Mystery Bass Issue

[derrellvis69]

Hey Gang,

I have a really strange bass issue that I can't seem to figure out on my own, nor have I found anything during my searches here on TB.

I have an active Zon bass, and I can't seem to get any tuner to work with the bass. I've replaced/swapped the battery, the cable, and tuner.

The catch to the issue is that I can plug my bass into a couple of different amps I have, and I get output.... and it sounds great (It's a Zon), but the tuner issue is totally bugging me.

Has anyone else come across this issue or is it just me?

Thanks,

[FeuerFrei]

I have a really dumb but maybe really easy fix, I had this happen to me once on my Bantam, and I cranked the output up, and like magic, the tuner picked up my output, and started working.

It's a gimme, but figured I'd throw it out there, and get it out of the way.

[HogieWan]

I have a problem with my classical guitar not registering with tuners unless I pluck really close to the bridge. Maybe you could try that

[Zooberwerx]

Few questions:

*May we assume other basses work with the aforementioned tuners?

*Does the Zon have a passive bypass?

*Does the Zon have a gain potentiometer on the preamp?

Riis

[JTE]

How exactly is it not working? Do other basses work when YOU use the same tuner? Give us some data so we can help you learn to trouble shoot...

When I was in music retail the two biggest problems people had with using tuners was not sending a good strong signal to the tuner, and sending a confusing signal.

Turn the bass' volume control up all the way. Damp all the strings except the one you're tuning. Play a solid note and let the string vibrate. Don't be afraid of the 12th fret harmonic- if your strings are in good shape that harmonic IS EXACTLY one octave above the open string. Using the harmonic gives the tuner a higher sampling rate in order to count the vibrations, so that can help a lot on the lower strings. Also if the bas has active EQ, set it all flat- you don't want extra electrical noise confusing the tuners.

jte

[derrellvis69]

I've tried the following before I even posted the issue here on the forums:
"3" different tuners
12th fret harmonics
tweaking eq settings from flat, to cut, to boost
turning volume all the way up
replacing batteries in tuners and on-board preamp
tested all pots with a multimeter for current & continuity
several different instrument cables (Bayou Cables) Butch Rocks!!

[Zooberwerx]

Sounds like you've covered most of the bases (excuse the pun). Try this: plug your bass into the amp and run a line from your "effects send" (or similar output) to the tuner. Does it now register? From what I've read, it appears as if there may be a problem with gain structure.

Riis

[Wolfehollow]

My Zon wouldnt work with a wireless once and it had something to do with the battery power overloading something else. The tip and sleeve or ring was touching something else... hope that helps.

It was a sennheiser wireless G3