• 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.

Problems with Rickenbacker 4003 and Avalon U5

AidanHampson

AidanHampson

Mar 30, 2004
248
116
Southampton, UK
www.aidanhampson.co.uk
#1
I've recently bought a brand new Ricky 4003, but am having problems getting a good sound out of it. I play it through an Avalon u5 and then a qsc power amp and getting a bad tone like its distorting. This happens at any volume level, either from the bass or from my EBS compressor.

The bass sounds fine in any other amp, and any other bass sounds fine in the Avalon.

Any ideas?

Aidan
 
#4
juan_king said:
I've recently bought a brand new Ricky 4003, but am having problems getting a good sound out of it. I play it through an Avalon u5 and then a qsc power amp and getting a bad tone like its distorting. This happens at any volume level, either from the bass or from my EBS compressor.

The bass sounds fine in any other amp, and any other bass sounds fine in the Avalon.

Any ideas?

Aidan
Click to expand...

How does your EBS comp play into this? Do the Rick 4003 and Avalon U5 still distort when the compressor is removed from the signal chain? How are you setting the U5's front control panel? Are you plugging the bass directly into the front panel's "Input - Hi Z"? Are you feeding the power amp from the U5's "Thru / Out" 1/4 jack or are you attempting to use either the mic or line XLR's on the reverse?

Riis
 
#5
Zooberwerx said:
How does your EBS comp play into this? Do the Rick 4003 and Avalon U5 still distort when the compressor is removed from the signal chain? How are you setting the U5's front control panel? Are you plugging the bass directly into the front panel's "Input - Hi Z"? Are you feeding the power amp from the U5's "Thru / Out" 1/4 jack or are you attempting to use either the mic or line XLR's on the reverse?

Riis
Click to expand...

It seems to happen whether I'm plugged into the comp or not, reducing the output on the EBS doesn't seem to effect the sound either.

I use both outputs on the Avalon, one goes straight into the power amp and then my cab, which produces a distorted sound, the other is sent straight to the desk. The desk sends a feed to my IEMs, and that is also distorted.

It's a mystery! All I can think is that the Rickenbacker and the Avalon are somehow incompatible...?
 
#6
juan_king said:
It seems to happen whether I'm plugged into the comp or not, reducing the output on the EBS doesn't seem to effect the sound either.

I use both outputs on the Avalon, one goes straight into the power amp and then my cab, which produces a distorted sound, the other is sent straight to the desk. The desk sends a feed to my IEMs, and that is also distorted.

It's a mystery! All I can think is that the Rickenbacker and the Avalon are somehow incompatible...?
Click to expand...

Specifically, which output are you running to the power amp? I would strongly suggest running an instrument cable from the front panel's "Thru / Out" to the power amp's 1/4" input for starters. Where do you have the U5's output level set? I would ignore the XLR DI's for the moment.

Riis
 
#8
juan_king said:
I'll try that - thanks. For someone who is inept with these things, why is the thru better than the XLR on the back?

What exactly does the boost on the Avalon do? Is that basically a gain control? I've tried this on all settings and it doesn't seem to help...
Click to expand...

I can't give you a valid explanation; just narrowing down the number of variables. I did have two U5's cross my bench as of late. I ran both in the simplest configuration I could muster: using both the in & out jacks on the front panel. I ran the 1/4" instrument cable to a dedicated power amp and then repeated the process with the FX return on a Hartke 3500...no problems, no noise, no distortion.

The boost is essentially your volume control. You should be able to set it in such a way that you'll see signal presence (yellow LED?) at the power amp. Please verify.

Again, how do you have your front panel set (including switches)? You should be able to achieve a nominal "bedroom" volume with the boost no higher than #4.

Riis
 
#13
I'm slightly further on with this now than I was with my last post.

I took the bass and Avalon to a friend's house to A/B it with one of his DIs. The ricky sounded great though his DI, then it also sounded great through MY Avalon. Which was obviously good news, but frustrating as I couldn't pinpoint the fault I've been getting when using it live.

The only thing we didn't do was take two XLRs out of the back, which is what I usually do at gigs. Is there anyway this could cause the rickenbacker to sound bad? Bear in mind that I've never had any problems with my P or Jazz bass - perhaps it's an earthing issue with the Rickenbacker? Phantom power isn't being sent to my channel.

Aidan
 
#14
juan_king said:
I'm slightly further on with this now than I was with my last post.

I took the bass and Avalon to a friend's house to A/B it with one of his DIs. The ricky sounded great though his DI, then it also sounded great through MY Avalon. Which was obviously good news, but frustrating as I couldn't pinpoint the fault I've been getting when using it live.

The only thing we didn't do was take two XLRs out of the back, which is what I usually do at gigs. Is there anyway this could cause the rickenbacker to sound bad? Bear in mind that I've never had any problems with my P or Jazz bass - perhaps it's an earthing issue with the Rickenbacker? Phantom power isn't being sent to my channel.

Aidan
Click to expand...

Why do you run both DI / XLR's? Either can probably be run to the desk (make sure you use the correct mic vs. line level input) provided the channel trim is set appropriately.

I'll assume my previous suggestions worked?

P.S. When experimenting with the XLR's, start with the "mic", run into the mic input, and adjust the trim accordingly. Line level can be a bit hotter so leave that for later.

Riis
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back