questions on using a series I off the grid

[BeenDown139]

i may be using my mid-70's series I in battery mode outdoors where i won't have access to line power so i have a few questions operating it without the DS-5:

1) What disconnects the batteries?  Turning the pickup selector to the "off" position or does unplugging the 1/4" jack do it?  can i leave them in when i'm using the DS-5?

2) I'm assuming the 1/4" jack output is stereo, so do i need a TRS jack for it?  this will be going into a mono amp input.  so if i'm going to tie the bass output channels together, can i do it directly or do i need to use  series resistors?  if so what value should i use?

3) does using batteries affect the sound of the bass?

4) can i drive a pair of headphones directly from the output jack?

any enlightenment would be appreciated!

[edwardofhuncote]

1.) Unplugging should disconnect power. Switch to stand-by will not.
2.) Rob will remember, but #270 is probably stereo 1/4" out. (see attached pic/schematic/sketch from our buddy Jimmy J. on how to make an adapter... it's in opposite gender, because he was helping me with an old stereo-only power supply with two 1/4" jacks)
3.) No, still sounds like the Voice of God on batteries.
4.) Yes, and it's super-fun. (another trick I learned from Jimmy)

[hammer]

I would just add to what Gregory said....keep a lot of spare batteries on hand. My Series I basses do not last long on batteries.

[rv_bass]

Greg answered your questions well, and as Brian said batteries won’t last too long in a series bass.  So, be sure to install new batteries before your gig.

I normally only use the five pin and DS-5 with my series basses, but I believe 270 is stereo at the 1/4” jack.  Plug it in with a mono cable and if you only get sound out of the neck pickup then it is stereo output.

Also, Bayou Instrument Cables is a good source for reliable stereo to mono cables:

http://bayoucables.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4

[edwardofhuncote]

Butch at Bayou Cables is a fun conversation too.


Can't remember if I ever posted this one or not... here's the cleaned-up and rebadged-with-new-logo DS-? #27 power supply that adapter was made for use with. The adapter summed those two outputs into a mono signal I could input to an F-1X. I keep it in the case and use it with Series bass #77-621 these days. Doesn't make the bass sound different, or me play any better unfortunately... just a cool old box from the early days.

[dela217]

I have a couple of those older power supplies hanging around.    Strictly stereo.

I can get 3 to 4 gigs out of a set of batteries in my Series bass.
I wonder if Bayou Cables would make me a battery pack so I can use my Series basses with a wireless and use my LED's?   I know there are instructions on the site here using Altoids boxes.    I would appreciate someone else making it for me!

[JimmyJ]

No power available so no amps?  Hmmm.  Although sometimes it's just simpler to use a 1/4" cable, like when sitting in on somebody's rig for a jam...

As stated, unplugging the 1/4" cable from the bass is the only way to disconnect the battery (er, unplug the amp side first, duh).

Yes, if the 1/4" jack is stereo you'll need to sum the two channels to keep everything happy.  If you have a cable with a stereo plug at one end and split into two mono plugs at the other, and the amp channel has two inputs, there's a good chance you could just plug in both cables to the amp and that would work.  I believe there is usually a little summing resistor between two inputs of an amp... (like the bassman schematic shot below). Not true of a DI box's "in" and "through" jacks, those are directly linked.

Weirdly, the value of the summing resistors is not critical.  There's probably a minimum, but it seems 20k is commonly mentioned - one for each output and then the mono sum is where they meet.  If you're tricky, you can fit these into a right angle 1/4" jack and just use a mono cable.  But that takes some finagling and a plug with the space.


Same great tone!  Our preamps have the amazing ability to run off anything from +/-9 to +/-18vdc.  But only a few hours out of a pair of 9v batteries.  Now a couple of car batteries would keep things going for quite a while.   

The stereo jack on the bass will run headphones but results vary widely because impedance values aren't quite right for many headphone models.  Plus you might need to crank the output trimpots...  It's not what the bass was designed to do but can be a quick way to check if it is indeed a stereo jack.


Jimmy J

[edwin]

I can get 3 to 4 gigs out of a set of batteries in my Series bass.

That's my experience with my Starfire with SII electronics. I added battery capability last year and it's been extremely helpful. And still sounds great!

[BeenDown139]

thanx for the advice everyone!
i figured the summing resistor values weren't too critical as long as they match.  i used to keep a fairly good supply of electronic components around but they went by the wayside when i went thru a life change a few years ago. 

it used to be a feller could nip over to the neighborhood radio shack or fistell's (any old time denver sparky should fondly recall fistell's with a misty smile.  but i digress...) and pick up any odd part that he needed.
 nowadays ya can't find a walk-in electronic component store in the denver-metro to save your soul.

but - i still have all my tools for performing electronic surgery and i'm resourceful if nothing else, so i'm gonna try to whip something up this weekend in between my push to get my home winterization projects done before the snow flies.  stay tuned...

[hammer]

Question? Are you only attempting to set up something up that allows you to play for and hear yourself (a la you would only be using your Series bass with headphones e.g. I want to be able to bring my Series I car camping with me and not drive the other campers crazy) or might yousometimes envision playing with others (e.g someone on acoustic guitar or mandolin) who are fully acoustic. Just curious.


As far as headphones go, the Phil Jones headphones I have are great for bass. In fact they are designed for bass.  I do drive them with a PJB Bighead Pro HA2 that is powered off a rechargeable battery but the thing is small 3 x 5 x 1 and weighs like 1/2 lb.

[rv_bass]

I have an extra stereo to mono cable, fairly new and hardly used. I’ll send it to you.

[BeenDown139]

Question? Are you only attempting to set up something up that allows you to play for and hear yourself a la you would only be using you Series bass with headphones

the most likely scenario is:
                                       series I ->   |-> korg px4b in loop mode -> headphones -> me
                                 music player -> |

while on my patio, preferably well baked while learning a difficult passage.  if i'm feeling obnoxious, then it would be:
                                      series I -> Phil Jones Double 4 -> anyone within earshot

I have an extra stereo to mono cable, fairly new and hardly used. I’ll send it to you.

did i mention that you are a gentleman and a scholar, sir?

[edwardofhuncote]

Hmmm. I gotta' learn to stay outta' these discussions. Now I am re-thinking something I had asked Mica about doing on my bass currently in the shop. I had thought about having the 1/4" stereo jack converted to mono, like #621's. Now I am wondering about either leaving it stereo or possibly having them add a switch. I actually could use that jack in a stereo application once in a while, but not if we change it. I don't know how much trouble that is to do what I'm asking... seems like I remember BB's come with a switchable jack.

95% of the time, I'm going to be using the 5-pin and it won't matter. I can imagine a scenario where a 1/4" cable and batteries is easier and faster, and a mono signal is necessary. I can also imagine using my headphones in a stereo practice mode, or the stereo chorus.

Hmmm. I'll have to ask sometime.

[KR]

I keep a stereo TRS to mono TS cable in my case at all times ---just in case of an issue finding an open AC outlet for my DS-5. My TRS to TS is a Belden 9271 blue cable with a large right angle TRS Neutrik jack with the resistors inside it and a mono TS for the amp end. I tend to use this cable a lot just for ease.

[JimmyJ]

Gregory,

You know Mica and the team can literally do anything that you think of.  But in all the years I've played these bases I've never had an occasion to run stereo out of the 1/4" jack.  For stereo operations I would always have either an IN-2 or a DS-5 power supply involved. 

I've used the 1/4" jack many times for tuning, like backstage before I get to my 5-pin cable.  And very occasionally to plug into somebody else's rig to play a song or two.  But I've converted all of my basses to mono at the 1/4" output for those occasions and so I could use any guitar cable.

The only time I ever plugged in headphones directly was years ago while working in a particularly noisy (rf) studio.  This was before Ron came up with the custom circuit tuning to reduce noise.  I plugged in a set of phone so I could walk around the building and find the quietest spot and direction that I needed to point the pickups.  I ended up playing in the lounge.  HA!  My point is, since it's bass p/u in one ear and bridge p/u in the other, I find the sound a bit disconcerting.  I would rather practice without an amp than use headphones in that way.  Or, better yet, get one of those little play-along rigs with a mono 1/4" input and a mini-stereo input so you can play along with albums...

Just my spin,
Jimmy J