Replacing HazLabs pre-amp on a 1995 Spector NS-5P

[Simon Day]

I suspect I may have a faulty HAZLab pre-amp on my 1995 Stuart Spector Design NS-5P. It has a pair of EMGs with piezos on the bridge, hence two HAZLab pre-amps and two balance controls.

The fault manifests itself as the signal cutting out and crackling when:

• only the neck pickup is selected (piezo/EG balance set to 100% EMG, EMG balance set to 100% neck) and
• the B or E strings are played anywhere on the neck)

We've flipped the bridge and neck pickup wiring into the EMG pre-amp, and the fault moves with the wiring, i.e. the bridge pickup starts to exhibit the fault, so it can't be the pickups.

We've cleaned the neck/bridge balance pot so it's extremely unlikely that it's that, plus it's pretty much silent when the pot's turned.

Next step is to drop in a used preamp that's known to work OK to replace the EMG pre-amp

If that fixes the problem then it's either:

1. send the pre-amp for repair to HazLabs in New Jersey (I'm in London, England) or
2. acquire and fit a suitable replacement.

Question is, what should that replacement be, and should I replace both pre-amps for the sake of electronic symmetry and/or balance? I love the sound of the existing EMGs and HAZ pre-amp (it's partly why I bought the instrument in the first place. What comes closest or, even better, could make it sound even more Spectory/HAZLabby?

 

[Vanni]

this:

Preamps

Active preamps based on the pre-Kramer Haz circuit design. Give your bass that classic vintage tone you've been looking for!

lhzpreampshop.com

plenty of info about this pre in the Spector owner 3d:

Thread 'SPECTOR® Owners Club'

Mar 28, 2014

Continued from http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/spector-club-part-77-a-1060571/

• smperry
• club
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• Forum: Basses [BG]

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