Dingwall Owners Club

[BuffaloBob4343]

Ahh, that's some good info. So, any old bright LED source will 'charge' them up? No special light or color LED required. I too always have an LED light or close at hand but I'm thinking the iPhone flashlight would do in a pinch.

Or you could get one of these: $15 shipped from Japan.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Mayday Mayday Mayday!

My Super J5 (passive) has flat peed the bed and I'm in full freak out!

It's got this warbling thing going. It sounds like a cross between a phaser and a primary note with a secondary tone slightly out of phase. I've tried 2 sets of Dingwall strings and a set of DR's. Intonation is spot on.

Also, it seems most prevalent in series, which is where it pretty much stays parked.

As info, I've tried multiple cords, different heads amps, etc. I can hear it through FoH as well. It's got to be electronics related but I have no idea how to trouble shoot from here on out.

I need to sort this before Thursday as I have a very busy play schedule.

Ideas? Ready go!

You could try lowering the pickups. Maybe the neck shifted and the strings are too close to the pickups? Is it all of the strings or a group of them at one end or the other?

 

[nervous]

Or you could get one of these: $15 shipped from Japan.

View attachment 793418 View attachment 793417

Yup, I saw that at their site. Which had me wondering if that was some special light source, wavelength or color who knows, but I'm not thinking not so much. I already have similarly sized high output LED lights.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Yup, I saw that at their site. Which had me wondering if that was some special light source, wavelength or color who knows, but I'm not thinking not so much. I already have similarly sized high output LED lights.

This what they say about it on the site:

LL-1 (Luminlay LED light charger)　　Price JPY 700/pc

Luminous matarial absorbs short wave lights such as blue,violet ultra violet. Some venue lighting systems do not, however, contain these light waves that Luminlay depends upon for charging. In such cases, the Luminlay light charger (which can be easily kept in a pocket) can be used to charge each position marker within a few seconds. If you put it into your pocket, you can charge lights on stage.　This light charger features a super-bright blue LED with a rugged metal casing.

 

[Zoomie]

You could try lowering the pickups. Maybe the neck shifted and the strings are too close to the pickups? Is it all of the strings or a group of them at one end or the other?

I don't run pick ups close but I'll give it a try. It's all strings but gets progressively worse as you move up the neck.

 

[nervous]

Mayday Mayday Mayday!

My Super J5 (passive) has flat peed the bed and I'm in full freak out!

It's got this warbling thing going. It sounds like a cross between a phaser and a primary note with a secondary tone slightly out of phase. I've tried 2 sets of Dingwall strings and a set of DR's. Intonation is spot on.

Also, it seems most prevalent in series, which is where it pretty much stays parked.

As info, I've tried multiple cords, different heads amps, etc. I can hear it through FoH as well. It's got to be electronics related but I have no idea how to trouble shoot from here on out.

I need to sort this before Thursday as I have a very busy play schedule.

Ideas? Ready go!

Did you take a look 'under the hood' inside the control cavity? For a full passive bass there's only so much to go wrong. Look for anything obvious, loose, out of place, etc. make sure the jack is engaging properly and positively. Do you have the 4 way selector?

 

[Thumper]

I believe the site said ultraviolet rays work better to charge the Luminlays.

 

[Zoomie]

I didn't see anything out of place in the control cavity. And yes, I have the four way selector.

 

[nervous]

I don't run pick ups close but I'll give it a try. It's all strings but gets progressively worse as you move up the neck.

No chance what youre hearing is a fret issue and not an electronic issue is there? one perhaps come a bit loose and making contact where it wasn't before? Neck screws are all tight? Relief is still good?

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I don't run pick ups close but I'll give it a try. It's all strings but gets progressively worse as you move up the neck.

Just lower one end of the pups to see if it improves to start. That is the only thing I know that can cause warble like that in a passive bass. Unless, of course, you are under attack by aliens!

 

[nervous]

I didn't see anything out of place in the control cavity. And yes, I have the four way selector.

and it's doing the same thing in every position?

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I believe the site said ultraviolet rays work better to charge the Luminlays.

Blue, violet and ultra-violet. The charger they sell is a bright blue LED. Charge each one individually in seconds. Kind of cool. For $15, I may just get one.

 

[Thumper]

I'll get a Luminlay flashlight, wonder if Sheldon ever thought of stocking/selling them?

Regarding Photoshop, I went to the site, apparently its a software package which you have to buy. Not worth it to me for a one time use. Maybe I'll go out to Talkbass in general for help, I would rather pay someone with knowledge for their time.

 

[Blues Cat]

Mayday Mayday Mayday!

My Super J5 (passive) has flat peed the bed and I'm in full freak out!

It's got this warbling thing going. It sounds like a cross between a phaser and a primary note with a secondary tone slightly out of phase. I've tried 2 sets of Dingwall strings and a set of DR's. Intonation is spot on.

Also, it seems most prevalent in series, which is where it pretty much stays parked.

As info, I've tried multiple cords, different heads amps, etc. I can hear it through FoH as well. It's got to be electronics related but I have no idea how to trouble shoot from here on out.

I need to sort this before Thursday as I have a very busy play schedule.

Ideas? Ready go!

I concur with others that have suggested lowering the pu's.

Does it warble when each pu is solo'd? In parallel? That will tell you a lot.

If it's cold where you're at and are running the heat cranked that can make your neck back bow, lowering your action.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I'll get a Luminlay flashlight, wonder if Sheldon ever thought of stocking/selling them?

Regarding Photoshop, I went to the site, apparently its a software package which you have to buy. Not worth it to me for a one time use. Maybe I'll go out to Talkbass in general for help, I would rather pay someone with knowledge for their time.

This one has luminlay speedo bars, but in light you won't see them glow. In subdued light you might see some minor luminescence, but they won't really glow until it is quite dark. That is probably pretty sweet actually, now that I think about it.

 

[Zoomie]

Alright guys. I fixed the problem although I'm not quite sure what the issue was.

I pulled the strings AGAIN and went with string set number 4. Dings in stainless. I very deliberately installed them, exercising care to make sure there were no overlaps, twisting, etc.

I popped the plate off and wiggled wires. No Rice Krispies.

I checked for loose neck bolts, bridge screws, anything that could cause weird harmonics.

Pick ups have not moved and action if anything, is bit higher than I like. Still, I backed them down a hair. Like 1mm tops.

Plugged in and no more warble. Nothing but sweetness and that Dingwall tone.

Talk about losing my mind chasing a tone gremlin on a passive bass. I have never heard anything like that in my life. I was even looking for insane things like hairline cracks, etc.

Ok, I can stop clutching my chest. I've had this bass for a while now. And hundreds of play dates. You can count on it to be perfect every single time you plug it in. I've come to expect that.

Sincerest thanks to everyone for jumping on this to help me get it resolved. May none of you hear that God-forsaken tone!

 

[funkbass187]

Mayday Mayday Mayday!

My Super J5 (passive) has flat peed the bed and I'm in full freak out!

It's got this warbling thing going. It sounds like a cross between a phaser and a primary note with a secondary tone slightly out of phase. I've tried 2 sets of Dingwall strings and a set of DR's. Intonation is spot on.

Also, it seems most prevalent in series, which is where it pretty much stays parked.

As info, I've tried multiple cords, different heads amps, etc. I can hear it through FoH as well. It's got to be electronics related but I have no idea how to trouble shoot from here on out.

I need to sort this before Thursday as I have a very busy play schedule.

Ideas? Ready go!

I had something similar happen to my carvin once. One of the solder joints started to fail and the vibration of the body would make and break the connection at almost the same frequency as the note you played. It was like a heavily clipped phaser. I would go through and reflow all the solder joints, especially at the output jack.

 

[funkbass187]

Alright guys. I fixed the problem although I'm not quite sure what the issue was.

I pulled the strings AGAIN and went with string set number 4. Dings in stainless. I very deliberately installed them, exercising care to make sure there were no overlaps, twisting, etc.

I popped the plate off and wiggled wires. No Rice Krispies.

I checked for loose neck bolts, bridge screws, anything that could cause weird harmonics.

Pick ups have not moved and action if anything, is bit higher than I like. Still, I backed them down a hair. Like 1mm tops.

Plugged in and no more warble. Nothing but sweetness and that Dingwall tone.

Talk about losing my mind chasing a tone gremlin on a passive bass. I have never heard anything like that in my life. I was even looking for insane things like hairline cracks, etc.

Ok, I can stop clutching my chest. I've had this bass for a while now. And hundreds of play dates. You can count on it to be perfect every single time you plug it in. I've come to expect that.

Sincerest thanks to everyone for jumping on this to help me get it resolved. May none of you hear that God-forsaken tone!

My money is on the wires, wiggling probably put the suspect joint back in contact. If it comes back you should touch up the wire connections

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

Alright guys. I fixed the problem although I'm not quite sure what the issue was.

I pulled the strings AGAIN and went with string set number 4. Dings in stainless. I very deliberately installed them, exercising care to make sure there were no overlaps, twisting, etc.

I popped the plate off and wiggled wires. No Rice Krispies.

I checked for loose neck bolts, bridge screws, anything that could cause weird harmonics.

Pick ups have not moved and action if anything, is bit higher than I like. Still, I backed them down a hair. Like 1mm tops.

Plugged in and no more warble. Nothing but sweetness and that Dingwall tone.

Talk about losing my mind chasing a tone gremlin on a passive bass. I have never heard anything like that in my life. I was even looking for insane things like hairline cracks, etc.

Ok, I can stop clutching my chest. I've had this bass for a while now. And hundreds of play dates. You can count on it to be perfect every single time you plug it in. I've come to expect that.

Sincerest thanks to everyone for jumping on this to help me get it resolved. May none of you hear that God-forsaken tone!

It could still be the pup height, as different kinds of strings react differently in the magnetic field. BUT, I am not knowledgeable enough to say if your results are consistent with the physics of that. I have never heard of what funkbass described. That is wild! Talk about your ghost in the machine!!

 

[bebass]

My money is on the wires, wiggling probably put the suspect joint back in contact. If it comes back you should touch up the wire connections

I would think you are correct.