Active settings not working

[heymelbs]

I can only get the passive setting on my Tribute 2000 to work on the A/P switch. No sound out of active or active bright. I replaced the battery, and it made no difference. Any ideas??

[bongomania]

Perhaps a broken wire to (or inside of) the battery snap?

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by heymelbs

I can only get the passive setting on my Tribute 2000 to work on the A/P switch. No sound out of active or active bright. I replaced the battery, and it made no difference. Any ideas??

Your chip may have died. Search the forum and you'll find posts about obtaining one to replace it.

For an electronics geek it is a 5 minute process including removing the control cover.

Jim

[Jimtoonz]

IF there is no mechanical failure(broken wire, switch in the jack, etc.) in the circuit, then the chip is definitely suspect. These are available from numerous electronic parts wholesalers for less than $1 each. It is worth owning a few as replacements. Take a volt meter, read between the connections where the power enters the board (+) and (-) WITH the switch in one of the ACTIVE positions. If you are certain that there is 9v present, replace the chip. There is really nothing else on there that is very likely to fail.

Even a person with little or no electronics skill can do the replacement. The chip can be gently pried from its socket with a small flat-blade screwdriver. Make sure to observe the "pin 1" alignment(there are readily available illustrations to help). Your chip will likely be either LF441 or LM4250. You can find the pinout information at many web locations. The most common installation pitfalls to avoid are rotating the chip 180 degrees(thus putting the pins in the wrong position) or bending the pins as you attempt to socket the chip. If you avoid these and use proper static discharge precautions, there is not much to derail you.

[heymelbs]

Originally Posted by Jimtoonz

Even a person with little or no electronics skill can do the replacement. The chip can be gently pried from its socket with a small flat-blade screwdriver. Make sure to observe the "pin 1" alignment(there are readily available illustrations to help). Your chip will likely be either LF441 or LM4250. You can find the pinout information at many web locations. The most common installation pitfalls to avoid are rotating the chip 180 degrees(thus putting the pins in the wrong position) or bending the pins as you attempt to socket the chip. If you avoid these and use proper static discharge precautions, there is not much to derail you.

Is the chip on the circuit board?

[Jimtoonz]

Originally Posted by heymelbs

Is the chip on the circuit board?

Yes. It is a black part with eight pins. Most likely it will have one of the numbers I mentioned printed on it.

[lug]

It should say "LF441" on it. Here is a data sheet with lots of makers. I'd try to use the same manufacturer just to be safe.

http://www.datasheetarchive.com/sear....x=52&sub.y=12

[DavePlaysBass]

The tributes have the chip soldered to the board if I recall correctly. There is no socket. This makes the whole ordeal significantly more complicated unless you are skilled enought with a soldering iron to remove the chip.

[heymelbs]

Yes, I believe it's soldered - looks like a spider standing on the circuit board - dang!! I can still buy the chip for less than a buck? Fortunately I play passive most of the time, but like to kick the active for some occasional slapping.

[DavePlaysBass]

I would call G&L and ask them what it would cost to get a replacement. You could cut the five wires coming off the old one and splice in the new one.

[heymelbs]

I sent an email to Chris at G&L and he said I could get a preamp board from a dealer for $20. I'm from middle of nowhere iowa, miles from a G&L dealer, is there a good online dealer?