Help! Dead Preamp/Pickup Swap...what to do???

[JxGrizz]

I purchased an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 in 2005 when I was actively playing. Debt and instability forced me to take a backseat to my would-be music career in 2006. In 2009 I started playing again and when I came back, my SR4 sounded dead and dull. I've since purchased another bass as a backup and ended up liking the sound better.

Anyway, I've been told by a few people that I could have a dead preamp. Upon close inspection:

1. The wiring is solid. No fraying, no bridged connections, nothing.
2. The battery is fine, I've used over a dozen different batteries with the same results.

I'm just trying to figure out now:

1. If I want to keep it.
2. If I do keep it, do I replace the preamp? Or buy an aftermarket pickup?

I've done tons of research on aftermarket pickups and have come to find out that the active preamps are useless with active aftermarket pickups.

I just need some more insight on the situation and figure out what my best option would be.

Thanks for all help in advance!!!

 

[nashman]

1. Customer Service
2. Spray some DeOxit in the input jack
3. Check wiring in the battery box
4. Check set-up
5. Dead strings?

 

[JxGrizz]

Setup, Strings and Wiring are OK

What is DeOxit? What does it do? and Where can I find it?

If the bass is not under warranty, will customer service provide assistance?

 

[oli@bass]

Is there a difference if a battery is in there or not?
If yes: Put on a new set of strings.
If no: Call customer service

 

[oli@bass]

If the bass is not under warranty, will customer service provide assistance?

Yes. But if they indeed have to fix your bass, it's not for free anymore.

 

[the unrepentant]

are the battery contacts dirty? if so, clean them with a pencil erasor.

 

[JxGrizz]

Changed the battery several times with no difference. Changed the strings twice with no luck.

Contacts: inside contacts or outside contacts? they are not dirty reguardless

Also: If the preamp is working properly, you should be able to hear it with headphones plugged in...correct?


Customer Service: Will they have me ship it back? or bring it to an authorized dealer/repair shop

 

[Subscript]

Also: If the preamp is working properly, you should be able to hear it with headphones plugged in...correct?

incorrect
I don't have a technical explanation of why, but you need an amp of some kind.

 

[maddog]

Changed the battery several times with no difference. Changed the strings twice with no luck.

Contacts: inside contacts or outside contacts? they are not dirty reguardless

not sure what you mean by outside contacts. Check the cleanliness on the battery compartment contacts. Also, check the polarity. Finally, check that the compartment contacts are making contact. They can bend away over time.

Also: If the preamp is working properly, you should be able to hear it with headphones plugged in...correct?

You might be able to but depends on the headphones. I can barely hear my bongo and that has an 18V preamp. Comes down to available voltage and current. Best to test thru an amp or head.

Customer Service: Will they have me ship it back? or bring it to an authorized dealer/repair shop

Contact your nearest dealer. If they aren't helpful or don't have one, contact CS. They will be able to help you out further.

Preamps use such low voltages and currents that they aren't stressed electrically. They should last a lifetime unless a faulty component shows its ugly head or someone gets rough with it. From experience, I would not expect the preamp to be the issue.

I'd also check the string to pickup height while you're at it. Too close and the magnets start damping the strings.

 

[oli@bass]

Changed the battery several times with no difference.

I understand that, and it is what I asked. My question was specifically whether you have a difference in sound with a battery in and without a battery (yes the StingRay still works without a battery, but very low volume and somewhat dull).

Also: If the preamp is working properly, you should be able to hear it with headphones plugged in...correct?

You are testing the bass with a headphone?! It's definitely not designed for that. You need a proper headphone preamp for that. Use a good quality bass amp, or a mixing desk and headphone.

 

[bassmonkeee]

You are testing the bass with a headphone?! It's definitely NOT designed for that. You need a proper headphone preamp for that. Use a good quality bass amp, or a mixing desk and headphone.

Fixed that for you.


Based on the OP's questions, and the fact that the bass has gone 3 years without any real attention, and that the bass is well out of warranty, I recommend you simply take the bass to a reputable repairman and have the bass set-up and checked out. Just don't let them do any repairs without consulting with you first. It's much cheaper than sending it to SLO from Long Island, and it is a lot less difficult for people to diagnose a problem over the internet.

 

[oli@bass]

+1

Fixed that for you.

THANK YOU! Fixed my post. Don't know how I could have left that out

 

[JxGrizz]

Thanks for all the input!!!

The bass sounds identical with/without battery.

I have yet to try to adjust the contacts, but the inside where the battery connects to the contacts and the outside where the wires connect to the contact both look solid.

Polarity: battery only fits in the compartment in one direction, the compartment wont close otherwise. Could this be causing my problems? that the contacts might be too high?

Any input on Aftermarkets?

 

[MrMusashi]

internet diagnostics.. could be bad (actually most likely)

give customer service a call.. i hope they have recovered from namm

MrM

 

[oli@bass]

The bass sounds identical with/without battery.

That means there's no current going to the preamp. Time to see a tech. It could be that the soldering to the battery box is broken. Had that on one of mine.

 

[maddog]

That means there's no current going to the preamp. Time to see a tech. It could be that the soldering to the battery box is broken. Had that on one of mine.

or could be that the contacts aren't contacting.

and, no, no advice on aftermarkets. I'm so happy with what they come with I've never looked.

 

[JxGrizz]

Anyone know offhand what a new preamp would cost?