My active bass output is really, really soft...

[Amplified]

I have a 5-string bass factory fitted with the Aguilar OBP-3 (18v) using Nordstrand dual coils humbuckers. When I play through my amp, I have to treat it like a passive bass, without the -10db button pressed. In addition, as I use the wireless SHURE GLX14, I have to add +20db on the wireless receiver. Gain and Master Volume is just after the 12 o'clock position, around 1 o'clock. Volume is at maximum on my bass.

My other passive and active basses all work fine. For example, an active bass would be -10db on the amp and the gain and master volume would be around 10-11 o'clock. My wireless receiver would be neutral at +0db. For my passive bass, I would not depress the -10db and the volume is roughly in line with my other active basses.

Is this normal or is there a setting in the OBP-3 onboard pre-amp that I need to reset?

Appreciate anyone with suggestions.

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

I believe you already changed the battery to take it out from the equation, right?

Well, an active bass doesn't have to be necessarily louder than a passive bass. Also maybe it is a impedance mismatch.

 

[Amplified]

Yes, fresh set of 2x9v batteries. I have another bass with the same Aguilar onboard pre-amp. No need to crank the volume up.

I believe you already changed the battery to take it out from the equation, right?

Well, an active bass doesn't have to be necessarily louder than a passive bass. Also maybe it is a impedance mismatch.

 

[ctmullins]

With the knobs at their center detent, I assume?

 

[Amplified]

All tone controls are at centre detent. Really scratching my head on this one.

 

[Awesome Sauce]

I am *very* familiar with the OBP, and it has quite a bit of drive to it. My suggestion is to start eliminating variables. Remove the Shure and plug straight into the amp. Check pup height. Even try running at 9v. All separately, of course. Please report if any of those affect your sound.

Rob

 

[Awesome Sauce]

Wait. Nordy DCs internally wired in parallel or series? If parallel, there's your issue. Parallel pups in parallel= very little output.

Edit: Just noticed part of my post got deleted when I fixed a typo. If the pups were Series wound by Nordstrand, and thus underwound, and were then hooked up as a factory Parallel wound set (overwound), the output would be extremely low; especially when paired with a preamp lacking a gain trimmer, such as the Aguilar.

Rob

 

[Amplified]

Thanks. There are switches to switch between parallel and series. I will send it to the local luthier for a checkup.

 

[Awesome Sauce]

Hey, Stephen - those switches are most likely the problem. What bass and year, please? Only the older- read: neither over- nor underwound- Nordstrand DCs could "tolerate" an s/p switch because they weren't optimized for one or the other.

 

[Amplified]

Hi Awsome Sauce, the bass is an STR DSC548. It was built in the factory this year. It never behaved like that before, so I know that it will work and have the correct output levels. Strangely, I took out the batteries and reconnected the batteries. Now the sound is back to normal but hums like crazy unless I touch the strings. Looks like a grounding issue.