Can I use 250k pots in a Warwick Rockbass Streamer std.?

[thespoon]

Hey all:

I tried posting this over on the Warwick forum with zero results.

Hopefully, some of the gurus here can put me some knowledge.

Apologies if this has been covered but a rudimentary search revealed nothing.

The tone pot in my 2013 Warwick Rockbass Streamer Standard 4 died recently, and I was wondering if replacing all of the no-name mini pots with Bourns 250K (which I have in hand) would work?

Currently both volumes are B25K, tone is A25K with a 220nF cap. [Warwick diagrams confirm these are standard from the factory]. Pups are MEC humbuckers.

If so, how would it sound? I should add that the current tone is acceptable. Just wondering what the effect would be without having to solder in the pots. Also, need I be concerned that I might damage the pups somehow?

Just to reiterate: This instrument is a passive bass. V/V/T controls, no battery.

 

[Hopkins]

Hey all:

I tried posting this over on the Warwick forum with zero results.

Hopefully, some of the gurus here can put me some knowledge.

Apologies if this has been covered but a rudimentary search revealed nothing.

The tone pot in my 2013 Warwick Rockbass Streamer Standard 4 died recently, and I was wondering if replacing all of the no-name mini pots with Bourns 250K (which I have in hand) would work?

Currently both volumes are B25K, tone is A25K with a 220nF cap. [Warwick diagrams confirm these are standard from the factory]. Pups are MEC humbuckers.

If so, how would it sound? I should add that the current tone is acceptable. Just wondering what the effect would be without having to solder in the pots. Also, need I be concerned that I might damage the pups somehow?

Just to reiterate: This instrument is a passive bass. V/V/T controls, no battery.

Something doesn't sound right, 25k pots wont work on a passive instrument. There is way to little resistance to ground so you would lose alot of output.

Are you sure its a 220nf and not a 22nf capacitor? That would be a .022uf cap which is pretty standard. 220nf would be a .22uf cap which would get really dark when you roll the tone off.

 

[thespoon]

Something doesn't sound right, 25k pots wont work on a passive instrument. There is way to little resistance to ground so you would lose alot of output.

Are you sure its a 220nf and not a 22nf capacitor? That would be a .022uf cap which is pretty standard. 220nf would be a .22uf cap which would get really dark when you roll the tone off.

Well, those imaginative Germans have figured out a way to make the impossible, possible. Sort of like bumblebees. On paper it is impossible for them to fly. Yet, there they are.

Attached is the schematic from Warwick. Notation:"passive electronic for passive pickups".
I have verified those components are in my bass with the Mark I/II Eyeball.
And, yes, other than the tone pot being defective, it plays.

 

[Hopkins]

Well, those imaginative Germans have figured out a way to make the impossible, possible. Sort of like bumblebees. On paper it is impossible for them to fly. Yet, there they are.

Attached is the schematic from Warwick. Notation:"passive electronic for passive pickups".
I have verified those components are in my bass with the Mark I/II Eyeball.
And, yes, other than the tone pot being defective, it plays.

View attachment 870184
View attachment 870182

If it works, then a replacement in kind should still work, someone smarter than I am will have to explain it to me. I would be tempted to try it with 250k pots and a .047uf tone cap to see if it opens up some tone and output that you didn't have before.

 

[thespoon]

If it works, then a replacement in kind should still work, someone smarter than I am will have to explain it to me. I would be tempted to try it with 250k pots and a .047uf tone cap to see if it opens up some tone and output that you didn't have before.

I am with you, this is the first time I have seen 25ks in a passive instrument.

Output is plenty strong. Louder than my passive Fender PJ with Geezer Butler pups.

Before I got out the solder iron, I wanted to be sure I would not be frying anything.
Thanks for your replies.

 

[Hopkins]

I am with you, this is the first time I have seen 25ks in a passive instrument.

Output is plenty strong. Louder than my passive Fender PJ with Geezer Butler pups.

Before I got out the solder iron, I wanted to be sure I would not be frying anything.
Thanks for your replies.

Well, you couldn't hurt anything either way. It just may not sound good.

 

[line6man]

25k pots indicates that you have a low impedance signal path. While this is uncommon, it's nothing too special, design-wise.

The use of 250k pots with a low impedance signal will result in on/off switch behavior, with no usable taper. The pots won't have any range, and will just got from 0 to 10 almost instantly.

 

[thespoon]

25k pots indicates that you have a low impedance signal path. While this is uncommon, it's nothing too special, design-wise.

The use of 250k pots with a low impedance signal will result in on/off switch behavior, with no usable taper. The pots won't have any range, and will just got from 0 to 10 almost instantly.

I suppose my next question should be: does anyone have a source for high quality 25k pots? I'd like to keep my Gibson speed knobs, so split shaft is preferred. Found lots of solid shafts on Amazon for some reason. Or, tell me how to adapt the solid shafts to my existing knobs.

 

[Hopkins]

25k pots indicates that you have a low impedance signal path. While this is uncommon, it's nothing too special, design-wise.

The use of 250k pots with a low impedance signal will result in on/off switch behavior, with no usable taper. The pots won't have any range, and will just got from 0 to 10 almost instantly.

Is it the MEK pickups that are low impedance? I haven't ever seen a low impedance passive pickup

 

[Hopkins]

I suppose my next question should be: does anyone have a source for high quality 25k pots? I'd like to keep my Gibson speed knobs, so split shaft is preferred. Found lots of solid shafts on Amazon for some reason. Or, tell me how to adapt the solid shafts to my existing knobs.

I didn't dig too deep, but I found a long shaft pot
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Threaded-Bushing-Allparts-EP-4645-000/dp/B002MVKHAI

 

[thespoon]

I didn't dig too deep, but I found a long shaft pot
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Threaded-Bushing-Allparts-EP-4645-000/dp/B002MVKHAI

Yep. I saw that one on Amazon. Meets the quality requirements and long shaft is not a problem as one can always 'shorten' them with another two nuts. Thanks.

 

[58kites]

I am surprised at the minimal feedback loop about a Rockbass.
I'm fairly confident Warwick has sold more than a dozen Rockbasses, asked a question about pots in a $$ and I got nothing.
I am also curious about the truss rod in the newer 2nd gen Rockbasses and did not bother to ask, figured I would get no answers.
Not sure if folks with "real" Warwicks can't be bothered or if all the Rockbass owners are beginners that have no knowledge to share.

 

[Hopkins]

I am surprised at the minimal feedback loop about a Rockbass.
I'm fairly confident Warwick has sold more than a dozen Rockbasses, asked a question about pots in a $$ and I got nothing.
I am also curious about the truss rod in the newer 2nd gen Rockbasses and did not bother to ask, figured I would get no answers.
Not sure if folks with "real" Warwicks can't be bothered or if all the Rockbass owners are beginners that have no knowledge to share.

I think its most likely just an issue of it not being a very common bass.

 

[58kites]

So, Warwick doesn't sell many Rockbasses?

 

[line6man]

Is it the MEK pickups that are low impedance? I haven't ever seen a low impedance passive pickup

MEK pickups are usually active, and hence, low impedance.

As for passives, Gibson used to make some.

 

[Hopkins]

MEK pickups are usually active, and hence, low impedance.

As for passives, Gibson used to make some.

I didn't know that a low impedance pickup would work without a buffer. I thought the output would be rather low.

 

[Hopkins]

So, Warwick doesn't sell many Rockbasses?

I've yet to have a Warwick, much less a Rockbass come through my shop. They are not that common, especially outside of TB

 

[bryan gibson]

Have a 5'er myself (see pic to the immediate left), but never had a single problem with it. Other than the straplocks that is. Also, FWIW, output on mine is way lower than any of my other basses (all passive).

 

[thespoon]

I think its most likely just an issue of it not being a very common bass.

True. It is anything but.

Common bass:

I wonder what the scale is.

Nice left-hand technique there..

 

[yustech]

Hello thespoon,I know this thread is a long time ago.I need to know more info about your RB especially each of the MEC pickup DC resistance value.PM me if you have it.

Thanks
yustech