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Willcox Bass Club (Lightwave)

#341
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#342
These basses are some of the very few that I don't have (or had) that intrigue me. Are there any decent soundclips as the few I've listened to on YT etc aren't convincing.
 
#344
I picked up a LightWave Saber 5 from the FB market place. So far I’m loving it.

Any tips or quirks that I should know about?
 

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#345
SaberSam said:
I picked up a LightWave Saber 5 from the FB market place. So far I’m loving it.

Any tips or quirks that I should know about?
Click to expand...

Make sure you charge it before leaving the house for a jam sesh. I kept turning up the volume on my amp before I realized that my battery was slowly dying and the bass was getting quieter and quieter! The piezo switch makes it punch through the mix like a hot knife too.
 
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#346
The charging has its own rules - I had problems with the battery pack and made some measurements: while the charging LED was red the battery was charging with 560 mA. When turning to green the charging current dropped to 70 mA. On my bass the fast load (red LED) was only running for 10 minutes and the battery was only partly filled.

This is the answer I got from Rick Moore (Willcox):

The batteries are Nickle Metal, so they get grumpy after some time. Here's what to do:
1. Plug the guitar into the charger. Observe the battery state LED. It will be red when plugged in and charging.
2. If the battery state LED turns green within about 15 minutes, the battery chemistry needs a reset. Do this by unplugging the charger then plugging back in (bump the charger). You may have to repeat several times until the battery starts taking the charge. The battery should charge for about 75 minutes for a full charge and will play 12 + hours.
3. Once the battery takes the initial charge, It will be good for some months.
 
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#347
Thanks, still getting used to the tone of this bass. Jesse I let the bass go flat the other day by accident.

I run this through an amp sim giving me a 6 band eq. Compressor and quick slap tight verb to make it sound like a mic’d cab. Goes great through front of house.
 
#349
Lightwave small problem - my optical adjustment preset rotary has gone faulty, has anyone else experienced this? Nothing wrong elsewhere but not all the positions on the rotary work, although if I lightly touch the preset with a finger that seems to restore functionality. I guess could be dirt inside or solder joints broken from a little too much pressure while using it...
 
#350
I don't know if my optical adjustment preset rotary works - I did already multiple string changes and adjusted the optical detectors just by ear. Works fine and fast.

Adjustment after string change is only a small change. Bring the bass into playing position (do not lay it down!) and pluck the string. Turn the allen wrench a half round clockwise and counterclockwise. If the volume does not change then you are ok. If it gets louder then do the same turns from that position and so on.
 
#351
Roberto Cavaco said:
I don't know if my optical adjustment preset rotary works - I did already multiple string changes and adjusted the optical detectors just by ear. Works fine and fast.

Adjustment after string change is only a small change. Bring the bass into playing position (do not lay it down!) and pluck the string. Turn the allen wrench a half round clockwise and counterclockwise. If the volume does not change then you are ok. If it gets louder then do the same turns from that position and so on.
Click to expand...

I know how to do that of course, but it isn't as accurate as the optical method. Especially on lower strings, a tiny amount out can result in a faint distortion I can hear behind the plucked string.
 
#352
ficelles said:
Lightwave small problem - my optical adjustment preset rotary has gone faulty, has anyone else experienced this? Nothing wrong elsewhere but not all the positions on the rotary work, although if I lightly touch the preset with a finger that seems to restore functionality. I guess could be dirt inside or solder joints broken from a little too much pressure while using it...
Click to expand...

Have you tried electrical cleaner? Isopropyl alcohol will do in a pinch.
 
#353
SaberSam said:
Have you tried electrical cleaner? Isopropyl alcohol will do in a pinch.
Click to expand...

I tried contact cleaner spray, I think it actually made it worse! I have some isopropyl alcohol tape head cleaner (that dates me), maybe I'll try that before resoldering... luckily I'm ok with surface mount, although I need a magnifier these days.
 
#354
Any luck with the isopropyl alcohol? Part of my allure to this instrument is as the electronics. (Shhh don’t tell anybody I’m an IT tech) As much as I hate soldering knowing how to fix most of my gear is really useful. May the flux flow with you.
 
#355
SaberSam said:
Any luck with the isopropyl alcohol? Part of my allure to this instrument is as the electronics. (Shhh don’t tell anybody I’m an IT tech) As much as I hate soldering knowing how to fix most of my gear is really useful. May the flux flow with you.
Click to expand...

Before going the resolder route I had a try with the simplest possible option - pressurised air. And it worked :) I'm guessing my contact cleaner maybe impacted some dust into the preset, and having left it for a week or so it dried and the air blew any debris out. Anyway happy ending and my optical pickup visual alignment option is restored.
 
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#356
Hey Lightwave crew! New owner of a used 5 string fretless. It's chambered, so I'm guessing it's a VL? I put D'Addario Black Tape Wound strings on pretty much everything I play. I'm still tuning it in, and trimmed away the thread at the base of the B string, but I'm liking what I'm getting so far. B is still a little less active than the other four, but we're getting there. Those, with the Icetone setting, are a weirdness I think I could come to love. Just gotta get a little more juice out of that B. Might try some D'Addario Chromes on it too.
 
#357
Dmon65 said:
Hey Lightwave crew! New owner of a used 5 string fretless. It's chambered, so I'm guessing it's a VL? I put D'Addario Black Tape Wound strings on pretty much everything I play. I'm still tuning it in, and trimmed away the thread at the base of the B string, but I'm liking what I'm getting so far. B is still a little less active than the other four, but we're getting there. Those, with the Icetone setting, are a weirdness I think I could come to love. Just gotta get a little more juice out of that B. Might try some D'Addario Chromes on it too.
Click to expand...

You will need to adjust the sensors on each string. You can also adjust the volume on a string by string basis. I have one VL that has a hot D string and I had to dial it back.
 
#358
kirkdickinson said:
You will need to adjust the sensors on each string. You can also adjust the volume on a string by string basis. I have one VL that has a hot D string and I had to dial it back.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I ended up doing. Dialed the upper two strings back a bit and then took it out on stage. Sounded pretty great, according to my guitar player. My Mensinger may have just become my secondary instrument!
 

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