Low Output Level

[Peval55]

Hi Friends,
I very much hope that someone can help me to understand.
In my latest Bass guitar, I just built, I have:
EMG 40J + EMG 40TW + EMG BTC System.
I replaced the volume pot of the BTC system with the Volume with Push/Pull switch supplied with the 40TW.
See attached picture that shows the final wiring.
The only problem that I have is that, according to my expectations, the output level is lower than it should.
Could someone help at this regards?.
Many thanks.

 

[XylemBassGuitar]

Call EMG directly, they're usually really helpful...

 

[Peval55]

I did already but I didn't get any answer yet.
I will wait a bit longer.
But if someone have ideas ... please let me know.
thanks

 

[rumblethump]

How far away from the strings are the pickups? 1/8" to 3/16" is a good starting point. I recently set up a friends Ibanez with active pickups and the output was WAY too low. I raised the pickups as far as I could before the adjustment screws starting pulling out and the difference was dramatic.

 

[Peval55]

Thanks a lot for the info.
The distance are set according to most of the Bass guitar default setup as:
G side bridge pickup 0.787 inches
G Side neck pickup 0.59 inches
B Side bridge pickup 0.984 inches
B Side neck pickup 0.787 inches

I think they are closed enough to have a good output level.

My concerns is about the fact that EMG pickup in this configuration should sound more loud.

Unfortunately I didn't get any answer from EMG yet.

If someone have a scheme of the Tone control of the BTC System (by EMG) it should be nice to have it. With the scheme I can see what I can do to increase the gain.

Many thanks to all.

 

[Rocky McDougall]

Looking at your adjustments, I would say the pickups are extremely low, over 3/4" ???
Is that even possible?

 

[rumblethump]

According to your measurements the pickups are 3/4" or more in distance from the strings.
That is way too far away. Have you tried to raise them? I don't know if you sing at all but it makes a lot of difference if you sing further or closer to the microphone. This is the same priciple.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Press the strings down on the last fret on the neck, and then raise the pickups until they are about 1/16" on the treble side, and a little more on the bass side. That should fix the problem. If not, check your wiring, and make sure the battery is fresh (and only use alkaline or better... no "heavy duty" batteries!), and check that your output jack is wired correctly.

The bass should be pretty damn loud.

 

[Fretlessboy]

when I set EMG's I raise till the strings hit them then back them off till they don't. EMG used to say in their instructions to "Raise them as high as you can with out interfearing with the sting or playability."

 

[Peval55]

Thanks to all.
I will raise the pickup as close as possible to the strings and let you know if something will change significantly.
If not ... ???
But, on the other hand ...
1) The Jim Reed I own has a distances like explained.
2) My teacher has a Sadowky and a GL and the distances are more or less the same as described.

But, do you have any idea if I can gain the output without raising the pickup so closed to the strings?
I mean by changing/replacing some components on the BTC System tone control board?
If yes ... could you please explain?

Many thanks again for your great help.

 

[slyjoe]

The pickup heights you listed look like they are 10 times too high. For example. Fender setups on the G start at 0.078, NOT 0.78.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

But, on the other hand ...
1) The Jim Reed I own has a distances like explained.
2) My teacher has a Sadowky and a GL and the distances are more or less the same as described.

But, do you have any idea if I can gain the output without raising the pickup so closed to the strings?
I mean by changing/replacing some components on the BTC System tone control board?
If yes ... could you please explain?

Many thanks again for your great help.

You should adjust your pickups as close to the strings as you can. Those basses you mention are not set up properly. With some pickups, you can have an issue with the magnets pulling the strings out of tune. This happens with Fenders and others using round rod magnet poles.

But you will get a stronger tone with the pickups closer to the strings. The reason is the magnetic field does not extend that far over the pickup, the farther away the pickup is, the weaker the signal. (it falls off with the square of the distance) So you will pick up less of the strings and more noise.

EMG says:

EMG Active Pickups have very little magnetism compared to passive pickups.
We recommend you adjust the pickups as close to the strings as possible.
Sustain and string movement will not be inhibited by close adjustment.

 

[Peval55]

The pickup heights you listed look like they are 10 times too high. For example. Fender setups on the G start at 0.078, NOT 0.78.

My mistake in conversion from MM to INCHES.
The distances are of course as you said.

I have raised up the pickup as close as possible to the strings till when they start to touch the strings while slapping pulling, then move down a bit more just to avoid the buzz.
The situation is much better now.
In any case I will try to write down the BTC tone board scheme in order to understand what component need to be changed in order to gain some more and have more dynamic while playing.
Many thanks.

If someone have already the scheme of that board, please let me know so that I will save time.

Best regards to all.