mcnach Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 7 minutes ago, pete.young said: You'd be better off with the distance from the 12th fret to the coil centres. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 2 minutes ago, pete.young said: You'd be better off with the distance from the 12th fret to the coil centres. Yes you're probably right, at the moment the neck doesn't fit the body anyway so I've got some measuring to do. It fits the pocket but the neck has a curved end and the pocket straight. I'll probably file the actual neck flat to suit the pocket and leave the curved end of the fretboard to overhang the body slightly. This will possibly result in needing to move the bridge slightly to get the scale right, that's why I didn't want to just slap the PU where the hole in the guard is. But as you say, the measurement from the neck end will be more consistent (once the neck is fitted. This is all just thoughts from the garden at the moment as I've got three other builds in mid swing at the moment, and I haven't even done any kind of measuring on the neck or body. It'll all be easy enough to sort, I just want to make sure u get that PU in exactly the right place. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 16 minutes ago, drTStingray said: Yeah - Ive had it just over 18 months - now needs new strings - weighs around 8 lbs. Got a bit of banter from some band mates when I first got it asking if I was starting a glam rock band!! That is stunning , probably one of the nicest stingrays I’ve seen, I imagine it sounds immense 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Reggaebass said: That is stunning , probably one of the nicest stingrays I’ve seen, I imagine it sounds immense 🙂 Thanks - it sounds great (and the 18 v EQ is very powerful). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 1 hour ago, mcnach said: That blue sparkle Stingray... ufffff... everytime I see it I feel my hand reaching out for the credit card, and I am not a fan of either sparkle or rosewood fingerboards, but that one is just stunning! Thanks! Just been playing it acoustically - I really must change the strings!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 I got this bridge from Retrovibe on eBay for my Sub Ray 4. The barrels are too narrow so I swapped them for the originals to get the correct string spacing. some anxious moments aligning and measuring and this is the result. I might try removing the preamp to see what it sounds like now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Right - I’m in on this. I’ve owned 6 stingrays, love the sound but always seem to want more for my money. Recently had a Modulus Flea, and it was lush - but not Stingray-ish enough. Anyhow, I have my donor body and neck. Now I’m hoping someone somewhere has the guts of a USA stingray going spare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Can someone definitively state the distance, on a real Ray, from the 12th fret to the front edge of the pickup? Answers on a postcard, please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 6 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Can someone definitively state the distance, on a real Ray, from the 12th fret to the front edge of the pickup? Answers on a postcard, please! I’m going to use a MM pickguard, get the definitive spot. Hoping @Normski has a spare he can lend me for measurements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 ..on my SUB Ray 4, distance from 12th fret to leading edge of pickup is 12 and 9/16ths inches, or 32cm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 (edited) 53 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Can someone definitively state the distance, on a real Ray, from the 12th fret to the front edge of the pickup? Answers on a postcard, please! Agh! I measured from the 13th fret!!! It still works, since the fret you choose is arbitrary, just make sure you measure from the right one on yours! Edited April 12, 2020 by mcnach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 I transformed an Ibanez Blazer that had a split in it's body into a different beast last year, always fancied a Stingray type bass. With a Seymour Duncan MM pup and John East pre it certainly does not sound like a Blazer any more..😎 Build diary is here .. https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/337115-the-blazerray-now-finished/ Couple of pics of the finished bass I named The BlazerRay.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 I remember that build thread. Fab. It looks a wee bit like a Sterling. Stylish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, AndyTravis said: I’m going to use a MM pickguard, get the definitive spot. Hoping @Normski has a spare he can lend me for measurements. 1 hour ago, songofthewind said: Can someone definitively state the distance, on a real Ray, from the 12th fret to the front edge of the pickup? Answers on a postcard, please! I've posted this before (even in this thread) but you should measure from the 12th fret ps it's in inches because that's how Americans measure things (imperial) and they're American basses 😏 1 hour ago, AndyTravis said: Right - I’m in on this. I’ve owned 6 stingrays, love the sound but always seem to want more for my money. Recently had a Modulus Flea, and it was lush - but not Stingray-ish enough. Anyhow, I have my donor body and neck. Now I’m hoping someone somewhere has the guts of a USA stingray going spare. @AndyTravis I think you stand little chance of that - however you could buy an Aguilar pick up and EQ or one of the others (Nordstrand pu plus John East preamp for instance) - they're meant to do a good job. However, I think you need the two pick up version to get that 'little extra' - actually a lot extra - if you tweak the EQ you get lots of cool sounds 👍 The 2 pu with both pick ups on humbucker coils makes the most wonderful sound - nice scooped slap sound as well but there are others - plus of course the standard Stingray sound as well - though they're 3 band, turning the mid down a lot and boosting bass and treble a touch gets you in 2 band proximity (I have a Sabre with 2 band EQ so can vouch for that being correct). Edited April 12, 2020 by drTStingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 I know nothing about them and I’ve only tried a stingray once ,and it was a bit bright sounding for what I play, but after seeing some of these I’m thinking, I need one 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 24 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: I know nothing about them and I’ve only tried a stingray once ,and it was a bit bright sounding for what I play, but after seeing some of these I’m thinking, I need one 🙂 I've played ska and reggae on one for years... Go on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 26 minutes ago, drTStingray said: The 2 pu with both pick ups on humbucker coils makes the most wonderful sound - nice scooped slap sound as well but there are others - plus of course the standard Stingray sound as well - though they're 3 band, turning the mid down a lot and boosting bass and treble a touch gets you in 2 band proximity (I have a Sabre with 2 band EQ so can vouch for that being correct). Now wondering whether to put two pickups in. 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Well I’ve got some offers of bits coming in - @drTStingray I appreciate the idea of 2pu, but really this is just so I have an MM sound in my rack without having to buy another ray. And I fancy messing with a bass - not done it for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 3 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: Well I’ve got some offers of bits coming in - @drTStingray I appreciate the idea of 2pu, but really this is just so I have an MM sound in my rack without having to buy another ray. And I fancy messing with a bass - not done it for a bit. That's exactly my reasons, but Fleabag liked the Warman MM pickup and it's only £20 so it would almost be rude not do a twin PU. But the vanity whore in me prefers the look of a single PU Ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 2 hours ago, AndyTravis said: I’m going to use a MM pickguard, get the definitive spot. Hoping @Normski has a spare he can lend me for measurements. Use the measuring from the frets, if the neck heel joint is not in the same place in relation to what your bass is compared to the Ray, it will be off, even by millimetres which will make a difference. Getting an official Ray pre-amp is quite hard, they don’t send them out willy nilly, I think Aggie and possibly Seymour Duncan do clones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, Cuzzie said: Use the measuring from the frets, if the neck heel joint is not in the same place in relation to what your bass is compared to the Ray, it will be off, even by millimetres which will make a difference. Getting an official Ray pre-amp is quite hard, they don’t send them out willy nilly, I think Aggie and possibly Seymour Duncan do clones Don’t you worry about me sunshine. I’m doin alright...21 fret bass is the donor. 21 fret stingray pickguard kindly on loan from @Normski on its way. Then @bagsieblue has stingray guts strewn all across his house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagsieblue Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 23 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: Don’t you worry about me sunshine. I’m doin alright...21 fret bass is the donor. 21 fret stingray pickguard kindly on loan from @Normski on its way. Then @bagsieblue has stingray guts strewn all across his house. That's true!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Cuzzie said: Use the measuring from the frets, if the neck heel joint is not in the same place in relation to what your bass is compared to the Ray, it will be off, even by millimetres which will make a difference. Getting an official Ray pre-amp is quite hard, they don’t send them out willy nilly, I think Aggie and possibly Seymour Duncan do clones People have had great results with the John East pre-amps. He's showing out of stock at the moment but might be worth a call, he's a nice chap very friendly and helpful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 3 hours ago, Cuzzie said: Use the measuring from the frets, if the neck heel joint is not in the same place in relation to what your bass is compared to the Ray, it will be off, even by millimetres which will make a difference. Getting an official Ray pre-amp is quite hard, they don’t send them out willy nilly, I think Aggie and possibly Seymour Duncan do clones The Seymour Duncan one is not really a clone, and it is substantially different. Not bad, just different. I didn't love it when I had one on an OLP. I have no experience with the Aguilar one. John East also makes one based on his own '76 Stingray which is very nice and comes as a 2-band, or 3-band (not the Stingray 3-band, but the 2-band *plus* a semiparametric mids module), which are very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Just as I mull costs over - has anyone tried the retro vibe stinger 77 preamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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