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Voltage Doubler???

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by rickbass, Sep 26, 2001.

  1. Sep 26, 2001 #1
    rickbass

    rickbass

    Nov 9, 2000
    The land of chicken fried funk
    Stewmac has what seems to be a replacement clip for existing 9V battery clips, the Fishman Voltage Doubler.

    Apparently, it hikes your onboards up to 18V yet you still use just a single 9V battery.

    - Does anyone know if this thing actually puts more meat in your bass?
    - Is there a way to know beforehand that your preamp won't fry? (other than the 3-4 makes they list that will accept it). Contact the bass manufacturer ???
    - Do you think it would eat up 9V batteries like popcorn???

    So that no one damages their bass from reading this thread, be aware of the warnings mentioned with regard to installing this thing -

    http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-5185/index.html
     
  2. Sep 26, 2001 #2
    Josh Ryan

    Josh Ryan - that dog won't hunt, Monsignor. Supporting Member

    Mar 24, 2001
    I don't know, seems too risky for the benefits listed.
     
  3. Sep 26, 2001 #3
    rickbass

    rickbass

    Nov 9, 2000
    The land of chicken fried funk
    Josh - I'm asking this just to know what perspective you're looking at it from:

    Do you do wiring on basses?
     
  4. Sep 26, 2001 #4
    Josh Ryan

    Josh Ryan - that dog won't hunt, Monsignor. Supporting Member

    Mar 24, 2001
    Nothing more than hooking up pickups and pots according to where they are supposed to go. I've never tried to figure out exactly what happens inside a pre-amp. It seems to me that unless you have an 18v pre-amp, odds are it won't handle it. Of course, I'm sure the ones listed would be fine. If a person has experience wiring pots and pickups, I guess they could ask the manufacturer of the pre-amp in question what would happen, then do it or not depending on the answer they get. But , no, though I'm handy with the solder(sp?) gun I'm no electrical engineer.


    edit, thanks for the tone comment in the other thread!!
     
  5. Sep 26, 2001 #5
    MikeyD

    MikeyD

    Sep 9, 2000
    I dunno, Rick. I saw their warning, and I'd pay *close* attention to it. The design of any electronic circuit must be done with regard to the voltages it is expected to see. If you can ascertain that the circuit is designed to handle an 18-volt battery, go for it. Otherwise you might burn something out.

    I'm not into pickups and active electronics much, but I wonder why 9v power would ever be considered a problem. Is your instrument cord 2398 feet long? In my mind that would be a possible excuse for needing a higher preamp out voltage. The site mentions giving you more headroom, but if you are low on headroom, turn down the bass volume and turn up the amp input stage.

    - Mike
     
  6. Sep 27, 2001 #6
    rickbass

    rickbass

    Nov 9, 2000
    The land of chicken fried funk
    Mike - Luckily, I've used wireless before having to look for a cord that long.

    The desire to upgrade is because I slap pop a lot, ergo, more more clean gain/dynamic headroom with the 18V without distortion and more responsiveness to attack.

    I see what you say about turning up the amp input stage but on those nights when I go through the mains, there isn't much I can do.

    Josh - hooking up pots and pickups is good enough for me! I never even owned a soldering gun and my basses have always been very grateful for it. So, I fully respect your input.

    As for "Kerosene" - I still think you got a bitchin' sound on that cut.

    Thank you, gents!
     
  7. Sep 27, 2001 #7
    Josh Ryan

    Josh Ryan - that dog won't hunt, Monsignor. Supporting Member

    Mar 24, 2001
    Thanks again for that, I need the positive reinforcement. I recently traded two resistors out from the turbo management system of my car, upping the output to an estimated 200bhp. -man, I was sweating bullets doing that!! Talk about expensive to replace!! I know a local guy who can fix whatever I screw up on my basses or guitars for a really good price, so I worry much less with those even though they mean more to me than my car.

    edit: the basses are more important, maybe not the guitars!:D