fretmeister Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 I'm going to rip my Ray5 apart and stick in EMGs. It's a wonderful playing bass but it needs to sound different. I may even rout it for a neck single coil too. I may or may not tell the EBMM forum afterwards! Quote
Cameronj279 Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 Would be interested in how that sounds! I'm also going to be in the minority here and say that the exposed pole piece pickups that are standard on Stingrays look horrendously ugly to my eye. Quote
Geek99 Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1432758129' post='2784751'] I'm going to rip my Ray5 apart and stick in EMGs. It's a wonderful playing bass but it needs to sound different. I may even rout it for a neck single coil too. I may or may not tell the EBMM forum afterwards! [/quote] Definitely hell-bound Quote
fretmeister Posted May 27, 2015 Author Posted May 27, 2015 [quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1432758341' post='2784756'] Would be interested in how that sounds! I'm also going to be in the minority here and say that the exposed pole piece pickups that are standard on Stingrays look horrendously ugly to my eye. [/quote] There's a good YouTube video with a guy who put DC40 in his Ray. I'm going for a MM5CS Quote
fretmeister Posted May 27, 2015 Author Posted May 27, 2015 http://youtu.be/tS-tpgPFUpI There it is. Sounds good to me! Quote
PlungerModerno Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1432759196' post='2784767'] [media]http://youtu.be/tS-tpgPFUpI[/media] There it is. Sounds good to me! [/quote] Very nice - with a good preamp, that bass could cover a lot of sounds. Gotta give credit to the neutral sounding EMG's. Quote
yorks5stringer Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 It's your Bass, do whatever you want. Just don't ever sell it on eBay and expect it to go unnoticed! Quote
chris_b Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 I'd start with an outboard preamp. Find the sound you like first, before you've made any irreversible changes. Me? I'd just put all that money and effort into finding the right bass. Quote
warwickhunt Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Don't you need to get a permission certificate before you do that... or is that Ric? Quote
fretmeister Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1432804517' post='2785080'] I'd start with an outboard preamp. Find the sound you like first, before you've made any irreversible changes. Me? I'd just put all that money and effort into finding the right bass. [/quote] I am. The right bass is a 5 string stingray that weighs less than 9.5lb but sounds less like a ray and more like a modern jazz. If you can name an off the shelf 5 string modern jazz bass with 17.5mm string spacing, with a Ray 5 profile neck then I'm all ears! Quote
chris_b Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 I had an MM SR5 but I don't remember the neck. It's your bass, upgrade away. Quote
neepheid Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 You're not upsetting me, I'm quite partial to a bit of sterile, soulless EMG action Quote
ColinB Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 I'll be watching with interest as I quite fancy putting a reverse P in to my SUB ray 4. Quote
fretmeister Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 I'm going to do it in stages. First of all a MM5CS into the standard position. That pickup comes with a simple Vol and Tone. While I don't mind thinking about a proper EQ system later my main aim is to make the Ray useable with the music trust orchestra I play with, and often a simple tone control seems to work best in that environment. If that gets me where I want, then that will be great. If not then I'll be looking at installing a neck pickup too. I am in 2 minds on the model. Either another MM5CS to give it that HH ray look, or a Jazz type. If I go with a Jazz version then I will get it in EMG's soapbar casing so I can easily swap with other same size pickups like their DC40 and the (whatever it's called) P bass version. This is all about making an excellent bass a bit more versatile so I can play it more. I only play with the orchestra but that is about 4 hours per week + home practice. The easy playability of the Ray is wonderful for playing 4 hours straight, but the sound does not fit well with the other traditional instruments. No amount of EQing can change the fundamental sound of a ray. Yes I could use a different bass, but it wouldn't be as easy to play and the sessions wouldn't be as fun. Quote
LukeFRC Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Not tempted by the gold clover bass in the sale forum? Save some soldering for you Quote
fretmeister Posted June 4, 2015 Author Posted June 4, 2015 The EMG MM5CS has just arrived from the USA. I decided to get a duplicate scratch plate so I can load them up differently. I might even start installing it this evening. Stage 1 is just the MM5CS with a simple volume and tone. Then I'll see how that goes for a few rehearsals before deciding on future additions. Quote
funkle Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 (edited) I have often wondered about this sort of project. I have EMG DC40s in my Modulus 5 and I think they sound great, esp with a John East U Retro in there too. The Stingray 5 has a superb neck, nut width, and string spacing for someone like me, and it sounds like you too. The sound is marmite. I own one, and I have learned how to live with it and use it, but I like having other instruments (P, J, the Modulus Q5) for other sounds. I have secretly planned to get a Status Stingray 5 neck, mate it to a custom body (or a Ray5 body if I can find one cheap, on its own with no neck), and stick in 2 x EMGDC40 and a U Retro. All the benefits of my Modulus with better balance and less weight. Someday... I'd love to hear how this turns out. Go for it. Pete Edited June 4, 2015 by funkle Quote
Weststarx Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 I dont understand, whats the problem with EMGs? I have an ESP T-406 with EMGs in and it sounds like a monster! Quote
FuNkShUi Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 I think its more about offending the Musicman Forum for modding a Stingray... I may be wrong! Quote
fretmeister Posted June 4, 2015 Author Posted June 4, 2015 [quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1433421891' post='2790939'] I think its more about offending the Musicman Forum for modding a Stingray... I may be wrong! [/quote] Yup! The Musicman forum ban people for things like modding MM instruments! Quote
inate_hex Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1433422082' post='2790942'] Yup! The Musicman forum ban people for things like modding MM instruments! [/quote] Is this true? Quote
paul h Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1432759196' post='2784767'] [media]http://youtu.be/tS-tpgPFUpI[/media] There it is. Sounds good to me! [/quote] That sounds awesome. Quote
Dood Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 I upgraded an Ibanez 6er with three DC40's and a custom switching system. It sounded brilliant. I'm just trying to track down some video clips with it in. Quote
Dood Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 [media]http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-editions/guitar-interactive-issue-28/edition-videos/dv_ampeg_v4b_100w_bass_head_reviewmp4/[/media] Hopefully this clip will work. I'll see if I can find some more - you can ignore the rest of the video just the intro bass clip. Quote
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