Active input no likey likey

harry182 · #1 08-12-2010, 06:31 PM

Now that i got your attention :lol:

i have a 150watt Marshall Bass state b150

Basically i bought it 2nd hand and the active input has never worked, Its never been a problem as iv only ever had passive bass's. Well now i have 2 active ones aswell i thought well i better see if i can sort it out as apposed to running them through the passive.

The problem is i plug a bass in to it and theres no noise.

Read up on a few things and a few people seem to have had a problem with the input on these. they replace them and alls good.

So Went to my local guitar shop today to pick up an input, took the head bit out, took the old one out and put the new one back in. put it all back togeather and......

NOTHING!!!!

well almost... there is the very very very very faintest of noise coming out. i only know this as i pulled a sting and turnd the volume knob on the bass up and down repeatedly very quick and could just hear it come in.

i plugged it in to the passive to make sure it was working and yeah, i got lots of noise, But only from the passive input

One thing i noticed was on the kind of barrel of the input, the one i took out had written on it "CLIFF UK 4"

The in put i put in had "CLIFF UK 3"

i bought two as i was going to replace the passive one whilst there too, This one says "CLIFF UK 6". I didnt replace this one though as i want to get the active input sorted 1st...

could that have anything to with it? i mean they all look the same?

if not, were do i go from here?

Cheers in advance for any help

Bob C · #2 08-12-2010, 06:41 PM

Offhand, I don't know what the problem is. Could be soldering, wiring or something that isn't in the jack.

BUT if the passive input doesn't distort, go ahead and use that. Most active inputs are over-attenuated to accomodate the hottest pickups or onboard preamps out there. You may not need that.

KramerBassFan · #3 08-12-2010, 09:01 PM

I've never used the Active input, even with an Active bass.

Just never needed it....

harry182 · #4 08-13-2010, 04:40 AM

I do go through the passive but im getting quite a bit of distortion.

So whilst its there, and i have the two active basses itd be nice to have it working

Son of Bovril · #5 08-13-2010, 04:50 AM

All the active input does is puts a pad on the input level coming in from your guitar, pretty much the same thing as you turning down the gain...

Most amps have two volume control knobs, an input gain and an output/master volume - an active bass just sends a louder signal into your amp, so if you want more clean volume, turn the gain down a bit so it doesn't distort (so the clip light doesn't blink if you have one) and then increase the output volume of the amp.

Sartori · #6 08-13-2010, 04:50 AM

Ha ha, I didn't know anybody actually tried using those.

Is there a gain knob? If so, just turn that all the way down.

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 08-13-2010, 05:14 AM

Turn the volume down a notch on the bass if you are clipping the input.

Either that, or depending on the bass, many have internal trim pots so you can limit the output and have them set to a level similar to that of your passive basses.

I've never found the use in active inputs, IME.

Bassmec · #8 08-13-2010, 05:27 AM

As a pure coincidence most active bass guitars have a little something we in the trade call a gain/volume control hidden in there somewhere between the 28 band paragraphic and the onboard midi module.
It is said that there are folks that use these active controls set at other positions other than dime'd.

BassmanPaul · #9 08-13-2010, 11:29 AM

Cliff plastic jacks come in several configurations.

Two "legs" on one side - mono tip and sleeve
Three legs on one side - stereo tip, ring and sleeve
Four legs two a side - mono shorting. With no plug the tip and sleeve are linked the the legs on the opposite side.
Six legs - stereo, same as the four but adds the ring.

In order for your amp to work properly you have to match the replacement with what actually came out.

Paul

harry182 · #10 08-14-2010, 03:47 AM

hey thank you paul.

The inout jack that came out had two legs both sides and was replaced with one that had two legs both sides. Was just the number on the barrel which was different?

Plays_For_Dog · #11 08-14-2010, 03:53 AM

Been playing my active bass through my passive input for 10 years. Don't like the tone I get through the active. If you like your tone, don't mess with it. The active input isn't neccessary....

I'm not the expert though. Someone else will have to get you details on the difference, pros and cons, etc... I just wanted to share support and let you know I have the option of both and choose the passive input.