Pope Flexcore preamp - Page 4

thepontif · #61 08-28-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasto

"Jumpers on 2 for active"; then I did it right

Yesterday evening I put the plug Into the white connector and a jumper on the outer connectors and the volume worked but not as linear as I'm used to with other preamps. It comes on very loud (the gain pot is all the way up) but stays more or less at the same level when turning it full on. I have to turn the gain trimm pot full on, that I can play the bridge pickup only with reasonable volume.

BTW what I heard so far coming out of the bass is impressive!
It's just a pitty that the threads of the pots are so short that I can't even ad a washer on the outside of the body of the bass. I suppose to fix the flexcore to a metal plate like you find on jazz basses there wouldn't be any problem.

Something is still wrong, then. First of all, you shouldn't need to turn the gain trim all the way up...in fact, I would recommend against it. That's a ton of gain. And the volume control is very linear normally. When you say, "put a jumper on the outer connector", what did you mean? If you look carefully at the board, the jumper positions are labeled, "MST" and "BDG". If you have a Core 2.2, you have a master volume, so it should be on "MST" which is the inner position.

thepontif · #62 08-28-2012, 11:25 AM

By the way, BBG just did a video of an install with EMG's if you're interested. On Youtube somewhere.

**dasto** · #63 08-28-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepontif

By the way, BBG just did a video of an install with EMG's if you're interested. On Youtube somewhere.

Thanks. I'll have a look at it. Concerning the gain, your absolutely right, the volume increases very fast and strongly as soon as I turn the pot. I've realised, that when I pull the volume knob to passive mode, I have no volume at all and I can dial in without any effect (even with the jumper placed on the inner contacts). I will take pictures of the installation tomorrow and maybe my mistake of the installation will detectable like that.
Thanks to everybody for your help
Daniel

thepontif · #64 08-28-2012, 01:52 PM

FYI, I ship them with the jumpers already set for Core 2's. So typically, if you don't mess with anything and just hook it up, it will work.

**dasto** · #65 08-29-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepontif

FYI, I ship them with the jumpers already set for Core 2's. So typically, if you don't mess with anything and just hook it up, it will work.

Let's see if somebody detects the bug in my installation with the help of the pictures especially concerning the volume (in active and in passive mode). The jumper on the volume pot only was set, you couldn't know about the other for the active pickups maybe this was was set wrong by myself. When I recall correctly, the jumper on the volume pot was set on the inner contacts and I changed it because of the installation manual where the outer contacts are highlighted I changed that. Maybe I got that wrong...

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020793.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020796.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020795.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020794.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020797.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020798.jpg

lowfreqgeek · #66 08-29-2012, 10:59 AM

Mike,

What is the absolute minimum cavity depth to install a Flexcore preamp? I have a project that's about ready for a pre and I was hoping to put in a Flexcore, but the bass is only 1.5" thick and the cavity is just under 1.25" deep. Maybe more like 1.18-1.2".

And while I've got your attention, do you know of anyone using the Flexcore in a fretless? I can't decide if I want the fixed mids or a sweepable midrange. Thanks.

thepontif · #67 08-29-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasto

Let's see if somebody detects the bug in my installation with the help of the pictures especially concerning the volume (in active and in passive mode). The jumper on the volume pot only was set, you couldn't know about the other for the active pickups maybe this was was set wrong by myself. When I recall correctly, the jumper on the volume pot was set on the inner contacts and I changed it because of the installation manual where the outer contacts are highlighted I changed that. Maybe I got that wrong...

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020793.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020796.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020795.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020794.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020797.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/P1020798.jpg

Jumper on volume board needs to be on inner pins. Other than that, I don't really see anything wrong. If your volume control is acting weird, maybe I should send you another.

**dasto** · #68 08-30-2012, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepontif

Jumper on volume board needs to be on inner pins. Other than that, I don't really see anything wrong. If your volume control is acting weird, maybe I should send you another.

I'll gona change the jumper and I'll exchange the volume pot with the one of the second set I bought. If it's a problem with a defective pot I should realize it immediately. I'll let you know.

JOME77 · #69 08-30-2012, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreqgeek

Mike,

What is the absolute minimum cavity depth to install a Flexcore preamp? I have a project that's about ready for a pre and I was hoping to put in a Flexcore, but the bass is only 1.5" thick and the cavity is just under 1.25" deep. Maybe more like 1.18-1.2".

And while I've got your attention, do you know of anyone using the Flexcore in a fretless? I can't decide if I want the fixed mids or a sweepable midrange. Thanks.

It requires 1-1/4" control cavity depth.

I'm not Mike, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last week!

thepontif · #70 08-30-2012, 05:52 AM

Haha....

As for fretless, it sounds great in a fretless bass!

**dasto** · #71 08-30-2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasto

I'll gona change the jumper and I'll exchange the volume pot with the one of the second set I bought. If it's a problem with a defective pot I should realize it immediately. I'll let you know.

Finally it works!! The preamp didn't work any better after having exchanged the volume pot. So I decided to take the whole thing apart and reassemble it very carefully and especially taking care of that the modules don't touch the shielding of the cavity. The result was worth the extra efford that preamp sounds great!
Thanks to Mike und everybody who participated in solving my problems. I hope I don't have to come back when I attack the installation of my second flexcore preamp.
Daniel

mb94952 · #72 08-30-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasto

Finally it works!! The preamp didn't work any better after having exchanged the volume pot. So I decided to take the whole thing apart and reassemble it very carefully and especially taking care of that the modules don't touch the shielding of the cavity. The result was worth the extra efford that preamp sounds great!
Thanks to Mike und everybody who participated in solving my problems. I hope I don't have to come back when I attack the installation of my second flexcore preamp.
Daniel

You are a pro Pope installer now. Now we come to YOU for answers

**Freddels** · #73 08-30-2012, 04:20 PM

I'm wondering how this preamp would work in a G&L L2000 with those very hot MFD pickups.

Has anyone tried it with a G&L?

thepontif · #74 08-30-2012, 04:29 PM

The 18V supply will accommodate very hot pickups.

JOME77 · #75 08-30-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I'm wondering how this preamp would work in a G&L L2000 with those very hot MFD pickups.

Has anyone tried it with a G&L?

Hey Fred,

Over the years I tried most of the other preamps available with a G&L L2500. Demeter, Aguilar and Bart. IMO those P/U's have a signature sound that no preamp can overcome.
The different pre's slightly voiced them different but in the end the G&L preamp is just designed to work the best with them.
It's been my experience that the P/U's influence the sound of the bass more than the preamp. Just my opinion though.

thepontif · #76 08-30-2012, 04:32 PM

Looking at the pictures again, I'll bet the balancer board was touching the cavity wall....

"that's what she said".....SORRY!!!!

I normally catch stuff like that. That's one of the really common issues.

**Freddels** · #77 08-30-2012, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Hey Fred,

Over the years I tried most of the other preamps available with a G&L L2500. Demeter, Aguilar and Bart. IMO those P/U's have a signature sound that no preamp can overcome.
The different pre's slightly voiced them different but in the end the G&L preamp is just designed to work the best with them.
It's been my experience that the P/U's influence the sound of the bass more than the preamp. Just my opinion though.

OK, thanks. I kind of figured that those pickups would overpower most everything.

lowfreqgeek · #78 08-30-2012, 05:34 PM

I'm REALLY tempted to try a Flexcore in my fretless L2500, but the midrange is pretty dirty/aggressive/almost overdriven and the top is very stuffy with the MFDs and that's something you can't really change easily. Lowering the pickups and coil-tapping can help, but it's not a slam dunk.

The *best* I've found so far at taming those pickups and opening the top is an ACG EQ02 filter pre. It takes some drastic settings, though. None of this "just a little subtle spice" kinda EQing. I formerly had a 2-band EQ in a fretted L2500 and it really didn't do enough at full boost/cut.

Now, as much as I LOVE the feel and playability of my fretless L2500, I've been considering some dual coils w/custom wood covers in place of the MFDs and then a Flexcore. However, I'm also tempted by the new ACG EQ01 filter pre w/individual filters for each pickup. Those would certainly help tame the G&L, given my experience with the EQ02.

I will find something to put a Flexcore in, though!

**dasto** · #79 08-30-2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepontif

Looking at the pictures again, I'll bet the balancer board was touching the cavity wall....

"that's what she said".....SORRY!!!!

I normally catch stuff like that. That's one of the really common issues.

Never mind, finally it was me who worked not properly. In the end it were the youtube clips of Max from BBG which made me aware of this problem. As you said, they're a great help for installing the flexcore, highly recommendable for everyone who is not sure about the procedure.
Thanks again

Munjibunga · #80 08-31-2012, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepontif

Looking at the pictures again, I'll bet the balancer board was touching the cavity wall....

"that's what she said".....SORRY!!!!

I normally catch stuff like that. That's one of the really common issues.

Common indeed. I learned it on my first install, and have seen it on two others. You kind of have to put the boards in at an angle to the cavity walls to avoid shorting something against the shielding.