Issue with Music Man Big Al Preamp
 

Hi,
I've just got (yesterday) my EBMM Big Al SSS after a long time dreaming about it. It was an awesome deal in a famous retail store nearby. It was pre owned but definitely new. It played awesome, I'm in love with its tone, versatility and playability. However there is an issue that is blowing my mind. I gigged yesterday with it + an EBS Compressor and a Markbass combo amp. They've always worked fine. Most of the gig it was ok, but in the end it started clipping the hell out of my cabinet and - while clipping - it would stop sounding (something like a 300msec lack of sound). Later on it started "screaming" a permanent Mid high buzz (around 2Khz). I was upset and had to turn it to passive mode, so it worked fine till the end of the gig (on passive). But whenever switching the preamp on the buzz would start.

Today I did the very same configuration at home and played for an hour. The sound was perfect and nothing happened even if I crank it up as loud as it was at the gig.

Does anybody have an idea of what it should be? I don't wanna return the bass since I loved it, however I don't wanna lose money either.

Have you tried a new battery?

Eliminate the multicomp on the next gig. See if that helps.

This. Had a Bongo that did something similar live, and it was the batteries.

I will definitely try new batteries in it. Thanks. These run 18V (2X9). The best will be changing both of them at the same time so I won't have problem if one dies before the other. What was weird is that at home it's worked fine. No problem at all. How long is the average life time of the batteries on that bass, if compared to a 1988 EBMM SR5 (I've already owned one for 10+ years). Considering I'd be gigging a lot but always taking the precaution of unplugging the bass when I'm not actually playing it.

Regarding the Multicomp. I've already tried without it, both at the gig and at home. At the gig the problem has persisted. At home, given the intermittent character of the problem (the problem never happened) it was ok: no issue was detected.

Thanks a lot for your fast response and for your help too.