Hagstrum Beluga Distortion (The bad kind)

[XVK]

After lurking here for a long time I've finally joined this forum
hoping someone can help me troubleshoot this.
I have a Hagstrom Beluga IIF that sounds very distorted even with the preamp switch off and no battery inside.
I took the bass to my local Hagtrom dealer but they cant figure out whats wrong. U.S. Music doesnt know whats wrong with it and since I bought it used they wont fix it even if I pay them. The store's repair guy think we should replace the preamp. Any thoughts on this?

 

[GlennW]

Have you tried lowering the pickups? If they're too close to the strings the signal will be distorted.

 

[XVK]

Tried that. doesnt make a differance.

 

[eukatheude]

After lurking here for a long time I've finally joined this forum
hoping someone can help me troubleshoot this.
I have a Hagstrom Beluga IIF that sounds very distorted even with the preamp switch off and no battery inside.
I took the bass to my local Hagtrom dealer but they cant figure out whats wrong. U.S. Music doesnt know whats wrong with it and since I bought it used they wont fix it even if I pay them. The store's repair guy think we should replace the preamp. Any thoughts on this?

I think the store repair guy isn't really much competent.

 

[XVK]

Does that mean I shoudnt replace g the preamp?