Why does my bass still need a battery when the preamp is off?

tazthewonderdog · #1 12-10-2011, 10:44 AM

I have an Ibanez GSR200 with two pickups and a preamp- now, everyone I've talked to have said I should be able to play it without a battery in as long as I keep the preamp knob turned all the way down.
It doesn't work.
the bass doesn't make a sound when the battery's out.
Just curious.

darknes40 · #2 12-10-2011, 11:09 AM

The Gsr runs an active pre amp only, that is there is no switch to change it to a "passive" option or one that can be used without a battery.

As for the "preamp knob" it is probably just a volume/blend knob that would only serve to change volume level/control which pickups are being picked up by the preamp and have no change on whether the preamp is engaged or not.

If you want the option to play without a battery you would either have to mod the existing preamp to accept a bypass switch, which would allow it to be passive, but a new preamp with one of these switches preinstalled, or rewire the bass, removing the preamp completely.

Hope this helped and if u need any more info feel free to PM me

tazthewonderdog · #3 12-10-2011, 12:24 PM

Helped a lot, thanks!

SGD Lutherie · #4 12-10-2011, 01:54 PM

Why would you want to take the battery out anyway?

That's like wanting to unplug your amp and wondering if it will sound better.

Some basses have a bypass switch, but none have a "preamp knob".

LiamPodmore · #5 12-10-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Why would you want to take the
Some basses have a bypass switch, but none have a "preamp knob".

Actually, how the GSR200 preamp is set up (STUPIDLY) it only actually has one knob for the active preamp. It has Bridge vol, Neck vol, Tone and a single knob for the 2 band preamp.

Technically, there is a preamp knob, as its a stupid preamp. I took it out of my GSR200 and am converting it to a fully passive P bass.

Liam

**line6man** · #6 12-10-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiamPodmore

Actually, how the GSR200 preamp is set up (STUPIDLY) it only actually has one knob for the active preamp. It has Bridge vol, Neck vol, Tone and a single knob for the 2 band preamp.

Technically, there is a preamp knob, as its a stupid preamp. I took it out of my GSR200 and am converting it to a fully passive P bass.

Liam

What makes that stupid?

SGD Lutherie · #7 12-10-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiamPodmore

Actually, how the GSR200 preamp is set up (STUPIDLY) it only actually has one knob for the active preamp. It has Bridge vol, Neck vol, Tone and a single knob for the 2 band preamp.

Technically, there is a preamp knob, as its a stupid preamp. I took it out of my GSR200 and am converting it to a fully passive P bass.

It's a (PHAT-II) bass boost knob, not a preamp knob.

I'd rather have bass and treble controls, but I don't see how making it passive is better.

tazthewonderdog · #8 12-10-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Why would you want to take the battery out anyway?

That's like wanting to unplug your amp and wondering if it will sound better.

Some basses have a bypass switch, but none have a "preamp knob".

As stated, I was just curious about why it wasn't working.

walterw · #9 12-10-2011, 05:41 PM

yep, the preamp is still on, just not boosting, when that knob is turned down. the entire signal goes through it either way, so it has to be powered up to work.

anarkink · #10 12-10-2011, 05:57 PM

Who were you talking too? Brutal source...