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Dead preamp

Tinkachu08

Tinkachu08

Jun 3, 2024
45
109
#1
Hope some can help me, Beginner here I bought a used Sterling Ray4 from GC in Minnesota just arrived today in Cali its perfect no issues at all... Even after putting a new battery in it she isn't very loud..
Took her to the GC by me, the sales person said the preamp is dead... Great I don't want to return her I love the vintage burst color..

Now what sterling doesn't sell replacement preamps any recommendations for a 2-band preamp that will fit and not cost $$$..

Thank you,
Lana
Screenshot_20240603-174034.png
 
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#2
Hey, GC has a solid return policy if you need it. And unless something has changed they won’t outright sell you a new preamp but they will send replacement. Maybe ask the store how they’d handle it. Nice looking bass.
I don’t think there is a trim pot inside but someone can verify.
 
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#3
Killing Floor said:
Hey, GC has a solid return policy if you need it. And unless something has changed they won’t outright sell you a new preamp but they will send replacement. Maybe ask the store how they’d handle it. Nice looking bass.
I don’t think there is a trim pot inside but someone can verify.
Click to expand...
Killing Floor said:
Hey, GC has a solid return policy if you need it. And unless something has changed they won’t outright sell you a new preamp but they will send replacement. Maybe ask the store how they’d handle it. Nice looking bass.
I don’t think there is a trim pot inside but someone can verify.[/QUOT
Killing Floor said:
Hey, GC has a solid return policy if you need it. And unless something has changed they won’t outright sell you a new preamp but they will send replacement. Maybe ask the store how they’d handle it. Nice looking bass.
I don’t think there is a trim pot inside but someone can verify.
Click to expand...
Tinkachu08 said:
Hope some can help me, Beginner here I bought a used Sterling Ray4 from GC in Minnesota just arrived today in Cali its perfect no issues at all... Even after putting a new battery in it she isn't very loud..
Took her to the GC by me, the sales person said the preamp is dead... Great I don't want to return her I love the vintage burst color..

Now what sterling doesn't sell replacement preamps any recommendations for a 2-band preamp that will fit and not cost $$$..

Thank you,
Lana
View attachment 5472824
Click to expand...
Killing Floor said:
Hey, GC has a solid return policy if you need it. And unless something has changed they won’t outright sell you a new preamp but they will send replacement. Maybe ask the store how they’d handle it. Nice looking bass.
I don’t think there is a trim pot inside but someone can verify.
Click to expand...
I need to ask GC what we can do cuz I don't want a refund she's perfect.. I don't think it's right that I have to buy a new preamp. I know she's used but it didn't say "as is" or final sale.. I asked the kid/luthier at GC how he would fix her . He said he'd just put a passive pickup in her ...what, no thank you
Click to expand...
 
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#4
Honestly I'd find a good tech to confirm that you have a dead preamp. Usually if it's having problems it's a bad connection or a pot is going out. If you have any scratchy sounds from your knobs then definitely start there. Aside from that you could pick up 2 band preamps on the cheap from eBay or look for something on our classifieds here. You might find a deal on an American music man preamp. Once you go this route it opens up a world of possibilities. Any decent preamp should really sound good in there. Even an MEC preamp they use in Warwick basses. You can get creative and have a beast of a stingray. While you're in there have that tech test your pickup because if that's the issue then doing anything with your preamp is useless. Lots of awesome options for music man style humbuckers out there. Let us know how it goes when you get it looked over.
 
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#5
GTHintz said:
Honestly I'd find a good tech to confirm that you have a dead preamp. Usually if it's having problems it's a bad connection or a pot is going out. If you have any scratchy sounds from your knobs then definitely start there. Aside from that you could pick up 2 band preamps on the cheap from eBay or look for something on our classifieds here. You might find a deal on an American music man preamp. Once you go this route it opens up a world of possibilities. Any decent preamp should really sound good in there. Even an MEC preamp they use in Warwick basses. You can get creative and have a beast of a stingray. While you're in there have that tech test your pickup because if that's the issue then doing anything with your preamp is useless. Lots of awesome options for music man style humbuckers out there. Let us know how it goes when you get it looked over.
Click to expand...
Will do, thank you for your help and advise.
Lana
 
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#6
Tinkachu08 said:
Will do, thank you for your help and advise.
Lana
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You're welcome! I can't wait for you to be able to enjoy that lovely bass! I'd love it if it's just a bad connection or Something stupid easy. If you end up replacing parts you have a lot of options thankfully. Just about everyone makes a preamp that'll fit and same thing with music man style humbucker pickups.
 
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#8
GTHintz said:
You're welcome! I can't wait for you to be able to enjoy that lovely bass! I'd love it if it's just a bad connection or Something stupid easy. If you end up replacing parts you have a lot of options thankfully. Just about everyone makes a preamp that'll fit and same thing with music man style humbucker pickups.
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As a beginner I shopped around a lot even bought a couple of basses (Sweetwater.etc) and returned then they just didn't feel right in my hands, the sound or just the over all vibe if that makes any sense... Just some about the string ray bass I loved and when I found this vintage burst it's not sun burst all I thought was,.... There are many string rays but this one is mine..! Funny I can pick up the same bass in Red, Blue or mint green (which is pretty) but it doesn't scream.. LETS DO THIS TO ME..
 
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#12
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#13
GTHintz said:
I do know what you mean by picking up something and it speaking to you. I really like either blacked out or white out stingrays best but yours looks really classy. I'd definitely want to do what it takes to get it reaching it's potential.
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Funny you said white, I really wanted a white sting ray4 not many on the used market I had a bunch of mod ideas... All black hardware custom pickguard... Oh well maybe that will be a christmas gift to myself.
 
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#14
Malak the Mad said:
@Tinkachu08; First off, welcome to TalkBass!

Second, if an instrument feels good all around, I'd say keep it. Finding a good ergonomic fit can be very challenging.

Third, this reproduction of a classic, 1977 StingRay preamp might do the trick.
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Thanks Malak, great price.. think I'm gone first go back to GC and see what kind of compensation they wanna give me for selling me a broken bass. Then I'm going to this luthier that I know and have him make sure its the preamp that's shot, and if so I'll probably take advantage of the link you sent me....
Thanks again,
Lana
 
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