DIY Cable for regular basses with DS5/5-R - 1/4" Mono to 5-pin

[OJ Dorson]

Since I've finally become the caretaker for another Series I and can put my DS5-R into my system again, I've been trying to figure out how to make my rig handle Series I and regular 1/4" Mono basses without switching a bunch of cables. I've been considering drilling holes in the front panel and adding a switch to choose between a regular bass' mono input sent to both Neck and Bridge output and proper stereo operation from a Series I using the 5-pin input, but I just haven't loved the idea of modifying my DS5-R.

Finally, inspiration hit... I replaced the 1/4" mono plug on one end of a cable I already had with a 5-pin male connector. I wired the ground to pin 1 and shield and bridged the signal wire across pins 2 & 3. I left the voltage pins disconnected. 

Here's the rig:
- DS5-R - in stereo mode
- WJBAII
--- Neck pickup on channel 2 panned right (to send output to Genzler BA12-3 SLT)
--- Bridge pickup on channel 1 panned left (to send output to Genzler BA210 SLT)

It's working great... and I'm wondering if there's anything I should've done differently... What do y'all think? Are there any problems with a 1/4" mono to 5pin cable? Am I losing any signal strength by putting it across both neck and bridge pins?

Should I boost immediately beforehand? I'd been thinking of using the voltage to power a boost circuit like a Bartolini AGDB...

[pauldo]

I know just a little bit more about electronics than an Amish guy.

I do know that looking at a picture of your rig made me go ooooohhh!    It looks very impressive.

[OJ Dorson]

I know just a little bit more about electronics than an Amish guy.

I do know that looking at a picture of your rig made me go ooooohhh!    It looks very impressive.

Thanks, Pauldo!! I'm real happy with it... pieced it together from bargains and flipping bargains until I had what I wanted. That Wayne Jones two channel amp is really pretty special!

[JimmyJ]

Just so I’m understanding… when you use your non-Alembic basses you swap to this cable with a mono 1/4” plug on the bass end and your modified 5-pin male connector on the DS5-R end, is that right?  As long as your non-Alembics are happy with the way that “loads” the instruments then I think you’re good to go. If they seem to be lacking something you could try a simple buffer amp before your new cable. Good hack - DS5-R as a fancy Y-cable. 

Jimmy J

[OJ Dorson]

Just so I’m understanding… when you use your non-Alembic basses you swap to this cable with a mono 1/4” plug on the bass end and your modified 5-pin male connector on the DS5-R end, is that right?  As long as your non-Alembics are happy with the way that “loads” the instruments then I think you’re good to go. If they seem to be lacking something you could try a simple buffer amp before your new cable. Good hack - DS5-R as a fancy Y-cable. 

Jimmy J

Yep - when I use a non-Alembic, of Alembic with only a mono 1/4" output, I just swap cables. I haven't tried all my basses, but something tells me I'm probably going to end up doing an inline buffer using the voltage available in the 5-pin connector. That will be a very cool cable!

[BeenDown139]

my home setup does essentially the same thing:  split amp mode for the series basses, tandem/parallel mode for the mono instruments.  since the mono instruments  all have active outputs they seem to have no problem driving 2 paralled amplifier inputs.  i whipped up a stompbox with a DPDT relay to configure the amplifier inputs so when i go from a mono to stereo bass, i just hit the switch.

i only gig with the mono instruments (so far), so i use a Y- cable to parallel whichever 2 amps i take with me to a gig.

i suppose a purist would tell me i need to buffer the instrument outputs before driving parallel amp inputs.  if i was using passive basses and cheap amps i think it might be a problem. 

[fivestringdan]

Great idea, OJ! I have the same preamp and was going to make a Y cable with 1/4 connectors for the Anniversary electronics. I don't have the rack version of the DS5 but it's worth experimenting with.

[OJ Dorson]

Great idea, OJ! I have the same preamp and was going to make a Y cable with 1/4 connectors for the Anniversary electronics. I don't have the rack version of the DS5 but it's worth experimenting with.

I remember you got one of those - you're happy with it, now? I found the WJBAII version with the built-in 1000wpc amps, so now my WJBPII preamp is up on reverb. (I'll do a really fair deal for a club member if they reach out directly to me!).