Author Topic: Stupid Question? (Read 199 times)

jacko · « **on:** August 23, 2006, 08:18:52 AM »

Forgive me for being a bit slow today. Am I correct in thinking that the 1/4 jack in NEW series basses is wired in mono and will send the signals for both pickups? I seem to recall reading that on earlier basses, the jack only sent one pickup.

Graeme

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2006, 08:22:59 AM »

That's what I recall as well. But there have also been stereo jacks plus a mono/stereo toggle switch, so you can use a mono cord anyway.

jacko · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2006, 08:27:40 AM »

Would the mono/stereo toggle send both pickups down a mono cord?

Graeme

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2006, 08:47:14 AM »

My understanding of electronics is limited, so if you'll excuse the half-witted explanation ...

On a mono jack, there are two contact points: one for the tip of the plug, and one for the sleeve. On a stereo jack, there are three, with a contact for the isolated ring between the tip and the sleeve.

The two signals in a stereo jack can work with three wires, since earth can be shared. For mono operation, the toggle switch would have to sum the two signals onto the contact for the tip (IIRC, this is done with a simple resistor) and also disconnect the contact for the ring. The ring contact will be touching the sleeve of the mono plug, but since it's disconnected it's practically the same as earth, so that shouldn't be a problem.

keith_h · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2006, 09:00:36 AM »

As I recall the default for newer Series instruments is to feed both pickups to the 1/4 jack. For older ones it can be done but requires some resistors be added. The directions are here on the site somewhere.

As far as switching this is exactly what the Anniversary Electronics do. With the switch in mono both pickups are fed to the tip of a mono plug. In stereo they are split between the tip and ring of a stereo plug.

Keith

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2006, 10:48:47 AM »

You can add a stereo/mono switch to any Series I/II electronics. Email me your mailing address and I can send you a service sheet on how to do it. In the mono mode, both pickups are present in a mono cable. In the stereo mode, one pickup is present in a mono cable, and both are present in a stereo cable. You can also plug stereo headphones directly in a stereo wired jack or in the stereo mode if you have a switch.

For dedicated stereo or mono wiring, see this post in the FAQ.

Older ones were dedicated stereo 1/4 output. Sometime in the late 80's we changed to dedicated mono, since everyone kept calling and thinking one of their pickups was dead, and it makes sense to have an output you can use with any old guitar cord.

You can always specify the wiring of your choice on a custom order, and the stereo/mono switch is not an additional charge on a new build. Some people even skip the 1/4 jack alltogether.

jacko · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2006, 12:45:48 AM »

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just to elaborate a little, i've been getting some serious GAS lately and would love to have a new bass with series electronics. I just didn't want to have to rebuild my rig in stereo to get the benefits;-)
Station music in germany has been getting alot of my attention lately, especially this...

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2006, 12:59:50 AM »

After a bit of reading, I believe the Anniversary electronics are the series 1 without the 5 pin connector. Does that sound right?

graeme

adriaan · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2006, 02:03:46 AM »

The Series packages has the SC1 single coils with the HX dummy humcanceller, plus a tricked-out preamp that requires the external power supply, or can run on batteries for a limited amount of time.

Anniversary seems to be the same as Signature, which has humcancelling pickups (AXY) with a slightly less sophisticated pre-amp that can run on a single 9V battery for months - the only difference appears to be that Anniversary has 2 volumes instead of volume+blend, and that it has a stereo jack, with the stereo/mono toggle.

bkbass · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2006, 12:34:12 PM »

I may be mistaken but, I believe the birth of the anniversary bass also created the birth of the fatboy pickups they just didn't call them fatboy's until the introduction of the Excel.Can anyone confirm?