Grangur Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 Hi all, I've been mucking about with the pre-amp in my Thunder. At the moment it's distorted in active mode. It sounds like it's going through a Big Muff. I'm struggling to find the problem. What I'd like to ask is does anyone actually play using the pre-amp in a Westone Thunder 1A? To me the function is quirky, but not a useful as a simple bass/mid/treble would be. To change it to this, I'd need to rout and drill another hole, but would this make it more user friendly? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 You could try a treble/bass stacked pot then you'd use the existing three holes for vol, treb/bass, mid if you go for a three band preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 (edited) [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1474825817' post='3140841'] You could try a treble/bass stacked pot then you'd use the existing three holes for vol, treb/bass, mid if you go for a three band preamp. [/quote] Fair point. Do you know where I can get a stacked pot with 50K impedance on each? Best Bass Gear in the USA do one, but you're looking at $19 plus shipping and taxes. Edited September 26, 2016 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 I think you might struggle to find anything cheaper for a 50K stack pot - another option is remove the active on/off toggle and enlarge the hole to take another pot. Are you keeping the dual tone (coil tap) toggle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Seems too obvious but have you tried changing the battery? I had one years ago and IIRC when the battery was low the bass sounded like it was through a distortion pedal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1474892229' post='3141255'] Seems too obvious but have you tried changing the battery? I had one years ago and IIRC when the battery was low the bass sounded like it was through a distortion pedal... [/quote] Thanks Mick, but yes, I think the pre-amp may be beyond repair really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1474891376' post='3141244'] I think you might struggle to find anything cheaper for a 50K stack pot - another option is remove the active on/off toggle and enlarge the hole to take another pot. Are you keeping the dual tone (coil tap) toggle? [/quote] That's a thought. The other switch doesn't really do much. So it wouldn't be much of a loss. I'd like to keep one of the switches as a passive/active switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 You've not mentioned what preamp you're thinking of using (so I don't know what options it offers) but if you keep a passive/active switch do you intend to run the pickup with no tone shaping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 (edited) I have a pre-amp from a Warwick Rockbass. It's actually designed for a 2 pup bass. So I don't know if I'll use that. the other alternative could be to use a pre-amp like the one used in the Musicman Sabre. I don't think it has shaping. TBH I have a bass with shaping and it all seems a bit complicated for a simple bass noob like me. That said\; the MM Sabre Pre calls for a 1M Reverse Log pot. Don't know where I can get one of those. Edited September 26, 2016 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1474905922' post='3141422'] You've not mentioned what preamp you're thinking of using (so I don't know what options it offers) but if you keep a passive/active switch do you intend to run the pickup with no tone shaping? [/quote] I've been playing around with the electronics tonight. I connected the pickup straight to a jack. The output quality was so much better than anything I ever heard from this through the pre-amp. Now, having connected it back, it won't output anything now, without the batteries fitted. There's certainly something weird going on with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Have you tried googling 'Westone thunder 1a preamp schematic' ? I just did that and there are wiring diagrams out there. They mean absolutely nothing to me at all, but might be a starting point for getting your problem sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1474974950' post='3141917'] Have you tried googling 'Westone thunder 1a preamp schematic' ? I just did that and there are wiring diagrams out there. They mean absolutely nothing to me at all, but might be a starting point for getting your problem sorted. [/quote] Many thanks for your input. You mean like this one? That's a diagram for how to wire the bass, treating the preamp as a "black box". What I'm needing would look more like this: If you've found one then I'll be really grateful for a link. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Did you know there was a Westone bass forum ? [url="http://forum.westoneguitars.net/t4150-thunder-1a-wiring-without-active-circuit"]http://forum.westoneguitars.net/t4150-thunder-1a-wiring-without-active-circuit[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 (edited) I did, but I've not enrolled. Maybe I should. Many thanks Mind you, there are enough folk there re-wiring their Thunders without the pre-amp already. It looks like the Pre-amps are dropping like flies. Edited September 27, 2016 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 I think a few people thought the same as you with the functionality of the preamp controls and either prefer without, or want one that works well. Do you have a closeup picture of your preamp? It could be an old cap going, or a dry,poor solder joint causing the problem. When i got hold of a preamp, i think the underside (with all the solder) was in a poor state, i managed to re solder a few points and it started working again. Maybe try that. Though im sure someone out there may want the preamp if you dont, even broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1474907316' post='3141440'] ...the other alternative could be to use a pre-amp like the one used in the Musicman Sabre. [/quote] Also a 'quirky' design ! Anything from the Artec stable be of interest ? I've used them in a few basses and have been impressed, lots of options. http://www.artecsound.com/pickups/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 Artec looks interesting, but isn't 27mm deep? I'd have to measure to see if that would fit. Thanks anyway. I'm sure Artec konw what they're doing, or they wouldn't sell anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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