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11-30-2012, 07:03 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: near Windsor, Ontario, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JTE  The jacks are "stereo", technically tip/ring/sleeve so that when you plug in a mono plug, the ring and sleeve connectors short together and act as a switch. Has NOTHING to do with number of PUPs, nor any kind of stereo output.
You have to use a mono 1/4" plug to make them work, and make sure it's plugged in all the way.
John | I believe JTE has it right .
You need to use a MONO GUITAR CORD. The mono sleeve acts as switch contacts to turn on the active electronics when plugged in . Don't forget to unplug when not in use or it will kill your batteries .
I don't think I would use a cord from Radio Shack . Go to a music store and buy a good quality 1/4 inch to 1/4 inch MONO GUITAR cord . I know in the past Radio Shacks various cords used to have terrible (cheap) sheilding . Sheilding keeps out buzz and hum . Sheilding is a braided wire covering wrapped over the inside wires .
Another possibility > what AMP are you using , how do you know its not your amp ?
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Last edited by Jammin Johneboy : 11-30-2012 at 07:07 PM.
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11-30-2012, 07:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas | | | Just guessing, but it sounds like a cable or amp problem. It would be highly unlikely that all of your basses are malfunctioning simultaneously. I practice daily and have played without changing batteries for 6 months or even a little longer. But i do know when a battery is low, the signal distorts and is weak sounding. Hope you solve the problem. |
11-30-2012, 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by cfsporn Hmmm, one of my favorite cables is a stereo 1/4" to mono 1/8". I am 99% sure I have tried with other cables, but this could be the problem. | As others have said, that is *exactly* your problem. You need a mono 1/4" jack on the instrument end to activate the preamp. |
12-11-2012, 03:38 PM
|  | Thanks to Alembic, I'll have G.A.S. until I die. | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York City | | | A little update:
I went to Radio Shack and bought a legit guitar cable and a mono 1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter. No change at all. |
12-11-2012, 03:39 PM
| | Thanks to Alembic, I'll have G.A.S. until I die. | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York City | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammin Johneboy I believe JTE has it right .
You need to use a MONO GUITAR CORD. The mono sleeve acts as switch contacts to turn on the active electronics when plugged in . Don't forget to unplug when not in use or it will kill your batteries .
I don't think I would use a cord from Radio Shack . Go to a music store and buy a good quality 1/4 inch to 1/4 inch MONO GUITAR cord . I know in the past Radio Shacks various cords used to have terrible (cheap) sheilding . Sheilding keeps out buzz and hum . Sheilding is a braided wire covering wrapped over the inside wires .
Another possibility > what AMP are you using , how do you know its not your amp ? | I am plugging it into my MacBook Pro. I know it isn't that because all my passive basses sound fine. |
12-11-2012, 03:55 PM
| | | | OP-
My apologies for this highjack, but what Alembic do you have with one pickup? Every one I've seen has two. |
12-11-2012, 04:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by cfsporn I am plugging it into my MacBook Pro. I know it isn't that because all my passive basses sound fine. | You're plugging straight into the Mac with no interface?
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12-11-2012, 04:10 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand | | | I would take a bass somewhere with a normal bass amp setup and try it there to eliminate other issues.
Since an active basses signal is stronger than passive (usually), could the signal be distorting the mac book input, and i didn't know the macbook input was designed for instrument input.
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12-11-2012, 04:11 PM
|  | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 40º 45' 21" north latitude | | | to the OP, since you're in NYC, just truck on over to 48th street and you'll be in the heart of the music store geography in town.. also 14th st. Guitar Center.. and get yourself a decent 1/4 to 1/4 mono guitar cable. since you're never gigging, it doesn't have to be the $49 Monster, just a reliable house brand. they definitely work. this will serve you well and will eliminate the cable as a factor in the problem. |
12-11-2012, 04:14 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: Fender Basses, Ampeg, Curt Mangan Strings | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Shore, Massachusetts | | | I own several active basses and have been using Monster cables for years. Never had a problem with any.
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12-11-2012, 04:27 PM
|  | Still learning...... | | | | | My guess is that your active basses are overdriving the input of the MAC. Try turning the volume of the bass down halfway and see if that helps for the time being. As a more permanent solution sell one of your basses and get a USB interface. I hear the Zoom B3 works well.
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12-11-2012, 04:34 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Holland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by wideload OP-
My apologies for this highjack, but what Alembic do you have with one pickup? Every one I've seen has two. | 1986 Alembic Persuader?  |
12-11-2012, 06:02 PM
|  | David Schwab
Owner, SGD Music Products | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bloomfield, NJ | | Quote:
Originally Posted by cfsporn I am plugging it into my MacBook Pro. I know it isn't that because all my passive basses sound fine. | I'm quite sure that's the problem. I'm surprised the passive basses even work since that's not a high impedance input.
I'm a Mac user, and I don't plug my basses right into the computer. I have an M-Audio FireWire Solo.
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12-11-2012, 09:50 PM
| | Thanks to Alembic, I'll have G.A.S. until I die. | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York City | | Quote:
Originally Posted by FC Bass 1986 Alembic Persuader? | Beat me to it! That's what I get for not checking my own thread! |
12-11-2012, 09:52 PM
| | Thanks to Alembic, I'll have G.A.S. until I die. | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York City | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie I'm quite sure that's the problem. I'm surprised the passive basses even work since that's not a high impedance input.
I'm a Mac user, and I don't plug my basses right into the computer. I have an M-Audio FireWire Solo. | I always plug my basses directly into my computers (Macs and PCs), and I can always hear myself. I can try my Sansamp, but since the problem only occurs with my active basses (my Lakland, Fender, Aria, Squier, and Ibanez are sound fine), I doubt that is the issue.
Tomorrow, I will also try getting all new batteries. |
12-11-2012, 11:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Benicia, CA. USA | | | If it only happens with the active basses, I would bet you're overdriving the inputs. You already said you were diming the controls. I think you seriously need the interface to protect your computers and balance the input. |
12-12-2012, 12:26 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ellenwood,Ga. | | | Not to be an ass,but how can someone that owns high end basses like yours not afford a qualty cable to go with them?
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12-12-2012, 02:09 AM
|  | Progressive bass brony | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Zagreb, Croatia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by cfsporn I always plug my basses directly into my computers (Macs and PCs), and I can always hear myself. I can try my Sansamp, but since the problem only occurs with my active basses (my Lakland, Fender, Aria, Squier, and Ibanez are sound fine), I doubt that is the issue. | The issue might be the soundcard itself. Some of them have an intelligent impedance converter that autodetects the source impedance and matches accordingly - however, others do not and so you get a serious, tone-sucking mismatch.
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12-12-2012, 02:15 AM
|  | Total Hyper-Elite Member
Independent Contractor to Bass San Diego | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Groom Lake, NV | | Quote:
Originally Posted by cfsporn I almost never plug in my basses ... | You have to plug them in for them to work.
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12-12-2012, 03:13 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2012 Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland | | | ^^^ LOL, you also might have turned all your EQ up on your active masses and therefore it would sound a mess.
Simple solution go to GC and try it in an actual amp.
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