The Passinwind Open Source Preamp

[dcoyle]

Charlie said

" Something may have to give to fit a Jensen DI transformer in a stock v4 build, but I'll take a look at the one 1590BBS build I have on hand and see if we could make it work. "

Down and dirty, you could mount the JT-DT-E outside the case, if one rearranged the back of the enclosure, as I guess you'd have to with the additional send.

 

[dcoyle]

Charlie, does your latest iteration of the blender still have an efx SND/RTN loop, even though you have the PW3B inboard? Did/do you use a dedicated driver for the send of the efx or for a JT-DB-E?

How are you implementing your mixer, is it passive or active? It's great to be able to integrate two pickups or a processed loop with a straight signal in the box.

 

[Passinwind]

Charlie, does your latest iteration of the blender still have an efx SND/RTN loop, even though you have the PW3B inboard? Did/do you use a dedicated driver for the send of the efx or for a JT-DB-E?

How are you implementing your mixer, is it passive or active? It's great to be able to integrate two pickups or a processed loop with a straight signal in the box.

I may implement series loops in one or both sides of the blender, in which case I would definitely add a buffer/driver option for at least the mag side. The mixer section is active, with about 6dB of gain available, but it would probably still stay clean at 10-12dB in many cases. I’m not planning on doing an official version of the blender, but I will be sharing the various ancillary board fab files sooner than later.

To be clear, I plan on wrapping things up very soon, maybe by year’s end. I’m barely even playing bass anymore and it’s clearly time to move on to greener pastures ASAP.

 

[Obese Chess]

I apologize if this has been mentioned already - is there a way to get this to work in an "onboard" capacity? I have a wild hair about commissioning a custom build in the distant future using "local" parts as much as possible, and a preamp made out in the Gorge would fit the bill just fine, especially since all your stuff I've gotten to fiddle around with in the past has sounded great.

 

[Passinwind]

I apologize if this has been mentioned already - is there a way to get this to work in an "onboard" capacity? I have a wild hair about commissioning a custom build in the distant future using "local" parts as much as possible, and a preamp made out in the Gorge would fit the bill just fine, especially since all your stuff I've gotten to fiddle around with in the past has sounded great.

There are a variety of ways we can use various bits and pieces in onboard builds, yeah. That was my primary intent way back when I started this thread, but the pedal thing ended up gaining more traction, so I've just been running with that. I have a bunch of different pedals and three basses with different onboard preamps in them that you are welcome to try if we can work out a good meetup scenario. We're way overdue for a GTG on Portland, for starters. Shoot me a PM at your convenience and let's see if your people can get with my people.

 

[Obese Chess]

There are a variety of ways we can use various bits and pieces in onboard builds, yeah. That was my primary intent way back when I started this thread, but the pedal thing ended up gaining more traction, so I've just been running with that. I have a bunch of different pedals and three basses with different onboard preamps in them that you are welcome to try if we can work out a good meetup scenario. We're way overdue for a GTG on Portland, for starters. Shoot me a PM at your convenience and let's see if your people can get with my people.

Sounds good! Expect to hear from me by the weekend. Cheers!

 

[Passinwind]

Update: last call for requests on the GitHub documentation, as I am about to call it a wrap and move along to other things within the next few days. This thread has now run its course after seven years, I think, and I will no longer be monitoring it. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over that time, it was a fun ride.

 

[bowthing]

Update: last call for requests on the GitHub documentation, as I am about to call it a wrap and move along to other things within the next few days. This thread has now run its course after seven years, I think, and I will no longer be monitoring it. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over that time, it was a fun ride.

A big thanks to you for sharing so much knowledge and enthusiasm!

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Thanks Charlie for all your support and inspiration!

 

[BQFS]

Very rarely do we encounter anyone in life so willing to share their knowledge and experience without wanting something significant in return. Thank you Charlie for your dedication and help to all of us with lesser knowledge and experience. I wish you health and long life.

 

[Sanj]

Thank you @Passinwind for all you have contributed here, I'm STILL working through the entire thread. It's been inspiring.

 

[dcoyle]

Best to you, Charlie. Thanks for so much of your time, development skill and persistence, and musical judgment.

You've been very kind to share this very musical, quiet, low distortion, and super capable preamp. There is something in that circuit that, every time, lets one dial up a great bass sound. The ability to change the Q of the system with the Hpf changes the feel of the deepest notes in a way that, with the bass Bax, really let's you dial up any fatness you want. The three mid frequency points in the Mid Bax boost/cut are useful over a broad range. The Res and Freq control offers a boost for treble emphasis, or a rolloff, from above most bass frequencies, on down into the midrange.

Just studying the circuit, at Releases · Passinwind/PW3B-LPF is an education on what works and what is useful, if you are learning electronics.

Thanks.

 

[Jorge Ceme]

Hello everyone, greetings from Ecuador.

I recently heard about this project. I play bass and guitar; I think installing it on a guitar. Do you have recommendations for this? Do you have to modify some values to use it with extended-range guitars?
I think it would work great with Lace deathbucker or deathbar pickups.

 

[Passinwind]

Hello everyone, greetings from Ecuador.

I recently heard about this project. I play bass and guitar; I think installing it on a guitar. Do you have recommendations for this? Do you have to modify some values to use it with extended-range guitars?
I think it would work great with Lace deathbucker or deathbar pickups.

Sorry, but the current version isn't really meant for onboard installations by now, it has evolved into a pedal format since virtually everyone who built the old version just used it that way. I may eventually publish a version meant for onboard usage, but frankly it's not a high priority item at all.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I still need to build mine. I hope I can find the right instructions. First a guitar wiring project, then maybe the 24.75 or 30 inch fretless bass 6. Then preamps. Definitely the preamps. I even found the cases and knobs.

 

[Passinwind]

I still need to build mine. I hope I can find the right instructions. First a guitar wiring project, then maybe the 24.75 or 30 inch fretless bass 6. Then preamps. Definitely the preamps. I even found the cases and knobs.

The biggest problem with onboard installs in many cases is the need for custom pots, which you would likely need to buy at least ten of. But they do come from the UK, at least.

 

[Jorge Ceme]

Sorry, but the current version isn't really meant for onboard installations by now, it has evolved into a pedal format since virtually everyone who built the old version just used it that way. I may eventually publish a version meant for onboard usage, but frankly it's not a high priority item at all.

Thanks for your answer.

I understand. I could try to build the pedal. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for using it on a six string or extended range electric guitar?

 

[Passinwind]

Thanks for your answer.

I understand. I could try to build the pedal. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for using it on a six string or extended range electric guitar?

The standard spec version will probably work pretty well for that, I will double check with my Heritage six stringer when I get a chance. You might want to bump the input impedance up a bit, by changing the 220k ohm resistor at R2 on the HPF board to something between 500k and 1 Meg. But on my dobro/banjo hybrid, for the humbucker magnetic pickup 220k ended up being my preferred value.

Even if you eventually end up wanting to go with an onboard solution, it's a lot easier to refine your design in a pedal first, in my experience.

 

[dcoyle]

Re. onboard mounting, the two gang pots are hard to find with a bushing depth tall enough for a back rout cavity mount, where they have to go through wood of some thickness, but if you have an 1/8" pickguard over a front rout, you can use the more available pots. I see that Charlie updated the BOM for v4 yesterday, and a source for the pots is listed.

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[sunbeast]

Nice to see the plans finished! Will have to build one finally!