leroybasslines Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Just a quick question from a technophobe... I've installed a J Retro 01 in my Lakland 5560. I've always wound the volume knob up to full, as you do on a standard passive bass but I've begun to notice that the bass is distorting and dropping the input volume on my amp (PJB suitcase) doesn't cancel it out: the signal still clips. Am I just sending too strong a signal to my amp? Do I need to get in the habit of rolling the volume back on the bass? The installation manual talks about adjusting the gain signal on the preamp itself, but I don't think it can be lowered, only boosted. Any tips and tech advice suited for an idiot would be gratefully received! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='leroybasslines' timestamp='1382522572' post='2253079'] Just a quick question from a technophobe... I've installed a J Retro 01 in my Lakland 5560. I've always wound the volume knob up to full, as you do on a standard passive bass but I've begun to notice that the bass is distorting and dropping the input volume on my amp (PJB suitcase) doesn't cancel it out: the signal still clips. Am I just sending too strong a signal to my amp? Do I need to get in the habit of rolling the volume back on the bass? The installation manual talks about adjusting the gain signal on the preamp itself, but I don't think it can be lowered, only boosted. Any tips and tech advice suited for an idiot would be gratefully received! [/quote] Ask John East mate, he's incredibly helpful. Have you replaced the battery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Ask Mr East - sounds like you may want to experiment dropping your pickups too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 If I recall, I had this trouble. There are some little micro volume presets inside for the two pickups. My first instinct was to wind these up all the way but I had distortion troubles because of the pickups being quite 'hot' - I think they are little blue ones you adjust with an electricians screwdriver. Turn them down and you should be clean fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroybasslines Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 (edited) Thanks guys. When I get a moment I'll check the output settings. If all else fails I'll bother Mr East! I always feel guilty though: he must get loads of emails from people like me! The preamp was previously in my old Fender MIM Jazz V and didn't have any probs. I'm guessing the Lakland pups are a bit hotter, hence the massive output... Edited October 23, 2013 by leroybasslines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I have a U-Retro and the output is huge, even with the mini-pots turned down. Overdriving the amp is easy. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 The internal trim pots should allow you to tone down the output to more reasonable levels. Check out John East's website, there are diagrams and instructions that show you what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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