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Apogee JAM 96k and 18v basses

Brelic

Brelic

Jun 26, 2011
97
43
East Coast, Canada
#1
Picked up an Apogee JAM 96k today for playing and recording on my Mac/iPad/iPhone while I'm away, on the deck, outside, whatever. Seemed like a great little device for impromptu jams and ideas.

The problem is I can't get a signal from my EBMM Bongo 6. I thought maybe it was the cable, but no. So I tried my Ric on it, and it works just fine. So, I thought maybe there's a problem with the Bongo then. Plugged it in my amp, and it works fine.

The only thing I can figure is that there's not enough juice for an 18v bass. Does that make sense?

A google search didn't really reveal anything useful, so I thought maybe someone here has experience with this.

Any thoughts?
 
#3
Dave W said:
I would not think that's the issue at all. Are you adjusting the gain on the side of the unit?

I have no problems with mine on any bass. 9v, 18v, passive, etc
Click to expand...

Yes, I have adjusted the gain up and down, and still nothing. It's really bizarre because I unplugged the bass from the JAM and then plugged it into the amp - with no settings changed on the bass - and it works just fine.

And then I plugged in the Ric to the JAM, settings unchanged from when the Bongo was plugged, and it also works fine. I keep looking for a 'dumb user error' moment, but I can't seem to fine one, haha!

I opened a ticket with Apogee. If I figure it out, I'll post the solution here.
 
#5
Ok, now this is weird.

I had to lay down a quick bass line take for a song tonight, and I thought I'd use the JAM 96 with my Ibby 5er. I know the Bongo 6 doesn't work, and the Rickenbacker does. Guess what? I could not get a signal from it either. Both the Ibby and the Bongo are active basses. That's the common link that I see.

I wondered what would happen if I plugged my bass into my PolyTune before going to the JAM. Well, now all my basses work when the signal to the JAM comes from the tuner pedal (which is plugged in and not using a battery at this point... it doesn't even have one in it). I mean, it kinda solves my problem, but I don't really want to be bringing around a pedal just to make the JAM work. It kinda defeats the portability angle.

I'll add that to my ticket with Apogee.

Very strange.
 
#7
Could be the Apogee can't handle too hot of signal.
Some active basses have internal trim pots to turn them down.
Maybe take a DMM and measure if the bass has a DC offset on it's output?
Two batteries have a virtual ground they can drift off true ground if not DC blocked.
Might need a DC blocking cap, but I can't see both basses doing it.
 
#9
seamonkey said:
Could be the Apogee can't handle too hot of signal.
Some active basses have internal trim pots to turn them down.
Maybe take a DMM and measure if the bass has a DC offset on it's output?
Two batteries have a virtual ground they can drift off true ground if not DC blocked.
Might need a DC blocking cap, but I can't see both basses doing it.
Click to expand...

That's possible. But kzr above says his 18v bass works fine.

And as you say, it's strange that my 9v Ibanez SR505 would give me the same problem.

And why is that problem negated by inserting a PolyTune in the signal chain?

Bongo or Ibby -> JAM
=no signal

Bongo or Ibby -> PolyTUne -> JAM
=works as it should
 

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