New used MM Stingray-need advice!

[williamk]

yes, the title is an oxymoron...
I just bought this used stingray for 750$, which seems like a good deal, since it's in great shape except for minor dings around the headstock, but nothing serious. The guy I bought it from says it was made in 1998 but I have no way to prove it, but it does look like it has lived a few years! Here's a picture of the beast:

Anyways, my question is this; the guy was a very bad player, he played in a punk band and strummed the bass with a pick like on a guitar (no offense to punks or pick players) and he also obviously knew nothing about how the bass worked. He says he just turned all the knobs to maximum all the time (I think he doesn't even know what a preamp is...), and so I'm wondering if a preamp can get "tired" of being at all knobs to maximum volume at all times? Does the sound deteriorate eventually? The knobs are kinda slack, but the preamp itself seems to sound alright, but this is my first stingray so I'm not exactly sure what it's supposed to sound like. I was planning on changing the knobs and plate and am wondering if I need to get an all flashy new preamp too.
Thanks for any advice on the matter!

ps: any thoughts on the stingrays made in the '90s?
pss: you should'a seen all the finger gunk on the neck...eeeww!!

 

[bovinehost]

I'm wondering if a preamp can get "tired" of being at all knobs to maximum volume at all times? Does the sound deteriorate eventually? The knobs are kinda slack, but the preamp itself seems to sound alright, but this is my first stingray so I'm not exactly sure what it's supposed to sound like. I was planning on changing the knobs and plate and am wondering if I need to get an all flashy new preamp too.....you should'a seen all the finger gunk on the neck...

Yeah, I've bought a few that were pretty much biohazards. I mean, I'm not overly concerned about normal stuff, but - well, let's just say I used gloves on a couple I've picked up. Nasty.

The preamp can't be "used up". Nothing to worry about there if it's functioning correctly. If the knobs feel loose, you can tighten them down on the post using a little allen wrench. After de-gunking it should be good as new (almost).

I had a slew of 90s era Stingrays and loved every single one of them. You can post your serial number in the top-most thread and someone from Customer Service can give you the day and date of the birth of your baby.

Cool, eh?

Nice bass. Welcome!

Jack

 

[five7]

Welcome to the MM world! As long as the tone knobs weren't pushed to 11 you are good! lol It is better that the knobs turn freely than being stuck. I like you, would never use a pick on such a bass. Cleaning it will only make the bonding between you faster. Before you know it, you will be sleeping with it. Enjoy that fast neck!!!

 

[Rano Bass]

A little 000 steelwool and tung oil on the neck and it will be as good as new.
90´s Stingrays are as good as any new one, thats when they became really popular ir funk/rock in part thanks to Flea.

 

[rutgart]

Great cut of Timber in that Body!!!

I hope you have made a friend for life as most of here have

Be sure to post pic's as you clean up/made your SR4 yours.

 

[Golem]

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Coupla things:

DO NOT use steel wool until you have tightly bagged or otherwise
protected the body/PU region from all that ferrous debris. You can
never get it cleaned out after the fact. Be pre-emptive about it.

The "slack knobs" feel is normal for MMs of that [loonng] era. It's
nothing to worry about. General, the MMs with a kinda sloppy feel
to their knobs also have very agressive center detents if they are
3-band, so agreesive that it's easy to feel you might be forcing a
device harder than is prudent when you dial them away from the
detent. Slop to the Rescue ! Just very gently pull outward on that
sloppy knob and it will move off of the detent very agreeably. It
will become a habit after a while.


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