Stingray Bass Preamp...Distorting?

[azrael]

My bassist just got a shiny new bass. It's pretty sweet. It's a single pickup Music Man Stingray, with a green chameleon finish.
Here's some pics:




Anyway, on to why I am posting. I feel like we're having a spot of trouble dialing in the tone. The bass feels kind of fuzzy or something, instead of having a completely clean tone. He's using a Gallien Krueger Backline 210.

I was looking at building a new preamp, based on a schematic I found of the two band Saber II preamp they used to use, but I don't want to do anything drastic just yet.

Does anyone encounter this problem? Are we doing something wrong? Thanks for any help or insight you can offer.

[cybersnyder]

Change the battery.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Have to agree with try changing the battery.

(keeping a lead plugged into the bass when not in use will continue to drain the battery incase your bassist didnt know)

There is a schematic out there for the original MusicMan Stingray 2-band preamp (using an LM250 op amp IIRC). I'm pretty sure the Saber always had a different preamp.

[73jbass]

Yep,change the battery. BTW,that's a Dargie Delight Stingray.

[Caca de Kick]

That is a brand new colour that recently came out, the Dargie II in apple caramel. Odd the bass would already have a low/dead battery, but stranger things have happened.

I would start by asking; how is he setting his eq knobs on the bass??? If he has all of the knobs set wide open, then he's asking for too hot of a signal and will usually distort the amp.
Start with the knobs clicked in their centers, and adjust tiny increments from there. Oh and let the amplifier do the volume work, not the preamp.

[tdogg]

where are you guys finding these preamp schematics?

[azrael]

73jbass - cool, we were wondering the model name! :cheers:

I'll try changing the battery.

i_got_a_mohawk - the difference is one input cap and a bright switch. Very similar preamps. Close on opamp model - LM4250.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by 73jbass

Yep,change the battery. BTW,that's a Dargie Delight Stingray.

I miss the martini glass inlays

Originally Posted by tdogg

where are you guys finding these preamp schematics?

Just google it, there are hoards of schematic's out there

Originally Posted by azrael

i_got_a_mohawk - the difference is one input cap and a bright switch. Very similar preamps. Close on opamp model - LM4250.

Close enough

Granted I have never compared them, would just want to stick to what's true

I dare say, at least with the Saber preamp you wouldnt be stuck with an empty hole if you managed to get a switch to fill the hole where the extra pot would be.

[azrael]

^that was pretty much my reasoning behind choosing the Saber II, haha. I think I may try putting this preamp on my own OLP Stingray just to make it sound nicer.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by azrael

^that was pretty much my reasoning behind choosing the Saber II, haha. I think I may try putting this preamp on my own OLP Stingray just to make it sound nicer.

Sounds like a plan there! I'm making a preamp that is similar to the original music man, but using a J201 JFET in place of the opamp. Basically using Tillmans Discrete FET preamp with the added tonal controls of the LM4250 based stingray preamp. Will obviously be different enough, but hopefully retain enough of the good characteristics!

Should be a fair amount better than the preamp that was in my 'ray backup (Aria STB EXO)

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by azrael

73jbass - cool, we were wondering the model name! :cheers:

I'll try changing the battery.

i_got_a_mohawk - the difference is one input cap and a bright switch. Very similar preamps. Close on opamp model - LM4250.

After having another look at them, the EQ points seem to be different aswell. They are still similar preamps tho, but it is more than just the bright switch and input cap.

(going by the schematics ive got here)

[azrael]

You're right.

it's a simple matter to change that frequncy range, though.

[pandathe3]

Making Sabre preamps!!! I want a sabre bass

When i eventually find a used OLP again (and purchase it) I'm gonna be taking the old MM preamp (2band) and on the master vol pot make it a S/P switch

What would your guys opinons be on the freq points of the bass and treble, what would be the most ideal points??

I really only use my basses pre as 'Shelving' (So bear that in mind, i was thinking 50hz and 10khz) I've never really had the need for the mid EQ. But i could definitely use a bright switch, that'd be fecking awsome! Although i've heard rumours that the bright switch on the sabres did nothing noticable anyway.

[azrael]

All very good questions, I haven't the foggiest idea what would be ideals caps. Your best bet woud be to try it out yourself and experiment!

Putting sockets so substitutions will be easy should be simple enough.

[pandathe3]

Sorry to try and steal the thread by the way.

have you opened her up and checked its all grounded properly??

Veryy nice bass by the way

[azrael]

it's all good. Oh, it's my friend's. Haven't opened it up, just haven't had the time. Been building myself some new stompboxes.

[pandathe3]

Haha, good old stompbox building.

*Cough* if you want you can send it to me to have a look at *Cough*



I'm quite interested in trying to make a bright switch. Maybe a +3dB @ 10kHz. How would i go about this, any ideas? I've had no luck trying to find schematics for the sabre, just the same old wiring diagram over and over :@

[azrael]

Wait, can't find a wiring diagram for the Sabre bass preamp? Check freestompboxes.org. That's where I got it.

It has a bright switch, it's just a matter of tweaking it so it has the right frequency boost.

[stflbn]

I can't believe 'yall are chomping at the bit to yank the guts out a new Dargie Delight.
If it's a preamp issue then EBMM should fix it.

[azrael]

Not sure what it is, might just not interact with SS amps?

I'll just have to take a closer look at EQing it or something.