Musicman Stingray 2 electonics

[PhD_Fr]

Hi all,
I am an happy french owner of an original MM Stingray 2 guitar since the 80'.
After 15 years of sleep, i recently rediscovered it and tried to retrieve ancient feelings, but the electronics got problems.
I had a look at the wiring and compared it to a diagram i found online (http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/44180-music-man-sting-ray-1-a.html) and realized it had been modified by the first owner.
I can see at least half a dozen of new wires solded in different places, some of them detached from their original location, and the preamp doesn't work anymore.
Is there anybody that could give me advice to completely rebuild the preamp ?
Is there just one version of the schematics or different diagrams ?
Is there a possibility to find somewhere an original manual ?

Many thanks in advance

regards

Philippe

[Craig]

Hi all,
I am an happy french owner of an original MM Stingray 2 guitar since the 80'.
After 15 years of sleep, i recently rediscovered it and tried to retrieve ancient feelings, but the electronics got problems.
I had a look at the wiring and compared it to a diagram i found online (http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-m ... y-1-a.html) and realized it had been modified by the first owner.
I can see at least half a dozen of new wires solded in different places, some of them detached from their original location, and the preamp doesn't work anymore.
Is there anybody that could give me advice to completely rebuild the preamp ?
Is there just one version of the schematics or different diagrams ?
Is there a possibility to find somewhere an original manual ?

Many thanks in advance

regards

Philippe

Hello Philippe,

You will want to try the Ernie Ball forum for Music Man guitar information and help.
We are the enthusiast website for G&L instruments. We have had some members here
which own/owned early Music Man guitars such as yours and perhaps they might be able
to help you, but Music Man is definitely not our focus.

Best of luck in finding answers to your MM questions.

Regards,

[Boogie Bill]

Hi all,
I am an happy french owner of an original MM Stingray 2 guitar since the 80'.
After 15 years of sleep, i recently rediscovered it and tried to retrieve ancient feelings, but the electronics got problems.
I had a look at the wiring and compared it to a diagram i found online (http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-m ... y-1-a.html) and realized it had been modified by the first owner.
I can see at least half a dozen of new wires solded in different places, some of them detached from their original location, and the preamp doesn't work anymore.
Is there anybody that could give me advice to completely rebuild the preamp ?
Is there just one version of the schematics or different diagrams ?
Is there a possibility to find somewhere an original manual ?

Many thanks in advance

regards

Philippe

Sounds like somebody bypassed the preamp. I have a couple of Sabre IIs which also have the preamp, but I have never seen a schematic for the preamp in these guitars--I think it was something that was held very close--one of my guitars has the preamp board covered in black epoxy, to hide the components. I have a Sabre Owner's Manual, nothing in it about the preamp, other than basic control info.

Does your StingRay have the original rotary switch, pickups and controls? If the parts are all there, there is a good chance you can find someone to make it work. You might need to take it to an electronics/amp repair shop, rather than a luthier.

The original pickups are a low impedence design, so you need the preamp to get the output up. You should double check the battery, and make sure the battery leads are intact; the 9-volt clip's leads often break, or corrode.

You might try calling some of the vintage guitar shops, Gruhn's in Nashville, TN, comes to mind, to see if they can help. Vintage Guitar Magazine has lots of ads for the vintage dealers--you're looking for an old-timer, like myself, who knows these instruments. I suspect you're going to be doing a lot of research; by phone, e-mail and on-line.

I bought my second Sabre II from a man in San Gabriel, CA, back in 1986. He assembled it from parts he'd bought at the final going-out-of-business auction when MusicMan went under. His name I believe was Dave Blackhurst, and I know there is a Blackhurst web-site. If it is the same guy, he might be able to help. Mike Lull in Bellevue, WA, might be able to help you. I've known Mike for years, though I now live in the Portland, OR, area. Terrific luthier, and very knowledgeable.

While the StingRay is not my favorite guitar, it is a very fine instrument and it deserves to be put back together, played, and loved.

Bon chance!

Bill

[jamie d]

Phillipe,

MM preamp wiring info

EB Music Man
Discussion.

Go to the EB Music
Man Bass Discussion


Join the BABP.

Go to the
MusicMan
Discussion

jamie

[PhD_Fr]

Hi Bill,
Thank you so much for your answer and advices.
My Stingray is 100% original with rotary switch, pickup and controls.
The electronic preamp board is complete and covered with black epoxy too.

I checked the battery leads and found a cut wire. I sold it back and the guitar is now functional !!!
The preamp wiring is still "hacked" but i have sound on my amp.
Bass, trebble and bright controls are working fine so the preamp is probably not fully bypassed.
The third position of the rotary switch (starting from right) is silent, so it should help me finding the right place to sold the grey wire i found unsolded on the back of the electronic plate.
Once all the switch positions will work, i will search for a guitar electronics repair shop here in Paris, to put the electronics back in its original state.

Jamie, Many thanks for the website URL. It is all about bass guitar preamps, so there are diffrences with the SR guitar electronics, but it is very interesting as it shows the type of wiring changed a lot from guitar generation to another.
The same page about the SR guitar would be a dream for me, but this one is already a great help to identify the added wires on my electronics.

Again, thank you all, you are a great help for me !

I Will keep you informed on my guitar therapy.

Regards

Philippe

[Elwood]

Here's a pre EB Sabre schematic, there might be some similarities ,
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa21 ... preamp.png

Good to hear she is coming back to life.

Elwood

[Boogie Bill]

Here's a pre EB Sabre schematic, there might be some similarities ,
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa21 ... preamp.png

Good to hear she is coming back to life.

Elwood

Thanks for the link!!

Phillipe, If you could find someone who has a SR guitar, ask them to send you a photo of the control cavity. That might go a long way in figuring out how the wiring should be.

Bill

[Craig]

Peter, a member from Germany, sent me this:

there is actually a MusicMan Sabre 2 guitar up for auction on eBay Germany.
The guy selling it attached a picture of the "Control Plate Wiring Diagram for Sabre Guitar.
I enclosed it here. Maybe there is some interest of the guys from GbL having it."

Hope this helps.