I need to make a -15db input pad - help!

[fourstringbliss]

I just got a G&L L2500 and the pickup output - even in passive - is too much for the input of my Line6 Bass PODxt. The Bass POD has no attenuator pad so I'm stuck dropping the volume on the bass which changes the tone. I'd like to make a passive go-between that will drop the volume of the signal between the bass and the POD without changing the tone.

Any suggestions?

[ihateusernames]

there are inline xlr pads with either fixed or switchable values. i haven't searched for but i'd bet they are available as 1/4" as well.

the hosa xlr's pads go for about 15 on ebay.

a higher priced solution is the atty variable attenuator. accepts xlr or 1/4"

[pickles]

You could use the second channel of a Radial BigShot I/O.

[Funky Doctor]

A simple pad will do the same thing as turning the volume down in passive mode. I sugest a pad after the preamp in your bass (you said "even in passive...") of around 5:1. Me, I would make a small adaptor consisting of a 1/4" jack and a line socket and solder a 10k resistor and a 1.8k resistor in the form of a pad inside either the jack or socket, then plug that into your amp and just plug you lead from you bass into that. Or failing that, wire up your volume pot after your onboard preamp...

[fourstringbliss]

Thanks, folks! I tried it again this morning and I got no distortion at all, even with everything full up. I think it's my house! I get nasty buzzes sometimes like my soapbar or humbucker bass has single-coils. It's weird.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Funky Doctor

A simple pad will do the same thing as turning the volume down in passive mode. I sugest a pad after the preamp in your bass (you said "even in passive...") of around 5:1. Me, I would make a small adaptor consisting of a 1/4" jack and a line socket and solder a 10k resistor and a 1.8k resistor in the form of a pad inside either the jack or socket, then plug that into your amp and just plug you lead from you bass into that. Or failing that, wire up your volume pot after your onboard preamp...

yes, this is essentially a 5:1 voltage divider...

Input ----10K------output----1.8K----ground


most amps have a very high input impedance, therefore, they draw very little current...so the 5:1 ratio will be maintained quite well...a lower impedance input would just load the divider further causing even more voltage drop...

[Funky Doctor]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

most amps have a very high input impedance, therefore, they draw very little current...so the 5:1 ratio will be maintained quite well...a lower impedance input would just load the divider further causing even more voltage drop...

Ah sweet. This is what I was thinking of but was too lazy to *actually* think about it...