Question about stereo signal

[Phendyr_Loon]

I've seen basses with both a stereo jack and a mono jack. What are the practical application for a stereo signal from a bass? What are benefits for a live and studio setting?

Finally, can someone direct me towards a stereo wiring diagram? Even if it's not for me I'm curious as to how it works. Thanks.

 

[darkstorm]

My guitars and basses are mono but I run stereo processor for each. The benefits are little bit fuller sound and a little more dimensional sound. effects I use in stereo are chorus, echo, reverb.

 

[Rob22315]

I've seen basses with both a stereo jack and a mono jack. What are the practical application for a stereo signal from a bass? What are benefits for a live and studio setting?

Finally, can someone direct me towards a stereo wiring diagram? Even if it's not for me I'm curious as to how it works. Thanks.

Usually, the extra lug on the stereo jack is used to complete the circuit between the battery and ground in an active bass. It's still a mono signal coming from the bass.

 

[bassbenj]

I've seen basses with both a stereo jack and a mono jack. What are the practical application for a stereo signal from a bass? What are benefits for a live and studio setting?

Finally, can someone direct me towards a stereo wiring diagram? Even if it's not for me I'm curious as to how it works. Thanks.

The usual way it works is a bit like the old "pseudo-stereo" remastering of old records. In those days what they did to turn a "mono" record into "stereo" was to simply separate the highs into one channel and the lows into the other. It's not really stereo but it does give a kind of separation effect.

It's the same with "stereo" guitars and basses. Usually the trick is to feed the neck pickup to one channel and the bridge pickup to the other. That, if you have two amps, gives some spatial separation and often a pretty nice sound! I've got some guitars, but no basses, wired that way.

But in a normal bass the "R" in the TRS jack is used as a power switch rather than a "stereo" output. On mine that give a TRS stereo output you have to use a special rig like say a Fishman Power chip. or like Rics, have a second "stereo" wired jack.

This works for me because of my amp setup. It is basically TWO amps (along the lines of the Fender BXR 200) that you can stack vertically to give a 1000 watt mono bass rig, or you can separate across the stage to give a stereo setup.

It's the stereo setup that works for the "stereo" wired basses and guitars. But as Darkstorm notes, if you use effects, they sound MUCH better if you use the stereo output from the effects (but a mono input from the bass). This gives a much better "vibe" to effects like chorus, reverb, phaser etc.

But While I am setup to do this I haven't been using any effects lately so I haven't been using my stereo setup. Lets face it schlepping TWO amps and TWO cabs along with all the effects and other stuff is just a big pain. Your back will like it much better if you feed the stereo PA with a DI and your "stereo" instrument rather than two amps and cabs. (takes a stereo DI)

That's the "stereo" story.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Most stereo setups(like ric-o-sound) are two outputs either to seperate amps or an amp with two channels.

I usually use a 2 channel head.

Bridge/treble PU is adjusted for the sound you like for THAT PU. I have my pedals on the treble PU only.

The Neck/bass PU is adjusted for the sound you like. I like mine nice and full.

When both PU's are played...WOW! The sound I'm looking for.

Sometimes I use 2 amps. Stacked, not split.

I do not try to acheive a "stereo effect". It's for more control of my tone.

All of my basses eventually get wired stereo.

Stereo wiring is just like 2 single PU basses, but each output goes to a tip or ring lug on a stereo jack. I use the tip lug for the treble PU.

I don't even bother to put a mono circut in the bass. If I need a mono output, I either use an adapter or I have made a stereo to mono cable.

 

[line6man]

Dual outputs can be used for bi-amping. An excellent example of this is Billy Sheehan and his Yamaha Attitude basses. Billy Sheehan has a P pickup in the middle, feeding one rig with distortion and notch filtering, while a mudbucker in the neck position feeds another rig to provide a strong low end.

There are two practical ways to wire a dual-output bass.

The first way is Rickenbacker style, with one mono output which carries the signal of both pickups, and one stereo output, which carries the signal from one pickup on the tip terminal and the signal from the other pickup on the ring terminal. This is done by wiring one pickup to the tip terminal of both jacks, and the other pickup to the ring terminal of the stereo jack, and the make terminal of the mono jack.
When you use the mono jack, the make terminal makes continuity with the tip terminal, connecting both pickups in parallel.

The advantage to separate mono and stereo jacks is that only one cable is necessary to connect the bass to whatever rig you are using. The disadvantage is having to use a stereo cable to hook up, often with a splitter box to separate the signals to two rigs.

The other way of wiring a dual-output bass is with two mono output jacks, with break terminals. The tip terminal of one jack is connected to the break terminal of the other, and vice-versa. This way, when cables are plugged into both jacks, one jack carries one pickup's signal, and the other jack carries the other pickup's signal. When only one cable is plugged into either jack, the signal from the other pickup's jack is carried over through the break terminal, allowing both pickups on one output.

The advantage of having two mono jacks is that you don't need any special cables, but the disadvantage is having to use two cables for a stereo output.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The first way is Rickenbacker style, with one mono output which carries the signal of both pickups, and one stereo output, which carries the signal from one pickup on the tip terminal and the signal from the other pickup on the ring terminal. This is done by wiring one pickup to the tip terminal of both jacks, and the other pickup to the ring terminal of the stereo jack, and the make terminal of the mono jack.

No, Rics have a switching jack setup. The bridge pickup always goes to the mono jack. The mono jack has a switch, and when you plug into it, it connects the neck pickup to the mono jack.

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As far as use; I played Rics for many years. You can use two amps, or two channels on one amp, and you can also run effects on each pickup. For a while I had a 10-band EQ for each pickup, and also ran the treble pickup into a Brassmaster fuzz, and the neck into a Mutron.

After a while I got tired of the setup and played it in mono.

 

[bassbrad]

Rickenbacker and Alembic basses are the classic examples but there are other basses that have stereo outputs. I have stereo outputs on my Carvin LB50 bass that allows each pickup a separate output. Occasionally I will use this option for live or recording creating 2 different signal chains that can be instantly switched or blended with a flick of the 3 way switch, the possibilities are endless and i seem to come up with a different combo every time I go stereo.
Chris Squire of Yes has run a stereo rig forever and to me has the classic set up.
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[line6man]

No, Rics have a switching jack setup. The bridge pickup always goes to the mono jack. The mono jack has a switch, and when you plug into it, it connects the neck pickup to the mono jack.

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As far as use; I played Rics for many years. You can use two amps, or two channels on one amp, and you can also run effects on each pickup. For a while I had a 10-band EQ for each pickup, and also ran the treble pickup into a Brassmaster fuzz, and the neck into a Mutron.

After a while I got tired of the setup and played it in mono.

Isn't that what I just described?
There is a TRS jack and a TS jack with a make terminal. One signal to both tips, the other signal to the ring of the TRS, and the make of the TS.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Isn't that what I just described?
There is a TRS jack and a TS jack with a make terminal. One signal to both tips, the other signal to the ring of the TRS, and the make of the TS.

You left out the switching part. A regular mono TS jack wont work.

With your description, how does the bass switch into mono?

You can see the switching contacts on the bottom jack. The plug hits that nylon thing and bends the leaf and closes the connection. That makes the bass mono.

 

[line6man]

You left out the switching part. A regular mono TS jack wont work.

With your description, how does the bass switch into mono?

You can see the switching contacts on the bottom jack. The plug hits that nylon thing and bends the leaf and closes the connection. That makes the bass mono.

That's the "make terminal" I mentioned in both posts.
It makes contact with the tip terminal only when a cable is inserted.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

That's the "make terminal" I mentioned in both posts.
It makes contact with the tip terminal only when a cable is inserted.

Oh OK. I don't think anyone would know what you meant. They are commonly called a switching jack, and obviously come in different flavors.

 

[walterw]

...and the make terminal of the mono jack.

that's the confusing bit; if i walk into the music store and ask for a "mono jack", there won't be any "make terminal" on it.

it's a specialty item, is all.

 

[line6man]

that's the confusing bit; if i walk into the music store and ask for a "mono jack", there won't be any "make terminal" on it.

it's a specialty item, is all.

The same goes for TS jacks with break terminals, if you want two mono outputs.

Though Radioshack used to carry jacks with break terminals years ago.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Though Radioshack used to carry jacks with break terminals years ago.

Radio Shack used to have all kinds of cool stuff. They almost phased out electronic parts entirely, but they have made a comeback in certain stores.

 

[line6man]

Radio Shack used to have all kinds of cool stuff. They almost phased out electronic parts entirely, but they have made a comeback in certain stores.

Yes, RadioShack used to be awesome, but now they sell nothing but cell phones.

I stopped by a RadioShack the other day looking for any value resistor above 3M or so, so I wouldn't have to make the trip to a real electronics store. I went through both drawers of their resistors, and found that they didn't have anything above 1M.

I've watched their component stock go from four sets of drawers, to three, down to two in most stores. :scowl:

 

[Serek_Basses]

If you run a Ric stereo, both pickups into your pedals, will the signal come out of the pedal chain still stereo? I am assuming only with pedals that have stereo capabilities?

 

[walterw]

how do you mean, "both pickups into your pedals"?

does your pedal-chain have left and right inputs? does it stay "stereo" (separate left and right ins and outs) all the way through to the last pedal?

if we're talking regular ol' effects pedals, they'll most all be mono in; you can't run "stereo" into even the first one.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

If you run a Ric stereo, both pickups into your pedals, will the signal come out of the pedal chain still stereo? I am assuming only with pedals that have stereo capabilities?

The bass is not really "stereo", but has an output for each pickup. So you can run each pickup into different effects, or EQ them differently.

Some people run them into two different amps, especially a overdriven guitar amp for the treble pickup.

 

[Serek_Basses]

Right, I guess I was just wondering if there is any way to preserve a stereo signal going through effects such as overdrive or fuzz