martthebass Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Well I've had a go at trading my Ray 30th for a custom shop Precision or vintage Precision of similar value with no success so far...however I don't really want to stick it back under the bed so here's asking how I could 'calm' it down a bit. I've found the Sue Ryder P that I usually use for jam nights and tough venues works great in the acoustic band I'm in, however the Ray and my Status are a bit too 'in yer face'. The Ray 30th has a great deep punchy core tone which doesn't really suit but is there anything I could do to tame it a bit? I've thought of flats but had a bad experience a few years back on a thru body bass where the G snapped at the ferrule and nearly took my eye out lol, but please, all suggestions welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Try flats, I find d'ardio chromes the best. Also the knobs go down as well as up, try cutting back on the treble with flats and boost the mods and lows a little and it gives a pretty warm and mellow tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Mart, Jon Shuker wired up a passive mod on my old Stingray. When you pulled the treble pot out, it switched the bass to passive mode and the treble pot worked as a passive tone pot. It was a great mod and made the bass sound very P like. It might be an idea to try something similar if you want a more organic sound. The other thing too was that it was completely reversible so if you wanted to put it back to stock it was relatively straightforward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Cheers Nick, That's worth thinking about, Maybe I should have never let that very nice MIA P bass of yours I once owned go though eh? Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I'll preface this with the comment I've not ever played a stingray in a band.... But it always struck me that the old ones I've heard sounded, and fitted in the mix in a similar way to the P bass (but different) If I were you I would try.... a passive mod like suggested..... and then look on net for the bajaman schematics for a old pre-EB 2eq preamp. and build that in a separate box and see how that works. or the john east preamp if you have the money. i can't believe you can't make the thing sound good/less aggressive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Black nylon tapewounds? Adjust the pickup height lower? On my Sandberg I roll the treble right off to get a more rounded, warm tone. Sorry if I'm suggesting obvious things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Flats and drop the treble...a lot. It definitely works. Or, use old nickels. The 2EQ inherently sounds warmer/bigger in the lows and low mids, and the 3 is still 'big', but has more definition and a modern tone. All in all, its a Ray. I like both, hence Im after a 2EQ now as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I did a gig the other night with a Ray 5 (not mine) through a TC Electronics rig (also not mine), and was surprised at how much of a fundamental tone I got with it when I dialed in an appropriate EQ. Really nice is was. I like Rays but I've always had them down as too ballsey for what I usually play, however with a bit of EQ'ing this can soon be sorted out. I've heard Rays with flats on as well and they sound absolutely brilliant, really take the edge of their aggressiveness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I have played in all styles of bands with mine over the years and always found a useable sound, I'm sure there must be examples of Rays being used in well known bands of all genres? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 If you can get TI flats to work on that bridge then go for those. I had a standard fretless stingray and had a fantastic sound with those. I don't go for the nasally fretless tone and in all honesty my tone on a fretless sounds like me playing a fretted which is why I gave playing fretless. The 30th is a growly beast but calming the EQ down a bit and fitting TIs will mellow it out a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Flats, like everyone else said. I played a Precision (fretless) in an acoustic band and found the growl fitted in well when I played a bit further up resting my thumb on the edge of the neck. Have you tried altering your playing style? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Excellent bass, a shame you thought of trading/selling it but all down to personal pref and what sound/image you want. I agree with trying the flats but more so the comment on lowering the EQ or possibly a valve amp for a warmer tone? All the best matey and keep us updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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