Dead PreAmp-Carvin SB5000

[BayStateBass]

Hoping for some help here.

My active preamp on my Carvin SB5000 seems to have taken a permanent vacation. It was working just fine but suddenly the bass is completely dead when the pot is set for active preamp. No warning, no loss of sound, just all of a sudden it just plain doesn't work.

Yes, I changed the batteries. It was my first thought. But the bass is completely dead, no sound at all, when the switch is set for active electronics.

The bass works 100% in the passive mode.

I pulled the knob plate and looked for loose wires, bad connections, etc...and I cannot find anything that looks out of place. I checked the circuit board and nothing seems to be burned or shorted.

Any tips here? Anything else I can check?

I'm hoping that I don't have to send it back to Carvin for repair....there are some local guitar/bass repair shops that are pretty good, so one of the questions I have is; can I replace the Carvin preamp with an aftermarket (upgrade)? I'm not sure I want to tackle this job myself. Or would I be better off ordering a new preamp from Carvin and having it installed?

Any tips/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!!

[chucko58]

Call Carvin first and see what they say about a replacement preamp. If your bass is in the warranty period, I would expect them to offer to send one for free.

There's nothing special about the Carvin preamp that would prevent you from installing a different brand. Might be a good way to get some different color in your sound.

[DWBass]

Check the battery leads/wires.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

I'm hoping that I don't have to send it back to Carvin for repair....there are some local guitar/bass repair shops that are pretty good, so one of the questions I have is; can I replace the Carvin preamp with an aftermarket (upgrade)? I'm not sure I want to tackle this job myself. Or would I be better off ordering a new preamp from Carvin and having it installed?

Call Carvin and tell them what you just told us. They'll send you a new replacement preamp - no problem, and at no charge (if it's in warranty). You can either install it yourself, if you've got the tech chops. Or have it installed for you. There's no need to send the entire instrument back - unless they're willing to pay for shipping both ways (unlikely), and you don't mind doing without it for three weeks or so.

Of course you can replace the preamp. I personally have one of the Audere jazz plates in my SB5000, and think it's just superb. There are a number of other direct replacements available as well. Knock yourself out!

MM

[bgartist]

I had the same issue with my B50. Try adding a little shim behind the batteries to press them firmly to the contacts. Quick fix.

[BayStateBass]

Thanks for the tips!

I highly doubt they will warranty it, I'm not the original owner, I know typically it's how it works....I bought the bass off of another TB'er (it has worked fine for months and months, so it's not like he sold me a "lemon").

I looked up the preamp thru Carvin and it looks like it's going to cost me about $125 if I need it. The Audere looks like it's about $170 or so, but appears to be an easier installation that I'm certain I could do myself, just wondering how to wire in the 18V system versus the 9V, but the directions kinda tell you how to do it.

I will also try shimming the batteries and see if it makes a difference.

MM-

What do you find you like better about the Audere? I was not disappointed with the Carvin, but I'm open to going with something better! Was the plate an exact fit for the Carvin?

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

MM-

What do you find you like better about the Audere? I was not disappointed with the Carvin, but I'm open to going with something better! Was the plate an exact fit for the Carvin?

Yes, it's an exact fit for the SB5000. Here's the model I got:

Audere JZ6D

My particular configuration is the JZ6D-VB-3B: JZ6D Ordering Page. $179.00.

IME, the stock Carvin preamp is not bad at all - especially with that cool concentric midrange sweep/level control. In fact, Carvin is making them better them ever.

But the Audere is just something special. Sounds at least as good as the Carvin, is very clean & very transparent - and just happens to have that great "Z-mode" switch, in this case with six (6) total combinations of Z mode settings among the two pickups (I especially like settings #1 & #4).

If you've got a really great set of pickups, and you want to make the most of them, then a premium-quality preamp upgrade is the ticket. I just happen to be sold on Auderes. I've got them in several others of my Carvin bass guitars, and they sound fabulous in each one of them.

MM

[Jarrett]

Wait, did you change it out with the same type of batteries?

I had this happen on a couple of my SB's. I typically use Duracells and they are slightly shorter than the batteries the bass ships with. Meaning, if you had the stock batteries in a long time, then popped some Duracells in there, it might not work.

The reason is the terminals won't make a good connection. To use Duracells, I had to take a small allen or screwdriver and pry the leads in the battery compartment out a bit so that it will accept a shorter battery in there. Or you can just use what came with it, which I think are Rayovacs.

[BayStateBass]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Wait, did you change it out with the same type of batteries?

I had this happen on a couple of my SB's. I typically use Duracells and they are slightly shorter than the batteries the bass ships with. Meaning, if you had the stock batteries in a long time, then popped some Duracells in there, it might not work.

The reason is the terminals won't make a good connection. To use Duracells, I had to take a small allen or screwdriver and pry the leads in the battery compartment out a bit so that it will accept a shorter battery in there. Or you can just use what came with it, which I think are Rayovacs.

When I first got the bass a couple months ago, I didn't know how old the batteries were that were in it, so I changed them out even though the ones in it still worked okay. I bought two Peavey 9V batteries at my local music store thinking they might be better (?) for an instrument application. A couple days ago I went to play the bass and it was completely dead. I pulled the batteries and did the "tongue test" and they were pretty much dead. One thing, which I never usually do, is I left that bass plugged in to the amp for a couple days (amp was off), and I assume that's why the batteries died, although at this point they were about 3 or 4 months old anyway. I thought no big deal, picked up a pair of Panasonics at the local Kwickie-Mart, installed them, and it is still dead. I did check to see if the connections in the battery box are tight, and they seem to be making contact pretty well, I even pried out the tabs a little bit to be sure, I'm not sure how firmly they have to be in there but they are about as tight as you would find in pretty much anything like a television remote control.

Just a couple more details with this situation.

Thanks for the help guys!

[BayStateBass]

Have not heard back from Carvin yet, no worries.

But I'm looking at those Audere preamps and they look really, really cool....

The only concern I have is what would happen if one of these broke.....on a gig. I always have a backup so it's not a huge deal, but with the Carvin preamp there is a toggle switch to run passive electronics (which I am doing now), and I assume if the Audere goes south you're up a creek until you can replace it, doesn't look like it has an option to shut it down and run passively.

But I really like the whole idea of the 6 Z-modes and how they load the pickups differently.......seems like a really, really cool upgrade.....and if I'm looking at replacing the Carvin preamp it looks like I can get a much cooler unit for not a lot more money, and it's something I feel I could comfortably install myself.

[BayStateBass]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Wait, did you change it out with the same type of batteries?

I had this happen on a couple of my SB's. I typically use Duracells and they are slightly shorter than the batteries the bass ships with. Meaning, if you had the stock batteries in a long time, then popped some Duracells in there, it might not work.

The reason is the terminals won't make a good connection. To use Duracells, I had to take a small allen or screwdriver and pry the leads in the battery compartment out a bit so that it will accept a shorter battery in there. Or you can just use what came with it, which I think are Rayovacs.

Gold star of the day, Jarrett.

So now I am convinced that I am officially a moron.

This did the trick, the batteries were just loose enough not to make a connection. I noticed they jiggled around some in the cavities.

Pried the prongs out a little more so they fit tight and....whallah......


Excuse me while I go bask in my stupidity.......





Thanks guys.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

The only concern I have is what would happen if one of these broke.....on a gig. I always have a backup so it's not a huge deal, but with the Carvin preamp there is a toggle switch to run passive electronics (which I am doing now), and I assume if the Audere goes south you're up a creek until you can replace it, doesn't look like it has an option to shut it down and run passively.

BSB -

I once raised this precise issue with David Meadows, the owner & founder of Audere Audio. FYI, David has an extensive background in engineering for one of the major military contractors in the Northwest (Boeing?), so 1) he really knows his stuff, and 2) his frame of reference is way beyond that of your garden-variety consumer electronics venture.

In response to this concern, David simply replied that (and I paraphrase), 'If you engineer it to a high enough standard, it simply doesn't break down, and it doesn't malfunction. At all.

'The only reason you might actually need to have an active/passive option (apart from sometimes preferring the passive tone), is if there are times you might need it in an emergency. But things that are engineered to military spec - and that's my own professional background - simply don't malfunction. They can't. They're mission-critical - and that's that.'

In other words, it's a very different paradigm...just as it's a very different type of preamp. As for a passive tone option, I personally have never needed - or wanted - it. And I'm guessing - and I believe David Meadows knows as much - that if the instrument sounds at least as good in permanent active mode, with all controls run flat, as it does in pure passive mode, then there simply is no need for a passive mode.

Philosophically, I am in complete and total agreement with him. That's why I'm such an enthusiastic evangelist customer!

MM

[Jarrett]

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

Gold star of the day, Jarrett.
This did the trick, the batteries were just loose enough not to make a connection. I noticed they jiggled around some in the cavities. Pried the prongs out a little more so they fit tight and....whallah...... Thanks guys.

Man, don't feel bad. I sent back a perfectly good SB4000 during the trial period thinking the preamp was dead before learning this trick.

It wasn't until later when I swapped batteries on my own SB5000 that I learned this. I'm just glad to hear you got your bass back in action

[EmptyCup]

Hey glad to hear I'm not the only one to have that happen.

I had the same problem when I put Duracells in my SB5000. I was afraid to pry the contact tabs, so I bought a black 12x18 "foam sheet" 3mm thick from the local hobby shop for .99 cents and cut two small strips (one for each battery compartment), slid one in alongside each battery. Now I can shake the @#$! out of it and it still works! And I have enough foam leftover to last a lifetime!

Hope this helps, enjoy your SB5000 BSB

[BayStateBass]

Thanks, everyone!

Now I am still considering swapping out for the Audere preamp, it just looks like such a cool upgrade. But at least I can do it out of GAS related desire versus necessity.

Thanks a lot, MM....now I have you to blame for this......

[Funkinthetrunk]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

If you engineer it to a high enough standard, it simply doesn't break down, and it doesn't malfunction. At all.

I know he's quoting, but....Bold statement.

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

Now I am still considering swapping out for the Audere preamp, it just looks like such a cool upgrade.

Not really sure if it's an "upgrade". I always felt that Audere preamps are just too tame for my liking. And the Z thang...meh. But, YMMV.

[EmptyCup]

+1 Everything breaks eventually.

Cool PJs avatar Funkinthetrunk