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Replacement pup for a Stirling RAY34CA?


Mr Fretbuzz
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Hey guys any recommendations for improving the sound with replacement humbucker but to retain a sting ray sound? Nordstrand MM4.2 or the new Aguilar AG 4 M or another? Got a new purchase at the Bass Show. I want to keep it as Leland Sklar signed it for me but to improve it.

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The Sterling's are ceramic whereas most Stingray pups are alnico, so that's something to bear in mind.

A classic 2-band EQ circuit will also help if you're going after the traditional Stingray tone.

I have a Ray4 coming my way so I'll be looking to mess about with the electronics on that too! Leaning towards Nordstrand for the pickup. I also have an East 3-band pre which sounds similar to the 2-band but with an added mid control - whereas the modern Music Man 3-band said have a harsher more aggressive sound. The Retrovibe Stinger is a cheap way to get the 2-band tone too, but it'd look odd on a bass with holes for four pots!

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Got my Ray4 yesterday from a trade, the cheaper version of your Ray34CA. Sounds great, although the output is rather hot so it didn't play nice with certain pedals. It sounds like a Stingray alright, I'd be perfectly happy to leave it stock, but going to experiment with it nonetheless.

I'm fitting a 2-band Retrovibe Stinger EQ to it later today, then will think about pickups. Maybe a Basslines ceramic job, I really like the aggressive sound this has right now as it's unlike any of my other basses, and Alnico might mellow it out too much.

I also have a Westone Thunder with P and MM pickups and a 3-band John East Stingray pre. This one's going to get a set of flats, and maybe some vintage style alnico pickups and swap out the East for an Audere pre with the Z-mode switch and a passive tone control.

Hopefully I will then be happy with these so I can get back to playing with them instead of fiddling with them!

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[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1394299572' post='2390077']
Kent Armstrongs are Ceramic. I've got one in a Wishbass and it really barks/growls.

Amazing value for £51

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/musicman-bass-pickup-2765-p.asp
[/quote]

Not sure I like the look of that, part of the visual appeal for me is those fat pole pieces!



Anyhow, just given the Stinger preamp a whirl. It has a lot more mids going on, less highs, and more lows on tap than the stock preamp. I think this would sound really good in the other bass with flats that I'm setting up as a funk machine, but I'm putting the stock pre back in the SUB as it has more bite up top and a more aggressive sound, which is what I'm after for this bass. I can imagine that the Stinger would sound better in a band mix though since it's less scooped.

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[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1394310026' post='2390233']
I can imagine that the Stinger would sound better in a band mix though since it's less scooped.
[/quote]

That Stinger preamp sounds amazing with a P. Just the right frequencies boosted for me.

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