If you have phantom power you can use just the XLR jack. If you do not have phantom power then you have to plug-in a 1/4 inch cable or adapter into the regular jack to activate the power source (ie 9v battery) .
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Oh so you need to plugged in to the 1/4" as well to get the XLR output to work?
I'm definitely not doing that, so that could be the big mistake on my part.
Awesome! Thanks so much guys! Always worried about adding in Phantom power with bass preamp circuits. You just never know what will get fried in the process! I'm going to go try this right now!
That would be the first thing I'd try, I have never used XLR myself but I see this question come up. I didn't know it would work alone with phantom power as @rogerbmiller said so that's good info too!
Alright guys! Here's some good feedback:
I just hooked up my 2015 Wal MK2 5 string to a Summit Audio TPA-200B two channel mic preamp.
I went with an Female XLR to Male XLR cable at made the connection to the Wal and the Mic preamp.
Unfortunately, I don't have a legit power amp right now, so I bought my a Male XLR to 1/4" Balanced TRS cable recently. Guys, pay attention to this! The solo XLR connection alone turned up with NOTHING! No output, notta.
That's with a setting for Line or Mic and Phantom power or not. No connection to the 1/4" Jack. Surprising because I thought Roger, you would definitely be right. Well, it doesn't work. At least not in my situation.
However....here's where everyone should pay attention!
I decided, lets keep the signal path simpler (follow the KISS rule - Keep It Simple Stupid).
I've got a Bergantino B Amp and an Ampeg SVT-VR right now.....so why not hook them both up?
I took the XLR to 1/4" TRS (knowing it would short out since the B Amp accepts a mono instrument 1/4") and hooked up the 1/4" to my Ampeg SVT. I kept the SVT in standby mode on purpose, I turned up the Bergantino B Amp and PRESTO! The XLR to 1/4" TRS works like a charm through the B Amp....and guess what this means? It's a way to plug your Wal into two amps simultaneously, just like a Rickenbacker! BOOM! I bet someone must have thought of this before...
I just took my SVT out of Standby and yes sir, both amps working simultaneously through two separate bass rigs with a WALL OF WAL SOUND! I had to crank the input knob on the B amp to about 2 o'clock to match the unity gain structure of the SVT. An SVT-VR or Blueline has such massive output because it has no gain knob...it's on full all the time! It actually might make more sense if I plug the XLR/TRS connection to the SVT and the 1/4" output to the B Amp seeing that the XLR itself is running a little quieter (but that could also be the gain structures and speaker sensitivities of both my amplification rigs).
Come to think of it, Mike....I think you once had a couple of Mesa rigs hooked up together, but I think that was with an Lehlee A/B switch?
Now I'm going to go back and run the signal through my Mic preamp with my bass amps hooked up.
I'm thinking that the XLR output is not going to work without a 1/4" jack plugged in and hooked up to an amplifier (because I tried just hooking up a 1/4" cable with no amp connection for fun and well, it didn't make any sense and therefore, didn't work! You need an amp in the signal path!)
And for those non-believers…
Here's the photo to prove what I just did…
Here's the photo to prove what I just did…
And yes…the SVT hooked up via the XLR output of my Wal is quite good which is what I have shown. Very easy to switch amps if you want very easily.
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Alright.....here's an update:
I kept my Wal MK2 1/4" Jack plugged into my Bergantino B Amp.
Hooked up the Female XLR to Male XLR to the "Mic Input" of the Summit Audio TPA-200B and then routed this to my SVT via another XLR to 1/4" TRS jack. I bought two of them on purpose for this experiment among others I need to do!
First I tried Line and then Mic.....didn't try either with Phantom Power again seeing I was connected to the 1/4" jack. And guess what? NOTHING! No output from the Wal. I could tell Summit Audio preamp was definitely working. So, long story short.....connecting the XLR to 1/4" TRS to the Hi-Z input on the front of the Summit Audio Preamp worked like a charm! I guess the output of the XLR from the Wal is the issue. It acts just like an instrument or bass output. I highly doubt adding phantom power will do anything while being plugged into Mic Input or 1/4" Balanced Input on the back. Just the High-Z works now. I guess it's an impedance thing!
I kept my Wal MK2 1/4" Jack plugged into my Bergantino B Amp.
Hooked up the Female XLR to Male XLR to the "Mic Input" of the Summit Audio TPA-200B and then routed this to my SVT via another XLR to 1/4" TRS jack. I bought two of them on purpose for this experiment among others I need to do!
First I tried Line and then Mic.....didn't try either with Phantom Power again seeing I was connected to the 1/4" jack. And guess what? NOTHING! No output from the Wal. I could tell Summit Audio preamp was definitely working. So, long story short.....connecting the XLR to 1/4" TRS to the Hi-Z input on the front of the Summit Audio Preamp worked like a charm! I guess the output of the XLR from the Wal is the issue. It acts just like an instrument or bass output. I highly doubt adding phantom power will do anything while being plugged into Mic Input or 1/4" Balanced Input on the back. Just the High-Z works now. I guess it's an impedance thing!
Phantom power won't work....preamp only turns on when the contact from jack being plugged in closes. A dummy jack would work being plugged in. You don't have to have a amp plugged in to the standard jack for the XLR output to work.
When I had a MIDI, I had the midi, XLR, and standard jack connected to 3 different amps.... sounded pretty rad
Now why doesn't the C
So awesome!
Crazy flexibility on these basses!
I'm still confused why the XLR output from the Wal can't be plug into my Mic Preamp input without an issue? Why does it have to be connected to the Hi-Z input on the front to work? The XLR output signal is just that weak?
When I had a MIDI, I had the midi, XLR, and standard jack connected to 3 different amps.... sounded pretty rad
So awesome!
Crazy flexibility on these basses!
I'm still confused why the XLR output from the Wal can't be plug into my Mic Preamp input without an issue? Why does it have to be connected to the Hi-Z input on the front to work? The XLR output signal is just that weak?
Yup phantom power wont work here. The transformer will not let power back feed to the preamp.
I have a dummy 1/4 plug in my bag for such instance (an old cut off radio shack headphone plug).
Yes Chris, I have a Lehle a/b splitter for times I want to run two amps. I would have all effects in one rig, the other rig be clean.
I have a dummy 1/4 plug in my bag for such instance (an old cut off radio shack headphone plug).
Yes Chris, I have a Lehle a/b splitter for times I want to run two amps. I would have all effects in one rig, the other rig be clean.
Although the answer has already been given, I feel like confirming: I have used the XLR output for many years on stage and in the studio and always had a dummy jack plug inserted to switch on the battery. I have never been able to get it working with phantom power only.
I'm not sure what is going on, can only say that my Wal works fine from its XLR output into a mic pre. You may want to open the back cover and have a close look at the wiring etc. to make sure that some components aren't contacting each other where they shouldn't be, also good to check with a 1/4" cable plugged in to make sure that the insertion of the plug is not causing any contact between components. Good luck sorting it out.
Are you using an XLR female to XLR male cable to your mic preamp too?
Just curious which one you're using if you don't mind sharing.
I think I once tried my Wal with a UA 6176 and ended with no output. But I do know I never had the dummy or a 1/4" input so that's part of the problem.
I used to own a Presonus 16.0.2 that had dual XLR and 1/4" inputs and that thing could run a passive bass through those inputs. I still did the same thing back then with not having a 1/4" input.
Man, I'd love to go back about 6 years ago and try all this stuff out with the equipment that is now long gone!
Yes, just a standard mic cable. And of course always must have something plugged into the 1/4" in order to turn on the electronics.
Awesome...well, as it should be, right? Hmmm, I'm going to stay on this investigate with some other mic preamps or PA's when I get a chance too. It's just so weird that I haven't been able to get it work with my Summit Audio TPA-200B.....and that's not cheap Mic preamp.
Sorry as it seems I gave incorrect info based on some more recent posts. I have other basses with the cannon jack and that is how they work. Assumed my Wal would be the same but I guess not. Not a feature I use much, but I do like having it! Apologies for the confusion.
