Anyone got a way to power the LEDs on a series bass without using the DS-5?

[jazzyvee]

i have some video/tv shoots coming this year which require playing to backing tracks. I plan on using a series bass for these and would like to make or have made a device that could power the bass through the 5 pin socket just to put the leds on. Any suggestions or a circuit diagram i can take to my local electronics wizard?
Or do you have one to sell?
I have seen something on the forum in the past for powering the bass to use a wireless transmitter, but i don't have a need for one.

[JimmyJ]

My first suggestion would be to simply bring the DS-5.  But maybe you are anticipating being filmed playing in the middle of a football pitch or something?  In that case, here's the story:

The DS-5 supplies around +/- 18 volts DC (that's "plus and minus" 18V) for a total "swing" of around 36VDC.  Meaning from our ground point of pin-1 of our 5-pin connector, pin-4 has +18VDC and pin-5 has -18VDC. That's a handy number because two 9-volt batteries in series makes 18V.  So four 9-volt batteries connected together in series with a tap off between the pairs would give you "0" and +/- 18V and should be able to light up your LEDs for at least a while...

A simple pack of 4-9V batteries should do it.  I can scribble out the circuit if my description is confusing.  Also, this is only a couple resistors and a jack away from powering the bass for a wireless transmitter... just sayin'

Jimmy J

[lbpesq]

My Further employs four 9v batteries to power the LEDs.   IIRC, there should be a thread around here somewhere where a guy made a battery pack for a Series Bass.   I’m thinking he may have used a couple of Altoid boxes, maybe?

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

Thanks Jimmy, and Bill, I was looking for that battery pack but didn't remember the altoids bit. I will search again.
Jimmy I did bring the DS-5 a few years back when I was doing a video shoot and that worked out well as we were each filmed separately against a black background but these other ones are likely to be where there is no power. I could just use the bass as is but just want the lights on for effect :-), but as you say, it's only a short step to having an output for a wireless so that would make sense. In the meantime the quick and dirty fix if i don't get the battery pack done in time wold be to peel the fretFX strip off my Elan bass and put it on the edge of my S2 bass and hope i don't break it in the process and get a short jack lead that i can plug in and tape to the back of the bass so it looks like I have a wireless thingy. :-)

[jazzyvee]

Ok I managed to find that link and will look into getting one sorted out.
For future reference: https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=734

thanks guys.

[BeenDown139]

In the meantime the quick and dirty fix if i don't get the battery pack done in time wold be to peel the fretFX strip off my Elan bass and put it on the edge of my S2 bass and hope i don't break it in the process and get a short jack lead that i can plug in and tape to the back of the bass so it looks like

If you wind up doing that I'd like to know how it goes in case I ever need to move one of mine

[jazzyvee]

Well i can tell you it doesn't stick well after being removed and put on another bass but then that is stated in the documentation. It's also quite delicate and could break the wires if you are not careful. some fresh strong double sided tape would hold it though.

[lbpesq]

Wow, I remembered the double Altoid box from nine years ago!  I guess I still have a few brain cells left!

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

[gtrguy]

"The DS-5 supplies around +/- 18 volts DC (that's "plus and minus" 18V) for a total "swing" of around 36VDC"

With Direct Currant (non-AC) wouldn't +/- 18 volts mean it supplies around 18 volts give or take some? I am confused as to why it would fluctuate.

[JimmyJ]

"The DS-5 supplies around +/- 18 volts DC (that's "plus and minus" 18V) for a total "swing" of around 36VDC"

With Direct Currant (non-AC) wouldn't +/- 18 volts mean it supplies around 18 volts give or take some? I am confused as to why it would fluctuate.

No it doesn't fluctuate, the DC current is steady.  But it's a "dual" power supply in that there is minus 18VDC appearing on our pin-5 and plus 18VDC appearing on pin-4.  If you put a volt meter's negative probe on pin-5 and the positive probe on pin-1 (ground) you would see about 18VDC.  If you moved the negative probe to pin-1 (ground) and the positive probe to pin-4 you would also see 18VDC.  With the negative probe on pin-5 and the positive probe on pin-4 you'd see 36VDC. That's probably not any clearer.    

Jimmy J

[jazzyvee]

Ok i got a reply back from the electronics guy who said. It's not something he usually does but if I get the parts and a circuit diagram he will build one for me. So Mr Johnson if you have that circuit diagram hanging around that would be great. 👍🏾

[JimmyJ]

OK, here you go, hope this makes sense.  You need to be careful and certain of the pin numbers on the 5-pin connector.  This drawing is the front side of a female connector which puts pin-1 in the upper right.  But of course if you're soldering from the back side, it's upper left...  Your guy will understand.  Pin-5 must be the negative voltage and pin-4 the positive.  I can't do the math to tell you how long this setup will power the bass and LEDs but I would think it would at least get you through many video takes.

[jazzyvee]

Thanks Jimmy. So For bass mono out, the summing resistors go to between pins 2 & 3 then to the jack socket and pin 1 to earth/ground tab?

[jazzyvee]

I guess i can be less cryptic   since the lineup for the first of these gigs has now been announced on fb, and we were told no to give away details on the lineup on social media etc.
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=26878.msg276934#msg276934
And 2 points to Mr J Johnson for his correct Thought about "playing in the middle of a football pitch or something". It's in the middle of a sports stadium. In fact one i used to compete in at senior school athletics competitions. More details in the link.
So stick on Leds tonight.

[JimmyJ]

... So For bass mono out, the summing resistors go to between pins 2 & 3 then to the jack socket and pin 1 to earth/ground tab?

That's correct.

Hey, cool gig!  But certainly there will be AC power available onstage, no?  And you will likely be lit with bright stage lights anyway.  Have a GREAT time!

Jimmy J