Musicman Ray 34 help

[BlazeBass]

Good day everyone; I have a ray 34 bass that i've owned for over a year now. Last week, one of the knobs fell out, and the others are loose (I think they might fall out too). However, just yesterday the tone completely changed and it sounds a lot like a jazz bass, it doesn't have the same Musicman growl. This really disappointed me at practice and I can't find the source of the problem. If I were to guess, it would be an issue with the pots; but even still i'm not knowledgeable when it comes to instrument repair.

Any suggestions?

 

[Joe Nerve]

First time I ever heard of a MM morphing into a Jazz bass. I'm amused.

1st step is to check the battery.
2nd might be that it's time to change the strings.
3rd is that one of your connections might be loose, but that I don't believe would change the sound. It would would make it crackle or cut in and out.

The knobs falling off should be an easy fix. All you need is a screwdriver and possibly a pliers or wrench. Can't help you with that though unless you're a little more descriptive. Are the actual pots coming loose (the the metal parts that the knobs are on top of), or just the knobs themselves? If it's just the knobs that wouldn't have any effect on the sound.

 

[BlazeBass]

First time I ever heard of a MM morphing into a Jazz bass. I'm amused.

1st step is to check the battery.
2nd might be that it's time to change the strings.
3rd is that one of your connections might be loose, but that I don't believe would change the sound. It would would make it crackle or cut in and out.

The knobs falling off should be an easy fix. All you need is a screwdriver and possibly a pliers or wrench. Can't help you with that though unless you're a little more descriptive. Are the actual pots coming loose (the the metal parts that the knobs are on top of), or just the knobs themselves? If it's just the knobs that wouldn't have any effect on the sound.

Amusing indeed, i changed the battery: no difference.
the strings are old, but I don't think it is that because of the dramatic sound difference; it has never sounded like this before. the metal parts the are on top of knobs is whats fell off.
also sometimes when i turn the knobs it makes a crackling noise, but its only when i turn the knobs.

as for the connection, how do i test that?

 

[Joe Nerve]

You can unscrew the metal plate, lift it out carfully and see if there's anything that looks loose or disconnected. If so you have the choice of using a soldering iron, learning to use one if you never have , bringing it to someone who has, or bringing it a pro who repairs basses. As for the knobs I'm still not certain if you're referring to the knobs, or the pots but either should be an easy fix. The knobs (if the same as on a MM) have a little screw on the side to tighten them with the allen wrench that probably came packed with the bass. The pots you can tighten by taking the knobs off (using the allen wrench), unscrewing the metal plate as mentioned before, and then just tightening the nut at the base of the front of the plate while holding the pot from the back so it doesn't get all twisted up.

Hope this helps some. As for the sound thing... I really don't know. Could be lots of different things, including something with your amp or cable. A sudden loss of hearing will also make a MM sound like a Jazz. And I'm not kidding. I'm half deaf from not wearing earplugs, and my ears can play lots of tricks on me. I'd say just keep trouble shooting, check all your wires and connections, and if all else fails punch the bass in it's electronics, or bring it to a pro, Good luck.