rmorris

I know what you mean. I've previously used a switch on the bass to switch on/off rather than the jack socket. But I had a spare switch position after changing the pickup to one that didn't have series/parallel switching. I don't suppose you really want to fit an extra switch to the bass ?

Basically what nekomatic said. The jack socket in the bass has three terminals - TRS - and so using a 2core + screen cable (ie a standard 'balanced' cable) you can effectively extend those connections and so be able to connect / disconnect the R+S connections to power (or not) the electronics. I can see a possible issue in that you can't afaik get the 'low noise' type cable usually used for connection to passive instruments with Hi-Z pickups in a 2core/twisted pair format. This wouldn't be connecting to a passive instrument so it might not be a problem but the output impedance of an active bass might not be as low as we would want - depending on the electronics detail.

True for a standard guitar jack plug is a TS. But if you use a TRS 'Stereo/Balanced' jack plug you can move the switching outside the guitar. I do think it's a bit inelegant though.

Assuming you don't want to fit a switch to the bass itself: the connection is made by the sleeve connection of the TS jack plug. If you had a TRS jack plug at the instrument end you could look at fitting a switch between the 'R' and 'S' connections. Might be a bit trick / cumbersome though depending on your priorities. And I suppose you could build a box to do the same thing by running the TRS cable to it and switch there. With cable to amp running from the switch box to amp. Is it worth the bother ?

Yes - but tbf wiring the power to a 'digital' pedal (not forgetting that analogue delay pedals still have clock edges) more directly back to the power source (in this case the battery) will minimise the problem by reducing the common impedance. Just don't try daisy chaining a KORG G5 ! Of course, it all depends on how critical you are with this stuff - or how critical your sound / recording engineer is. In the past I've spent a fair amount of time in pro-audio development and lots of time with instrumentation/noise/EMC issues in general so I might be more "fussy" than some ! Speaking of which I should really go and do some work 🙂

Point taken about it being powered by a battery and not AC mains via transformer. But a "ground loop" doesn't rely on there being ac or a transformer involved in powering the system. That supply will help in that the individual outputs make the system wiring more like a 'star' topology as opposed to a 'daisy chain' (assuming one power cable pair is taken directly to one fx unit only. So the ability of the ground reference of one fx to be modulated by another is reduced. And with a typical daisy chain with 'linear analogue' pedals the results are likely fine - at least for live / rehearsal use if possibly not studio work depending on the context - we have taken mains related noise out of the equation and with typical Hi-Z instrument pickups they are the dominant source of noise. The obvious problems can come up when using fx that have clocks and/or microprocessors etc. Yes - different fx will have different characteristics here depending on the circuit and filtering (I'm considering conducted noise here) but there is always some that gets out and particularly common mode noise. But in addition you have the susceptibility of a loop to have noise induced into it from an external source. eg Thyristor Dimmed Lighting. Since you have two ground connections to/from each pedal - power cable 0V and the signal cable screen then you have a loop by definition. Minimising the loop cross sectional area minimises susceptibility so this points to running power connections as close to signal connections as practicable. And/or placing 'ground loop breaker' components in your patch leads but that's not the easiest thing to implement physically esp with small jack plugs and maybe not realistic at all with the flat 'pancake' jacks plugs. I opt to make life easy and go with electrically isolated supplies.

No. In that you're never working with only DC. A "noisy ground" has AC on it by definition else it wouldn't be noisy. One of the problems in talking about this stuff is that the term "Ground Loop" is used to describe several different, if related, scenarios. The presence of a "Ground Loop" does not require an association with an AC Mains Supply or any connection to the planet Earth. eg Unbalanced connections, relatively high impedances and clock signals (eg from a Digital Delay pedal) add up to a likely noise problem with power supplies that share a common "Ground". Not my original but useful : "Ground is a concept not a voltage node".

Yes. They won't avoid "Ground Loops" and so may give rise to noise problems esp with "Digital" pedals. It's not always obvious. Eg the Thomann "Powerplant Junior" is galvanically isolated while the larger "Powerplant" is not.

Just a note to say that if you put batteries in parallel for higher current capability you might want to put small resistors (say 10 Ohm) from each to a common output point. This limits the amount of current from one to the other due to differences in the individual voltages of each. Whether necessary depends on the batteries themselves and particularly their chemistry type - eg Lithium Ion / NiMH etc etc.

Yes. In series - just like multiple batteries in a torch - or anything.

I'd recommend that too. Not necessarily Dremel but that type of rotary multi tool. Possibly with a stand depending on how confident / fussy you're being - although obviously not useful for a contoured surface. But you can use the polishing accessories for the fret ends etc. too.

Well Done ! Do you know what type of wood you were drilling into ?

Quick question - anyone had / tried one of these 'vintage' Guyatone Octavers ?

yes - I have one of those. But just to be clear it carries an unbalanced signal via two of the oins only. Either direct from the ()stock) Hi-Z pickups or via the on board preamp. So not providing a 'DI' output in the sense of a low-Z balanced output.

Well it adds a bit of cost all other things being equal. Not really much in component costs but when manufacturing and retail margins multiply that by whatever it can be a bit off a price differential. Various degrees of sophistication. I guess we've all experienced the amp setup where there's a noticeable downward frequency sweep then a worrying noise when you turn the thing off ...🙄

The 'thump' comes from the power supply turn on and power amp so turning the gain / vol down doesn't really affect that. But it will stop noises when plugging / unplugging bass of fx chain into the preamp input. You will probably get a 'noise' if you plug the speaker jack (?) in as well as there is no existing 'Ground' connection and with a jack connection (as opposed to eg a Speakon) there is a sequence of connection as the plug is inserted. HiFi amps often implement 'anti-thump' by waiting a few seconds after turn on (when the psu has stabilised) then switching the 'live' speaker signal via relay - the 'Ground/Black' signal is already connected. Other circuit techniques are based around controlling the rise time of the voltage rails to avoid fast transients.

This ending soon. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1a-Active-Bass-guitar-1984-Complete-with-non-original-hard-case-/303967170426?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

Make sure it's a bolt-on neck bass so you can replace the neck and save the body if it all goes wrong...

I hear that a lot and it makes sense - except that depending on the relief it can allow for 'back rattle' where a fretted string buzzes against a fret on it's 'non-sounding' section back to the nut/first fret. You can, of course, argue that the string shouldn't be moving there - but it can still vibrate a little depending on how hard/accurately you are fretting it. I've had a bass setup where this happened - one place only - sixth fret bottom E. Amplified sound unaffected but still a bit annoying imo.

Sorry but No. In general 'you' ie the bassist is not independently connected to 'Earth' so touching the strings / metalwork does not 'Earth' it. It's the 'other way round' basically. The strings/bridge are connected to 'Earth' (typically via amplifier or mixing desk) and touching them connects you to 'Earth'. This stops you acting as an antennae for interference - typically mains (50 Hz in UK/EU) and related harmonics. To illustrate this - whilst not touching the bass metalwork - touch anything else that is 'Earthed' - eg typically the chassis of an amplifier or mixing desk etc and the 'buzz' will disappear or at least attenuate. (May need to wet finger and/or find a good contact point). Essentially you are acting as an antennae for interference and connecting yourself to a defined low impedance point - typically 'Earth' - stops this happening. If you weren't near the bass/pickup this wouldn't happen - but it's rather difficult to play the bass from a distance 🙂 I've put inverted marks around 'Earth' deliberately as there's no particular significance of the planet to this - the connection to the 'Earth' is basically a safety issue - not a 'noise/interference' issue. What is important is a connection to a defined low impedance node. That is typically 'Earth' or screen in a typical setup with '3-pin' mains connections - but may simply be a connection to a '0V' or 'Ground' connection where there is not an 'Earth' connection. eg battery powered setups. Think about it - Aircraft electronics need screening but there's clearly no direct galvanic connection to any planet. (Yes - I do know that there is a characteristic rf impedance of free space to Earth - 365/366 Ohm but I stand to be corrected). Apologies if this message seems a bit strident - a product of trying to educate mechanical engineers that proper screening really is 'a thing' and simply having continuity to 'Ground' isn't enough to get through EMC qualification 🙂 Cheers !

Toolboxes aren't great for organisation though.. The compartments might be okay for plectra and the usual tray for small items but then everything else is generally in the main space. Previously I've favoured the 'Aluminium 'Briefcase' Type Case' option often used for photo/video kit with configurable foam and/or movable dividers. The 'vanity case' option looks interesting if mechanically substantial enough.

You have a point there. While 1200 is ultra fine grit it is still removing some metal and can break through any surface finish. 'Burnishers' are indeed sold for pro audio use but come with advice to use them as infrequently as possible. Cleaning solution wise I recommend IPA (alcohol not beer 🙂 ) first to degrease then a Caig DeOxit product for oxidisation / corrosion.

Not understanding how that makes difference to the 'backward movement' range ?

Question - I see "Stainless Steel" (grade is not usually stated ?) often as an option for fret metal. But I can't recall seeing a Stainless Steel Nut offered / suggested ?

Thanks. So what is the 'correct' string spacing on that bass / pickup ? re: refinish - is it the 'original' finish atm - subject to wear'n'tear ? What is it in terms of surface finish - oil / varnish etc. - can't really tell from a photo. Are you looking to' refurbish ' the current finish or something different ?