No Punch

[Joe from MI]

Hello all,

I have a little question here.
My MusicMan Stingray 4 has seem to have lost it's punch.

Started way back while in the studio I had it on a stand while playing another Bass of mine and while the singer went to move a mic stand hit my MM and it fell.

I picked it up and looked it over and it seemed like there was no damage.
So after some choise words, I put ti back on the stand .

A little bit down the road, I played the MM and it seemd that the sound was a bit "DEAD" it just didn't seem to have the "PUNCH" that it once had.

I looked at the neck and it was straight made some adjustments to the ACTION but it still sounded DEAD particularly seemd to be the "D" and "G" strings.

Is there anyone who can shed some insight as to what may have happend to cause this "DEAD" sound ( meaning there is like no sustain ).

Any Help would be appreciated.

- Joe

 

[phatduckk]

check the battery. maybe the bang on the ground lossened the battery connection so the preamp isnt getting juice.

do the EQ knobs seem to be "doing anything"?

you could also take the battery out and see if it sounds the same when the battery is both in n out. ive had a stingray sound dead before and it was cuz the battery died. so maybe your issue could be the battery connection got dislodged

good luck.

 

[jongitarz]

Well, first off, let me say that had you not put the SR down, none of this would have happened.
That being said, it's really difficult to diagnose things on the internet. i would look in the FAQ section of this website and check the setup info. Once you have the instrument set up, playability issues can be ruled out. If there are still problems, it could be any number of things. Your best bet? Call customer service, get a return authorization number and let us check it out. 1 866 823-2255

 

[jongitarz]

check the battery. maybe the bang on the ground lossened the battery connection so the preamp isnt getting juice.

do the EQ knobs seem to be "doing anything"?

you could also take the battery out and see if it sounds the same when the battery is both in n out. ive had a stingray sound dead before and it was cuz the battery died. so maybe your issue could be the battery connection got dislodged

good luck.

My thought was, if it's 2 out of 4 strings sounding dead, it kind of rules out electrical probs and leans toward set up, IMO

 

[bovinehost]

Yup - my first thought was that maybe the pickup got tagged and one side of it (the G and D side) is way out of whack....height-wise, I mean....

....but then I don't get involved in these kinds of threads anymore.

(Sorry, orders from my therapist.)

 

[Oldtoe]

Put down that flow chart, Jack.

 

[Rano Bass]

It could be the pickup but it's really hard to know without looking at it, call customer service or take it to a local repair guy that you can trust.

 

[Ole Man Blues]

I purchased a used SR about a year ago and it had no punch. In fact, I had to turn my amp up quite a bit to get any volume out of the bass. The 3 band EQ had no affect on the sound whatsoever. I found two problems:

1. The battery was dead.

2. There was a broken wire on the battery box..... I resoldered the wire and replaced the battery and it punched like Mike Tyson........

OMB

 

[Joe from MI]

I purchased a used SR about a year ago and it had no punch. In fact, I had to turn my amp up quite a bit to get any volume out of the bass. The 3 band EQ had no affect on the sound whatsoever. I found two problems:

1. The battery was dead.

2. There was a broken wire on the battery box..... I resoldered the wire and replaced the battery and it punched like Mike Tyson........

OMB

Well, I took out the battery box and the wire looked well connected there.
I posted this relatively late so, I am going to try a new battery today.

Hopefully this is the problem but I could swear that i tried a new battery already.

The 3-BANDS do work .

I will post what happends after NEW BATTERY tonight after rehearsal.

Thanks for the replies !

- Joe

 

[EBMM7181]

Good Luck

 

[Joe from MI]

Welp,
Just got home from rehearsal

I changed batteries.
Checked welds to battery door.
Checked welds in 3-BAND compartment

Still dead sound.



So, I suppose it is back to Ernie Ball ?
Anyone know of a reliable tech in the Metro Detroit area ?

Thanks...

 

[Ole Man Blues]

Welp,
Just got home from rehearsal

I changed batteries.
Checked welds to battery door.
Checked welds in 3-BAND compartment

Still dead sound.



So, I suppose it is back to Ernie Ball ?
Anyone know of a reliable tech in the Metro Detroit area ?

Thanks...

Joe. I can take a look at it, if you like? I was an Electronics repair tech for 12 years and owned two repair businesses. I do work on all my own gear. I might be able to see or find something you may have overlooked, and save you some bucks.....I live in Dearborn....near Michigan and Schaffer

PM me.........if interested........... OMB James

 

[sundevil98]

Welp,
Just got home from rehearsal

I changed batteries.
Checked welds to battery door.
Checked welds in 3-BAND compartment

Still dead sound.



So, I suppose it is back to Ernie Ball ?
Anyone know of a reliable tech in the Metro Detroit area ?

Thanks...

Can't say I have experience with them... but you might want to take it into the guys at Low Down Sound in Ferndale (9 Mile and Planavon or there abouts - South side, by the Dairy Queen). Although, they're not an EB dealer... but I think they wish they could be... I asked one time, and they said that they couldn't sell EB basses because they're too close to another dealer or something like that.

 

[jamesattard]

any news buddy?

 

[tkarter]

Eric this would be a good one to watch and learn from. I don't think at 17 you have enough experience to really help.

IMHO

tk

 

[bassmonkeee]

Yes, but if it didn't sound dead before it fell off the stand, it's probably not the strings. I mean, they could have died of fright on the way to the floor, but that is an unlikely answer.

 

[Big Poppa]

Ok here is another reason why I dont like customer service questions on the forum...here is a dead thread and some lurker brought it back and now we get another round of conversation over something thta was a non issue.

 

[bovinehost]

Yup.

The bass fell over. Falling over didn't cause the strings to be any deader than they were before it fell.

If the original poster has any information on what got crunched, PM me and I'll re-open the thread.

Otherwise...."gosh, maybe it's your belt buckle."

thread ovah!

Jack

 

[Big Poppa]

THats two threads where Saxnbass has offered bad advice....