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Double Bass Full Circle not working
- Thread starter pmad_bass
- Start date
![image0[1].jpeg](/data/attachments/8170/8170710-1e0f91ffb5c55f15abc01e816a091755.jpg?hash=ofyRjf207n)
Earl
Supporting Member
Yeah....I was VERY careful. Barely pressing the marker onto it. I validated that it worked prior do coloring it.
Looks well fitted and installed to my non-luthier eyes. The only thing other thing I can think to check would be the connection between the p/u wire and the output jack...
So full disclosure. Last year I had the FC installed. After I got the bass back, plugged it in, verified that the puck up worked and carefully colored the wire. I hadn't have opportunity to need to play my bass thru an amp for a few months thereafter. At that point, the pickup no longer worked. I reported this to Fishman and they sent a replacement. I did the same with the replacement. i.e. Installed it, colored the wire and verified it worked. Many months went by before I had opportunity to play amplified. When I did it again no longer worked. If I have the 1/4 in plugged into an amp and disconnect the RCA I am able to hear noise so I know there is signal from the 1/4 in to the amp.
Another full disclosure, I have never been a fan of Fishman's sound...but had it installed in case I needed to play amplified. Be nice (I guess) if it worked but at this point, I'll like wash my hands of it and pursue some other route.
Another full disclosure, I have never been a fan of Fishman's sound...but had it installed in case I needed to play amplified. Be nice (I guess) if it worked but at this point, I'll like wash my hands of it and pursue some other route.
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There were reports some months ago of a few brand new Full Circle failures... You might want to look up that thread. There is a possibility this was a manufacturing problem and had nothing to do with the magic marker application, although there are some things we'll never know for sure.
Generally people like the Full Circle, but the cable has a reputation of being fragile, and it is a piezo system so best case life span may be limited to somewhere around 10 years. Yamahiko makes a similar system with a removable cable and optional stereo piezo units, these also generally get good reviews.
Sorry to hear of your problems with this, best of luck!
Generally people like the Full Circle, but the cable has a reputation of being fragile, and it is a piezo system so best case life span may be limited to somewhere around 10 years. Yamahiko makes a similar system with a removable cable and optional stereo piezo units, these also generally get good reviews.
Sorry to hear of your problems with this, best of luck!
They should automatically include a prepaid return label with every Full Circle sold.
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If you want an adjuster pickup with a black cable, get a single sensor Yamahiko. That one has a black cable, just make sure you get the right thread.
Personally I have no problem with a white cable. Had a (used) Full Circle for years myself and no problem with it. Wound a part of the white cable in a bit bigger loop to shorten it a bit.
Did you check the Full Circle at the RCA for short-circuit/resistance and capacitance (of the piezo elements)?
It might have been the solvent in the paint. You might want to wind a black thread around the cable instead of painting it.
Black shrink wrap would a bit too stiff and need to desolder the cable from the RCA, so I don’t recommend this.
Personally I have no problem with a white cable. Had a (used) Full Circle for years myself and no problem with it. Wound a part of the white cable in a bit bigger loop to shorten it a bit.
Did you check the Full Circle at the RCA for short-circuit/resistance and capacitance (of the piezo elements)?
It might have been the solvent in the paint. You might want to wind a black thread around the cable instead of painting it.
Black shrink wrap would a bit too stiff and need to desolder the cable from the RCA, so I don’t recommend this.
It seems odd that Fishman would replace that first Full Circle unit with the black magic marker work done if that would have damaged the cable.
Just about all warranties are voided by user modifications.
It's possible Fishman didn't know for certain if the cable was damaged and just replaced the unit anyway, or maybe it was just good public relations...
I'm just guessing, but I'd more likely think they knew the black marker ink wouldn't affect the cable by itself, and assumed by the description of the failure that it was the result of a manufacturing problem in house.
I had a ton of issues with these pickups last year. I think it is my thread Don is referencing above. I had 3 pickups (two of them new from Fishman) stop working on two separate basses. I eventually gave up and just bought a Realist which has been totally fine, I just couldn't rely on the FC for gigs.
If you have an amp w/ an LED that comes on when it gets signal it can be helpful to troubleshoot. Plug the pickup in and crank the adjuster back and forth, see if you get a signal cutting in and out. In my case I could usually get the pickup working again by taking all the tension off the bridge and squaring things up again. I realize that makes no sense as I type it out but it is what it is. However once I'd get to a gig the pickup would be dead again. In my case it seemed like the pickups were inordinately sensitive to being jostled or moved... and I totally understand that most people don't have these problems and have gigged the FC for years without issue but I can only speak for my own experience.
If you have an amp w/ an LED that comes on when it gets signal it can be helpful to troubleshoot. Plug the pickup in and crank the adjuster back and forth, see if you get a signal cutting in and out. In my case I could usually get the pickup working again by taking all the tension off the bridge and squaring things up again. I realize that makes no sense as I type it out but it is what it is. However once I'd get to a gig the pickup would be dead again. In my case it seemed like the pickups were inordinately sensitive to being jostled or moved... and I totally understand that most people don't have these problems and have gigged the FC for years without issue but I can only speak for my own experience.
Full Circle pickups hold a special place in my workshop dumpster right next to the pile of BP-100s....
