Question Life of a preamp

[cerberus]

Hey guys

I bought my first Stingray last December/January. I got it used off of craigslist. It was playing great for a while but then in August the preamp completely burnt out. When I took it in they said the average life of a preamp is about 10 years. The bass is from October 2000 so I was almost at the 10 year mark.

Just wondering what you guys thought and what you're experiences have been with preamps.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

There are some pre-EB active Stingray's dating back to 1977 with pre-amps still in perfect conditions, people have actually gigged these bass for 32+ years carefree.

To my knowledge there's no such a thing as a 10 year preamp life spam. Someone (previous owners) must have interfered with it, by means of ill-fitted wiring for it to fry.

 

[five7]

+1

 

[bovinehost]

When I took it in they said the average life of a preamp is about 10 years.

Who are "they" and were they selling preamps?

Complete BS.

 

[shakinbacon]

There are some pre-EB active Stingray's dating back to 1977 with pre-amps still in perfect conditions, people have actually gigged these bass for 32+ years carefree.

To my knowledge there's no such a thing as a 10 year preamp life spam. Someone (previous owners) must have interfered with it, by means of ill-fitted wiring for it to fry.

I agree.

I am an IC designer and the the mtbf (mean time before failure) is often measured in decades for individual ICs. Resistors generally don't fail. Low voltage caps may get leaky, but again generally don't fail. Unless corrosion, abuse or a bad solder joint I don't expect the preamp to ever go bad in my lifetime

 

[strummer]

Who are "they" and were they selling preamps?

Complete BS.

yup=)

 

[cerberus]

Who are "they" and were they selling preamps?

Complete BS.

They? Who else? The government.

No, it's Rudy's Music in NYC. Really nice guys and pretty reasonable. One of 2 or 3 EB parts dealers in the city. I actually took it to my usual repair guy first, and he concluded it was the preamp but he doesn't deal in EB. The preamp was fried either way, seems unlikely they'd lie to get a potential sale 10 years down the road.

I really appreciate all the input guys. Thanks alot, this is really helpful.

Also, I'm still a bit of a newbie, what is an "IC exactly?

Could it also have failed as a result of how I used it?
I don't know much about audio signals, our guitarist is pretty knowledgeable about that and based on his suggestion I've keep the volume on the preamp all the way up and then adjust the output on the amps master volume. Could this be adversely effecting the preamp? Or is that just an absurd question?

And the weird thing is, it was literally working one second and busted the next and at the worst possible time, right before a set. We're having a great soundcheck, then I switched out the battery (just to be on the safe side) and nothing. I thought it might be the battery so I tried several others and still nothing. I was so pissed.

 

[maddog]

poop happens.

a component may have died a quick and painless death.

Won't know unless you have the tools and equipment to go thru a thorough diagnostics.

But with the current and voltages involved, the preamps should last more than a lunchtime (a humourous Rutles reference.)

 

[bovinehost]

The preamp was fried either way, seems unlikely they'd lie to get a potential sale 10 years down the road.

Certainly things do fail, and your preamp apparently did - but the idea of a ten-year lifespan is just completely wrong. Where do these guys come up with these things? Totally pulled it out of his ass, I'd guess, but in any case, if the preamp is shot, you can call Customer Service and they'll sort it for you.

Could it also have failed as a result of how I used it? I don't know much about audio signals, our guitarist is pretty knowledgeable about that and based on his suggestion I've keep the volume on the preamp all the way up and then adjust the output on the amps master volume. Could this be adversely effecting the preamp? Or is that just an absurd question?

Well, I sure hate to be Mister Everybody Else Is Wrong, but your guitar player has some odd ideas about active electronics. The way he's advising you to adjust it won't adversely affect the preamp in any way, but it might adversely affect your TONE.

The best way to start is with everything flat on the bass, with volume at 50% or so. This gives you headroom and allows you to make subtle adjustments on the fly. Passive basses? Yeah, dime 'em, I know I do, but with an active preamp, it's just sometimes...too much. Start flat. Adjust in small increments. Less is more. And so on. That's the general/common wisdom here.

And the weird thing is, it was literally working one second and busted the next and at the worst possible time, right before a set. We're having a great soundcheck, then I switched out the battery (just to be on the safe side) and nothing. I thought it might be the battery so I tried several others and still nothing. I was so pissed.

I feel your pain. But call CS and see what they say. It might be cheaper/easier to get a local repair, but at least you'll get input from the experts. Good luck!

Jack

 

[shakinbacon]

To answer an earlier question, IC stands for "integrated circuit"

It would be a black plastic package smaller than a dime with metal pins coming out of it. It is the "active" part of the active preamp.

hope that helps

 

[cerberus]

Awesome!

This is great guys, thanks a lot.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

...When I took it in they said the average life of a preamp is about 10 years...

With all due respect to the person who told you so, pre-amps don't have an average 10 year life span.

...then I switched out the battery (just to be on the safe side) and nothing. I thought it might be the battery so I tried several others and still nothing...

I think your problem is the power supply.

Check this thread as a possible remedy:

Battery Compartment

And here also