Boscoe MMSR77 kit (rear control cavity version) - Classic Music Man StingRay Bass 2-band Preamp Replica

PREAMP-ONLY ALSO AVAILABLE! If you're looking for just the preamp, please see my other listing here: https://reverb.com/item/78583151

PREAMP WITH CONTROL PLATE ALSO AVAILABLE! If you're looking for the preamp already mounted onto a control plate, please see my listing here: https://reverb.com/item/85446814

NEW! Bass and Treble potentiometers now come with center detents.

Overview:

This is a reproduction of the classic late 1970s Pre-Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 2-band preamp and includes the potentiometers, battery clip, audio jack, and wiring. Unlike all of the other reproductions I've managed to find online, this one is made with modern manufacturing methods and uses screw terminals to easily attach connections without soldering.

Note: this version is designed for use in basses with rear control cavities. If you have a bass with a control plate instead (like most StingRays), see my other listing here: https://reverb.com/item/78633024

I'm a bass player and computer geek that's a huge StingRay fan, so I decided to design a preamp to recreate the vintage late 1970s StingRay sound - but modernize it and make it easier to work with.

Design goals:

• Must reproduce the exact circuit used in late 1970s StingRays
• Must use the original, now discontinued LM4250CN opamp that's key to the distinctive sound and phenomenal battery life. I've installed the opamp in a socket so it was never exposed to the heat of a soldering iron. This also allows one to experiment with alternative opamps should you desire.
• Use screw terminals instead of soldered on wires to make installation easier
• Incorporate modern surface mounted electronics
• Attractive silk screening with clearly labeled terminals
• Incorporate a 1kΩ protection resister between the output jack and the LM4250CN opamp. Music Man attached this in between the output jack and the opamp to protect it from shorts that in rare circumstances could fry it. Other reproductions do NOT include this and it must be soldered on separately.

Preamp characteristics:

There are other replicas available online, some with the LM4250CN opamp and some with a substitute, but none that I've found met all of my requirements.

The preamp has the following characteristics:

• Bass boost/cut (+14dB/-7dB at 40Hz)
• Treble boost/cut (+20dB/-16dB at 10kHz)

Preamp dimensions: 49mm x 17mm x 11mm

This kit includes:

• B25K (volume) linear taper potentiometer with an 18mm shaft
• A100K (bass) audio taper potentiometer with center detent and an 18mm shaft
• C1M (treble) reverse audio taper potentiometer with center detent and an 18mm shaft
• Quality stereo audio jack, wired to preserve battery life
• 9V battery clip with included Wago connector (so no additional soldering is needed should you have an existing 9V connector)
• Pre-cut and soldered extra-long wiring, which can be easily shortened to your needed length
• Ground connections for the potentiometers

Installation notes:

This is an unusually designed preamp as Leo Fender designed it to obtain a particular sound. Thus, to recreate the late 1970s sound exactly the preamp needs to be paired with the a Music Man style humbucking pickup wired in parallel with around 1800Ω resistance. Nordstrand MM4.2 and MM5.2 pickups are wired to the exact late 1970s specifications and perform very well. Aguilar AG-4M and Seymour Duncan SMB-4A pickups also work great.

There are other replica pickups around, and the circuit will still sound good if you use a higher resistance pickup as found in Sterling by Music Man basses, but it won't necessarily have the exact sound.

When wiring, see attached image for which lug on the potentiometer is the wiper, CW (clockwise), and CCW (counter clockwise). Do not attach a battery until all components have been attached.

This preamp should fit easily into basses with large control cavities or rear cavities (such as 5 string StingRays, StingRays with double humbuckers, and others). It will be a tighter fit in 4 string StingRays with crescent shaped control cavities, though it should fit. Due to slight differences in routing between different models you may have more or less room.

There is a manual online at my website: https :// www boscoemusic com

Final notes:

Unfortunately I do not usually accept returns or refund requests as it's easy to damage the preamp if you're careless or don't know what you're doing. This preamp was designed to be as durable as possible and each one is individually tested before shipment. I want your project to be a success so if you have any issues please let me know and I will do my best to help you.

This includes only the preamp, potentiometers, battery clip, jack, and wiring. You will need to obtain a pickup (if you don't have one already). Screw terminals on the preamp require a 1.5mm precision flathead screwdriver to tighten.

Shipping is free via USPS with tracking to the United States. Please contact me with any questions. Thanks!