sandy_r

...so the problem is in the preamp, between the Input and Send jacks?

+1 on DiMarzio - the 70s model G looks like a near relative from some of the h/w; but the lack of a cover and the combined fixing/adjustment, and the non-alignment of holes/poles makes me question if the OP one might be an early prototype (coil, pole-pieces & wiring lugs just encapsulated in black resin, within a mold) (DiMarzio Model G) ...either that, or it's a 'Homer' made with their h/w, by a DiMarzio employee! 😉

Nice Christmas present! Hope you enjoy Basschat. Have fun, stay safe

Most excellent Doooood ...that's my Ringtone sorted for '24!!

Given that the standard Sinsonido uses acoustic pickups (electret mics, not piezo), i've been experimenting by applying some effects thro' a Zoom B2.1u, to see if i can get a DB-like sound. I've found that 3 aspects of the raw Sinso sound can be tweaked to give useful results:- increasing the initial 'attack' of plucked notes; emphasising the low-end and some string 'rattle' frequencies, reducing mids; adding very slight reverb, to simulate DB 'body' sound it's only a subtle change to the raw sound, but it does seem to make the difference between a very dry 'direct-in' sound and a slightly more 'ambient' hollow-body feel. Listening tests have been headphone-based currently, so next step will be to do an A/B comparison using the Zoom with amp & speakers Sinso new PCB, Tflat, + Zoom effects(A): NewSinsoPCB-Tflat-ZoomB2.mp3 Sinso new PCB, Tflat, + Zoom effects(B): NewSinsoPCB-Tflat-ZoomB2-Tu1.mp3 Sinso new PCB, Tflat, 'dry' audio: NewSinsoPCB-Vol0.8-Tflat.mp3

hmmm - i preferred the earlier National Resonators ...before they modernised to Red with Green purfling

i'm just envious - never had Meccano as a kid 😣

...absolutely no connection with your username, but i think nil must be referring to GAS 😉

well, Bass is all about Big Bottom - welcome, whatever shape!

Slot the existing shelf (pad the slots?) - just stand a similar shelf & side supports on top of existing shelf

...liking the pieces of Meccano, pop-riveted on the back - kicking myself for missing this trick on my own DIY build! 😞

i don't have a Pod bass XT, but greetings to a fellow bassist from here in South England! i hope you can make contact and exchange ideas and patches with other Pod users, here on BC

...if you wish to try out the fixed resistor approach, there is an additional config you could try at the same time... Some people have noticed, when blending pickups on passive basses, that if they turn both Vol pots to max then the 2 pickups load each other and they lose some tone. The complete technical answer to this is to use an active onboard pre, to mix the signals without changing their sound If you have anough gain, however, you can still do something similar with a passive setup - you place a smaller resistance in series with the hot (pos) wire from each pickup, before connecting each to the (~250k) resistor which is replacing the Vol pot. Eg. you could try with 22k or 27k ohm resistors for Rm and see if that gives you better tone than just connecting the 2 pickups in parallel with the ~250k res (increase amp input gain slightly, if necessary, to compensate)

...Reverb?

No, the resistor should be in parallel with the pickup(s) - one res lead to hot (pos), the other to 'ground' (Gnd). Try res value = Vol pot value first; then maybe compare results with a higher res value (eg. twice Vol pot value). You can use the nearest fixed resistor value in the series (eg. 220k or 270k ohm, say, to replace a 250k ohm pot). Any 'ground' connections should be taken to the Jack shield lug

hi, no worries, the important thing is that you're not alone - either in owning a Sinsonido, or in dealing with an electronics issue on it - we can help each other - @lemmywinks, @Aalin, @Richard R and @GetFletch have all been able to contribute some useful info there's a separate thread, here on BC, with some more options for fixing/replacing the electronics Aria Sinsonido bass, control electronics/PCB HTH

...cue the old Tommy Cooper joke: "Doctor, it hurts when i do this..." Unless you're wearing a grounding strap, or standing barefoot in a puddle of water, it's more likely that you're acting as an aerial than a ground What happens when you touch the bridge & (metallic) strings? Same buzz ...or silence? If they're silent, then your pickup covers/screws aren't (sufficiently?) grounded. If touching the bridge/strings causes buzz, then your whole grounding scheme isn't complete Also, check that you have the pickup wires round the right way (hot to control signal wiring, shield to ground)

That's interesting - let us know how you get on with the Sinsonido -> MS60B

another Mark Hoppus build report

sounds good, no rush, would be good to include it in the range of options for people to consider glad to hear it all worked out well with the Sinsonido ...and the Artcore sounds fun, too 👍

hi, interesting to read that there are strings available for piezo applications - that really rounds your setup off nicely! Currently i have groundwound (?) strings on mine (a legacy from pub/band days), but i've recently been given some LaBella Copper flats as a birthday present (not sure if that's mine or the basses') Maybe you would consider recording a short audio clip for this thread to show the results you've achieved with your own setup? [Edit] ...actually, a bit of detail on the new thread re. Sinsonido electronics issues, about your own setup, would fit well if convenient cheers

...#2 i slightly tightened the Allen screw between the D/G strings and the 'buzz' on the D string has now stopped - i don't think it changes the tone (the 1st recording sounds more 'bassy' because i used the stereo jack adaptor cable and received both pickup signals) [Old PCB + fix, Tflat, 2 channel mixed (stereo-to-mono cable)] ... before tightening screw SR-Sinso-Old-PCB-fix-Tflat-2chan.mp3 [Old PCB+ fix, Tflat, 1 channel (mono cable)] ...after tightening screw SR-Sinso-Old-PCB-fix-Tflat-1channel.mp3

# part1 hi Alain, i've completely unscrewed 1 Allen screw from the old parts pickup and it is clear now that it is not adjusting anything - i believe that it is used to hold a metal part inside the plastic tube, to support the 2 strings on each side of that screw Removing the electret at one end, and looking into the inside of the tube, there is a soft plastic ring next to something metal So it appears that the whole tube is hollow but contains two internal metal pieces which each support 2 strings, with the 2 electret mics held in place with plastic end-caps Gently tapping the pickup whilst connected to an amp at low volume, the tube sounds more hollow in the gaps between the strings

thanks Alain, i hoped that creating a reliable PCB would be the answer to all the audio issues with the Sinsonido, but i don't think we are any closer to the answer about the 'cranked' and 'muddy' sounds we get sometimes 🤔 i was hoping that we would get some answers about pickup adjustment from Soloette, but no news yet. In the meantime, i'll try adjusting the Allen screws on the spare pickup first, and look for any visual change - then i can try adjusting one screw on my Sinso pickup whilst recording, maybe we can hear some effect? à suivre (maybe on the other Sinso thread?)

Comparing audio clips of Sinsonidos owned by @Aalin, @GetFletch and me, it seems that there might be an additional issue with the Sinsonido electronics: the bridge pickup arrangement The strings rest across the top of the pickup tube (which must have some amount of mute action). It appears that it is possible for the tube and content, under some conditions, to add unwanted 'buzz' or distortion to the required signal from the strings. The pickup designer has been contacted to ask for setup/adjustment guidance, but no info. received yet Included in the used Sinsonido parts, which i bought, was a bridge pickup that i was able to inspect. The 2 electrets are inserted at each end of the tube, and there is some kind of internal baffle arrangement, which can be adjusted using 2 allen-screws through the top of the tube I've been able to get electret mic. inserts (eb*y, etc) which are very close to the original size (approx 6.5mm diam., 5mm long, no-pin), which appear to have suitable specs. for the frequency range and operating voltage [photo of rather grubby salvaged pickup tube, mic extracted, and possible replacement mic] So, with replacement mics, and one of the replacement control circuits, it should be possible now to keep a Sinsonido in good working order, from an electronics PoV