Question for Acoustic Image Clarus S4

[EmperorMonark]

Hello Acoustic Image users,

I bought Clarus S4 and have a question.

My bass is Fodera and it has 18V pre-amp with EMG active pick-up.
When I tryed to use Clarus, even though level was not so high, the sound was not clear but distortion occured.

I cannot find imput level down switch for active pick-up bass on this product, how I can get 'clean tone' with my Fodera?
I know when Fodera's master volume is turn down, I can get clean tone, but I want to use without bass guitar's volume turn down.

Or, Do I have to insert a resistance in the circuit of amp?

 

[Jim Carr]

Make sure the -10 dB MIC attenuator switch on the input panel is pressed in to the "on" position. You can plug a 1/4 jack into the center of the "Combi" mic input of channel one.

 

[EmperorMonark]

Hi Jim, Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunatelly, I cannot find 'attenuator switch' on my amp.
The layout of front panel is:
http://www.acousticimg.com/docs/manual-series4.pdf
Please see page 8.

I asked directly acoustic image before, but they answered there was no attenuator switch so I had to use Fodera with volume control down.

I want to use my base without its volume down, the reason is probably you can imagine, therefore now I think I must improve the control circuit..
Or, is there some other nice idea?

 

[wave rider]

That's odd. The linked manual (page 7 illustration) shows it between Level and Bass on the control panel. Your's got built without?

=wr=

 

[rogerwilliamsen]

You should turn the trim pot inside the fodera control cavity down. I've done that with all of my foderas. I use the Clarus head.

 

[EmperorMonark]

Thank you wave rider,

I tried the 'mic atten' button, but it only for mic with XLR connector and not for phone jack.

 

[Munjibunga]

You should turn the trim pot inside the fodera control cavity down. I've done that with all of my foderas. I use the Clarus head.

This is what I would do.

 

[KJung]

This is what I would do.

+1 I typically set my active preamps (if they have a volume trim pot) to the same output level as preamp bypass. This gives you the ability to switch from active to passive without a big volume jump or drop, and also by definition allows the bass to work quite well in the 'non padded' (sometimes called 'passive') input of the amp.

If you never use the passive bypass, you could set the preamp level just a smidge higher, depending on the input gain design of the amp. It makes little sense to crank the output of the preamp and then pad it down at the amp (higher battery drain, and additional 'gain reduction' circuitry between the bass and amp that is not really needed).

 

[Jim Carr]

Thank you wave rider,

I tried the 'mic atten' button, but it only for mic with XLR connector and not for phone jack.

I think you can plug a 1/4" Jack into the mic input. It's a "combi." The trim pot in the bass sounds like the way to go, though.

 

[EmperorMonark]

Thank you guys,
I'll try your advices this weekend!!!