Preamp bad from my warwick, need a new one!

[blackrock]

My preamp is bad from my Warwick bass. I purchased it this way thinking it would be an easy fix, but I can't seem to find a replacement that is the same. The preamp has a quick connect harness with 10 wires. It is for bass, treble, balance, and volume (2band EQ). The number on it is RBA04Q-GREE. If anyone can help me find a replacement, I would forever appreciative! I have already contacted MEC and Warwick and had zero luck. I'm looking to buy the same type of preamp without being wired to pots. The colors of wires are white, grey, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black. The harness is one piece. Also, if anyone knows where to find good & easy to understand wiring diagrams for active preamps, please let me know! You all rock and thanks for your help! Peace, blackrock

[ctmullins]

You might consider cutting the connector off of the old preamp, retaining as much wire as possible, and soldering that to a two-band of your choice. Is it apparent which wires are used for volume, blend, bass, and treble?

[SGD Lutherie]

I would think you could get a new one here:

M.E.C. Pickups

[blackrock]

I contacted MEC and they do not have that type of preamp. The preamps they sell cost as much as I paid for the bass. Apparently Warwick doesn't use MEC preamps in the rock bass. When I contacted Warwick, they told me to contact the distributer and they couldn't help me.

The problem is the preamp is bad and I need to find a new one. I don't want to spend as much on a preamp as I did on the bass.

I can splice the new one in if I can find a comparable preamp.

[SGD Lutherie]

You might not be able to splice a new preamp into the existing controls. It all depends on their resistance value and what the new preamp uses.

[darkstorm]

Replace the preamp with some other brand like basslines, emg, auguilar, etc. You'll simply remove the old preamp (theyre not that good anyway in my experience with owning real german warwick with active preamp). Check instruction manual for new preamp for installing it with current vol and blend pots. Change those if required, prob not.

[blackrock]

Ok, I really need someone to point me in the right direction to purchase a new preamp that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Also, need diagrams not advice. Thanks!

[ctmullins]

If you want to buy new, bestbassgear.com is an excellent retailer. They carry quite a few quality preamps. The Aguilar and Bartolini preamps are well thought of, and not particularly expensive. Wiring schematics are available at Aguilar Amplification: Bass Pedals, Bass Pickups, Bass Preamps, Bass Amplifiers, and Bass Speaker Cabinets and Bartolini Pickups and Electronics.

The cheapest preamp I've found from a quality manufacturer is the Seymour Duncan (Basslines) Blackout. It has circuitry integrated into the pots, so should be a simple install. Available from basspartsresource.com for well under a Benjamin.

Just for starters...

[SC Bassboy]

Well, if you really want to replace the factory preamp you should contact US Music Corporation who is Warwick's US distributor. 1-800-877-6863. However, I would just replace it with another brand of preamp. I've owned several Warwicks over the years and used to be endorsed by them but I never cared much for the MEC electronics. All my Warwicks have Seymour Duncan electronics in them now. My Fender P/J has an Aquilar preamp in it which sounds awesome. Save up a little money and for about $200.00 you can put some great sounding PU's and preamp in your bass. My favorite PU is the Seymoud Duncan 1/4 pounder.

[blackrock]

Thanks for the info! I will be sure to check into some of this.

[blackrock]

Does anyone know why a preamp can go bad? Curious if the problem may be something else in the bass. Suggestions on how to test a preamp for functionality?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by blackrock

Does anyone know why a preamp can go bad? Curious if the problem may be something else in the bass. Suggestions on how to test a preamp for functionality?

It shouldn't. What exactly are the symptoms?

[blackrock]

I haven't messed with the bass much. I bought it on ebay and the seller said it has a bad preamp. The only thing I have done is plug it in and got no sound at all. I thought before I go spending a bunch of money, I better do some homework first.

How do you test a preamp for functionality?

Thanks SGD Lutherie!

[brentonbassist]

I've owned many Warwick's and a Rockbass, and almost all have had issues with the input jack at one stage or another. If you haven't already eliminated this problem, I'd start there. Simple test with a voltmeter, and cheap and easy to replace. It's much more common to have a fault with the wiring there (as the barrel jacks easily come loose, and then rotate around and put strain on the wire and solder joint when twisted) or the tab inside the barrel jack (especially if used with a lead like Planet Waves, where the design of the lead bends that tab away from it's original position) then for the pre itself to die.

[brentonbassist]

And also, although I've never had the need (but God knows I've had the desire) to replace the pre in any of my Warwicks, the first point of call for most Warwick owners as far as an upgrade is to get rid of the horrible MEC pre for something much more musically useful. I would highly recommend, that if you do in fact need to replace the pre, going for something like an Aguilar, Bartolini, Seymour Duncan, Delano, ACG, East, EMG or something else instead (which will probably cost about the same anyway). My current 2 Warwicks and previous 2 I have ended up running them all in passive mode as the pre is so tasteless and unmusical anyway.

[fleabee]

I highly doubt the pre needs to be replaced, but if perchance it does, this is the schematic http://www.warwick.de/media/manuals/...SP_RB_120R.pdf

Post an ad on craigslist for a replacement- a used one should go for no more than $25-$30 for the active 2 band or become a supporting member and post here.

[jimbilly]

I had a bad preamp in a Thumb 5, I found that wholesale on a new stock preamp was $550, -no kidding. I had an EMG BTC (stacked) preamp laying around, it cost a little to have it wired in, but it worked really well. If you don't use the bass/treble boost a lot, maybe just have it rewired passive? If I were to do it over again I think I'd just go passive since I don't usually use any onboard bass/treble boost.

[pgolliher]

Originally Posted by SC Bassboy

Well, if you really want to replace the factory preamp you should contact US Music Corporation who is Warwick's US distributor. 1-800-877-6863. However, I would just replace it with another brand of preamp. I've owned several Warwicks over the years and used to be endorsed by them but I never cared much for the MEC electronics. All my Warwicks have Seymour Duncan electronics in them now. My Fender P/J has an Aquilar preamp in it which sounds awesome. Save up a little money and for about $200.00 you can put some great sounding PU's and preamp in your bass. My favorite PU is the Seymoud Duncan 1/4 pounder.

Hi, Which Aguilar preamp to you have in your fender P/J, I am thinking about droping one in my Deluxe P-Bass Special passive. Thanks!

[blackrock]

I took out the Warwick/MEC pots, preamp, and wiring. What a mess it was! Bad solder joints and the jack connections were touching. Hard to believe it would come from the factory like this.

After this experience, my view on Warwick has been severely tainted. From a crappy wiring job to lack of customer support, I will think twice about buying or recommending a Warwick bass.

[arginator]

If you're still looking to replace the preamp, check out the Bassmods preamps on eBay. I have never used one, but they're inexpensive and have the pots prewired.

Seems like you should check some of those solder joints first, though.