Early Music Man Sabre - Pre-amp replacement for John East MMSR 4-knobs 3-band

[shemeckfrac]

I am seriously considering replacement of my original pre-amp on my early Music Man Sabre with John East MMSR 4-knobs 3-band for genuine reasons (some issues/features with the original, won't go into details).

The controls on the bass appear have been modified at some point because it has 4-knobs, which no one hear of on early Sabres (see couple of photos on under shemeckfrac):
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=38766&hl=shemeckfrac"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;hl=shemeckfrac[/url]
or
[url="https://picasaweb.google.com/shemeckfrac/BassGear?authkey=Gv1sRgCOzgrrjRreOr9QE&feat=directlink"]https://picasaweb.google.com/shemeckfrac/Ba...feat=directlink[/url]

I believe the existing pre-amp is original MM (perhaps someone can advise on that one. Posted some pics of the guts & pre-amp here)
[url="https://picasaweb.google.com/shemeckfrac/BassGear?authkey=Gv1sRgCOzgrrjRreOr9QE&feat=directlink"]https://picasaweb.google.com/shemeckfrac/Ba...feat=directlink[/url]

Although I would love to simplify the controls it appears that I'm constrained by the plate (???) and the bottom cable entry. Sabre plates with bottom cable entry seem to be rare (???). So looks like 4-knobs (and 3 switches) has to be, because whatever I buy needs to go into the existing plate. I read all threats on John East pre-amps so I'm confident it's the right one for me.

What I would like to know fellow basschaters is the following:
- Can I still have a Pickup Selector switch with the MMSR 4-knobs 3-band ?

- What could I use the other 2 switches (or holes in my plate) for? An Active/Passive switch would be handy, does the MMSR 4-knobs 3-band support it?

- Ignoring the previous two lines above; what would be the optimal content of my control plate (remember there are 4 knob and 3 switch holes to fill)?

[ahpook]

aha....some pics...

right then !

i) no sabres were shipped with 4 controls - the stock controls are vol/treble/bass

ii) that's not a musicman preamp, or at least nothing like any i've ever seen that was mounted in a sabre

iii) someone's deffo removed the phase switch (the middle switch on the original wiring), but it's of questionable use anyway.

as for the new preamp, you should be able to have the selector swicth, but it'd need to be wired in before the john east.

hth

Edited March 14, 2011 by ahpook

[BassBod]

I don't know the details, but if I had to have three switches, it would be a pickup selector and a series parallel for each pickup. Probably wouldn't use them...but fun to have if I had holes to fill.

[shemeckfrac]

Ahpook & BassBod

All very good and useful tips and answers. Much appreciated.

[shemeckfrac]

Going back to the allocation of switches couple good options emerged thanks to the basschaters' feedback. Still having tough time to decide, mainly because I don't really know what the end effect will be.

One option suggested was as follows:
sw 1: pickup selector (this one is a must)
sw 2: parallel/series (bridge pickup)
sw 3: parallel/series (neck pickup)
This option explores pickups capability. Anyone can tell me if parallel/series switching is worth doing? Never played around with parallel/series configurations so don't know if that option adds any practical value.

Second possible option would be:
sw 1: pickup selector (this one is a must)
sw 2: BRIGHT (there is a contact for this in MMSR preamp)
sw 3: passive/active (could potentially be useful if your battery goes all the sudden)
This option leverages the build-in pre-amp capabilities.

I'm sure there are other ones. Feel free to suggest some.

Would like to hear some pros and cons

[neepheid]

[quote name='shemeckfrac' post='1162799' date='Mar 15 2011, 09:58 AM']This option explores pickups capability. Anyone can tell me if parallel/series switching is worth doing? Never played around with parallel/series configurations so don't know if that option adds any practical value.[/quote]

The Bass Whisperer outlines it all with a G&L Tribute L-2000: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT4AP58jC5o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT4AP58jC5o[/url]

[BassBod]

My experience is that the series sound (darker and more powerful) is significantly stronger/louder than the parallel (brighter, more single coil-like upper mid and treble). Depends what you like...both are perfectly good. I guess the volume difference could be adjusted with a resistor on the series setting, but I'm not clever enough to do that!

[shemeckfrac]

Found the example of the MM Sabre 3EQ version (attached), but instead of the SWITCHES on my bass (resembling the earlier 2EQ version (attached)), that one has the LEVER that enables all combination of pickup/coil selection.

So ...., my Sabre looks like a transition version from 2EQ to 3EQ where the Mid control was added but switches have not yet been replaced by the lever. Am I making any sense?

[ahpook]

actually i didn't know they were made with 3-band eq, so i've leaned something there...

i hope i've been right about the other stuff !

[shemeckfrac]

Another quick question; when the MMSR is in the passive mode, do the Treble and Bass controls still function or the signal bypasses the pre-amp completely ?