Tribute Electronics

Groovemonster · #1 01-26-2009, 01:29 PM

I own an L2000 Tribute that plays like a dream, despite a slightly fatter neck than I was used to. One reason I was drawn to the G&L was the fact that you could by-pass the active electronics. I soon found that I preferred the by-passed sound anyway, but started to experience weird chirping and scratching sounds when adjusting the pots. Changing the battery seemed to help, but there was still some odd electronic qualities in the sound. Finally I simply removed the battery completely. The combination of the bass and treble controls with the pick-up selectors gives me plenty of range, but most of all I now have this tremendously clean, pure and ballsy sound. I've always leaned towards the full, warm Fender sound and found that both active settings gave me anything but that - so I don't miss them at all.
Has anyone else ever experienced this? Just curious.

mrjim123 · #2 01-26-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovemonster

I own an L2000 Tribute that plays like a dream, despite a slightly fatter neck than I was used to. One reason I was drawn to the G&L was the fact that you could by-pass the active electronics. I soon found that I preferred the by-passed sound anyway, but started to experience weird chirping and scratching sounds when adjusting the pots. Changing the battery seemed to help, but there was still some odd electronic qualities in the sound. Finally I simply removed the battery completely. The combination of the bass and treble controls with the pick-up selectors gives me plenty of range, but most of all I now have this tremendously clean, pure and ballsy sound. I've always leaned towards the full, warm Fender sound and found that both active settings gave me anything but that - so I don't miss them at all.
Has anyone else ever experienced this? Just curious.

Tribby man! I just finished playing my natural finish L2K.

I suspected my battery was bad about a month ago when my sound became distorted and reduced in volume, but I did not experience any problems with the pots as you describe.

I've been playing in passive mode ever since; have just not got around to replacing the battery. I HAVE noticed a slightly disorted sound within about the last week, still playing in passive mode. I had assumed that the active electronics would have no effect on the sound in passive mode, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

I'll replace the battery later tonight and post the results. As a matter of fact, I'll try playing without a battery before putting in a new one.

sailri · #3 01-26-2009, 02:52 PM

Is yours a 2003 Tribute by any chance?

I had very similar issues, but it was not a battery issue. Also we had tried just cleaning the pots with contact cleaner with no real or permanent change.

"Odd electronic qualities in the sound" is a good description of what I had, and not only while rotating the knobs. Fixed when I replaced the pots. If you do, I'd recommend checking with your repair shop for CTS pots with the shafts that won't require you replace your Tribby knobs.

Weird pots in my Tribute L2000 ?

Bill

Bassman62 · #4 01-26-2009, 04:20 PM

Luckily for me the pots started playing up early on so it went back to the importers to be sorted out; no problems afterwards.

mrjim123 · #5 01-26-2009, 05:39 PM

Continued from my earlier post ...

I removed the battery. It was low, as I expected (voltmeter read 7.14 volts). I played in passive mode without the battery installed, and it seemed there was improvement in the sound, especially playing the first few frets on the E string - more solid, less farty.

I put in a new battery and all is well.

I bought my Tribute new in August, 2008. Thus far I've had zero problems with it.

Ken Baker · #6 01-26-2009, 07:31 PM

For those that may be curious...

Just a quick note here regarding batteries and their lives. Or their deaths, as the case may be. Sounds macabre, but...

Leaving your bass on a stand with the cable plugged in while you're off cavorting around will run the battery down for no good reason. You see, plugging in a cable turns the preamp on by bringing the battery in-circuit.

Just so's ya know.

Ken...

mrjim123 · #7 01-26-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

For those that may be curious...

Just a quick note here regarding batteries and their lives. Or their deaths, as the case may be. Sounds macabre, but...

Leaving your bass on a stand with the cable plugged in while you're off cavorting around will run the battery down for no good reason. You see, plugging in a cable turns the preamp on by bringing the battery in-circuit.

Just so's ya know.

Ken...

So, I can leave the cable plugged in, but as long as I'm not "cavorting around" the battery should be OK?

Only kidding. That's a useful tip for those who don't know. I usually unplug, but sometimes I forget. Eveready loves me.

Ken Baker · #8 01-26-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjim123

...Eveready loves me.

You do realize that I'm fighting a nasty battle to avoid rabbit jokes...

Ken...

mrjim123 · #9 01-27-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

You do realize that I'm fighting a nasty battle to avoid rabbit jokes...

Ken...

Ha-ha, very bunny ... er, funny.

Groovemonster · #10 01-29-2009, 01:25 PM

Not too sure that all L2000 Tribs have the battery connected through the cable jack. My daughter left my 2006 unplugged with the selector switch in the active position and killed a brand new battery in a few days. Checking out docs on Guitars by Leo showed a couple of different configurations as well as some text stating that the passive position "turns off the battery". Best bet ... unplug the bass and set the selector switch to passive!

Ken Baker · #11 01-29-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovemonster

Not too sure that all L2000 Tribs have the battery connected through the cable jack. My daughter left my 2006 unplugged with the selector switch in the active position and killed a brand new battery in a few days. Checking out docs on Guitars by Leo showed a couple of different configurations as well as some text stating that the passive position "turns off the battery". Best bet ... unplug the bass and set the selector switch to passive!

Odd...

Switching to passive should have no effect of whether or not the preamp is powered. It should only take the preamp out of the signal path, though it will remain powered so long as a cable is plugged in.

It's more-or-less an industry standard that power switching is done at the jack by simply plugging in. That's why stereo (3 conductor) jacks are used - the "ring" contact completes the power circuit to ground when a mono cable is plugged in.

Next time you get the cavity cover off your bass, take a look at the connections on the jack. If there are three wires soldered to it, the power switching is taking place at the jack. If only two wires, then I have some research to do.

If, as I suspect, there are three wires there you may have a problem with the jack that is causing the battery to remain in circuit regardless of whether or not a cable is inserted.

Ken...

DavePlaysBass · #12 01-29-2009, 07:35 PM

Even if the stereo jack wiring is messed up, the Tribute or any other G&L with a three way passive / active / treble boost switch will not change the state of the preamp power via that switch. That switch is a DPDT that switches the jack to either the input of the preamp (passive) or the output of the preamp (active). The other pole on the DPDT switches a resistor into the preamp circuit for treble boost. This DPDT switch does not change the way the battery is connected to the preamp.

Maybe the battery was bad. Did the problem repeat itself? If so, the stereo jack wiring may not be right.