Ibanez SR1015 '98 Restoration Project HELP.......please

[FBassBrett]

Need help with a project I started recently involving my 1998 Ibanez Soundgear.......Its a sr1015 made in Japan, SFR Pick-Ups, Vari-Mid 9V Pre with 4 knobs (Volume,Blend, Tre/Bass stacked and mid/sweep stacked) and for some reason I can't get rid of the thing. I've played hundreds of Soundgears since my purchase and I've never heard or felt a bass like it. I just recently bought a custom FBass BN5and I think this is where I will stay until my fingers fall off!!!

The issue I'm having with the ibanez is the replacing of the Preamp.....I'd like to find a replacement VM3LC but I'm unable to locate it.....seems like they changed the preamp but kept the part # the same.......Can anyone offer some pointers, advice, guidance, ANYTHING........Understand that I'm not a HardCore Ibanez'r by any means but I'd love to get this "Rare Find" back in action for recording certain things........

p.s. Do Not direct me to any Ibanez Dealer because they've been completely helpless here in Canada anyways......

 

[Rano Bass]

Why not use a different preamp?
An Aguilar, Seymour Duncan, or EMG will work IMO.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

buy another bass, if this is the ultimate tone, $500 tops, keep the pre-amp re sell the bass. Should make most of your buck back.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

What's wrong with the original preamp?

I have an '87 SR-885LE. The original preamp sounded nice, but was a little noisy. The "Regulated Lo-Z" pickups hummed a little too. I ended up replacing the pickups and preamp with EMG parts. The bass sounded great, and wasn't all that different from the stock parts. Later I put some of my pickups in, but left the EMG preamp. That still sounded good.

So I'd say if you can't find an original preamp, try one of the EMG setups. The BTC Control is a nice neutral sounding preamp. It does what it does and doesn't alter the tone of the bass. Doesn't cost an arm and a leg either.

 

[FBassBrett]

Buying another bass??? Read the post! I want to "restore" my first bass ever owned!! Moneys not the issue it's the sentimental value.

Lutherie - I'm not exactly sure there's anything wrong with the original preamp it's just been handled to much and all the connections are breaking or broken off. Im not a circuit board expert so I didn't have skills to attempt it myself. I figured an easy fix would be to replace the pots and preamp. The pickups are fine and I'm sure I could manage to repair that much I it.