Author Topic: DS-5R/F-2B mods (Read 481 times)

crgaston · « **on:** February 06, 2006, 07:00:38 AM »

It sure would be cool if the DS-5R had, in addition to the two 1/4 outs, 2 balanced outputs with ground lifts and independent output level knobs built in. That way it would be really easy to send two direct signals to the board.

Even better would be the same 2 direct outs on an F-2B, but pre/post switchable. Is there room inside the chassis for that? Is there any reason it couldn't be done?

kmh364 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2006, 07:21:28 AM »

There should be room in the power supply box, but the F-2B is pretty tight. Never say never, though. There are pix on here of the interiors of all four Alembic rack-mounts (i.e., DS-5R, F-1X, F2-B, and SF-2) on here somewhere, if I remember correctly.

Alembic might be able to do both, but I doubt it would be cheap and I doubt they'd be able to to turn it around quickly. Rami had a DS specially modifed for his Custom and it took a long time to complete, what with Ron's historically backlogged schedule of work.

An independent tech may be your best bet, just make sure your warrantee(s) has expired because you probably will be without it if you undertake unauthorized mods.

(Message edited by kmh364 on February 06, 2006)

edwin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2006, 05:56:17 PM »

It would be pretty simple to build the DIs into the DS5. Pretty much all you would need would be a couple of transformers (Jensens are nice as are the Reichenbach equivalent). I wouldn't bother with volume controls, though. Usually the output of a Jensen is perfect for a console preamp input and a volume control could decrease the signal to noise ratio. The hardest part would be punching the holes in the case.

You might also consider an active circuit, but that would get a lot more complicated and also would probably require some power supply mods.

Edwin

crgaston · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2006, 08:38:53 PM »

Thanks, Edwin. That was kind of what I was thinking, but not having seen the inside of a DS-5R, (and looking at quite a wait before mine gets here) wanted to ask so I could have the parts ready to go when it does arrive. Would I just add a lead from the hot and ground of the regular outs to the transformers? I can drill and solder fine enough to make cables but don't know squat about electronics.
Charles

(Message edited by crgaston on February 09, 2006)

Bradley Young · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2006, 02:17:27 PM »

I'd be interested in something like this, too. Any chance, Edwin, of a diagram?

Brad

edwin · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2006, 04:37:33 PM »

It's pretty much as Charles says. If you go to the Jensen site, they have downloads of the schematics of their transformers, http://www.jensen-transformers.com/db.html is the page you want and the transformer that would work the best is probably the JT-DB-E. That will show you how it all goes together.

Hm, maybe I'll do this!

Edwin

dela217 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2006, 07:29:42 PM »

Well, it's been done before. By Alembic. It is called the Alembic IN-2. It is a rack mount power supply with balanced line outs for each pickup. The balanced outs have ground lifts and switches to reverse phase if need be. There is a 5 way switch that lets you run mono/stero A, or B channel combined or reversed. It also seems that you can use it as an effects loop, but I never had the chance to try it. It really is a versatile tool if you have a series bass. Problem is that they made so few of these, they are quite tough to find. I am not sure how many were made, but I think that they could be orderded in the mid 70's. If anyone wants, I can post pics of the inside of mine if that helps.

It seems that the DS5-R has enough space inside of it to make the mods. Perhaps Mica can supply us with a schematic of the IN-2?

Michael

(Message edited by dela217 on February 11, 2006)

crgaston · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:17:10 PM »

Great info, Edwin and Michael!

I am also wondering what the other alternatives for running a Series in stereo to the board would be. Does anybody actually do this on a club/frat gig level? Seems like the simplest thing to do would be run through 2 separate DI's for the board and then sum the signals for the stage into an F1-X (which I have) or run an F2-B (which I don't), but that's a lot of clutter. Would there be enough gain to run from the DS-5R to a stereo Ashly EQ, then to the power amp without a dedicated preamp? The Ashly EQ's have both balanced and unbalanced outs, so the signal could be split there...

Charles

Bradley Young · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2006, 10:20:30 PM »

I'm thinking that I'd like to one-up the whole thing and put a firewire based sound card (i.e. a D-A converter) in the box, and then just run firewire into a PC for effects and whatnot.

I could then use MIDI footswitches to change effects, etc.

Hmmm... it could work.

Brad

2400wattman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2006, 02:27:06 PM »

How about those schematics so I can screw up my ds-5r? Or somebody out there confident enough to do a superb job?

crgaston · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2006, 03:30:38 PM »

http://www.jensen-transformers.com/datashts/dbe.pdf

Here it is. Let me know how it works before I try it on mine ;-)
(I don't actually have one yet.)

Seriously, though, anybody who works on amps or other electronic devices should be able to do it with the schematic, if you don't want to try it yourself.

How about 2 on back for the power amp, and 2 on front for the house?

2400wattman · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2006, 08:18:55 AM »

These are'nt the same guys that make those baaad(as in not good) car stereo's?

edwin · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2006, 11:47:16 AM »

The are most definitely not the car stereo people. Jensen transformers are classics and made with the utmost attention to detail and sound quality. Kind of like other manufacturers we like to associate with!

Edwin

s_wood · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2006, 04:52:50 PM »

Well, while we are dreaming...

I wish that Alembic made a one or 2 space rack device that combined an F1-X preamp (with an added tuner out circuit), a Superfilter and a DS-5R. Adding a high-quality DI to the unt would make perfect sense - Sort of the ultimate Alembic rackmount device.

(Message edited by s_wood on April 17, 2006)

crgaston · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2006, 05:51:58 PM »

Well, Alembic doesn't, but look here...
http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/26704.html?1144455634
One of these plus an SF-2 would be everything you asked for and more in 2 rack spaces.