1997 Stingray: Should I replace the preamp (original vs Bosko vs John East)?

[SteveFromBerlin]

Hey guys,

I just bought a 1997 Music Man Stingray: It has a late-70s-style replacement Alnico Pickup by German manufacturer Häussel and I really like the sound of it!

Now the knobs and their center detents are very loose. I will either have to change them or... find a new preamp to put in.

2-band vs 3-band

Of course, I have watched A TON of 2-band vs 3-band videos on YouTube. Somehow I can't decide what I prefer. To my ears, the 2-Band sounds a lot warmer and doesn't have that (4 kHz?) honk in the high mids or highs. I like that a lot, especially when played with fingers. BUT: While I like the warm bass boost, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the massive overall boost all the way down to 0 Hz. It can be too muddy and may compete too much with other instruments' low-mid content.

Also, the highs can be too brittle for my taste. I do agree though that it does sound more musical and warmer.

I do like the original 3-Band preamp in my bass, especially the well controlled low end. The only thing I don't like is the honky spike. But maybe that helps cutting through the mix?

3rd party preamps

I once owned a John East in another bass. It is very good, but am I right in thinking it sounds cleaner and less growly than the original 3-Band or other 2-Bands? I remember the bright switch being way too brittle for me. I don't remember the low end though. Is it more controlled than an original 2-Band or the same? Also, I don't really like stacked knobs and push / pull knobs. But I could get over it.

And then there is the infamous Bosko preamp from boskos_classic_preamps on eBay. Sounds very interesting. But what what would I do if with the missing third knob?

Some people have said that they really like an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp in conjunction with a Stingray. I could not find many demos so no opinion on this option.

I think these are my options:

- keep the original preamp and find new pots (simply!)
- get a John East MMSR preamp
- get a Bosko Music Man 2-Band preamp
- get something else

What would you do?

 

[sawzalot]

You won’t find new pots, they’re soldered to the preamp board. You might be able to get a new preamp from MusicMan but they’ll want the old one back. Or they could give you some options to make the pots tighter. But I wouldn’t ditch the preamp, that’s a significant part of what makes a musicman sound the way it does.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Oh, really?! I didn’t know that. Thanks!

 

[Mister Magic]

I have no advice for your bass, but I also have a Moog Messenger. Do you have a stand for it yet? I am looking at getting one of these:

Gibraltar GEMS Laptop / Mixer Stand

A versatile stand designed for laptops, MIDI controllers, samplers, and other electronic equipment, offering adjustable height and secure mounting. The single braced stand features a fixed T-top and comes complete with 18" mounting arms. Designed to allow units to run cool and leave all ports...

gibraltarhardware.com

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I have no advice for your bass, but I also have a Moog Messenger. Do you have a stand for it yet? I am looking at getting one of these:

Gibraltar GEMS Laptop / Mixer Stand

A versatile stand designed for laptops, MIDI controllers, samplers, and other electronic equipment, offering adjustable height and secure mounting. The single braced stand features a fixed T-top and comes complete with 18" mounting arms. Designed to allow units to run cool and leave all ports...

gibraltarhardware.com

Haha, that escalated quickly. When I have to carry it myself, I use a lightweight „Stay Slim“. (I‘m not kidding.) I like it a lot.

Stay Keyboard Stand Slim Black

Stay Keyboard Stand Slim Black - Keyboardständer für 2 Keyboards, max. Höhe 1100 mm, obere Auflagetiefe (schräg) 280 mm, untere Auflagentiefe (gerade) 380mm, Belastbarkeit max 10 kg pro Ebene, Gewicht 2,9 kg, Material Aluminium, Transporttasche im...

www.thomann.de

When on tour, I have a proper stand… don‘t know the lodel.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

If the knobs have set screws it may simply be a matter of tightening the screws.

BBB

 

[Nebadon2000]

Guessing OP watched that Bull video claiming spike at 4K and HPF
The Treble EQ on Bass is centered at 4K can turn down slightly to help with 'Honk' you hear
Funny I have seen/heard plenty of Pre Special Videos and in Wild with great sound no Honk, Clank etc.
Wonder how they do it
A fellow TB member jut put out video comparing bunch of different Era Stingrays
@_Obra_ check YouTube and or Stingray Clubs here

PS saying that
John East preamp gives you best of both worlds
My HO Your 3 band natural voice is slightly more modern mid scooped
which gives it a brighter overall tone many like especially Slappers and tappers but those EQ knobs are there for a reason
Their is no flat setting on 2 band unfortunately many just crank Bass full on with a touch of treble some even crank treble also not so good tone to me
But in the hands of a skilled player 2 band sounds excellent but so does 3 band an Special 3 band

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

If the knobs have set screws it may simply be a matter of tightening the screws.

BBB

I‘ll look for it next week, when my shows are done. The bass came with a black pickguard, so I may change it back to this anyway. But I know this is a problem of my buddys‘ 1999 Stingray too. Well see.

I‘m surprised how many people are voting for the 3-Band: When reading through talkbass and comments on YouTube, I got the impression that the majority of bassists prefer the 2-Band.

 

[cataract]

I have an ‘86 Stingray 4H 3eq Stingray that sounds amazing. I’m enjoying it a lot more than the 2eq Stingray Classic I had. The mid control on the 3 band preamp is something I wouldn’t want to give up after having spent time with it lol. You should look into sourcing a 3 band Music Man pre, they do pop up on Reverb every so often, or check out the various clone equivalents.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I‘m surprised how many people are voting for the 3-Band: When reading through talkbass and comments on YouTube, I got the impression that the majority of bassists prefer the 2-Band.

Since it has the knobs for a 3 band, originally came with a 3 band, I would keep with the 3 band. Protects the resale value of the bass

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Guessing OP watched that Bull video claiming spike at 4K and HPF

You mean this one?

 

[Nebadon2000]

I‘ll look for it next week, when my shows are done. The bass came with a black pickguard, so I may change it back to this anyway. But I know this is a problem of my buddys‘ 1999 Stingray too. Well see.

I‘m surprised how many people are voting for the 3-Band: When reading through talkbass and comments on YouTube, I got the impression that the majority of bassists prefer the 2-Band.

Sterling Ball posted how hard they marketed 2 band Classic but 3 Band significantly out sold them
When they stopped making Classic someone asked why on Forum they were told by EBMM employee that Specials out sold Classic 2 band 40 to1
2 Banders are very loud and assertive
But not the majority

 

[Nebadon2000]

You mean this one?

Yes; I would never buy a Stingray 2 or 3 Band if they actually sounded like examples in Video;

Try this one; Also when I mentioned 'Mid Scoop' on pre Special 3 band it is somewhere slightly in 250-450 hz to my perception



When I said East has best of both worlds meant their 3 band

The MMSR preamp has been designed with characteristics very similar to the original MM Stingray 2 Band EQ, in order to retain the same interaction between the MM pickup and the electronics, crucial in creating the original pre EB sound colours. Additionally, the MMSR preamp has separate stages for the bass and treble, allowing us to further enhance and extend the bass control.

The 3-Band version has the extra feature of a Mid Sweep. When the Mid boost/cut is centred, its effect is neutral and the EQ is purely late 70s MM style.

 

[Klangfarbe]

RICHTER ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING is nice.

Sounds like this: (Fixed-Mids version)



The Bass in the Video has the same Pickup you have.

Gruß aus Köln

 

[sawzalot]

I‘m surprised how many people are voting for the 3-Band

You have a Stingray5, which never came with a 2-band. The merits of 3 band vs 2 band or vice versa only apply to the 4-string, pre-2018 models.

 

[wblaze]

I replaced both the pickup and 3-band preamp of my 92 Stingray with the Nordstrand MM4.2 pickup and the John East 3 band preamp. For me, the swap smoothed out the typical high clank/sting, and also addressed a failing treble pot on the stock preamp. Using different combinations of stock and replacement, I found that the East preamp made more of a difference than the new pickup. I'm happy with the combo and having the possibility of tweaking the sweepable mids when needed works for me.

Back in the 90's I loved the top end sizzle to cut through a loud band! But tastes change and I definitely go for less high end on all my instruments.