need help with an electronics/wiring problem

[loveandbass]

I attempted to plug in my active bass with an EMG preamp (18v) into a powered speaker via a number of different methods (di box, through a mixer, directly in) and im getting nothing. There is a noticeable pop upon plugging/unplugging. I changed the batteries for good measure and got the same result.

I tested my AE bass (9V) and plugged it in and it worked like a charm.

Trying to figure out whats wrong with the electric bass and wondering where i could start.


thanks

 

[loveandbass]

any help is appreciated

 

[JustForSport]

Could be the (a problem with) jack in the (EMG) bass.
Using the same cable?
If one works, they should both work in the same amps/powered speakers.
If the jack (connections) looks ok, try bypassing the pick signal leads and grounds straight to the jack- see if that works.

 

[loveandbass]

alright so i determined that if i dont plug the modulus all the way in (like so the sleeve makes no contact with the jack), it does work although there is a slight buzz.

 

[line6man]

alright so i determined that if i dont plug the modulus all the way in (like so the sleeve makes no contact with the jack), it does work although there is a slight buzz.

Sounds like a miswired jack.

 

[two fingers]

You need to narrow down where the issue is by removing/replacing each component.

1) Plug the bass into another amp.
2) Try another bass into the mixer and then the speaker.
3) Swap out cables.
Etc.

Once you narrow down where the bottleneck is then we have something to talk about.

 

[loveandbass]

Sounds like a miswired jack.

works fine in multiple bass amps which is weird

The jack is not intermittent its just that it only works after the first click

The cables are fine i have a stack of them that i tried out

 

[Crossedwires]

Sounds like you could have a stereo output on your bass.
Our rhythm guitar player has such a jack on his acoustic guitar.
Open the back of the bass and check the type of output jack. If it has two connectors in it then its stereo and your grounding the output signal trying to be used. You could also try a stereo cable. (you should be able to get one at your local music store).
I know this is a LONG shot but without seeing it this would be my guess as to what is up.
I hope this helps. If not... sorry.

 

[mmbongo]

Sounds like the powered speaker is not designed to accept whatever you're trying to feed it. What is it exactly?

 

[line6man]

works fine in multiple bass amps which is weird

The jack is not intermittent its just that it only works after the first click

The cables are fine i have a stack of them that i tried out

My understanding of what you said was that you are plugging the cable halfway in, so that the tip terminal of the cable is connected to the ring terminal of the jack. This is a definite jack miswire.
Is that not what you were describing?

 

[JustForSport]

It works only plugged in half-way on the other amps as well?
If so, then it's a mis-wired jack, as 'line6man' says.

 

[loveandbass]

It works only plugged in half-way on the other amps as well?
If so, then it's a mis-wired jack, as 'line6man' says.

No it works like normal on other bass amps

 

[JustForSport]

Maybe the ring and sleeve terminals are wired backwards, or the ground is routed to the preamp and jack incorrectly.

 

[loveandbass]

Thanks for all the info guys i appreciate it. Tomorrow i will post some pics when i get to work. Yes i have 2 basses at work for some reason haha

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

If there are two clicks, it is a TRS jack.
Try stereo headphones and see if you hear sound in both ears.

 

[Matthijs]

Does the powered speaker supply phantom power?

Is the battery for the pre in the bass switched via the jack?

 

[loveandbass]

Here is a pic of the input on the powered speaker and a pic of the input jack on the bass. There are 3 wires soldered to the input jack.

 

[Crater]

The 1/4" input on the powered speaker is a balanced connection, an instrument cable is an unbalanced connection. Try connecting things this way:

Bass -----> [1/4" instrument cable] ------>[ DI BOX ]----[XLR cable] -------> [XLR input on the powered speaker]

 

[TigerInATrance]

The 1/4" input on the powered speaker is a balanced connection, an instrument cable is an unbalanced connection.

Yeah... because of this, instead of completing the connection to ground, you're sending the ground signal through the ring connection on the speaker which is looking for a hot signal. I'm not sure you can make that work with the standard instrument cable, but, if you don't have the direct box mentioned above, you could wire up the "speaker end" of the standard instrument cable with a TRS plug where the tip gets the hot signal, sleeve gets ground, and the ring is left empty. This way everything is going where it should and no connection will be made to the ring input on the speaker.

 

[hsp-sandiego]

Maybe the ring and sleeve terminals are wired backwards, or the ground is routed to the preamp and jack incorrectly.

This is your answer. Your Bass amp is TS while the active speaker input is TRS. the ring and sleeve connections on your instrument preamp may be "swapped."