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Double Bass An Ehrlund blog, sort of

#662
VegasGutPlucker said:
Quick question: is anyone else's preamp slightly microphonic?
Try this please: No input no pickup, just output cable to amp, volume knob up, gain low, phase irrelevant. If you tap it, do the taps come out the speaker system?
Click to expand...

VGP,
Mine certainly are, but it doesn't seem to come across through the amp or P.A. I never tap the box during t performance. :)

Ric
 
#663
VegasGutPlucker said:
Quick question: is anyone else's preamp slightly microphonic?
Try this please: No input no pickup, just output cable to amp, volume knob up, gain low, phase irrelevant. If you tap it, do the taps come out the speaker system?
Click to expand...

I never tried tapping the box either while using it but having the input unloaded is likely not a fair test. Do you find it to be microphonic with a pickup connected?
 
#666
I've had other bits of equipment which seem microphonic when the input is left unplugged. I think it may be a side-effect of high impedance inputs, and not really a worry given that you'll never use it without anything plugged in.
 
#667
It is also micro phonic when the input is plugged in. I was trying to eliminate whatever cable noise transfer artifacts may be contributing to the noise by removing it entirely.
It came up on the gig the other night as we were beginning our second set. I went to move the output lead to change how it was laying on the ground, and an ungodly crackle pop sound emanated from the PA system. I panicked and turned off my volume but the sound kept going a bit before stopping.
It stopped when I stopped touching my preamp box and didn't happen again. During the set break I quietly messed around with it and was only mildly able to replicate the noise, hence the original question I posed.
I think something is wrong with the output jack but haven't had time to correctly sit down with everything and properly diagnose the problem be it a lead issue, ground issue, preamp or what.
 
#670
MrSidecar said:
What I experienced with the Ehrlund pre is, when the battery is low on power, it starts popping random annoying switch on/off noises that can actually be mistaken for microphony. At least in my case, changing the battery eliminated the issue.

best
Sidecar
Click to expand...

I like the Ehrlund pickup a lot but I didn't buy the pre precisely because I don't like to have another battery to worry about.
 
#671
Interesting. The last battery I had in it lasted 8 months. I've begun dating my few batteried devices to keep track. The current 9V was put in around Christmas so should have plenty of life left. I will switch it out perhaps before sending to Ehrlund for repair.
I have tried mulitple instrument cables, achieving the same effect. I begin to suspect the output socket. or the 9v converter as you said... time will tell.
 
#677
Fran Diaz said:
I like the Ehrlund pickup a lot but I didn't buy the pre precisely because I don't like to have another battery to worry about.
Click to expand...

Normally, I don't like battery powered devices either, however the Ehrlund Preamp is not a battery intensive device, personally it's gain and tone palate, far out way the inconvenience of using a battery powered pre amp. Just my opinion.

Ric
 
#678
So, an update. I replaced the battery, still there. I decided to peep inside the output with a flashlight on the gig, saw the contacts were a bit blackened. So I put some windex on a 1/4 jack and spun it around inside the jack. Then I used a toothpick to leverage more tension and hopefully better contact between lead and jack and guess what!?! No more popping and no micro phonics. So what's the lesson? I dunno. Definitely glad I didn't send it across the ocean.
 

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