Anybody know much about obsidian wire?

[MrClassicMetal]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say ... Guitar Max?

The first time I saw it was on Darrel Braun's channel, and you know how enthusiastic he can get. And then that video from The Bass Channel that I posted earlier in this thread just to see how they installed it in a J. I have the kit in 3 of my instruments currently.

The funny thing is that I still had to use my soldering iron during one of the installs, because one of the wires on a pickup came loose.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

I would say the treble from my JB bridge is a little spitty, though growl is well-pronounced. I'm not able to determine whether this spitty factor is due to ObsidianWire's capacitance or the Fender pickups themselves.

Which version do you have, the Vintage Plus

Or the True Vintage 63?

Though it is solderless, the push-block connection on both harnesses is entirely satisfactory and saves time. A tiny flathead jeweller's screwdriver is required to depress the spring-loaded terminals.

As to build quality and signal clarity, a solid 10/10.

Agreed, it's a great product!

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

The first time I saw it was on Darrel Braun's channel, and you know how enthusiastic he can get. And then that video from The Bass Channel that I posted earlier in this thread just to see how they installed it in a J. I have the kit in 3 of my instruments currently.

The funny thing is that I still had to use my soldering iron during one of the installs, because one of the wires on a pickup came loose.

I have been tempted to switch to the Obsidians or to go with the Kwik-Connect jobies, but I have a touch of CDO and if I were to do that to one instrument, I would have to do it to all of them.

I don't even want to imagine what that would cost me. I have quite a few instruments and some I wouldn't want to modify because if I ever decided to sell them, some cork-sniffer would squeeze my shoes about non-original equipment.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

I have been tempted to switch to the Obsidians or to go with the Kwik-Connect jobies, but I have a touch of CDO and if I were to do that to one instrument, I would have to do it to all of them.

I don't even want to imagine what that would cost me. I have quite a few instruments and some I wouldn't want to modify because if I ever decided to sell them, some cork-sniffer would squeeze my shoes about non-original equipment.

2 of my basses have the kit because I was going to change the pickups anyway. And another one is a Warmoth bass. But if you're happy with your pickups, then save the money for something else. Like for example eggs.

 

[Arohana]

I decided on the Vintage Plus, as I do not want top-end rolloff at lower volume settings.

After a few hours with the fretless today, I'm reversing on the spitty bridge pickup observation.

Though I probably won't know for certain until I d.i. into a console or jack into a quality interface, it was highly likely my little Ampeg beer-cooler misbehaving with input level (which the Micro CL is known to do).

Overall, extremely pleased now that I've had a proper amount of time to play.

JB I built is a bit of a mongrel - I inherited one of Jaco's at the end of the Seventies, so I'm not impartial - but I'll temper the top end fizz in due time.

Allparts m.i.J. neck is a new/unused older stock maple/ebony beauty (ebony of unusually good quality, too). I think it was sold cheaply because the fingerboard has no fretline inlays, which I think are ghastly and don't need.

Final setup courtesy of Kent Ellingson, who works at a Russo music store nearby. He has done superb work for me.

 

[friskinator]

I've been trying to install the Precision harness, and I'm not having a good time. I'm finding that the connector buttons are very difficult to use. Getting the wire in the hole is a pain. And after my first attempt, 2 of them have become stuck in the open position. Any advice on how to fix this? As it sits now, I can't use it.

 

[Bohumil Prst]

I have an Obsidian Jazz Bass solder-less harness. I bought it about a year ago. And I currently have it for sale on CL.

The model I purchased has a treble bleed circuit. I put it in a bass I was building at the time; played it; then took it back out and built my own harness.

Why? There was nothing wrong with the Obsidian harness. In fact they are very well made with quality components. I just didn't like the tone of the treble bleed. And I've used treble bleed circuits before. If you don't know - treble bleed circuits use a combo capacitor and resistor to prevent high frequencies from "bleeding" (dropping out) as you turn down one of the two volume knobs on a jazz-style bass. I've used others that did exactly that. The Obsidian actually cut lower frequencies and made the bass sound too thin.

This is interesting to me as I am looking for a new loaded control plate for my fretless Jazz Bass. Did you find that the sound was good at louder volumes?

 

[Bohumil Prst]

Any further thoughts on these? I'm tempted by the Jazz Bass one, but slightly startled by the comment above the 'treble bleed' mod creates a thin tone at low volume.

 

[MdC64]

This is interesting to me as I am looking for a new loaded control plate for my fretless Jazz Bass. Did you find that the sound was good at louder volumes?

I installed this loaded control plate in my jazz bass but it isn’t solderless.
I found it in the classifieds. No treble bleed.
Pre-Wired Passive Harness

Ebay seller kellingsound88 makes very nice solderless harnesses for reasonable prices.
He custom makes as well so if you don’t want treble bleed it can be done.

kellingsound88 on eBay

 

[Bohumil Prst]

Thanks for these, I'll check them out. I'm comfortable soldering, that's not a problem. I do want high spec on this particular bass. I'm guessing you're happy with the FatBass control plate?

 

[Pilgrim]

It helps to have a BIG Rolodex file:

ObsidianWire | Solderless Guitar Wiring Harness | Guitar Electronics

Looking at their web page, it appears to be a great way for them to sell you a complete harness with electronics for a LOT more money than it would cost you for the electronics and some spooled wire.

As @micguy said earlier, a solder joint is a beautiful thing - and I might add, it's repairable yourself, unlike circuit boards.

 

[smtp4me]

This is interesting to me as I am looking for a new loaded control plate for my fretless Jazz Bass. Did you find that the sound was good at louder volumes?

The tone was okay at normal volume but got very "thin" (best word I can think of) as I lowered either knob. Being passive, they cannot boost any frequencies, so I can only assume they somehow were cutting lower frequencies.

 

[MdC64]

Thanks for these, I'll check them out. I'm comfortable soldering, that's not a problem. I do want high spec on this particular bass. I'm guessing you're happy with the FatBass control plate?

Yes, I’m happy with it. Very well made.

 

[wraub]

LOL. Clearly PCBs are only a cheap option when they're used in amps. In basses they are now a boutique choice. Point-to-point wiring is apparently only cool in expensive amps, not is basses.

Joking aside, it looks tidy, they seem to use good quality components and I think it's really cool that they've managed to build a business around this. But there's no magic here. It's really just an easy plug'n'play option for people who can't solder. There're nothing here that can't be done with traditional wiring. Personally I'd much rather choose the exact components/values I want and solder it myself.

Learning how to solder takes about 5 minutes btw. Maybe a bit longer for a professional, clean result but anyone should be able to solder the wiring inside a P/J-bass, even if they have no experience with electronics whatsoever. I re-wired a Squier P-bass with better components the same day I got my first soldering iron. I'm sure it looks a bit messy inside it I open it up but the point is: I've never needed to. The bass still works fine almost 30 years after my first adventure with a soldering iron. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it and the cost will be significantly lower than for these solderless PCBs.

An in case anyone REALLY needs to know this: Obsidian is just the name of the manufacturer. They don't actually use volcanic glass in their wiring. At least I hope they don't...

I can solder just fine, thanks. I used an Obsidian Wire circuit in a Strat because even though I can solder I didn't really want to buy the parts to put together a blender circuit with a treble bleed and also have to put it together and risk errors and possible issues. Ordered, delivered quickly, installed even quicker, and has a 5 year warranty. Worked perfectly first time, too.

 

[mattattack187]

I have them in 3 jazz bases and a P bass. Very clean and easy. Appears to be good quality.

Any additional shielding or grounding needed to avoid hum?

 

[seanow]

I put an Obsidian harness in my 2011 MIM Precision, the output jack was shot and I figured I'd replace the whole harness. It sounds good, it upped the output signal quite a bit with the stock pickups. What else are you going to buy that's made in Christchurch, New Zealand? View attachment 4937653

I put one in my 70s jazz bass and was blown away with the increased output.
Did you lower pup height?

 

[seanow]

I am a pedal head and have been reverse engineering and building for a little while. I have just been turned on to obsidian wiring and I must ask someone with experience - what is this sorcery?!

Yeah, I replaced a J bass volume/ tone cluster with their option.
Fit like a Glove still sounds like Jazz.
A mate did a Strat conversion also.
very intuitive company by the looks.
NZ company I think.
If I had any complaints it would be that I don’t think the pots Are As Linear as what was replaced.

 

[Ritter667]

Similar to unobtainium, as far as I gathered.