Pre Amp Help

[CactusmanDoug]

Hi All,

I have my LG 3005 in the shop getting an Audere 4 way preamp installed in conjunction with some Big Splits (custom built for an LG) and he can't to get it to work.

The luthier phoned David (Audere), had him walk through the connections, and was still having trouble with the output. He said it worked yet the signal was VERY weak. He doesn't know why he's struggling with the install considering his guitar electronics background even though he's new to the Audere.

I thought I'd check with you guys as many of you are experimenting with different preamp combinations in your own basses. Maybe you'd know of a common hookup mistake regarding the Audere preamp that would be obvious to the experienced eye.

Thanks again,

Doug

[maurilio]

1- test the pups with a tester (continuity ?ohms?)
2- pups wiring:

white +
black -
grey ground (this HAS to be grounded, not connected with the black wire).

beside this, if the pups read correct and connected right, has to be the Audere pre.

M

[CrashClint]

I have installed the Audere, Bartolini, Demeter and Glockenklang preamps in a Roscoe. The Audere is pretty straight forward following their wiring diagram.

First thing I would do is check the battery wiring to make sure you are getting 18 volts (these run on either 9 or 18). Check to see if your pickups have the active/passive switch and it is in the active mode. If the previous doesn't work, hook the pickups straight to a jack and test each one to make sure there is no problems with the pickups. Put a multimeter on the pickups and make sure the resistance is the same for each. I have played with my Roscoe/Barts wired directly to the jack before and it does have a decent output.

I am not sure about the big splits, but with the Barts you have to make sure that the shielding of the pickups goes to ground of the cavity and not pickup ground wire on the Audere. With barts the Audere pickup ground wire only goes to the green wire of the Barts.

[CactusmanDoug]

Thanks,

I'll pass the suggestions on. If he doesn't get it working this week, I'll go to plan "B". Which means I'll "B" taking it to someone else.

Have a great day,

Doug

[2bass]

I hve been going through a similar situation with my LG which is being retro-fitted with Audere and Nord Fat Stacks.

During the final stages of installation a buzz occured when using either coil tap switch. Upon further investigation and my Luthiers' calls to Nordstrand and Audere, turned out it was the bridge pickup. Luthier mailed it back and received replacement but it appears the problem compounded with just faint volume from the bridge pu. He swapped the pickups neck to bridge but the new pickup was still very, very faint and the neck picup had plenty of volume in the bridge position.

He was to speak with the guys at Nordstrand to run this down and I haven't heard anything but I'll post outcome. But seeing this posted was too strange considering both were LGs and the electronics being used etc.

Has anyone had a similar situation that they did find a resolution? This has taken many weeks, that I've been without my Roscoe and I'm getting a little frustrated.

[ubone]

I've got a question that hopefully someone might be able to answer.
I recently purchased an SKB 3006 lined fretless that I'm really stoked about but,
I'd like to open the tone capability's on this baby similar to the big fretless tone Mark Egan got on Bill Evan's Living in the Crest of a Wave album. Now I know he was playing an 8 string fretless with a healthy amount of verb and chorus but thats not what I'm talking about. It's tone that I'm after and I feel the Bart pre in my baby is stepping on that a little too much so, I'm considering an Aguilar OBP 3 or a Glockenlang, but I'm open to some guidance to get me where I want to go with this.

Thanks in advance,

Steve513

[VroomVroom]

Sorry to continue down the hijacked path - but, Steve - I'm willing to bet if you pulled the mid-knob and turned it to 6-7 ("5" being the center indent), and then maybe added a bit more right-of-center treble, you'd find the tone you're after. Of course, another huge variable on a fretless is string selection, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't get what you want with the Bartolini electronics.

[ubone]

Sorry to have Hijacked the thread.

Jerry,
I've been using SIT Power Steel Stainless and my usual settings are pretty much what you've described. Mind you It sounds good but still a bit stepped on and not as open as I would like.

Steve513

[CactusmanDoug]

Originally Posted by 2bass

I hve been going through a similar situation with my LG which is being retro-fitted with Audere and Nord Fat Stacks.

During the final stages of installation a buzz occured when using either coil tap switch. Upon further investigation and my Luthiers' calls to Nordstrand and Audere, turned out it was the bridge pickup. Luthier mailed it back and received replacement but it appears the problem compounded with just faint volume from the bridge pu. He swapped the pickups neck to bridge but the new pickup was still very, very faint and the neck picup had plenty of volume in the bridge position.

He was to speak with the guys at Nordstrand to run this down and I haven't heard anything but I'll post outcome. But seeing this posted was too strange considering both were LGs and the electronics being used etc.

Has anyone had a similar situation that they did find a resolution? This has taken many weeks, that I've been without my Roscoe and I'm getting a little frustrated.

Thanks for the focused response.

I've spoken with Gard concerning my dilemma and he acknowledges that even the techs at Roscoe have issues with the Audere/Nordstand install as far as being tempermental to some degree. As with most things for me in the high-end bass world, this has been a "learn as you go" affair which is a wonderful adventure provided you don't run out of dough or get tired of waiting.

I will be ordering some CB Barts for my SKB3005 fretless and if that doesn't open things up enough I will most likely try a Glock Preamp as well. I really hope my luthier gets my bass working because I am forever ruined since getting a fretted Audere/Nordstrand SKB3005. My next option will be to buy some electonic tools and meters, get educated and do it myself or box her up and send it out to Carey.

You have been most helpful sharing your situation and I will pass this info on to the man with the soldering iron.

Lord bless,

Doug

[T. B. Player]

Originally Posted by ubone

Sorry to have Hijacked the thread.

Jerry,
I've been using SIT Power Steel Stainless and my usual settings are pretty much what you've described. Mind you It sounds good but still a bit stepped on and not as open as I would like.

Steve513

Continuing the Ubone's hijacked ways...and relating to the Audere thread topic.

I'm getting an Audere installed in one of my current basses - made the decision over a Glock on financial reasons, and because the bass has Ash and maple, rather than a bit of mahogany or wenge. I think it will depend on your wood combination as well as string (although I love SITs - one of the only string makers that will give you a tight low B on a 34" scale!)

I had heard that the Glock is very "open" to let the tone of the wood through and not darken it as Bartolini preAmps tend to do. There is also no "drop" in level at the center detent position so that could give you a little more flex with the pickups too.

That said, I hope there's not an issue with my Audere since I'm leaving the stock pickups in.

Here's a quote from Shiveringbass' post about the Glock pre vs. the Bart -

Now to the Glockenklang preamp.

Well after a few time passed with my bass, I can just say that the Glock pre, for my need and for my ears, is totaly killing.
Smilie

A lot of people questionned the very high centred treb control frequency (18khz) but in reality, it does exactly what I want a treb control to do.

It realy opens up the sound and add some snap when slapping but without being arsh or agressive. The most impressive is that it does all that without any noise. Realy impressive. .

The mid control is also very well voiced to my taste and add just what I need to punch through in fingerstyle with a tasty warm.

Finaly I haven't got too much things to say about the bass control except you can realy use it without making your sound muddy.

Bottom line is that every control of this pre can be used within its entire range. It was not the case with my Bart 3 bands.

I also feel that the balance control is quite well made, it is not what you would often have : neck both or bridge.
The slightest move to bridge or to neck makes a difference.

I'll add to all those great things that this pre have a passive function which you engage by pulling on the volume knob.

In that mode, the treb control becomes a passive tone roll off. I realy like the tone I get in that mode when soloing the bridge pickup and rolling the tone all the way off.
A very jazzy/"Jaco like tone" that I could never get with the Bart setup.

Z

[ubone]

Originally Posted by T. B. Player

Continuing the Ubone's hijacked ways...and relating to the Audere thread topic.

I'm getting an Audere installed in one of my current basses - made the decision over a Glock on financial reasons, and because the bass has Ash and maple, rather than a bit of mahogany or wenge. I think it will depend on your wood combination as well as string (although I love SITs - one of the only string makers that will give you a tight low B on a 34" scale!)

I had heard that the Glock is very "open" to let the tone of the wood through and not darken it as Bartolini preAmps tend to do. There is also no "drop" in level at the center detent position so that could give you a little more flex with the pickups too.

That said, I hope there's not an issue with my Audere since I'm leaving the stock pickups in.

Here's a quote from Shiveringbass' post about the Glock pre vs. the Bart -





Z

Interesting. Here's the specs on my fretless. Swamp Ash body
upgraded Bubinga top 24 fret Maple/Purpleheart bolt-on neck with an upgraded Bird’s Eye Maple Diamond wood fretless fingerboard. Bart pups and pre.

Steve513

[CactusmanDoug]

Hey Clint,

My luthier will finally be attempting to get my fretted LG up and running this weekend.

I'm fitting my fretless with some CB's that Gard sent me. They popped in well and I was going to let the guitar dude solder them up nice but in the mean time I hooked up the bridge (treble as Bart calls it) just to give a listen and noticed the output was much lower (but not faint) than when I had both of the other pickups installed.

Is this because I only had one pickup activated? I trust it is.

Thanks for your help,

Doug

[CrashClint]

It may be, did you turn the balance to the back pickup? The Audere is not as loud at the bart preamp.

Also, was everything grounded properly to the diagram?

[CactusmanDoug]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

It may be, did you turn the balance to the back pickup? The Audere is not as loud at the bart preamp.

Also, was everything grounded properly to the diagram?

I just hooked it up the same way as the Roscoe/Barts were with the green and the ground wire together in the same place where the other pickup connected and put the black wire where the other black wire was.

There is the white and red wires that aren't used in the Roscoe/Bart configuration which I also didn't hook up with the CB's. This weakness in output was in both the centered and full bridge positions.

I have the Bart preamp set to the same output level as before the pickup swap.

Gard didn't send me any diagram.

Thanks,

Doug

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by CactusmanDoug

I just hooked it up the same way as the Roscoe/Barts were with the green and the ground wire together in the same place where the other pickup connected and put the black wire where the other black wire was.

There is the white and red wires that aren't used in the Roscoe/Bart configuration which I also didn't hook up with the CB's. This weakness in output was in both the centered and full bridge positions.

I have the Bart preamp set to the same output level as before the pickup swap.

Gard didn't send me any diagram.

Thanks,

Doug

Did you solder the red and white wire together? If not, you are only using half the pickup. Here is a wiring diagram, use the series wiring at the bottom of the page 1.

http://www.bartolini.net/instruction...kups4_cond.pdf

[CactusmanDoug]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

Did you solder the red and white wire together? If not, you are only using half the pickup. Here is a wiring diagram, use the series wiring at the bottom of the page 1.

http://www.bartolini.net/instruction...kups4_cond.pdf

Clint,

You have found the smoking gun! I hadn't noticed the red and white wires being soldered. All is well now!


BTW-Is there a special solder you use for these connections or will most any good, thin stuff work?

Thanks man-

Doug

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by CactusmanDoug

Clint,

You have found the smoking gun! I hadn't noticed the red and white wires being soldered. All is well now!


BTW-Is there a special solder you use for these connections or will most any good, thin stuff work?

Thanks man-

Doug

I use a .032 diameter High Silver content solder from Radio Shack. It has a higher melt temp than standard 60/40 but gives you a better connection.

[CactusmanDoug]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

I use a .032 diameter High Silver content solder from Radio Shack. It has a higher melt temp than standard 60/40 but gives you a better connection.

Hey Clint,

I used this stuff I had (I think it was 60/40) laying around and it worked fine. Now my fretless SKB sounds fine! It sounds much more open and I will let things rest for now but I can see very possibly popping in a Glock or something on that order to replace the Bart pre here in the not too distant future.

Needless to say I have some Roscoe/Bart pups on the trading block.

You have been great help.

Doug

[CactusmanDoug]

Originally Posted by 2bass

I hve been going through a similar situation with my LG which is being retro-fitted with Audere and Nord Fat Stacks.

During the final stages of installation a buzz occured when using either coil tap switch. Upon further investigation and my Luthiers' calls to Nordstrand and Audere, turned out it was the bridge pickup. Luthier mailed it back and received replacement but it appears the problem compounded with just faint volume from the bridge pu. He swapped the pickups neck to bridge but the new pickup was still very, very faint and the neck picup had plenty of volume in the bridge position.

He was to speak with the guys at Nordstrand to run this down and I haven't heard anything but I'll post outcome. But seeing this posted was too strange considering both were LGs and the electronics being used etc.

Has anyone had a similar situation that they did find a resolution? This has taken many weeks, that I've been without my Roscoe and I'm getting a little frustrated.

Hey Bro.,

I just got my LG back yesterday with the Big Splits/Audere installed and I am more than a little pleased! It sounds so fantastic and incredibly versatile. Wide open from top to bottom and muscular!


My luthier hooked it up this time without a hitch. I believe there was a possible issue with the Audere which he sent back to the manufacturer and although Audere said there was nothing wrong with the pre, he did send him a brand new unit.

Who knows?

The only other thing he did differently from his first attempt was remove the sheilding in the cavity to some degree addressing his concerns with a possible grounding issue. I personally don't know much about this stuff.

I do hope things get ironed out on your end as I think you will be screamin' happy. Maybe my success was due to the prayer of the sound man at church! I know he's glad my bass sounds the way it does.

Have a great day and we will remember your bass issue in prayer as well.

All the best,

Doug

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by CactusmanDoug

Hey Clint,

I used this stuff I had (I think it was 60/40) laying around and it worked fine. Now my fretless SKB sounds fine! It sounds much more open and I will let things rest for now but I can see very possibly popping in a Glock or something on that order to replace the Bart pre here in the not too distant future.

Needless to say I have some Roscoe/Bart pups on the trading block.

You have been great help.

Doug

I know that The Perfect Bass only has two of the 4 knob Glocks left in stock. I am hoping they will order more to keep these as a stock option. The active/passive switch on the volume is a nice feature. These are definitely my pick for an SKB. I have been debating taking out my bart on my SKB Fretless and putting a glock in.