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Bass output for effects

seanm

seanm

I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize!
Supporting Member
Feb 19, 2004
8,629
3,199
Ottawa, Canada
seanm.ca
#1
I was trying to measure the output level on my bass. I don't have a storage scope, so it is hard to see the peaks, but I was easily able to get 1.5V and I believe I peaked to 2V. All values peak to peak.

This was with my passive P bass with SPB-3 pickups, a hot pickup, but not extreme. Also, I was digging in hard on the E string, which had the highest output.

I was going to try using my meter, but the digital one is too slow (you need to catch the initial spikes), and I can't find the good ol' analog meter.

Anybody have a number they use for a reasonable maximum input level for bass? It is ok to restrict it to passive basses.
 
#5
bretja said:
My Musicman like humbucker output is up to 8V (peak amplitude) when I dig the strings really hard. Very hot pickup. I have problems with it, because when I use passive input of amplifier, it easily get overdriven. I have to use active input.
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Ouch! You might want to get a clean boost pedal and use it to dial back the gain.
 
#9
seanm said:
What, a boost pedal? Not at all. I have yet to see a boost pedal that cannot attenuate the signal. And you can get really clean boost pedals that won't affect the tone. And you might find one that runs off 18V. Obviously, a 9V pedal is going to have problem with 8V input.
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The Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso I used to have went from +0 to +whatever boost only. Knob at min was no volume change.
 
#10
Nyarlathotep said:
The Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso I used to have went from +0 to +whatever boost only. Knob at min was no volume change.
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I stand corrected. There is always an exception to the rule :p

I am surprised, most volume controls are a pot between output and ground with the center tap the output to the jack. This means you can usually attenuate.

How do you like the Super Chili Picoso? Clean or coloured boost?
 
#11
seanm said:
I stand corrected. There is always an exception to the rule :p

I am surprised, most volume controls are a pot between output and ground with the center tap the output to the jack. This means you can usually attenuate.

How do you like the Super Chili Picoso? Clean or coloured boost?
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I sold it to My Name is Mudd IIRC, but when I had it, I loved it. Just didn't need a 35dB boost anymore.... There was a "fat" switch that killed hiss and added some mojo which I left on all the time. Nice clean boost, great (slightly) colored one too.

It gets gritty near the top of the boost, but im not sure if it was just clipping the input on the next pedal, or if was itself distorting. Never did properly test that out really, but I think it was prolly in the pedal itself.
 
#12
Nyarlathotep said:
I sold it to My Name is Mudd IIRC, but when I had it, I loved it. Just didn't need a 35dB boost anymore.... There was a "fat" switch that killed hiss and added some mojo which I left on all the time. Nice clean boost, great (slightly) colored one too.

It gets gritty near the top of the boost, but im not sure if it was just clipping the input on the next pedal, or if was itself distorting. Never did properly test that out really, but I think it was prolly in the pedal itself.
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A 20dB gain is 10x the input. With a 2V p-p input that produces 20V p-p.... you can't do that with a 9V pedal :eyebrow: So 35dB is completely out of the question (*). So I can believe the pedal is distorting and probably completely overpowering the next pedal or your amp.

(*) For the record, 35dB is roughly a 56x voltage gain... so with our 2V input, it is trying to produce 112V output.....
 
#13
Ya, doesn't surprise me at all really. I think I tried to do some SCP->comp tests, even with a volume pedal after it IIRC, but I forget if I got the volume down to levels that didn't rape the line-in on my laptop....

Clean Boost Mode provides upward of 35dB of boost that will help you leap through the mix or drive your amp into a natural overdrive.
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Prolly the CRAZIEST simple pedal I've owned :D
 

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