Pickup Placement And The Effect

[darwinohm]

I have been doing a sound comparison of my Stingray 5 and the new L-2500. There is going to be a difference between the two as the Ray has flatwound strings and the L roundwounds. I am amazed how articulate the highs are on the L. I expected the L to be brighter because of the strings but this is way more than I expected. I have a post on the Bass forum but I thought I would bounce this off you guys as many of you are into the pickups and the sound. There is a considerable difference in pickup placement on the two guitars
The L has the pickups mounted much closer to the bridge. I am posting a picture of them side by side. What do you think? Thanks in advance-- Darwin

[zapcosongs]

Not sure what you're looking for here, Darwin, but the low string on the Musicman looks a bit too close to the edge of the fretboard for my comfort.

Seriously, unless you've got similar strings on the instruments, it's hard to make comparisons.

Have you consulted the Rune Stone? :+) - ed

[darwinohm]

Ed, I shall consult with the runestone, but I like to hear what you have to say. The MM low B is falling off the fretboard and the L is falling off on the right side. That is how precise these cameras work! A couple of cold ones and it will all straighten out! String alignment on both of these basses is superb. Now if Ginny could get me lined up----------Darwin.

[zapcosongs]

I really would like to meet Ginny. She sounds like a real winner. You are a lucky man indeed. I regret not being able to contribute meaningfully on the issue at hand. But that is nothing new for me! Please pass the vodka! Ha!!! - ed

[louis cyfer]

the difference in the sound is the placement of the pickups. the neck pup on the g&l is almost where the bridge pup is on the stingray. the pup placement is the biggest factor in the sound of a pup. to test it just take the same pup on a legacy and move it from the bridge to the neck.

[darwinohm]

Well Ed, you made me do it! I restringed the Ray tonight to the original EB roundwounds (they were new). That put some life into the Ray. I plugged them both into the same channel on the amp and tried them. They are very similar in some ways but I think the L still has more definition overall, especially on the low b. They are both great basses. The L has lower neck relief than the Ray and I adjusted the Ray to the same relief and developed a slight buzz in near the nut. The neck is really perfect on this L. Bottom line is that I like the switching on the L better and it will gig in a week and a half, the other being a backup. They are both terrific basses and will stay here. I do miss that Transparent Blue and so does Ginny.. The real bottom line is that I am probably the nut in the end because who in the hell would do this???? Maybe I will develop a buzz. -- Darwin

[zapcosongs]

With a little luck we both will, Darwin. Salud!

PS: Wish you could try my L1K and 1st style SB-2. Very different instruments but both wonderful in their own way. Just wish I could play bass. (Wish I could play guitar for that matter ;+)