Beat to Cr@p Stingray, Upgraded (with pics)...

Quadzilla

Quadzilla

Supporting Member
Feb 11, 2002
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Maryland Burbs (horse-country)
www.thenewromance.com
#1
So I found this awesome player a few months back. She's beat to hell with some serious finish checking (looks like the finish shrunk and cracked), but plays sooooo good. Best neck that I've had on a ray.

But I always felt that the electronics were lacking. So I decided to upgrade her.

Got an Aguilar pickup and an Aguilar OBP-3. Also wanted to a master (passive) tone control and an active/passive switch.

My good buddy and fellow TBer, John Dahlman (TB name JKDahlman) did the copper shielding and electronics install. The tone control works in both active and passive modes.

The result? Oh my!!! Sooooo much better than stock. Lower and upper mids are more forward and clearer in the mix. A bit more growl. Less clanky on top and tighter bottom. A big improvement.

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#10
Dr. Cheese said:
That neck alone made it worth saving. You know you need to post a video so we can hear it.
Click to expand...

The neck is super-straight, slightly thinner and less chunky than any other Ray I've owned or played. A very fast neck for a Ray. Plus, the action stays low up and down the neck (even in the upper registers in the neck pocket area. Best Ray neck ever! ;)
 
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#13
Very nice work on that one.

Looks like most of the odd cracks look too long to be from getting "beat". Looks like something happened to the clear coat to make it shrink and crack. Mabye left in a place that was too cold, some chemical exposure or maybe it cured wrong.
 
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#16
Eilif said:
Very nice work on that one.

Looks like most of the odd cracks look too long to be from getting "beat". Looks like something happened to the clear coat to make it shrink and crack. Mabye left in a place that was too cold, some chemical exposure or maybe it cured wrong.
Click to expand...

I believe that you are correct. I think it likely was a heat / cold issue. The finish appears to have shrunken and cracked. Good news is that the neck is still MONEY! Best ray neck I've ever had my hands on. Now the tone is money too. The finish issues don't bother me in the least. Gives her "character"! :)
 
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#17
Eilif said:
Very nice work on that one.

Looks like most of the odd cracks look too long to be from getting "beat". Looks like something happened to the clear coat to make it shrink and crack. Mabye left in a place that was too cold, some chemical exposure or maybe it cured wrong.
Click to expand...

Oh and the hardshell case was warped on the outside, so I'm guessing that it was a heat issue. Again, didn't affect the playability of the bass.
 
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#18
Quadzilla said:
Oh and the hardshell case was warped on the outside, so I'm guessing that it was a heat issue. Again, didn't affect the playability of the bass.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I bet that was it. Glad to hear that the neck wasn't affected.

Anything can go wrong, but I'm not surprised that a well made bass like a MM held up structurally even as the finish suffered.
 
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