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01-23-2009, 07:24 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC/LI | | | Active Bass with Big Muff...fail?
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Not sure if this belongs here or electronics, but I suspect it belongs here.
I just put an Aguilar OBP1 in my Pbass and got it back from the shop last night (I contend that I did most of the work, just had an epic fail to complete it), and I took it to rehearsal shortly thereafter and plug it into:
Mini Qtron-->BBE Green Screamer-->BassBalls-->Big Muff-->TU-2
Now, I expected to have to adjust the gain on all the pedals to adjust for the hotter signal, but I actually almost had to dime my Big Muff's Volume knob. In fact, everything across the board was putting out a much lower signal than it did on my Passive Jbass (that I played the night before).
Initially I was happy to have it back in time for a rehearsal before a show so I could figure everything out and have time, but now I'm not so sure if I should bring the PBass tonight. Is there something going on with impedance matching that I don't understand?
Thanks,
Chris
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Shawty got low, low, low, low, low, low low.
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01-23-2009, 07:32 AM
|  | Superfast 2.0 | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX | | | I think that might be a result of an 18V preamp. Have you tried with an active P that only has 9V? |
01-23-2009, 07:34 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oslo, Norway | | | I have an 18V Warwick, and had the exact same problem with my Little Big Muff, so I ditched it for more active-friendly fuzzes. |
01-23-2009, 07:34 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC/LI | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SoonerMatt  I think that might be a result of an 18V preamp. Have you tried with an active P that only has 9V? | Nope, this is my first foray into active basses other than trying them in stores and deciding that I needed a project... 
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Shawty got low, low, low, low, low, low low.
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01-23-2009, 07:35 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds, UK | | | There's no reason why the low impedance of the Aguilar pre should futz with the Big Muff.
The high amplitude (loud) signal might be the problem.
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01-23-2009, 07:42 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC/LI | | So back off on the volume knob maybe? I assumed a hotter signal would produce craziness. Thanks for the responses guys. 
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Shawty got low, low, low, low, low, low low.
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01-23-2009, 09:42 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada | | | The preamp in my friends jazz killed one of my distortion pedals. It was only a 9v pre, but the pedal was a ****** brand, rocktek or something. Plugged in, plucked the A, and then the pedal just slowly faded out. |
01-23-2009, 10:23 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lausanne, Switzerland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by eyvindwa I have an 18V Warwick, and had the exact same problem with my Little Big Muff, so I ditched it for more active-friendly fuzzes. | +1 same with my 18v Bongo. however the bass big muff handles it quite nicely
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MusicMan Bongo 4HS/p - Gibson Ripper
GK 1001RB-II / 210RBH / 115RBH Bassist for Lapsus |
01-23-2009, 11:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oakland, California, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by flakeh The preamp in my friends jazz killed one of my distortion pedals. It was only a 9v pre, but the pedal was a ****** brand, rocktek or something. Plugged in, plucked the A, and then the pedal just slowly faded out. | Never heard of that happening before... I doubt it was because of the preamp. 
An active preamp poses no risk to a distortion/fuzz pedal, but the impedance can drastically impact the sound. It depends on the pedal's design.
For example, I've found that the EHX Bass Big Muff is friendlier to active basses than the Little Big Muff. In fact, the Bass Big Muff is friendlier to basses in general, but that's a given. 
Some pedals are infamous for being impedance-sensitive (i.e., the Z.Vex Woolly Mammoth), but not all fuzz pedals are victim to this. The general opinion around here is that passive basses always "sound" better with fuzz pedals, but I disagree. 
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Founder of the Lefty Union
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01-23-2009, 12:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC/LI | | Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticBoo Some pedals are infamous for being impedance-sensitive (i.e., the Z.Vex Woolly Mammoth), but not all fuzz pedals are victim to this. The general opinion around here is that passive basses always "sound" better with fuzz pedals, but I disagree. | This is what I was thinking might be happening. I figure I'll bring my trusty J tonight and figure out this pedal issue after I pay this preamp stuff off my credit card.
Thanks guys.
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Shawty got low, low, low, low, low, low low.
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01-23-2009, 12:35 PM
|  | Registered User
Lead Designer: Redline Electronics | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Central Illinois | | Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticBoo Some pedals are infamous for being impedance-sensitive (i.e., the Z.Vex Woolly Mammoth), but not all fuzz pedals are victim to this. The general opinion around here is that passive basses always "sound" better with fuzz pedals, but I disagree. | I tend to agree. My Mammoth is modded so that the impedance is the same going into the pedal with passive or active basses, and I love love the active tone in mine 
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