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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

WHy would there be no sound?

J

jealousblues

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Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
20
Location
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Bought a bass a long time ago and just got around to playing it plugged in (I had a baby and just didnt have time, I know dumb as can be).

Anyway I put a brand new battery into it today and plugged it into the tuner and no sound whatsoever.
I tried running headphones directly into the jack and nothing as well.
Id plug it into an amp but baby is sleeping.
There is no scratchiness at all or buzzing, just no noise.
I opened it up and I didnt see any of the solder points that were disconnected. I dont know enough to know if a solder point is bad though other than that.

1) Any ideas what could be wrong?

2) if the preamp was bad would it still make noise like a passive bass?

3) IF it was a preamp how much would that cost to replace?

Its a really gorgeous bass
Its just like one I had to sell earlier to pay some bills during a hard time, and I was so glad I was able to find one just like it.
Really bummed, but I'll get it back running!

Thanks guys
 
Last edited:
MrMusashi

MrMusashi

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Mar 26, 2007
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69 degrees north
if what gav suggested doesnt work it might be time to call music man customer service.

i keep hearing good things about them :)

details in my signature below

MrM
 
J

jealousblues

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
20
Location
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Last edited:
tbonesullivan

tbonesullivan

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Aug 24, 2012
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did you try putting the old battery back in? yes, I know it's a dumb question, but i've had some batteries that just don't make good contact. I use duracell batteries exclusively now because they are long enough to make good contact.
 
Freddels

Freddels

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Near Wistah
tbonesullivan said:
did you try putting the old battery back in? yes, I know it's a dumb question, but i've had some batteries that just don't make good contact. I use duracell batteries exclusively now because they are long enough to make good contact.
Click to expand...

For some unknown reason, battery manufacturers don't seem to have a uniform size for their batteries, that said, make sure the battery is installed correctly (pos/neg) and making contact when the compartment door is closed. If it feels loose, try a small piece of folded paper or matchbook cover to fill the space and make it tight. Otherwise, contact customer service. Definitely try it with an amp.
 
J

jealousblues

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
20
Location
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Rod Trussbroken said:
Check the battery compartment for contack with the battery terminals, terminal corrosion or broken wires.
Click to expand...

update
I contacted ernie ball and they told me a similar thing

Ernie Ball service department said:
Hey Richard,



Thanks for playing Music Man!

I recommend checking the copper tabs inside the battery box as they can become pushed in too far to make contact with the battery terminals.

gently pry/bend them up to ensure proper contact. This usually does the trick

if not you could send her to our factory for repair
Click to expand...


I checked before and didtn see any problem and thought contact was made...
(oops!)
so today I took the battery compartment off again, out of desperation before sending it into the shop, but this time I put the battery on the back/outside/bottom? whatever you want to call it of the battery compartment where the wires are soldered and it worked!
So I bent those things in a bit and its working perfect.
Im so relieved.

Thanks a lot to everyone here and to the Ernie Ball customer service department.
 
J

jealousblues

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
20
Location
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Freddels said:
For some unknown reason, battery manufacturers don't seem to have a uniform size for their batteries, that said, make sure the battery is installed correctly (pos/neg) and making contact when the compartment door is closed. If it feels loose, try a small piece of folded paper or matchbook cover to fill the space and make it tight. Otherwise, contact customer service. Definitely try it with an amp.
Click to expand...

don't get me started on this.
Ive have in ears I used to use where you would have to almost pry certain batteries out.


two more things

1) Annie told me that I did get a chance to play the bass and it was working when I got it.
How she remembers that I have no idea.

2) the battery compartment door is a little lose and doesn't seem to have a super tight snap when it shuts close.
I wonder do you get replacements from Ernie Ball or Gotoh?
I probably wont bother doing this for a while but someday I might
 
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