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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3078
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:32 pm:   Edit Post

This reply is a little old, and relates to a previous thread on this bass.

We were sorting some old files, and found some interesting diagrams, including these:

block diagram

remote receiver

Hope that helps solve some of the mystery surrounding the pile of electronics in that bass.
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 486
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:25 pm:   Edit Post

Poetic, but what does it mean?
Mike, if you're there and have the bass, sound off.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3226
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:27 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Mica!!!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3227
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:40 pm:   Edit Post

The first picture shows that each pickup has it's own superfilter with a filter volume, frequency filter, CVQ, and a switch to set the filter as low-pass, band-pass, or high-pass. Each pickup also has a direct volume that by-passes the filter. And each pickup also has a bass boost/flat/cut switch and a treble boost/flat/cut switch. There's also a pickup selector switch. The last switch apparently switches on a remote control transmitter; which must be the stuff that's in the top control cavity. I'm guessing it has something to do with the "effects loops" in the power supply.

(Message edited by davehouck on February 14, 2006)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3228
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:54 pm:   Edit Post

The second picture is the power supply. The power supply also includes the remote control receiver. The other stuff appears to be something akin to an effects loop; and each pickup has its own set of loops. And each set apparently has a loop that's always active, one that's active only in normal, non-remote controlled mode, and one that's only active in remote control mode.
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 672
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 4:14 am:   Edit Post

Is this the bass??? is this the bass?
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 767
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:05 am:   Edit Post

I'm trying to wrap my head around remote switching of multiple independent options using just three connectors on the XLR? Gazooks!

Ah, Dave mentions a transmitter - so there must be some kind of multiplexing going on.

(Message edited by adriaan on February 15, 2006)
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 673
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:10 am:   Edit Post

I'm wondering what are those 'pole piece holes' on those pick-ups. are they adjustable or what....
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3229
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:59 am:   Edit Post

Keavin; yea I can't figure those pickups either. And yes, that's the same bass.
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 532
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

Ah Ha!
Thanks so much Mica and all. I just saw this thread and immediately called Rick Cremer to let him know.
For me, it helps to print out the schematics Mica posted and then look at the original thread while viewing the prints.

KFS - Nope, I don't own her. I wanted to wait and see what kind of custom mods we're working with here. Rick Cremer still has the bass.

I believe Dave hit it on the nose regarding functionality, except there isn't a transmitter/receiver in the remote circuit. That switch allows you to remotely switch between "normal" (e.g. compression and/or eq) and "remote-controlled" sets of effects (i.e. your favorite flavors of "Look at me, Ma!" during your solo!) To use this function, you would have to be using your 5 pin cable.

I've set a time to go the Ricks on Saturday and test the functions - talk with Juel and see what's up.

Mike

(Message edited by dadabass2001 on February 15, 2006)
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 487
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 12:15 pm:   Edit Post

Mike,
Looking forward to your report...wish I could be there to hear it in person.
juelu
New
Username: juelu

Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 4:31 pm:   Edit Post

Mica,
Thanks for keeping an eye out for this documentation. I was checking the old thread occasionally and had almost given up. I was home cleaning out the garage today & hadn't read my email but Rick Cremer called just after Mike talked to him. I can't wait to get in tomorrow and take another look at the remote unit with the benefit of the block diagrams! I'll update notes and take some pictures as appropriate.
Juel
jlpicard
Advanced Member
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 372
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

Wow! All those knobs and switches! Makes a tone tweaker like me drool! Didn't I read a thread quite a while ago that stated that due to how much work was involved, that an onboard superfilter was no longer a n option?
juelu
New
Username: juelu

Post Number: 7
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 9:40 am:   Edit Post

I looked the Bass & remote unit over again with the help of the drawings Mica found. It's amazing how a little information can help a lot! I went over everything again and everything seems to be working after I found & cleaned up several of the effects loop shorting switches in the remote. That was why things kept coming and going on us Mike. There is one more minor issue with the 1/4" output that I will check today. I think this is a pretty good map for the knob & switch forest (looking down across the strings.

Mike, what time are you coming on Saturday?

Juel Ulven

!!!!! SEE THE NEXT POST FOR UPDATED DRAWING!!!!!

(Message edited by juelu on February 18, 2006)
juelu
New
Username: juelu

Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 8:44 pm:   Edit Post

Mike came to Cremers today and we put 78-995 through the bass slalom on a 1200 watt bass amp. It sounded great (heart stopping in places), and I'm sure he will post more details when he gets back from the benefit concert he's involved in tonight. We found a couple of glitches in my drawing. I made the mistake of taking my hand drawn notes home and laying out the drawing without the bass in front of me. The corrections are flipping the neck & bridge controls (bridge controls are nearest the strings at drawing bottom) and flipping the HP/LP filter select positions. Sorry & thanks for the guidance on posting corrections Dave.

Juel Ulven

Correction 2/18/06
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3259
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 7:23 am:   Edit Post

Juel; how much does this thing weigh??
juelu
New
Username: juelu

Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 8:59 am:   Edit Post

We have a scale at the shop and I'll weigh it tomorrow but as basses go it doesn't seem all that heavy. With the two major routes for controls plus pickups a good bit of the body is hollow.
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 535
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 2:23 pm:   Edit Post

Well, here goes...
I spent maybe an hour and a half at Cremer Music Saturday, basically just verifying control functions with Juel. The weight didn't seem to be a problem, although I was merely sitting with the bass on my lap.
My god, a superfilter can shake the world! We tested each pickup separately into a 4-10 Kustom cabinet. Juel says that activating the Remote switch on the bass bypasses the on board super
filters (using the pickup direct outs) and switches from the Normal effects loop to the Remote effects loop.

All that being said, I'm not super interested in this bass. My personal opinion is that there are too many options packed into too small a space on the bass for on-stage work (all 7 toggles are tight to each other under the bridge). Also the power supply / effects connector is over kill for my uses. It's a set up suitable for a traveling act with David Gilmour-style effects racks. My personal opinion is that this bass would be wonderful in a studio setting, but I lack the disposable cash (some lucky dog in Nebraska hit the powerball) and a studio-grade tone machine is over my head in the bars I play. Your opinion may vary.

Rick has just started working on this bass. I think he still wants to dress the frets, straighten the neck, and clean up the body and neck. He has lowered the bridge a bit. I don't know if Rick has set his price for it, other than to say he hopes to price it for fair value without getting screwed. I suggest folks contact Rick directly at CremerGuitarworks.com if they wish to follow up on this beauty.

Happy hunting,
Mike
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3265
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 3:52 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the report Mike!!
juelu
Junior
Username: juelu

Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 5:28 pm:   Edit Post

I finally got the appropriate scale to the shop and weighed 78-995. It weighs in at just under 11.5 lbs.

I also did a bit of tracing & debugging and I have both pickups running from on board batteries (using 9V alkelines). This is without the remote unit and the treble & bass outputs going to the amps come from the stereo 1/4" jack.

The existing battery connectors could be slightly modified to allow the use of alkeline 9V batteries in the battery cavity without rerouting. I think it would be better, however, to use rechargable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries which should give a higher terminal voltage longer. Neither Alkeline or NiMH is going to give very long life but I don't think the original mercury batteries would have gone very long either.

Mike had mentioned that the filters turn off in remote mode. I'm still not sure why (I'm still decoding cables), but I don't think there is a reason that has to be done and it could be changed to remain on. Other than that everything seems good to go electronically. I'll get a summary of setup issues from Rick & post that soon.

Juel Ulven

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