Oh God, it's dead!

[all_your_bass]

My SUB sterling all of a sudden gives me no output (even after changing the battery for the preamp). I bought it about 5 weeks ago. I'm assuming that the preamp shorted out or fried itself or something and I guess I'll probably have to send it to EB. Now I'm not sure whether it's gonna cost so much to send it that it wouldn't just be easier to get an Aguilar preamp stuck in there or something.

So how much does it cost to send a bass (safely) and how long can I expect warranty service to take? Also, are there any possible causes to the problem that I could perhaps fix myself?

 

[TSanders]

Jon or one of the other Ernie Ball guys wil be on this shortly. Just hang in there till they catch this thread.

 

[all_your_bass]

Man, I think I'm going to puke...

 

[stingrayplayr83]

just wait for jon, and take some dramamine, it'll be okay...

 

[bovinehost]

No puking.

How did it die? I mean all at once or gradually and then you replaced the battery and nothing?

A couple of things it could be:

1. Battery is not making good contact. What kind of battery is it?
2. One of the leads came off the battery compartment. Easily fixed with low-key soldering ability.

If the battery isn't a Duracell and you happen to have a Duracell around, replace the battery with the Duracell and report back with the results.

But I must repeat - no puking.

 

[all_your_bass]

It kinda died all at once i suppose, i plugged it in, switched my amp on and then nothing. Then I tried to switch batteries, no luck.

If I rotate the equalizer pots, I get a scratchy sound (pots weren't scratchy in the least before) that kinda sounds a little like when you're plugging your bass into an amp that's on, so I know there's still power running through there somewhere.

If I cut bass, treble and mids, I can get a really, really faint passive signal through that I can't amplify to anything useable.

The battery that was in it was Duracell, presumably original issue unless Guitar Center changed it while it was in stock, the one in there now is Wal-Greens brand or something, but the Duracell works no better.

 

[skabassist13]

not to be a smart ass, but you do have the volume up right? no offense, just making sure.

 

[all_your_bass]

Yeah, volume's fine, that's what I figured it was when this started and it was actually down, but I turned it up and still nothing

 

[skabassist13]

maybe if your comfortable doing so, unscrew the control plate and have a look. see if theres anything thats not connected, or maybe a wire that looks fishy. maybe even give the wires a gentle tug to see if their loose in the joint or not.

 

[all_your_bass]

is there any risk to the warranty if I open it up?

 

[skabassist13]

if you broke something, i would say yes. if you just look around and dont mess anything up, i dont see why it would. maybe you should just have a look, to be safe, dont touch anything, just take it off and have a look and see if there is anything wrong. maybe try taking out your pickup to and make sure the wires are attached. once againg to be safe, dont touch, but looking wont hurt.

 

[all_your_bass]

at a glance everything looks okay, but I didn't actually remove the preamp and I can't say I'm particularly good at spotting problems

 

[skabassist13]

check to see if the solder joints are shiny. shiny=good. dull=bad.

 

[bovinehost]

Make sure the ends of the battery are making contact with the tabs in the battery compartment. You might want to bend them in gently to make sure they're tight against the battery poles.

It could be just that simple.

 

[SteveB]

call the Music Man customer service phone number.

You'll get attention right away, rather than waiting for one of the reps to comb through the forums and find your thread.

Those folks are always lamenting that people start posting complaints on the 'net before they've ever called to make them aware of the problem.

 

[AnthonyD]

Excellent point...

 

[bovinehost]

Pay attention to me here.

You trying what I told you?

 

[Disquieter]

The battery that was in it was Duracell, presumably original issue unless Guitar Center changed it while it was in stock

5 weeks? take it back, they'll exchange it for you..

why be out a bass when gc can be out a bass?


sweet huh?


joel

 

[all_your_bass]

5 weeks? take it back, they'll exchange it for you..

why be out a bass when gc can be out a bass?


sweet huh?


joel

I think their return policy is 30 days...

 

[all_your_bass]

call the Music Man customer service phone number.

You'll get attention right away, rather than waiting for one of the reps to comb through the forums and find your thread.

Those folks are always lamenting that people start posting complaints on the 'net before they've ever called to make them aware of the problem.

Well, I did put in an email before I came to the forums, but I'll go ahead and give them a call today if I can.

And as far as battery contact, everything looks good within the compartment and if I can, I'll get a voltmeter into the compartment to make sure that there's current in there.