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New MM Stingray Special 4HH failure

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Play that Fish

Feb 25, 2022
29
18
#1
Yep, it really happened. Plugged it in after about a month(working on my recently acquired Spector NS2) and nothing. No sound. New batteries and cord/amp check still nothing.

I called MM and they said it is likely the battery box or the jack. They are sending me these first to try. Anyone else have this issue? I got mine in May.
 
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#3
I had similar issue on my Special HH and it was the battery box.
Re-inserting the batteries again fixed it, but you might need to check the metal contacts.

Try this, pull the batteries, insert back and close the doors with the bass plugged in to the amp, if the issue is battery box contact you might hear some noise from the power feeding the pre-amp, you might need to do it a few times.
 
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#4
Hawk600 said:
I had similar issue on my Special HH and it was the battery box.
Re-inserting the batteries again fixed it, but you might need to check the metal contacts.

Try this, pull the batteries, insert back and close the doors with the bass plugged in to the amp, if the issue is battery box contact you might hear some noise from the power feeding the pre-amp, you might need to do it a few times.
Click to expand...

Battery box contact with what?
Hawk600 said:
I had similar issue on my Special HH and it was the battery box.
Re-inserting the batteries again fixed it, but you might need to check the metal contacts.

Try this, pull the batteries, insert back and close the doors with the bass plugged in to the amp, if the issue is battery box contact you might hear some noise from the power feeding the pre-amp, you might need to do it a few times.
Click to expand...

Yep that was it thanks! Getting a new battery box in the mail soon.
 
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#5
I literally just had this happen to my ‘01 4H. I opened the battery box and after that I had nothing… it was just the wires that made contact to the solder points. They become delicate over time and break right at the joint. Just unscrew the 4 screws holding your battery box, pull it out gently and most likely you’ll have either one or both wires no longer soldered to the battery contacts. Resolder, reinstall the box, slap in a 9 volt and shake the house!
 
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#6
I had this issue with an older SR5.

I reached down in the battery box with a tiny hex key and was able to pry the contacts up a bit for a little more "spring" to make better contact with the battery terminals.

But hey, if they are sending you a new battery box, that's all for the better.

Those battery boxes are on the flimsy side anyway. Music Man should have come up with a better fold-out battery box. Or just route the bass for 2 batteries and a screw-on cover. Or magnetic covers. Well, hell, why don't I just build a bass with all these ideas??....:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
 
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#7
Berndizzle440 said:
I literally just had this happen to my ‘01 4H. I opened the battery box and after that I had nothing… it was just the wires that made contact to the solder points. They become delicate over time and break right at the joint. Just unscrew the 4 screws holding your battery box, pull it out gently and most likely you’ll have either one or both wires no longer soldered to the battery contacts. Resolder, reinstall the box, slap in a 9 volt and shake the house!
Click to expand...
This is a fairly common issue with my SR5 HH. It has happened more than I’d like to admit over the years. It’s a simple fix, but does require very basic soldering iron skills.
 
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#8
Geri O said:
Those battery boxes are on the flimsy side anyway. Music Man should have come up with a better fold-out battery box. Or just route the bass for 2 batteries and a screw-on cover. Or magnetic covers. Well, hell, why don't I just build a bass with all these ideas??....:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Click to expand...

For about 18 years Musicmans came with a simple 2-screw chrome battery cover and an old style battery harness. Simple and lasted decades. My 78 and 93 have those.
And then the complainers nagged they wanted a quick change box :roflmao:, well it came with reliability offset!
 
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#9
Here's a nice design, all metal too.

upload_2023-1-4_2-20-0.jpeg
 
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#14
FWIW, I have fixed many a problem with the type of battery box that tilts for battery access like this:

upload_2023-1-4_7-43-31.png


The wires get flexed at the battery contacts and eventually break off. For that reason I use this kind of battery box:

upload_2023-1-4_7-47-23.png

Only the lid hinges open so the wires don't get flexed.
 
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#15
mikeswals said:
For about 18 years Musicmans came with a simple 2-screw chrome battery cover and an old style battery harness. Simple and lasted decades. My 78 and 93 have those.
And then the complainers nagged they wanted a quick change box :roflmao:, well it came with reliability offset!
Click to expand...
I gotta admit, I like them in spite of their flimsy nature. I’m just careful with them when I make a battery change. The only issue I’ve ever had with one (so far) was the aforementioned battery spring terminal that I was able to take care pretty easily. That was on one of the SR5s I owned and sold a few years ago.

And it’s little things like this that makes carrying a spare bass a good idea. That and a broken tuner post during a gig (here), broken nut at the B string (present!…), and a broken string (not in a long time, but it ain’t out of the question….:D)
 
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