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HELP! problem with Schecter Electronics

S

sethbwk

May 20, 2011
8
0
Harrisonburg, VA
#1
Hey all-

I have a Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Elite-4 with EMG HZ pickups. I've researched it quite a bit, and I believe that the pickups are passive BUT the preamp is active (it takes a 9v). I've tried to fix it countless times, but I'm not that knowledgeable with electronics, and I would be ever so grateful if any of you TB-ers would be able to help me.

The main problem with the bass is that it has a horrible distortion when you pluck the sting at full volume. It's a fuzz-sound and it's awful. After looking up their electronics, I found that the 4 knobs on the bass are 1. Neck/Bridge Blend 2. Master Volume 3. Treble and 4. Bass

I then discovered that when I put the blend knob fully on the Bridge p/u, there is no sound (aka the bridge pickup isn't working at all). I don't see any loose wires, and I've opened it up more times than I can count and cannot seem to diagnose it. I've replaced the battery and replaced the output jack as well. Still no luck.

I'm guessing the preamp is bad, but I have no idea how to know for sure. I also have no idea if/how I could get a preamp that would work with the HZ pickups. I don't want to spend a lot on high end electronics - it's a backup to my Stingray 5HH and I'm not that ready to drop tons of money into it. The pickups are 3.5" by 1.5". I wouldn't mind swapping them out with passives if I knew of some inexpensive ones that would fit, but the sizing seems pretty hard to match.

Thanks so much for reading. I would really appreciate any help I can get.
 
#2
I hope you have gotten this sorted out by now since it has been a month since you first posted.

It sounds to me like there is a problem with the bridge pickup or the blend knob. I don't know if you have done this yet, but check the wiring against a diagram. You can find Schecter wiring diagrams on their website:

Link Removed

I downloaded a .pdf file named C-4-5.pdf that covers a number of their models using Hz pickups.

If you don't see any problems, you could try bypassing the active eq (preamp). As I understand it, the Hz pickups are passive. Looking at the diagram, and if your bass is the same as mine, it uses passive blend and master volume knobs. The two eq knobs on your bass are the only things that use the battery. (I have considered wiring my Stiletto with a switch to bypass the eq, since I've been running it flat anyway.)

Since you have already tried a new output jack, I imagine you have some skill with a soldering iron. You would want to disconnect the wires going from the active eq to the jack. Then, disconnect the wires going from the volume knob to the eq and reconnect them directly to the jack.

If this does not work, you know the problem is not with the active eq circuit.

If you still have problems I would start trouble shooting each component. It will be time consuming, but you could check both pickups, one at a time. I would try bridge pickup -> master volume -> output jack first, eliminating the blend knob from the equation. If it works, the bridge pickup is fine. Disconnect it, connect the neck pickup, check again. If all is well, rewire the blend knob. It's tedious, but if you take your time you'll teach yourself something about electronics. Plus, you'll be better with a soldering iron for sure!
 
#3
sethbwk said:
Hey all-

I have a Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Elite-4 with EMG HZ pickups. I've researched it quite a bit, and I believe that the pickups are passive BUT the preamp is active (it takes a 9v). I've tried to fix it countless times, but I'm not that knowledgeable with electronics, and I would be ever so grateful if any of you TB-ers would be able to help me.

The main problem with the bass is that it has a horrible distortion when you pluck the sting at full volume. It's a fuzz-sound and it's awful. After looking up their electronics, I found that the 4 knobs on the bass are 1. Neck/Bridge Blend 2. Master Volume 3. Treble and 4. Bass

I then discovered that when I put the blend knob fully on the Bridge p/u, there is no sound (aka the bridge pickup isn't working at all). I don't see any loose wires, and I've opened it up more times than I can count and cannot seem to diagnose it. I've replaced the battery and replaced the output jack as well. Still no luck.

I'm guessing the preamp is bad, but I have no idea how to know for sure. I also have no idea if/how I could get a preamp that would work with the HZ pickups. I don't want to spend a lot on high end electronics - it's a backup to my Stingray 5HH and I'm not that ready to drop tons of money into it. The pickups are 3.5" by 1.5". I wouldn't mind swapping them out with passives if I knew of some inexpensive ones that would fit, but the sizing seems pretty hard to match.

Thanks so much for reading. I would really appreciate any help I can get.
Click to expand...

Hey there sethbwk...not sure if you're still active on TalkBass but I'm currently having the same exact problem with my Diamond Series Stiletto Studio 5. Just wanted to know if, by using Zabbo1978's advice, you were able to get this all sorted out. Desperate for some knowledge at this point!

Thanks to anyone that can provide some insight into this issue!
 
#7
I've got the Stiletto Vintage 4 . Overall a decent bass ...but....... The master volume pot is either failed ( on or off only ) or something else is goofy in the electronics. The blend control is super strong toward music man style bridge pickup , lower volume on neck jazz style pickup. I haven't adjusted pickup height or anything else yet. The center detent position on blend control makes a sound like an old battery operated transistor radio. Low volume as well. The bass is comfortable. I'll try to fix it.
 
#8
fiestygnome said:
The center detent position on blend control makes a sound like an old battery operated transistor radio. Low volume as well.
Click to expand...
That, sir, is the 'dictionary' definition of symptoms that occur when one pickup is wired out-of-phase with the other. Most likely one pickup was replaced, swap the hot/ground wires on one pickup and see if it's better.

The ON/OFF volume control sounds like the bass may have been converted to passive, but they left the existing volume pot for an active preamp. Passive - 250 k Ohm volume control, active typically uses a 25 k Ohm volume control.
 
#10
Regarding controls for Schecter Stilleto Custom 4 bass: the 2004 and earlier catalogs state that the controls are volume/volume/bass/treble; the 2005 and later catalogs state controls are volume/blend/bass/treble. However, I have a 2005 model and the controls are V/V/B/T. I expect that this may be a late 2004 model that was released as 2005, thus the 2004-type controls.
 

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