Head phones

[Mlazarus]

Now, I mentioned headphones in the battery post only to comment about battery life, but this is specific:

When I switch the pickup selector to neck, I only hear the bass in the left ear. When I move the selector switch to the right, I only hear the bridge pickup in the right ear, and when I have the selector in the middle, I hear both pickups in both ears. I know it's because of the stereo set up. Is there a way to hear the individual pickups in BOTH ears when switching to each pickup? I don't know if there is a mono set of headphones. There has to be a way around?

[jazzyvee]

Are you plugging the headphones into the bass jack socket?

[mica]

You shouldn't hear both pickups in one ear if the wiring is original stereo wiring. If the bass pickup is in the left ear when you are on the single pickup, you should only hear the bass pickup in the left ear when you have both pickups selected. To confirm, tap on each pickup separately when in the both mode with a screwdriver and you should hear the tapping only in one ear. Can you confirm this?

[Mlazarus]

Yes, the headphones are in the 1/4 jack.

i don't hear both pickups in one ear. I get the Neck pickup in the left ear when the switch in on Neck--I hear Bridge pickup in Right ear when selector is on Bridge. I hear both pickups in BOTH ears when i set the selector to both/middle. I think this is correct. NO?

[edwardofhuncote]

Well. I almost want to wait and see where this one careens off to before I run in and jack it up worse. What the ham-biskit, I worked all night...   

Okay... I think I know what you mean. You want to isolate (hear) only one pickup, either the bridge or neck, discreetly, but in both ears at once. If that's it, then yes, there are switchable stereo/mono headphones made. I have a crappy set I use at work to locate bad modules on membrane filters. Literally, to amplify a piezo signal... kind of an electronic stethoscope. The monaural image makes it easier to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. The sound quality couldn't matter less, so a super-cheap set of cans is what I got. I bet some outfit on this warm, wet world makes some that don't suck.


I think it'll work on a stereo jack on a Series bass, but I can't say I ever thought to try exactly what you want to do here. Headphones, yeah. If it's very important to you, buy an el-cheapo set first to test, then, if this is a feature you just can't do without buy some good ones. That's all I got.


I miss my bed. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

I would bet $5 Federal that what you're hearing in the "both" setting is neck in left & bridge in right, not both in both.  Set it that way, hit a note, and crank one of the Filter knobs back & forth; I'm thinking it will only change in one ear.

Peter

[Mlazarus]

Cosmic your right. I hear one pickup in each ear when switch is set to both.  edwardofhuncote, your right, i would like to hear one pick up in both ears. I'll look for that special headphone. Too bad the batteries will still drain just as fast for plugging into the 1/4 jack.

[Mlazarus]

I also ordered a STEREO TO MONO adaptor. This may solve the problem.

[edwardofhuncote]

I also ordered a STEREO TO MONO adaptor. This may solve the problem.

I think it will actually create one. If you are converting the stereo output from your 1/4" jack to a mono signal, you will need a specially made adapter with summing resistors built into it. I'll have to look for it, but it's here somewhere. Just whatever you do, don't plug one of those Y-adapter thingys from Ripoff Shack into your bass. You could damage the opamps. So I hear.

[Mlazarus]

OK, edwardofhuncote. I'll wait. What do you do? Are you an engineer too?

[edwardofhuncote]

Here ya' go; sketch is courtesy of Jimmy J. He fixed me up with this one time when I was trying to figure out how to get a summed mono signal from a stereo-only power supply. It was a 1973 vintage unit that I really didn't want to mess with.


And no, I work for a Public Service Authority operating Water Treatment Plants, mainly specialized in automated membrane filtration systems.

[mica]

Thanks so much for your help, Greg!

[Mlazarus]

Mica, I did your tapping test. the pickups are heard the way you explained. neck in Left, Bridge in Right, both ears with middle selected. I have a stereo headphone.

[Mlazarus]

It's not super needed to have headphones. It's just interesting tech talk. Besides, it still drains the battery after 20 hours. No work around that.

[Mlazarus]

BUT......There is Hope on the horizon right! Ron is going design 'ALEMBIC headphones' for us to hear each pickup in both ears. I'm 1st on the list! LOL!


Plus, it is interesting to use headphones, because (you may have noticed) you are able to hear ALL your mistakes. When I played with the phones on, I realized when playing on the lower strings (D and G) the upper strings would ring open (unnecessary overtones). I then knew I had to 'dampen' those strings with my thumb. It's takes practice, but now my basslines are clearer and cleaner (no open string ring). I did not recognize that until I used headphones. So, I take back what i said about it not being that important. IT IS a great method to recognize unwanted open string sounds. The player is forced to use the upper (unplayed) strings as a rest/dampener. My playing is getting cleaner now, thanks to being able to HEAR the mistakes. Thanks headphones! Try what I experienced to clean up your act too.