EBS BassIQ - new VS old

[gastric]

I have an older black label buffered EBS BassIQ. I really like the sounds the pedal can generate. From quick funk to slow synth sweeps. All in a simple to use, small enclosure. Great stuff!

However, I don't like that the pedal has a SERIOUS volume boost whenever engaged and there's no level out control.

I see the newer true bypass units have additional internal pots. Specifically a GAIN pot. The documentation indicates it's for the input gain, not output. But I've been unable to find any specific info on what audible effect the GAIN pot has.

Can someone confirm or deny that the GAIN pot can be used to effectively control the pedal output volume without negatively affecting the performance of the filter.

I really wish more pedals included a output level control. I had a BOSS TR-2 that functioned great, but had a huge volume drop.There's other pedals with similar volume issues that'd be easily corrected with a simple output level control of some sort.

Or maybe I'm just crazy. Or, both.

[niftydog]

I'd be willing to bet it adjusts the gain pre-filter so that you can get the attack settings right with a wide range of input amplitude. But how it's actually implemented is anyone's guess. You could try emailing EBS, they are surprisingly helpful with technical questions.

I had to mod my BassIQ when I first got it because my old passive bass didn't have enough guts to trigger it properly. Then when I got my first active bass I had to mod it again because it would overload the input stage.

The mod consisted of increasing the gain pre-filter, and decreasing it post filter so the overall gain stayed about the same, but the filter was triggered with a stronger signal.

[gastric]

Thanks, I emailed them directly to ask their thoughts about the level boost. And to see if the newer version has some internal trimpot that would adjust for that.

[*insertcoolname]

I find this very interesting. I bought a buffered BassIq so I would have a nice filter that doesn't boost volume like my Micro Qtron. I find no volume boost at all...hmm...

[gastric]

I almost always have it running after my Brown Dog. So I'm not running a pure dry bass signal into it. But it always has a volume boost when I turn it on. I'll try to get some sound clips so you don't think I'm insane. I'm sure what I say is "significant" may not be as serious to you. But overall I'd like my effects to change my sound, but not my volume. Unless I tell it to.

[gastric]

According to EBS tech support the middle "gain" trimmer on the newer BassIQ is used for controlling output levels.

[gastric]

Here's some additional info on controlling the GAIN of the "black label" version that does not include the internal gain trimmer. I have not tried this myself. I'm guessing it's entirely possibly to install a trimmer in place of R25 instead of simply replacing it with other static resistor values. But that's beyond my current electronics knowledge to know for sure.

You may change the output of the BassIQ by changing the value of R25 from 56k to a larger value for gain reduction, please see BOARD LAYOUT (schematic) info.

LINK: EBS BASSIQ BOARD SCHEMATIC (R25 highlighted)

[squarewave]

Thanks Gastric,

Do you know if R25 is a surface-mounted device? My soldering skills are not sufficient to deal with surface-mounted stuff, but I can handle a wire through the board.

[gastric]

Sorry, haven't pulled the board off to even check, and all the components are on the other side. If I bother to undertake this adventure I may simply give the pedal to a person I know with some actual electronics experience to see if they can give a pro solution like an external gain knob, and maybe externalize the internal HP trimmer, too. It always boggles my mind that seemingly critical controls are provided via internal trimmers. I'd prefer external micro knobs.

[niftydog]

It is surface mount.