Description
NEW FEATURES: 16mm pots for fitting in smaller builds. Centre detent on treble boost/cut pot.
This circuit is based on the classic 2-band EQ circuit fitted to the original pre-Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray basses. It is powered by a 9V battery (not supplied) and all components you need are wired up and ready to go. Just connect your pickup and you are away.
The controls are Volume, Treble cut/boost and Bass boost as per the original. All pots are pre-wired as is the jack socket which also acts as a switch to turn the pre-amp off when no cable is connected – just like the original.
The circuit itself measures just 48mm x 20mm and all pots are small, 16mm to allow the Stinger to be fitted in smaller cavities.
Precise cut and boost figures are hard to specify for this pre-amp. As many of you will know it is suspected that Leo Fender chose to produce a pre-amp which gave a distinctive tone rather than smooth cut and boost curves. This circuit was produced to precisely reproduce that classic Stingray tone and I am certain you will not be disappointed with it!
I have attached the circuit diagram for the pre-amp so if you want to build one yourself you can do so, however, I suspect you’ll find it quicker and easier to buy one from me!
I have fitted this circuit into several of my basses and the tone is fabulous. You can dial up a huge range of sounds with real fat bottom end and whip-cracking treble. The biggest surprise to me was how well it worked on my fretless which now really sings.
To install the circuit simply connect the Black wire from the Stinger to the earth connection from your pickup, then the Red wire from the Stinger to the hot (+ve) connection from your pickup.
Please note: the control pots used are very specific, non-standard values. You cannot connect the existing pots from your bass to this circuit and expect it to function correctly. Use the pots supplied, that’s why they are there!
The Stinger ’77 is fitted as standard on the Retrovibe EVO Davie504 Signature model and you can hear a range of the tones in the linked video.
Daniel Carway –
Superb addition to a Sterling Ray34. Stock pickup/preamp is far too hot and difficult to control its boominess. The Stinger and pickup makes it so much more manageable and I’m able to dial in tones with ease.
Stefano Zanella –
Some months ago, searching for a MM vintage tone (I got and sold a “90 EB MM because of that), I purchase the Retrovibe Singer 77 to mod a Sterling Bass and it is perfect! Now I’m the happy owner of a vintage sounding Sterling MM with its powerfull bass frequencies without everpresent high rattles and powerfull highs boost when I need it. Thank you Dave, Great job!
Konig –
Thank you Stefano!
Niels van Veen (verified owner) –
Bought a Musicman SUB years ago with a John East Preamp, sold the preamp and used it passive. Until a couple of months ago, i wanted to play it with preamp. After some investugation on the web, the Retrovibe seemed the one that fitted my needs the best. And it really didn’t dissapoint. Honestly it’s not about the stinger preamp, it’s a spot spot on preamp. But the playability of my real Musicman Stingray was better than the SUB so i ended up selling the SUB
Toby Rider (verified owner) –
It sounds JUST like a late-70s Stingray in an instrument that weighs less than 10 pounds (4.5 kilos). My ears & my lower back express gratitude. Nice work, mate!