• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan

jason the fox

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Joined
Apr 4, 2016
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3
Hi all, been lurking here for a while but this is my first post.

I've got a 2012 (maybe a '13) StingRay. 3-band EQ. But I've got a strange situation with the preamp.

A few weeks back, I noticed the base control was starting to get kind of unresponsive, and the center notch/detent had disappeared. I assumed the center detent had just worn out, but when I opened up the bass to have a look at the pot itself, I noticed it was nothing like the volume, treble or mid range pot. It's larger, and doesn't even seem to fit in to the circuitboard properly. Since I bought this bass used, I figured someone had just replaced the original pot for some reason.

Anyway, I ordered up another bass potentiometer, straight from Ernie Ball musicman. Was told it was correct for the model year of this bass, based on the serial number. But when it arrived, it was exactly the same as the one I had taken out. So I installed it anyway, because I wanted to get the base back up and running.

As you can see from the photos, the bass pot is much larger than the other three, and it actually needs to use one of those plastic "spacers" to hold the circuitboard away from the body of the pot, literally bending the board. Otherwise, it's causing some kind of short. I installed exactly the as the previous one was in. Like I said, I bought the bass used, so this is essentially how it was when it came into my possession.

Does anyone know what is up with this preamp? Is it an aftermarket part? I honestly have no idea. But after doing some research, something obviously does not line up. According to the rep on the phone when I called Ernie Ball musicman, the a pot he sent me was proper for this bass. It honestly seems to work fine but it's kind of bugging me not know what the scoop is.
image_zpszy0jnkhc.jpeg


 
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Rod Trussbroken

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What Is the serial of your Bass (as to actual year)?

Pot sizes changed to smaller "Noble" pot sizes as from Oct 2006. Looking at your preamp it should have the smaller "Noble" pot (like the others on the board). You have a larger pot as fitted to earlier 3EQ Bass preamps prior to 2006. Send a pic of your preamp to customer service and they can supply the correct pot.
 

jason the fox

New member
Joined
Apr 4, 2016
Messages
3
I'm at work at the moment - I don't recall the actual serial # off hand, but when I read it to the representative on the phone with EBMM, he told me the bass was either 2012 or 2013 (memory cant confirm which - but definitely one of those two years).


*EDIT: I do have the serial number, my apologies. E91829. I believe this makes it a 2013 model..?
 
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