='2543535'] Got to be worth a try then, buy it & if you like it cool, if not sell it on. I don't know what the market is like there but I doubt you'd loose anything on it. & it's a nice looking bass. [/quote] He included a pic of the receipt which shows he paid £275 for it 4 years ago. I can't find the 5 string new here but the 4 string version sells new for £140. I'd be surprised if the price difference between 4 and 5 string was so great so a little suspicious about the receipt.

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1409777691' post='2543365'] When you say for the equivalent do you mean it's coming from the US? (import duty) There was a craze around these parts a few years back where loads of members bought sx jazzes & p's, they were quite decent apparently. [/quote] Sorry, I meant it's for sale here in CZ.