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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive 2006 » Archive through October 19, 2006 » 5 pin to 1/4" adaptor - where to get parts? « Previous Next »

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series_iii
Member
Username: series_iii

Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post

i will be going on stage with a mix of basses - some use the 5-pin alembic cable, some are 1/4" stereo. i run my rig in stereo (i have a DS-5R that the basses go into) and i would like to simplify my bass changing routine. i'm thinking a adaptor to convert the 5-pin alembic cable to 1/4" stereo. that way when i swap basses i don't have to swap cables (i try to keep bass swaps quick and unobtrusive while the singer schmoozes the crowd between songs). since each bass has its own strap (with straplocks) that stays with the bass, i'd probably make the cable adaptor attach to the strap - kinda like a wireless pack.

my questions are this:

1) where would i get a 5-pin female inline jack like what's on the standard alembic cable?

2) has anyone heard of a premade version of this?

3) anyone else done this?

thanks in advance for your help and advice!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4301
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 11:44 am:   Edit Post

I would imagine that Butch at Bayou Cables could make a high quality adaptor for you.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4302
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 11:50 am:   Edit Post

The parts are also readily available at electronics supply houses if you want to make it yourself. You will need the pin layout.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4303
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post

A fellow club member posted the following as the pin layout, but I have no idea as to whether it's correct.

pin 1 : signal ground
pin 2 : neck pickup
pin 3 : bridge pickup
pin 4 : +20V
pin 5 : -20V

So I'm guessing you would use the first three pins and ignore 4 and 5.

Switchcraft and Neutrik make good quality 5-pin connectors.
series_iii
Member
Username: series_iii

Post Number: 60
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 2:50 pm:   Edit Post

yeah thanks, i've already pinged butch. trying to decide if i wanna build or buy.
room037
Intermediate Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 116
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 3:52 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Tim,

That's exactly what I've been trying to make tomorrow.
My rigs are build for series basses, but I also use Anniversary bass(stereo) and Distillate bass(mono).
I will make 2 adaptors for each basses.
One for Dis-B includs mono to stereo adaptor.
May be, it's no problem with passive circuit.
But if it's better with buffer amp, easy for power supply from pin4.

I am wondering about the location of jack.
series_iii
Member
Username: series_iii

Post Number: 62
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 9:18 am:   Edit Post

after some digging around, it looks like a switcraft in-line male mated to the appropriate 1/4" jack on the other end oughta do it:

http://www.mouser.com/search/refine.aspx?Ntt=502-TA5ML

i've got a no-name alembic 5-pin cable that came with one of my basses that has that connector on it. i couldn't find a neutrik equivalent.

what say you guys? this look like the right one?
room037
Intermediate Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 117
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 7:52 pm:   Edit Post

Hi,

I made the small adaptor box with 2 cables.
The box is simply conected stereo phone jack to 5-pin jack. (No.1:ground, No.2:neck PU, No.3:bridge PU)
Red cable is Stereo to Stereo cable for Anniv.Bass. (Red cable is my personal code for Stereo-Stereo and Blue is Mono-Stereo.)
Blue cable is Mono to Stereo for Dis.B and other basses. (simply conected tip to tip & ring)
It works fine with Anniv. and Dis. basses.
Now I am looking for belt clip.

5 pin adaptor

The in-line adaptor is easy for use.
But we usualy use angled 5 pin plug.
It's just like snapped cable, when adaptor is conected.

Eiji
room037
Intermediate Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 118
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:55 am:   Edit Post

Finally I got and fixed the clip.
It's very well !
I recommend this adaptor for Series & Stereo instruments users.

This is back side.

the clip on back side

The adaptor on the strap with my Dis-B.

with Dis-B
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4322
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 7:26 am:   Edit Post

Tim;
I think you want the A5M rather than the TA5M. I believe the TA5M is a smaller connector.

Eiji; looks cool! Needs paint <g>.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1576
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post

Tim:

Looks cool, but I have one, make that two, questions:

1. If you use this with a Series instrument, aren't you cutting off the power to the electronics?

2. If the answer to the above is that the Series will be powered by it's batteries, then why not just use the 1/4" jack on the bass instead of converting the 5-pin to a 1/4"?

Bill, tgo
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4326
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post

Bill; I think the situation is as follows.

He has several basses on stage, at least one of which is a Series bass. He uses the 5-pin cable with the Series bass. Other basses only have quarter inch jacks.

Thus, currently, he is using both a 5-pin cable and a quarter inch cable, which makes the stage a bit messy (I know, been there).

To make the stage cleaner and instrument changes between songs easier, he would like to use only the 5-pin cable. Thus the little adaptor will be for use on the non-Series instruments only.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1578
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 10:52 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Dave. That makes sense.

Bill, tgo
series_iii
Member
Username: series_iii

Post Number: 69
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 4:03 pm:   Edit Post

thanks for the help and suggestions. i like your suggetion, eiji but i didn't want to go with a box. Here's what i came up with. The neutrik connectors came from fistells in denver. The one on the left is the mono adapter for the steinberger. the one on the right is for the spyder with the 20th anneversary electronics.



here's why i had to do this. at any time i'll have any combination of the basses pictured with me on stage (not pictured is the series II 5-string). i don't swap basses for every song, but when i swap i want it to be quick and unobtrusive. it was easy with just the series I & II since they use the same cable. it was tolerable with the steinberger but the spyder is what forced it. since it has stereo output, i wanted to use it to its full potential. i didn't want to have to jack with 3 different cords. the straps stay with the basses, so i'll capture the adaptor to the strap and the problem is solved - plug the 5-pin cable from the rig into the strap and away i go!



btw just in case you're curious, the bridge pickup goes to the 2x10, the neck goes to the 1x18
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 711
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 5:51 pm:   Edit Post

That fretless is a beaut! Can you share some more pics of that one? Is it a long scale?
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4352
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 6:58 pm:   Edit Post

Tim; they look great!
room037
Intermediate Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 120
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 7:03 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Tim,
Great Basses !
Spyder 8 st with Anniversary circuit !?
Small standard body with fretless long scale !?
And I am curious about 3 different stands.

Cable adaptors are cool.
I am interested angled Neutric stereo phone plug.

I made with small box adoptor, because I have some idea of powered thing.
(for ex. buffer amp for passive instruments, power supply for the other basses or LEDs, etc...)
DC-DC converter will be installed in the box.
Yes, the box is still in proto type state.

Eiji
series_iii
Member
Username: series_iii

Post Number: 71
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 10:17 pm:   Edit Post

hi Eiji:

well the stands are a mix and match of various things found in music stores. they're all going to be replaced with a hercules (similar to the one that holds the spyder). i'm tired of risking expensive basses in cheap stands.

yes - small body long scale. perhaps tomorrow i'll post more pics of that bass since it's garnered so much attention. i just got back from rehersal and i'm wiped out.

since i don't need external power for anything, cable adaptor works ok for me. i sure wish they'd put a 5 pin on the spyder, though. it uses a lot of batteries!
room037
Intermediate Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 121
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 7:04 am:   Edit Post

Hi Tim,

Do you know this 6 strings Spoiler ?
It has Anniversary circuit with 5 pin construction.
Yes, It means Anniversary powered by DS-5.
Now the bass is owned Japanese club member.
He showed me the circuit, and looks is so easy.
But Alembic will never make such thing.

If I can, I want to make power supply from DS-5 for Anniversary and Distillate basses.
But I don't want any routing and circuit modification.
I will try with 1/4 inch multi connector.

Eiji
series_iii
Member
Username: series_iii

Post Number: 73
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 3:59 pm:   Edit Post

Per popular request, i posted pictures of the fretless here:

http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/31037.html?1157064985

quick and dirty, i'm no photographer...
bkbass
Intermediate Member
Username: bkbass

Post Number: 107
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 7:01 am:   Edit Post

Parts,wire and custom assembly is also available at WWW.HAVEINC.COM

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