Seymour Duncan SMB-4A 3 Coil Pickup
The SMB-4A is a hand-built replacement pickup engineered specifically for Music Man StingRay basses, delivering the articulate, punchy response that defines the instrument’s recording character. This three-coil design combines vintage construction methods with modern versatility, offering three distinct tonal voices via a simple blade switch without sacrificing hum rejection—critical for clean tracking in any studio setting.
Recording Tone & Frequency Response
Built with oversized alnico 5 rod magnets and vacuum wax potting for clarity and sustain, the SMB-4A produces a resonant peak at 9.9 KHz that emphasizes the upper midrange definition—essential for maintaining bass articulation and punch in dense mixes. The EQ curve—8/8/5 (Bass/Mid/Treble)—delivers aggressive low-end presence that sits firmly in a mix while keeping mids cutting and the top end controlled.
Design & Switching Flexibility
Each coil measures 4.18 kΩ DC resistance and connects via a 4-conductor leadwire for maximum wiring flexibility in your signal chain. All three switching modes—series, parallel, and split—maintain full hum-canceling performance, eliminating noise issues during recording sessions and enabling real-time tonal sculpting across takes without re-amping. Hand-built in Santa Barbara, California, this pickup is a direct replacement for StingRay basses from 1976 to present.
Key Features
- Three-coil design with hand-built construction in Santa Barbara, CA
- Oversized alnico 5 rod magnets for powerful magnetic response
- DC resistance: 4.18 kΩ per coil
- Resonant peak at 9.9 KHz (parallel configuration)
- Three tonal settings via 3-way blade switch: series, parallel, and split
- All three settings are hum-canceling
- EQ curve: 8 Bass / 8 Mid / 5 Treble
- Four-conductor leadwire for flexible wiring options
- Vacuum wax potted for clarity and sustain
- Forbon flatwork construction
- Direct replacement for Music Man StingRay basses 1976–present
The SMB-4A captures the StingRay’s fundamental voice with studio-grade clarity while the three-way switching expands your palette—dial in series for warmth on ballads, parallel for cutting presence on rock, or split for a hybrid midpoint between sessions.
