King Tut Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I recently bought a Sting Sig from Flanker. First up I gotta say how pleased I am with it - it looks lovely (I can live with Mr Sumner's autograph - he's a fab musician), it's nice and light, no deadspots and sounds the absolute dogs. It's funny how - even unplugged, it seems to have a natural compression to it - which I put down to the ash body - not unlike my standard Corvette. Not sure what the tone is like with the standard pickup as this one has a quarter pounder fitted. Anyroadup - I'm waffling . . . . I've gigged it once and it was fab live. but the pickup innards do seem very exposed where they are - with not much of a cover. I sweat loads when gigging and I'm a bit concerned about sweat getting into the coils and corroding them or otherwise shagging up the pickup. Anyone go any thoughts on - generally the early style of P Bass and; How well the pickups stand up to road use. I have been thinking of putting on a pup cover, but I'm a bit reluctant to start drilling holes in this mint instrument. Your thoughts gentlemen and ladeez please . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 If the pickup is wax potted then that helps protect the coil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I've owned 2 '51 reissues and have built 2 Warmoth single coil P basses and I think that as long as you don't use the pickup as a thumb rest you're ok. They are more exposed but I certainly don't treat my bass any differently to one with a covered pickup. I've heard stories about the top coming off but I think that either comes from a faulty pickup or someone physically trying to wreck their bass. One night i was playing slightly more aggressive than normal and managed to get the E string stuck under the pickup and I don't have the pickup particularly close to the strings but it didn't damage anything. No point in putting a chrome cover over the top as some of the best tones can be had around the pickup. For most of my playing life I've played Stingrays so I naturally play with my right hand over where the Stingray pickup would normally be. Also gets in the way when you go from playing fingerstyle to slapping. These basses have one of the most unique slap tones. Absolutely love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) I've read posts, reviews etc that mention the problem of damaging the pick-up windings if you get a string caught underneath. Someone maybe suggested protecting the windings by wrapping the sides of the pick-up with something maybe like gaffa tape, only less sticky. Sorry - could I be any more vague? Edited May 16, 2009 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) Yes How about masking tape? Electical tape is too gunky after time if you ever want to take it off as is sellotape I do have to emphasise that you would really need to be a clumsy bugger to damage the pickup Edited May 16, 2009 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 [quote name='Delberthot' post='489422' date='May 16 2009, 12:07 AM']I've owned 2 '51 reissues and have built 2 Warmoth single coil P basses and I think that as long as you don't use the pickup as a thumb rest you're ok. They are more exposed but I certainly don't treat my bass any differently to one with a covered pickup. I've heard stories about the top coming off but I think that either comes from a faulty pickup or someone physically trying to wreck their bass. One night i was playing slightly more aggressive than normal and managed to get the E string stuck under the pickup and I don't have the pickup particularly close to the strings but it didn't damage anything. No point in putting a chrome cover over the top as some of the best tones can be had around the pickup. For most of my playing life I've played Stingrays so I naturally play with my right hand over where the Stingray pickup would normally be. Also gets in the way when you go from playing fingerstyle to slapping. These basses have one of the most unique slap tones. Absolutely love it.[/quote] Thanks for your thoughts - unfortunately, [b]I do[/b] use the pickup as a thumb rest, but my thumb isn't touching the windings - maybe some masking tape would be a good idea. I can't get over how unique this bass sounds compared to my others, and I'm not sure quite why. It's almost like it has a delayed attack when whacking the strings hard. Is this the ash body, or maybe - I thought - the fact that the saddles aren't grooved. I think it's quite ironic with all the talk (most of which I've agreed with) about through necks, hi mass bridges against bent bits of tin etc etc etc that this bass which is pretty much as bassic as you can get sounds so agressive with plenty of sustain and more tone than you could shake a stick at!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Do you play right over the pickup or to the right of it? If you play far enough to the right you may get away with a pickup cover but you have to go the whole hog and get the bridge one as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 Well I just like to have something solid to anchor my thumb on. I've noticed that if I play slightly to the neck side, I can rest on the scratchplate where it meets the pup which may be a way forward. I thought that with a bridge cover - i could vary my tone by playing off either end of it - and you're right, I'd have to get the bridge cover to boot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 how do you get a string stuck under the pickup? can you take some pix of the pickup for me just out of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 (edited) Here's one (not mine) and another... (also not mine!) Last one has a pickup cover added... Edited May 18, 2009 by 12stringbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuseMatt Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 why not just install a thumrest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 [quote name='Delberthot' post='489604' date='May 16 2009, 10:22 AM']How about masking tape?[/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Yep a thumb rest would do it. I'd prob regret it if I ever wanted to sell it on though. It's funny how some of us can be so pernickity about the details . . . . . like . . . it won't look authentic . . . . . . and the 'Stinglay' does??!! :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 [quote name='King Tut' post='492208' date='May 19 2009, 11:12 AM']Yep a thumb rest would do it. I'd prob regret it if I ever wanted to sell it on though. It's funny how some of us can be so pernickity about the details . . . . . like . . . it won't look authentic . . . . . . and the 'Stinglay' does??!! :wacko:[/quote] If that's the only concern why not buy a thumbrest and (if it would include the right thumbrest location) a pickguard - then stick one to t'other with epoxy? That way you can sell the bass as all original in the future. I have to say I treat mine shockingly in terms of wedging my sweaty thumb under the pup - touching the cloth wrapping - and no probs to date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Good idea Dr Dave! But ur kind of feedback was what I was looking for - "I sweat on it and it ain't broke"! And on the subject of pickguards - anyone know where i could get a black one that fits? I maile bass parts resource about their aftermarket one and was told that the outline was close but a coupla holes didn't quite line up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 [url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/category/Pickguards/Fender_Basses/Tele_Bass"]http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/category/Pickguar...asses/Tele_Bass[/url] ?? Any good? Mine's a 54 reish Blueflower P.- clear, 7 hole pickguard. I've actually added 2 screws to mine (middle of the bottom edge waist and near neck pocket lower side) as it was flappy in both places. The 7 facotry holes look the same as the 'sting' pics someone added here. Then again I made a few changes so originality's not an issue for me. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24037&hl=Dr.Dave"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=Dr.Dave[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Very nice doctor. Mines got a quarter pounder in also and sounds just fab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Quarter pounder for me also but I will eventually get round to ordering a Lollar pickup for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 A 'Lollar'? pray tell us more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 (edited) Jason Lollar makes absolutely fantastic replacment pickups. What he doesn't know about them isn't worth knowing. [url="http://www.lollarguitars.com/"]http://www.lollarguitars.com/[/url] Joe Walsh uses his stuff and a fair few other famous names. The other Warmoth that I had, which is still for sale by the guy I traded it with for another bass has one. They're wound like the originals. Sound absolutely huge. I'm still trying to get myself to get one for this but they're $80 which used to be £40 but since the exchange rate's gone t!ts for @r$e that's a lot more now. They are also wax potted and he does a 5 string version. There's a guy on the unofficial warmoth forum has a 5 string '51 style bass. I think I've just persuaded myself to get another one. I'll order it at the weekend. (i'll keep my quarter pounder for any possible future projects though). I'm in the process of selling a bundle of gear that i don't use so when i get the cash from that I'll fire my order in Edited May 20, 2009 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 [quote name='12stringbassist' post='491941' date='May 18 2009, 09:14 PM']Here's one (not mine) and another... (also not mine!) Last one has a pickup cover added... [/quote] Cheers but i meant like a close up of the pickup, i've never seen/played a 51 RI so i don't get how you can actually get a string stuck [i]under[/i] the pickup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I've just bought one having admired them from afar for years. I'll be putting a thumb rest on mine & depending on the stock sound when I get it to rehearsal upgrading for a SD Antiquity pick up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Ah ok then, you'd have to be playing that pretty hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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