Here's a weird one . . .

pbass2 · #1 03-31-2008, 09:51 PM

I think is the best forum to post this ay least:

I noticed this with my stomp tuner the other day--thought it was the tuner not muting properly, but today I plugged in straight to my amp and it happened again:
Exibit A: an L2500---when this bass is plugged in to the amp(a Markbass combo), even with the amp's volume/gain turned completely down, if I unplug the cable from the bass, I get an audible "pop"(plug coming out sound). Not nearly as loud as if the amp was actually up, but audible nonetheless.
Exibit B: I plug in my Pbass, or my Longhorn---no sound when trying to re-create the same phenomenon.
The L2500, btw, was in passive mode.
Can anybody explain such a thing?

alexgeddy · #2 03-31-2008, 10:04 PM

Hi,

It's not a good idea to unplug the cord from your bass first.....Pull the cord out of the amp then your bass.....Or use a mute function if you have it.....most sound guys will get upset if that pop goes through their PA!!!!!! just my 2 cents worth

Bill

niftydog · #3 04-01-2008, 08:06 PM

Your amps volume controls are just attenuators, and as such they have a finite amount of attenuation. If a very large signal comes along, they can only attenuate it, they can't completely prevent the signal from entering the amplifier circuitry.

An active bass will often use a stereo jack to switch on the battery, so some DC voltage might be present at the 'ring' connection of the jack socket as you disconnect the cable. If you feed a DC voltage into the input of your amp (DON'T DO THIS!) prepare for a VERY loud and obnoxious noise. Even though the bass was in passive mode that doesn't alter the fact that the battery is still connected to the jack socket.

On The DL · #4 04-01-2008, 08:13 PM

I can't explain this as "niftydog" can. But, it is peculiar as I have the exact same "pop" with my spector , but not my carvin

niftydog · #5 04-01-2008, 08:20 PM

Could come down the different jack styles and they way they disconnect.

pbass2 · #6 04-02-2008, 12:31 AM

Yeah it's very interesting. Of course, I don't go about willy-nilly yanking out my cable onstage or what have, and I don't see where it would ever REALLY be an issue, but it just had me scratching my head.
Niftydog, that makes sense to me--thanks! I actually tried it again with my Sadowsky, set to passive mode, and indeed, a pop did occur(but not as loud as the G&L).