mcnach Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I just bought a 55-02. I'd normally get a Stingray 5 string, because I have already establish that that's the sound I prefer. UNfortunately they only make them with ridiculously narrow string spacing... so cannot own one. The 55-02 does not do a Stingray sound because the MM pickup is at the wrong spot, too close to the bridge. It's more of a muscular Jazz, which is cool, but not a Stingray. The pickup has a switch to choose from either of the two coils, or full humbucker. I like the full humbucker (fat Jazz, lots of bottom), but the single coil fartherst from the bridge has a "snap" that reminds me slightly of a Stingray. It would not pass for one, but... it has a bit of the character that I like in Stingrays. Then I decided to look at the preamp switches. These control the centre frequency for the mids control. It was set at 900Hz. I was not in love with what it was doing, and my mind toyed with the idea of a John East MMSR. I tried it higher (1100Hz). No, too thin. I tried the lowest setting: 275Hz. Ah! Now that was interesting. Very chunky! It sounded great at home. Not sure it would work well in a band setting, it may be a bit too muddy... I don't know. Then I tried the 600Hz, which is the default setting when new. That was excellent. With the single coil, boosting bass a bit above the centre detent, and a bit of treble too... the "Stingrayness" became a bit more clear. Then a bit of mids (at 600Hz), and I was in familiar territory. No, not a Stingray... of course not. But... you can definitely hear some of that sound in there. I'm going to be away from this bass for a while now... so I'll continue my experiments another time... and I just found that you can select frequencies between those four, by using pairs of switches. I cannot be the only one who has experimented with the centre frequencies of this preamp. So, what is/are your favourite setting(s)? And why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeatNut Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 275 definitely, boosted to 1-2 o'clock , maybe 3 if I'm boosting bass a little too. Nice and fat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) My 55-94D pre dates the dip switches. I run the pickup selector in the middle and boost the bass and mids. Gives me a full, fat, warm and punchy tone through all my amps and cabs. ps I have the original Bartolini pickups and pre amp installed. Edited January 7, 2015 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeatNut Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1420627642' post='2651388'] My 55-94D pre dates the dip switches. [/quote] My 2005 55-94D does have a bart pre like yours, but it also has (a different set of) dip switches. That one is set at 250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 My Lakland was made in 1997. A very early 5er according to Dan Lakin. This is the best Lakland I've played and I've tried a few, including an even earlier one (serial no 17) an ex Pino bass, at the Bass Gallery last year. These are just amazing instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Bassfreq Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 I can't find anymore settings other than the ones on the back of the control plate cover; I didn't use any of those settings, instead I just put number 3 and number 4 in the up position, and number 1 and number 2 in the down position and that combination/setting sounds great to MY ears, better than the original/default setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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