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Changing my Stingray's preamp

#21
That's all I was thinking -- preventing the strings from hitting the polepieces.

The OP described a problem similar to one I experienced with a bass years ago. Installing pickup covers definitely helped, but I eventually took them off and made a small adjustment to my technique.

jdjk7 said:
Tape is not going to shield the pickups from any noise, and neither would a pickup cover.

The only thing I'm aware of that tape can help with is noise caused by the strings contacting the pole pieces when played hard. I have several basses with pickups covered with electrical or masking tape for this reason... but the only thing it's doing is preventing the metal-on-metal contact that causes an unpleasant snapping noise thru the amp.
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#22
Sacha 2A said:
There is a noise that only disappears when I touch the strings or something else metallic on the bass. My luthier has tried to fix it, he has done everything but the problem still remains. So, he has said that there was nothing else to do than changing the preamp.
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That's what you are supposed to observe - touching a metal part on the bass makes the noise go away. If there is a ground issue, noise won't go away even if you touch a metal part.
 
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#23
Regarding replacement of a faulty MM preamp: The preamp in my SR4 went faulty (I think it was the OP-amp module) and I was able to get (read: buy) a replacement preamp from EBMM via my local music store. I had to tell the EBMM my bass serial number before getting the replacement preamp. No problem. Then I also repaierd my old faulty preamp by replacing the OP-amp. So now I have a spare preamp to my SR4 in case of a new failure.
 
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#25
mrbaloo I have sent an e mail to ebmm and waiting for their answer. But if I change the preamp, I am thinking of having something maybe better : I've seen on internet that John East has preamps that keep the Stingray sound and that is also a little bit better. At the end, I don't really know what to do !!
 
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#27
Sacha 2A said:
mrbaloo I have sent an e mail to ebmm and waiting for their answer. But if I change the preamp, I am thinking of having something maybe better : I've seen on internet that John East has preamps that keep the Stingray sound and that is also a little bit better. At the end, I don't really know what to do !!
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Yes, that's the way. However, what is "better"? ;-) EBMM have specified the preamp according to what they the say "is the best". However, I'll guess that you are not happy with the EBMM preamp, right? Than you could look for an other replacement preamp than the EBMM original.

In my opinion, the EBMM preamp is "the best" for my instrument. On the other hand, I newer touch the EQ-controls (always leaved in the middle position)...
 
#29
Sacha 2A said:
mrbaloo I have sent an e mail to ebmm and waiting for their answer. But if I change the preamp, I am thinking of having something maybe better : I've seen on internet that John East has preamps that keep the Stingray sound and that is also a little bit better. At the end, I don't really know what to do !!
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Here's what you need to do.

Ask around and get recommendations for another (qualified) luthier before you do anything. Again, that's not a hard problem to solve. In the very rare event that the second qualified luthier diagnoses the issue to the preamp, the replacement preamp can be bought from MM once you return the bad preamp to them (or get a deal to procure it for you, as someone described earlier).
Once this is done, then spend time playing your repaired bass and see if the tone is to your liking. Then consider a replacement preamp. I favor the John East MM preamp.

Having said all this, you can trust the guy that says the preamp is bad and get a replacement if you like. Don't be surprised when you have the same problem with the new preamp.

Now….you can continue posting and going back and forth with commenters and not getting anything done. But you really need to move forward and get this bass on the road to repair. You have only 2 options and 2 pages have been generated over a simple problem.

It's time to make a move. And do report back when you've successfully got your bass back up and running properly.
 
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#30
My 1995 Stingray had a the same problem and yes, it was a grounding issue. I do have an Indonesian Sterling by Musicman SUB bass and I replaced it with a Glockenklang preamp. I absolutely love it but from what I hear the John East is closer to original.
 
#32
Whale said:
I added a John East MMSR preamp in my Stingray and liked it very very much. It didn't necessarily change the sound of the bass, but it did make available a number of additional tones/sounds that I didn't have with the factory preamp.

The East preamp isn't cheap. On the other hand, it is well built and (in my case, at least), never gave me any problems. It was 100% reliable and my battery seemed to last forever.

Here is Lobster's review of the East MMSR preamp…

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+1 for the John East pre-amp. I have many more musical tones available to me with this, including that vintage Ray tone. With the stock pre-amp, I had a very limited range for the settings to sound right -- to my ears at least. I consider this a great upgrade.
 
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#33
Sacha 2A said:
There is a noise that only disappears when I touch the strings or something else metallic on the bass. My luthier has tried to fix it, he has done everything but the problem still remains. So, he has said that there was nothing else to do than changing the preamp.
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I don't think that sounds like you need a new preamp, ask for a second opinion. Many 'luthiers' can be pretty good at setting up a guitar etc but not so good troubleshooting electronic issues.

If you end up looking for a new preamp, I'd recommend the John East MMSR 3-band. I have one in my Stingray and I can't praise it enough.
 
#34
Hi guys ! Thanks to try to help me ! Some of you suggest that I find a second luthier to be sure... But I live in a little town located in a French island ( Corsica ). There are not so many luthiers, so I have to trust the one I have. In any case, what I've read about the John East dream makes me think that it would sound better anyway ! So no regret if I do that, even though there was a possibility to fix the one I have.
 
#35
roller said:
That's all I was thinking -- preventing the strings from hitting the polepieces.

The OP described a problem similar to one I experienced with a bass years ago. Installing pickup covers definitely helped, but I eventually took them off and made a small adjustment to my technique.
Click to expand...
That symptom isn't really what the OP describes. It's pretty safe to say that there's a grounding issue going on.

But in your first comment, I thought you were referring to a pickup cover like a Fender ash tray... that's just what came to mind first, so I thought you might be one of those folk that assumes that it serves as a shield from electromagnetic noise. I was confused.
 
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#36
Sacha 2A said:
Hi guys ! Thanks to try to help me ! Some of you suggest that I find a second luthier to be sure... But I live in a little town located in a French island ( Corsica ). There are not so many luthiers, so I have to trust the one I have. In any case, what I've read about the John East dream makes me think that it would sound better anyway ! So no regret if I do that, even though there was a possibility to fix the one I have.
Click to expand...

:banghead:

Okay, but again, don't be surprised if the noise is still there, even with the John East replacement preamp.

I've no idea if it will or not, just sayin'….
 
#37
Finally, I have taken my decision. I change the preamp for a John East one ( with what I read, including on this thread, this one is the best for what I want). I have called the John East company and the guy I talked with explained to me how the John East preamp sounds and confirmed that you can have the sound of the recent Stingrays but also having the sound of the pre Ernie balls. I have now ordered this preamp and my luthier will install it. I will comeback on this thread ( or open a new one ) to tell you how it sounds. Thanks to all of you for your posts !
 
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