Author Topic: Question for val or mica (Read 405 times)

keavin · « **on:** March 28, 2004, 12:34:51 PM »

my bass works fine (only when the 1/4 jack is plugged in the bass along with the power cable) the 1/4 jack bypassing the power supply unit going straight to the amp, when i plug the 1/4 into the powersupply (bass or treble) (input) theres a loud hum (the power cable still powers the bass though) but the inputs are tripping!,,,,.my question is could it be a capasitor or a resistor? im pretty good at fixing little things. also my bass will not work with batterys,ive tried it several times ,it only works with the setup that i explained early in the thread , .......and the biggest problem is i wont ship it anymore because i dont have a flight case,& the last time i shipped it, it came back headless!!! ,and i fixed it myself,(it was a clean break)so i bought the best glue i could find and that did it, so please tell me what you thik it might need.............thanks ,keavin

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2004, 12:42:06 AM »

another thing is i know both the bass & the power supply are both 32 yrs old,could it be old age? or leaving the power suppply plugged into the wall while not using it?, or is this a common problem? its been like this for over 10 yrs. the electronics are s/II & power supply the ds5 model.( bass #12)

mica · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2004, 12:47:39 PM »

Talked with dad about the problem you're experiencing with your bass.

He's suspecting the 5-pin cable and suggests this test to see if his hunch is correct. Connect the bass in the normal fashion:

BASS #12 -----5pin------DS5------Amp

He wants you to connect a ground wire between the 1/4 output of the bass and the 1/4 input of the power supply. If the hum is eliminated, then the 5-pin cable is the likely cause. You can replace the cable yourself if you're handy with a soldering iron. We use Belden 8424 or 1192A (it's a little smaller and easier to fit into the connectors).

One other thing is that he expects to have the power supply disconnected when you plug into the 1/4 output, so what you're reporting is an unusual wiring since you're using the 1/4 for the output and the 5pin for the power. Email me your mailing address and I can send you schematics, maybe your output wiring needs addressing as well.

keavin · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2004, 01:14:05 PM »

hey thanks mica! ok heres my e-mail adress extraterrestrialalembicsounds@msn.com, and you can send the schematics . thank you very much. ill try this as soon as i get to my studio!

effclef · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2004, 01:32:19 PM »

Keavin, if you are comfortable with a soldering iron, you can also cut back the cable at the broken end a foot or two, and resolder to the connector, if the plug itself is in good shape.

If you have a multimeter (or can borrow one) you can also check the resistance of the wiring, to see if each pin makes it from one end to the other.

EffClef

keavin · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2004, 01:54:55 PM »

ok great! gotcha!!

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2004, 03:52:42 PM »

Keavin, I need you to email me your physical mailing address (street or po box) for the schematics. Email me at mica@alembic.com

keavin · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2004, 01:29:52 PM »

mica or val? theres just one more small problem,the bass will not operate or play with batterys, any more suggestions? (the battery posts are new),

mica · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2004, 02:39:47 PM »

That's why I sent you the schematics.

One other thing is that he expects to have the power supply disconnected when you plug into the 1/4 output, so what you're reporting is an unusual wiring since you're using the 1/4 for the output and the 5pin for the power. Email me your mailing address and I can send you schematics, maybe your output wiring needs addressing as well.

Once you get the schematics, you can check the wiring is done to spec.

keavin · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2004, 03:04:25 PM »

ok thanks !!!

effclef · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2004, 07:45:09 AM »

Keavin, did you ever get the hum issue solved?

EffClef

keavin · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2004, 08:14:00 AM »

yep!!! sure did!!!,she's sittin on daddys lap rite now, & she wants to get plugged up!!!!

effclef · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2004, 04:54:15 AM »

Yeah, I know, night after night! :-)

So what did it take to fix it? I am curious
what parts were bad.

EffClef

keavin · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2004, 06:01:57 AM »

thats funny every time i think of that!,(my wife was like, what the hell?)... had just got that printer and was trying to figuer it out ,.but my problem was the powercable(5pin),i guess after32 yrs of twistin and yankin it around night after night took its toll but its fine now.

effclef · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2004, 06:11:49 AM »

Hee hee hee... Mr. Freud could have a little talk with you.

So it was just the cable - that's great. But I thought there was a battery issue also?

Just goes to show the things are built to last. I can imagine how many George L 1/4 cables you'd go thru in that time.

EffClef