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The Hossenfeffer Bass Build

#821
Aceonbass said:
I really can't see what's wrong here. I'd bet it's in the output harness. The build quality on these from RIC ain't too good, and it's the hardest part of these harnesses to get right so they won't develop problems down the road. I once had a harness with the same symptoms, and in turned out to be an incorrectly produced stereo jack! It didn't have enough bakelite leaves in it, which caused it to self short to a mono jack. Since then I test every harness connection from each jack to the volume pots for continuity.
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Well, at least I'd feel better about my soldering job if its just a bad jack! :D I suppose I could get a new Switchcraft stereo jack and solder it in, see what happens. What SHOULD I be hearing with a mono cord into a stereo output? Just the treble pup? I don't even own a stereo cord or Y splitter at the moment, or two working amps to plug into if I did, so it's definitely a First World Problem, but I'd like to solve it for the sake of some distant heir who plugs this thing in. Thanks for looking Ace.
 
#824
Gil, was this pre-fabbed, or did you assemble? Do you have a wiring diagram/schematic for this? I've traced wires, one by one, comparing the physical with the drawing, ensuring both are one and the same... if you haven't done this already, of course... this sounds eerily similar to what another member experienced with a mod... I think...
 
#825
I bought a pre-wired harness and mono/stereo jack assembly from Pick of the Ricks (OEM, so presumably wired and assembled correctly), so all I had to do is solder the output jack wiring and pup wires to the harness. Both pups work fine in mono, so it has to be the stereo jack or the jack wiring. I can’t read schematics, and the various wiring diagrams available online don’t agree, so I used the photo @Aceonbass shared, which seems to agree with most of the photos of Ric wiring I’ve seen online. I can’t see where I’ve made a connection error, so it almost has to be the stereo jack or the wiring soldered to it.
 
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#826
Start by buzzing out the Tip and Ring on the stereo jack with nothing plugged in to verify that they aren't connected. If they are places I'd check would be the switching part of the Mono jack and the center blades on the switch -- the contacts have to be separated for the stereo to work and it can be easy to short those if you're not careful. If all that's good, then I'd disconnect the stereo jack, etc. My $0.02.
 
#828
So the extra spring blade on the mono jack that gets contacted when you plug the cord in is what shorts it to mono? So that mono jack is conclusively ok because I’m getting sound from both pups?

Jon, by “buzzing out” you mean check for continuity between stereo jack tip and ring? I have a little multimeter with audible continuity, so I should get no continuity beep between tip and ring?
 
#829
Gilmourisgod said:
So the extra spring blade on the mono jack that gets contacted when you plug the cord in is what shorts it to mono? So that mono jack is conclusively ok because I’m getting sound from both pups?

Jon, by “buzzing out” you mean check for continuity between stereo jack tip and ring? I have a little multimeter with audible continuity, so I should get no continuity beep between tip and ring?
Click to expand...

Right, as @Aceonbass said, Rics are stereo by default until you plug into the mono jack and the tip pushes that nylon bead on the mono to short the bass and treble PU circuits together. The mono jack is NOT conclusively OK since that's where the switch from stereo to mono takes place. It's possible that you have a short there OR that the disconnect is not occurring when nothing is plugged into the mono jack.
 
#831
Jon Clegg said:
Right, as @Aceonbass said, Rics are stereo by default until you plug into the mono jack and the tip pushes that nylon bead on the mono to short the bass and treble PU circuits together. The mono jack is NOT conclusively OK since that's where the switch from stereo to mono takes place. It's possible that you have a short there OR that the disconnect is not occurring when nothing is plugged into the mono jack.
Click to expand...
There's nothing visibly wrong with the mono jack, by prying the pickguard up in place I can see the end of the mono jack with and without the cord plugged in. The extra blade with the nylon bead looks like it has a gap without the jack inserted, that closes with the jack inserted. Maybe I'm seeing a gap where there isn't one, I'll take another look tonight.
 
#832
Eureka! Stereo out works! @Jon Clegg gets the prize, I'm pretty sure it was the switch leaf with the nylon ball on the mono output after all. It took some real contortions to see it inside the cavity. I bent it out a little further, rotated the jack in its hole a little, and voila, it works! With a mono plug in the stereo output, I get sound with the switch in treble or middle position, but not bass pup. Mono works fine either way. It was nagging at me leaving it uncorrected. Thanks for advice Jon and @Aceonbass! Just putting the last coats of clear over my TRC decal tonight, and she's done! I'll post a few photos of the 100% complete this weekend for anybody still interested. I've been having a blast messing around with it, plays great, sounds like a Ric! So far its really surprisingly quiet, no single coil buzz I can hear at bedroom volumes. I'm surprised more people don't shield these basses (including the Ric factory, ***?). Now to regain my calluses....
 
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#833
Gilmourisgod said:
Eureka! Stereo out works! @Jon Clegg gets the prize, I'm pretty sure it was the switch leaf with the nylon ball on the mono output after all. It took some real contortions to see it inside the cavity. I bent it out a little further, rotated the jack in its hole a little, and voila, it works! With a mono plug in the stereo output, I get sound with the switch in treble or middle position, but not bass pup. Mono works fine either way. It was nagging at me leaving it uncorrected. Thanks for advice Jon and @Aceonbass! Just putting the last coats of clear over my TRC decal tonight, and she's done! I'll post a few photos of the 100% complete this weekend for anybody still interested. I've been having a blast messing around with it, plays great, sounds like a Ric! So far its really surprisingly quiet, no single coil buzz I can hear at bedroom volumes. I'm surprised more people don't shield these basses (including the Ric factory, ***?). Now to regain my calluses....
Click to expand...
Great news man....

Delighted to hear that all is as it should be....

Enjoy that thing....You earned it!....:bassist::thumbsup::)
 
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#835
Yay, congratulations! I knew you’d get it - if nothing else, you’ve proven to us your boundless reservoirs of persistence. :thumbsup:

Out of curiosity, what strings are you using? Oh, and did you get an amp yet?
 
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#836
Gilmourisgod said:
Eureka! Stereo out works! @Jon Clegg gets the prize, I'm pretty sure it was the switch leaf with the nylon ball on the mono output after all. It took some real contortions to see it inside the cavity. I bent it out a little further, rotated the jack in its hole a little, and voila, it works! With a mono plug in the stereo output, I get sound with the switch in treble or middle position, but not bass pup. Mono works fine either way. It was nagging at me leaving it uncorrected. Thanks for advice Jon and @Aceonbass! Just putting the last coats of clear over my TRC decal tonight, and she's done! I'll post a few photos of the 100% complete this weekend for anybody still interested. I've been having a blast messing around with it, plays great, sounds like a Ric! So far its really surprisingly quiet, no single coil buzz I can hear at bedroom volumes. I'm surprised more people don't shield these basses (including the Ric factory, ***?). Now to regain my calluses....
Click to expand...

Huzzah!!! Can't wait to see it/ hear it!
 
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#837
Done.....
Backyard iPhone photography is about all I'm capable of, but it looks pretty sparkly in the sun.
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I'd like to thank everyone who stuck it out with me through this endless build, with special thanks to:
@mapleglo for spriritual, motivational and demonstrable overall coolness, and for being an example of what amateur luthiers are capable of.

@ctmullins for lending me the crucial tool at the crucial moment, and lending advice and support along the way

@Aceonbass for timely technical support, misc parts, and the willingness to share his expertise with TB at large

@Rôckhewer for his unbelievable builds, to which I aspire (someday) and for his generous donation to the Hossenfeffer cause.

I'm sure I missed a lot of people, but greatly appreciate all who slogged through this. I have one more Ric build in the works, hopefully considerable quicker on the build! The Hossenfeffer II Build
 
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#838
Gilmourisgod said:
Done.....
Backyard iPhone photography is about all I'm capable of, but it looks pretty sparkly in the sun.
View attachment 2874558
View attachment 2874559
View attachment 2874560
View attachment 2874561
View attachment 2874562
View attachment 2874563
View attachment 2874564
View attachment 2874565

I'd like to thank everyone who stuck it out with me through this endless build, with special thanks to:
@mapleglo for spriritual, motivational and demonstrable overall coolness, and for being an example of what amateur luthiers are capable of.

@ctmullins for lending me the crucial tool at the crucial moment, and lending advice and support along the way

@Aceonbass for timely technical support, misc parts, and the willingness to share his expertise with TB at large

@Rôckhewer for his unbelievable builds, to which I aspire (someday) and for his generous donation the Hossenfeffer cause.

I'm sure I missed a lot of people, but greatly appreciate all who slogged through this. I have one more Ric build in the works, hopefully considerable quicker on the build! The Hossenfeffer II Build
Click to expand...

This really came out nice. I'd even go as far as to say exceptional! Great work. Now we'll need to hear some clips!
 
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#840
Gilmourisgod said:
Done.....
Backyard iPhone photography is about all I'm capable of, but it looks pretty sparkly in the sun.
View attachment 2874558
View attachment 2874559
View attachment 2874560
View attachment 2874561
View attachment 2874562
View attachment 2874563
View attachment 2874564
View attachment 2874565

I'd like to thank everyone who stuck it out with me through this endless build, with special thanks to:
@mapleglo for spriritual, motivational and demonstrable overall coolness, and for being an example of what amateur luthiers are capable of.

@ctmullins for lending me the crucial tool at the crucial moment, and lending advice and support along the way

@Aceonbass for timely technical support, misc parts, and the willingness to share his expertise with TB at large

@Rôckhewer for his unbelievable builds, to which I aspire (someday) and for his generous donation to the Hossenfeffer cause.

I'm sure I missed a lot of people, but greatly appreciate all who slogged through this. I have one more Ric build in the works, hopefully considerable quicker on the build! The Hossenfeffer II Build
Click to expand...
Gorgeous bass! Well worth the wait!
 
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