Ibanez SR3006 Vari-Mid Preamp: Repair or Upgrade?

[Blackbird]

I picked up an Ibanez Sr3006 and both stacked pots in the preamp are sticking together. I have cleaned the pots and added WD-40; and while improved, the problem has not been eliminated. Sticky stacked pots drive me nuts.

Researching online, I found the Ibanez 3VR1VM303 VM3 Stacked / Concentric Treble/Bass Pot Centre Indent 50K is available. Are these the stacked pots in the SR3006 and are both identical?

If that's the case, I'm weighing the option of buying the pots and having a tech install them OR replacing the electronics with a whole pre-wired preamp and harness. Sure, that might cost more but I have read a better preamp can be a big improvement.

I haven't finally decided what to do. Usually, I would return a bass that needed a lot of parts replaced to work to my liking, but Wenge-necked basses are hard to come by, so I'm looking for other options.

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[ahbass2500]

I would probably swap preamps, but I am not a huge fan of the Ibanez ones. If you can turn a screwdriver, then you might be able to replace a preamp for less than repairing your existing one (not sure what your tech charges for bench time, but it adds up). Preamps with screw terminal connections are an extremely easy DIY install. Not all of them have wire terminals, but there are several good ones that do.


The preamps that need soldered connections are only slightly more difficult, but I get not everyone is comfortable soldering. I assume you are in this category due to paying tech for pot replacement.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I picked up an Ibanez Sr3006 and both stacked pots in the preamp are sticking together. I have cleaned the pots and added WD-40; and while improved, the problem has not been eliminated. Sticky stacked pots drive me nuts.

Researching online, I found the Ibanez 3VR1VM303 VM3 Stacked / Concentric Treble/Bass Pot Centre Indent 50K is available. Are these the stacked pots in the SR3006 and are both identical?

If that's the case, I'm weighing the option of buying the pots and having a tech install them OR replacing the electronics with a whole pre-wired preamp and harness. Sure, that might cost more but I have read a better preamp can be a big improvement.

I haven't finally decided what to do. Usually, I would return a bass that needed a lot of parts replaced to work to my liking, but Wenge-necked basses are hard to come by, so I'm looking for other options.

Thoughts? Thanks.

Dumb question but do the stacked pot posts (top & bottom) still stick with the knobs removed?

I wouldn't put dime one into salvaging the proprietary preamp...I've replaced mine with OBP-3 and Audere units. Given the "diamond" control layout, I'd go with an Audere 4 band which should make those Barts (?) shine.

Riis

 

[Deleted member 407575]

I second replacing with an Audere preamp. They not only sound amazing, but are really good value over other competitors.

 

[Blackbird]

Yes, @Zooberwerx, they do. They seem bent and even the mounting nut seems off-kilter. I'll look into the preamps you mentioned.

@ahadl2500: I can turn a screwdriver all right and I bought a soldering iron, but haven't practiced nearly enough to do my own repairs. Those self-install units might be a good idea, but I worry about the recessed barrel output jack.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Yes, @Zooberwerx, they do. They seem bent and even the mounting nut seems off-kilter. I'll look into the preamps you mentioned.

@ahadl2500: I can turn a screwdriver all right and I bought a soldering iron, but haven't practiced nearly enough to do my own repairs. Those self-install units might be a good idea, but I worry about the recessed barrel output jack.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Riis

 

[Blackbird]

Nice! Thanks so much!

By the way, the pickups are the regular Ibanez branded ones. The model with the Barts is the SR3006E. Mine's a plain SR3006.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Nice! Thanks so much!

By the way, the pickups are the regular Ibanez branded ones. The model with the Barts is the SR3006E. Mine's a plain SR3006.

IME, the weak-link is virtually ALWAYS the preamp. My 755 has MK1's which are generally considered ho-hum but really sprang-to-life with the OBP-3 (...I buy whatever is available on the secondhand market!). The Audere hi-mid / low-mid beats the pants off their 3 band offerings, both fixed and with 3-way mid switch.

Riis

 

[iTzPrime]

As others have said, replace the preamp. Doesn't really matter with which one, nearly all of them are better than the Ibanez one. I have upgraded to an Aguilar preamp, that is also great

 

[Deleted member 271037]

If you've used WD40 anywhere near the pots/electronics you have almost most likely ruined them, if not instantly them almost certainly for the long term. I guess that answers your question. If you had asked this question before using WD40 you might still have had a choice.

NEVER used WD40 on pots/electronics. I wish people would stop spreading this kind of potentially catastrophic misinformation.

 

[21DaHoagie12]

It's almost a consensus amongst the Ibanez bass community that most of their basses benefit from a preamp upgrade. I think their EQB III-SC preamp in their more recent years is decent, but it's clear even from the comments here that we all agree on a preamp upgrade. Aguilar, Audere, Bartolini, all great options. I have six Ibanez basses and all of them have upgraded preamps and they all sound way better than before.

And yeah in the future, use a spray like deoxit or another contact cleaner that is compatible with electronic equipment. Wd40 is great for many things, but this is not one of those instances.

 

[paskisti]

It's almost a consensus amongst the Ibanez bass community that most of their basses benefit from a preamp upgrade. I think their EQB III-SC preamp in their more recent years is decent, but it's clear even from the comments here that we all agree on a preamp upgrade. Aguilar, Audere, Bartolini, all great options. I have six Ibanez basses and all of them have upgraded preamps and they all sound way better than before.

And yeah in the future, use a spray like deoxit or another contact cleaner that is compatible with electronic equipment. Wd40 is great for many things, but this is not one of those instances.

Deoxit can make more harm than good so better to know what one is doing with it. It is not magic tool to fix all failures and better to avoid spraying it all over the place.

 

[murphy]

If you've used WD40 anywhere near the pots/electronics you have almost most likely ruined them, if not instantly them almost certainly for the long term. I guess that answers your question. If you had asked this question before using WD40 you might still have had a choice.

NEVER used WD40 on pots/electronics. I wish people would stop spreading this kind of potentially catastrophic misinformation.

Reposting to Second this.....No WD 40 in electronics...Kaput!!!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Audere preamps are a fantastic value and sound great. I've also had good luck with Bartolini preamps in Ibanez basses. I have one with the mid switch and active/passive option in my SRX3EX, absolutely killer.

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

You can clip the wires of existing barrel jack a few inches beyond the jack and use wago lever nut connectors to attach a pre-wired preamp - barrel jacks suck, why solder new wires to one?

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

This is a great opportunity to go nuts with an interesting preamp - underhill sweepable eq, filter preamps, the lusithand one that is basically an rb800, etc. no need to stick with boring 3 band units

 

[Blackbird]

If you've used WD40 anywhere near the pots/electronics you have almost most likely ruined them, if not instantly them almost certainly for the long term. I guess that answers your question. If you had asked this question before using WD40 you might still have had a choice.

NEVER used WD40 on pots/electronics. I wish people would stop spreading this kind of potentially catastrophic misinformation.

Reposting to Second this.....No WD 40 in electronics...Kapput!!!

Wow, maybe I should have researched that earlier. In any case, you'll all be glad to know the preamp and electronics still work.

Getting a simple wire in replacement is a good idea. Then again, this might be a good excuse for me to finally learn how to solder. Of course, I'd do some dummy runs first.

And Murphy, speaking as someone who grew up in a German speaking household, I must say there's only one "p" in "kaput".

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Wow, maybe I should have researched that earlier. In any case, you'll all be glad to know the preamp and electronics still work.

Getting a simple wire in replacement is a good idea. Then again, this might be a good excuse for me to finally learn how to solder. Of course, I'd do some dummy runs first.

And Murphy, speaking as someone who grew up in a German speaking household, I must say there's only one "p" in "kaput".

The main problem with WD40 in this context is that it leaves a sticky residue that over time will turn into a nasty gunk that will attract dirt/dust inside pots/switches/contacts.

Even it's effect as a lubricant is rather short lasting. It's not really suitable as a long term lubricant, and certainly not with electronic components (or certain types of plastic which can actually be ruined by WD40).

WD40 has it's uses, but it's reputation as an "all purpose" solution for lots of different problems is highly exaggerated, and in some cases downright detrimental. Even it's long term rust preventing properties are rather poor in my experience. There are better products for most of the stuff people use WD40 for. And in the case of electronic components it shouldn't be used at all. NEVER.

I do sometimes use WD40 myself when there's a rusty screw/nut or hinge that I need to loosen. But that's about it, and I'm sure there are better products for this as well. The world has moved forward since WD40 was developed in the 1950s, but their marketing strategy has clearly been superb.

 

[murphy]

Wow, maybe I should have researched that earlier. In any case, you'll all be glad to know the preamp and electronics still work.

Getting a simple wire in replacement is a good idea. Then again, this might be a good excuse for me to finally learn how to solder. Of course, I'd do some dummy runs first.

And Murphy, speaking as someone who grew up in a German speaking household, I must say there's only one "p" in "kaput".

Thank you...Correction has been requested. Now I have learnt a new German word

 

[Deleted member 271037]

So basically, even if everything still works now, you've got a ticking bomb on your hands. Personally I would also be worried about the long term effect of WD40 gunk on the electronic components in the preamp, although I have no scientific evidence to back this.

If you were thinking about upgrading the preamp anyway, it's a no-brainer at this stage IMO.

The positive side of this is that the preamp is the weakest part of the Ibanez SRs (IMO) so you will probably end up with an even better sounding bass.