Hanry Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Hullo! I had my Bassix upright for a while now, and while I don't spend enough time practising I like it very much. It was in very good nick when I got it but the electrics were a bit unreliable so I started investigating. I decided to improve matters a little ... 🙂 One of the things that I don't like so much is that it has two different piezo pick-ups, one under the bridge and one in the "trunk"/fingerboard - and they are passively mixed by a potentiometer before entering a no-name little 9V pre-amp quite similar to the one in my accoustic guitar. Are there affordable 🙂 on-board pre-amps that will buffer the piezo's before allowing a mix (as part of the control surface or perhaps via external potentiometer) that anyone can recommend? If it is a drop-in replacement that would be nice - but the Bassix is hollow so I would consider fitting a module inside and making a bespoke control surface for it in the current hole. Looking forward to mad suggestions! Thanks a lot! Hanry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blartfactor10 Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 The shadow Rockabilly pro would probably be your best and cheapest choice (Bass bags £175) you would have to make up some plugs to fit but that wouldn't be a bad thing. Oh and don't let the rockabilly moniker put you off you get a great pizz sound out of these units and you can blend both channels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanry Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Thanks a lot Blartfactor! I am seriously considering this one, as a bonus I end up with two spare piezos (I am not going to touch the ones fixed on the Bassix already, otherwise this project turns into a complete rebuild 😉) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanry Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Very frustrating that Shadow don't publish the weight and/or dimaneions of the box anywhere where it is easy to find.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blartfactor10 Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I can tell you that the weight isn't at all heavy and the box is (about) 10x7x3.5 cm. If you want to shift the shadow Piezos I would be interested. 😁😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanry Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 Oh, thank you for the data! I will be in touch 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathode_Follower Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 I've been using this to buffer my piezo without issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron you can build your own, or you can go to the originator's site http://cafewalter.com (currently temporarily down) where there are more updated versions and I think he sells the PCB's and possibly fully-populated boards. http://scotthelmke.com/Mint-box-buffer.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanry Posted October 23, 2019 Author Share Posted October 23, 2019 Blartfactor10 - the Shadow system arrived today, and while it is very nicely made, I will keep the set together: I am hoping to build a custom kit early next year, so the RP is hopefully going to be sold on as a complete system. Attached to an accoustic upright the size and weight of the Shadow box is negligible but the Bassix is so slender and centered, it is a bit too much, so it'll be a temporary arrangement only. Cathode_Follower - thanks for the links! I laughed when I saw them because many years ago when I was working in electronics I looked at cafewalter, but had all forgotten about it. I'm going to build my own pre-amp, but not before easter next year, my soldering irons have not had a workout for a long time 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathode_Follower Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 @Hanry Best of luck with the preamp! The best projects are always the longest in the making! Hit me up if you felt like putting together a pair of those mk1 walter preamps as a stopgap, I have multiples of all components knocking around from my build that I could mail your way and it's only half a day mucking around with a bit of stripboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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