Author Topic: Remote power for Essence? (Read 253 times)

essenceman · « **on:** August 22, 2006, 02:54:53 AM »

Just a thought. Has anybody out there ever rewired a non-Series bass for remote power rather than using batteries? I suppose it would need you to use a 4 pin XLR (Earth (Ground), Signal, 9v + and 9V-). Looking at the wiring to the jack in my Essence, there seems to be a lot more going on than Earth, signal and 9v switching.
It's something I'm considering, so I would appreciate thoughts and help that any of you might have.
Thanks.
Rob

dfung60 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2006, 10:27:30 PM »

You can certainly do this, but you'll also need a high-quality external power supply on the other end. There are certainly alternatives to the (very expensive) DS-5 that comes with the Series basses, but it will be additional cost and hassle regardless.

Since your signal out is mono, you don't need a 5-pin cable, but life will probably be a lot easier for you if you go ahead and use the 5-pin connectors and cable that the Series bass uses. You're probably going to have a pretty hard time finding 4-pin XLR parts anywhere or at any reasonble cost. At least Alembic can supply you with 5-pin parts. In this case, you'd just send your bass' signal down the bass/neck channel since that's where the mono merge comes out on the DS-5.

I don't know the Essence output jack at all, but if it looks like there's a lot of wires there, Alembic probably was using a jack with a dedicated switch to control power rather than doing this with the sleeve connector. The wiring on the Series bass 1/4 jack is pretty unbelievable.

David Fung

essenceman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2006, 12:54:55 AM »

Thanks for the response, David.

To be honest 4 pin XLRs are very reasonable here in the UK, so that's not an issue. Obviously 3s and 5s are more commonly available, but I know where I can buy 4s mail order or online.

For clarity, I should have included a photo of the Essence electronics, so here it is (probably just a little bit simpler than a Series II !!!)

popjpeg{30825,Essence electrics}
popjpeg{30826,Close up of jack}

To aid you in navigation, the top control is Pan, Volume to the left and Filter with a Q switch attached at the bottom. As you can see from the jack there are 3 wires (red, black & purple) going to the volume control and then red and black to the battery. The problem is, I havent seen a jack socket like this one before and I use a mono jack plug.

Hope this helps to clarify things a bi.

Cheers
Rob

essenceman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2006, 01:08:39 AM »

It would have been a good idea to put the right code in to show the images!!! Thanks for the response, David. To be honest 4 pin XLRs are very reasonable here in the UK, so that's not an issue. Obviously 3s and 5s are more commonly available, but I know where I can buy 4s mail order or online. For clarity, I should have included a photo of the Essence electronics, so here it is (probably just a little bit simpler than a Series II !!!)

To aid you in navigation, the top control is Pan, Volume to the left and Filter with a Q switch attached at the bottom.

As you can see from the jack there are 3 wires (red, black & purple) going to the volume control and then red and black to the battery. The problem is, I havent seen a jack socket like this one before and I use a mono jack plug. Hope this helps to clarify things a bit. Cheers Rob

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2006, 10:39:53 AM »

3-pins will get you covered. Using an XLR type plug, pin one mates beofre the others and would be the ground and the shield of the cable. Connect the purple wire to pin 2, and the red/white to pin 3.

If you use a 4-pin, you won't use pin 4, but you will be able to tell it from you microphone cables.

essenceman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2006, 12:50:37 AM »

Thanks for that, Mica.

Presumably at the amp/power supply end, shield & 9v- will go to pin 1, signal will go to pin2 and 9v+ to pin 3. Am I correct?

Rob