Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Does any one have a schematic for the Synpase preamp (the actual preamp, not the wiring diagram which I already have). I am wondering if it is possible to add a second magnetic pickup by tapping the existing pickup power for both pickups and then connecting to one of the piezo hots and ground (No longer using the piezo which sounds bad to me). My concern is that the piezo will have a different preamp with way too much gain.
Wiring diagram:
http://images.epiphone.com/STEINBERGER/DIASYNBrevB.pdf
Wiring diagram:
http://images.epiphone.com/STEINBERGER/DIASYNBrevB.pdf
So you need the diagrams to modify Synapse pre-amp? I would not recommend it, you will likely spend a lot of time in reverse-engineering for poor result. You should probably:
- Sell the actual pre-amp + piezo pickup as genuine Synapse part. I'm pretty sure someone will buy it.
- Buy a new pre-amp for 2 magnetic pickups (EMG proposes this amongst others) and install it in the Synapse... that way you'll have latest pre-amp technology that is actually designed for 2 mag pickups.
Thanks - just measured the Synapse body after taking it apart and discovered I have no room due to the battery cavity to place a second pickup closer to the bridge. I tried out the magnetic pickup on the piezo input to the preamp and it worked fine - just less gain than the magnetic preamp. Also found out that the truss rod is already within 1/8” of the back of the neck (due to the graphite reinforced being on top of the truss rod) which is too thin to make the neck profile thinner. So, project killed before starting. Thanks again.
Is it me or is the piezo on some of these Basses a hit or miss? Last year I’ve acquired 3 Synapses (Black, Blue, White) and out of the 3, one of them sounded really good while the others not so good (low output even when the piezo is engaged and full volume).
Have you adjusted the two internal trim pots for the piezo volume?
I'm sure I once saw photos by a fellow TB members who did exactly this to their Synapse (or at least, got a luthier to do it).
Looked really nice and he was very happy with the tone.
From memory it was somewhere in Europe, Italy perhaps? (Just tried then to find a link without luck, but worth investigating.)
^^^
Perhaps it's me...
In 2010 I took my Synapse 5 to a luthier (who is also a pickups builder), that installed two new active pickups in same positions of my Steinberger XL2 bass. The job can be done (though not cheap...):
Perhaps it's me...
In 2010 I took my Synapse 5 to a luthier (who is also a pickups builder), that installed two new active pickups in same positions of my Steinberger XL2 bass. The job can be done (though not cheap...):
Hi Steinberger bass fans!
I fond some very cheap strings for headless guitars on Aliexpress such as below:
3.98US $ 49% de réduction|Alice – cordes de guitare électrique à Double extrémité sphérique, noyau en acier revêtu, en alliage de Nickel, adapté aux accessoires de guitare sans tête | AliExpress
Unfortunately I failed to find there any set of strings for headless basses.
Of course I can use the strings adaptor to mount standard strings but I think double ball end strings will stay tune far better than normal strings blocked in force at the end of the neck.
Any tips?
I fond some very cheap strings for headless guitars on Aliexpress such as below:
3.98US $ 49% de réduction|Alice – cordes de guitare électrique à Double extrémité sphérique, noyau en acier revêtu, en alliage de Nickel, adapté aux accessoires de guitare sans tête | AliExpress
Unfortunately I failed to find there any set of strings for headless basses.
Of course I can use the strings adaptor to mount standard strings but I think double ball end strings will stay tune far better than normal strings blocked in force at the end of the neck.
Any tips?
Hi I know this is an old post but it's just what I am looking for. I just got a Synapse but soon found out its not easy to upgrade the Pre due to the Piezo. But I like what you have done by adding the 2nd magnetic pup. Can you tell me how you like the tone since you made the mod? Also was the cost to high and compared to just being an XL for example, and is it possible that I can contact your luthier? I found another gentleman who did something similar on YouTube but what he did was get a Synapse body and build it out the way he wanted it.
Thanks
Even though I've owned two Synapse basses since the late 00's, I just discovered this club here on Talkbass. I found it by searching for information on the web for changing strings.
My two Synapses are a sunburst 4-string and a blue 5-string. I'm about to use the 4-string in a musical theatre show and had double-ball flats on it. They just weren't getting the sound I am wanting for this show. I am going to put on a set of Stringjoy nickel roundwounds, light gauge.
My two Synapses are a sunburst 4-string and a blue 5-string. I'm about to use the 4-string in a musical theatre show and had double-ball flats on it. They just weren't getting the sound I am wanting for this show. I am going to put on a set of Stringjoy nickel roundwounds, light gauge.
My experience with the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] has been excellent. They sound terrific on the Synapse.
I have had no issues with the clamping system. I tightened it down on each string just enough to hold, brought the string up to tuned tension, and played. If a string slipped, I tightened the "screw" just a bit, brought to tune, and continued until no slippage. The idea was to apply just enough downforce to hold the string in place and no more. The clamping has held up for over a week of rehearsals and one performance so far. I've had my Stew-Mac tool kit with me just in case, but it's not been needed.
The clamping would obviously work best on roundwound strings as the screws would bite into the winding and there is more resistance to slippage. I can see them working less well on flatwounds or nylon strings.
There may have been some quality control issues with the clamping system over the production run. Most likely, owners were over-tightening the clamping screws and damaging the strings, or the threads.
I have had no issues with the clamping system. I tightened it down on each string just enough to hold, brought the string up to tuned tension, and played. If a string slipped, I tightened the "screw" just a bit, brought to tune, and continued until no slippage. The idea was to apply just enough downforce to hold the string in place and no more. The clamping has held up for over a week of rehearsals and one performance so far. I've had my Stew-Mac tool kit with me just in case, but it's not been needed.
The clamping would obviously work best on roundwound strings as the screws would bite into the winding and there is more resistance to slippage. I can see them working less well on flatwounds or nylon strings.
There may have been some quality control issues with the clamping system over the production run. Most likely, owners were over-tightening the clamping screws and damaging the strings, or the threads.
Last edited:
Are we still active on this thread? I’ve always thought the Steinbergers were crazy cool from way back when they first came out and I couldn’t afford them. I’ve been off and on it’s playing bass since I was 14 (1981) and have had a few versions over the decades - started with a Kramer headless (whatever that model was) around 1985, got an XP around 1998, had a Spirit 5 (garbage in comparison), and then an XM-4, (or was there a Q in there?) around 1999, then went for a long time where I didn’t play… While I was a contractor working in Iraq in 2009, I even bought a Steinberger guitar (don’t remember which model). Sold them all, regret it all now of course. In 2021 my wife and I went full time RV and I was making enough to be able to get something I wanted and found a great deal on a Synapse 5 (I had no idea Synapses existed so was thrilled to find it).
So that’s my story - would love to be a part of the group.
All of that said though…. It’s a 5 and I’m a 4 string player. Anyone have any interest in trading a 4 for a 5?
So that’s my story - would love to be a part of the group.
All of that said though…. It’s a 5 and I’m a 4 string player. Anyone have any interest in trading a 4 for a 5?
Just thought I'd drop a note about my Synapse 5, which was mostly stock for the past 10 years, except for replacing the headstock due to usual failure in clamping a normal B string.
But yesterday I swapped the EMG 40P5 for Seymour Duncan NYC5-neck p/u. (The bridge versions alnico poles are too wide for the 17mm string spacing on this bass, but the neck version is close enough and has even volume across strings).
The dual-humbucker allows for series/parallel/split-single, and wow they all have me reinspired on this bass. I've always been underwhelmed by the treble control on this bass, and this pickup really helps get great sounds without it. Still wondering about a new preamp...(And where to hide a switch for selecting the modes).
But yesterday I swapped the EMG 40P5 for Seymour Duncan NYC5-neck p/u. (The bridge versions alnico poles are too wide for the 17mm string spacing on this bass, but the neck version is close enough and has even volume across strings).
The dual-humbucker allows for series/parallel/split-single, and wow they all have me reinspired on this bass. I've always been underwhelmed by the treble control on this bass, and this pickup really helps get great sounds without it. Still wondering about a new preamp...(And where to hide a switch for selecting the modes).
I have it paired with an Axon50...many years old, but still one of the fastest paths to midi/synths. It does seem to prefer pick playing for that instant attack and early note detection, but it works with finger style.
I honestly use my Source Audio C4 Synth pedal more these days, it just travels lighter
I honestly use my Source Audio C4 Synth pedal more these days, it just travels lighter
As of this past week. Sweetwater has new sets of Steinberger Double Ball strings. I'd guess a factory run was made, and there might be stock around for now.
