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fmm
Senior Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 415
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 6:08 pm:   Edit Post

All:
Last fall I purchased a F-2B (serial # 544) and am just now getting around to trying it out.

Caps look good, foam should probably be replaced.

I connected it to by black box and my new (to me) DS-5R. The signal is very weak, and when I turn everything all the way up, distorted.

I replaced the tubes (Sylvanias) with Groove Tubes Silver Series. Same result.

What should I try next?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8479
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 8:04 pm:   Edit Post

Is it distorted in both channels the same?
fmm
Senior Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 416
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 8:22 pm:   Edit Post

Yes. Both channels are behaving the same.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8481
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 - 12:05 pm:   Edit Post

Make sure you have exercised the Mixed jack (M) on the back. Plug and unplug like 30-50 times. If that doesn't work, it might need replacing. There is also a more detailed cleaning procedure in the FAQ
fmm
Senior Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 417
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 - 1:57 pm:   Edit Post

I will try that as soon as I get home.
fmm
Senior Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 418
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 - 5:12 pm:   Edit Post

Success!

Kind of. The issue may have been a case of pilot error, I have my gear in a server rack and use a patch bay, and I may have routed the output of the M jack to the bottom row of the patch bay when I wanted the top.

But now I may have another issue.

I'm running the DS-5R in stereo. Using the front outputs to drive the F-2B (Bass to A, Treble to B).

Pickup selector is on the bridge pickup. My expectation is that only channel B will be driven, but both channels are. I get the same behavior if the pickup selector is set to the neck pickup.

Note that I believe the signal coming out of the bass is fine, because with the pickup selector on the bridge pickup, the neck pickup volume as no effect, and visa-versa.

I think I'll go read the FAQ on the F-2B.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4454
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 - 10:59 pm:   Edit Post

That seems odd for sure. When I have the DS-5 switched to stereo I get each pickup out of the respective bass and treble sockets. When it is switched to mono I get both pickups from the bass socket and the bridge pickup from the treble socket.
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 2188
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, April 02, 2015 - 5:41 am:   Edit Post

Try exercising the DS-5 Stereo/mono switch if it hasn't been used in a while.

Keith
fmm
Senior Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 419
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 02, 2015 - 7:06 am:   Edit Post

Excellent ideas.

The plan for tonight:
1. DS-5R in mono mode, see if I get both pickups out of bass, bridge pickup out of treble.
2. Excercise the DS-5R stereo/mono switch.
3. Use a non-Alembic bass. Plug into input A, see if the signal also ends up in B (and visa-versa)
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1492
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Thursday, April 02, 2015 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post

The two channels of the F-2B should definitely be completely separate. I have used it in the studio with bass in one channel, bass synth pedals in the other, playing simultaneously, with no leakage.
fmm
Senior Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 420
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 02, 2015 - 4:21 pm:   Edit Post

Maybe it’s the pickup selector switch on the bass.

Using a different bass, I verified that there is no crosstalk between channels on the F-2B.

Using the Series I, DS-5R in stereo mode:

Pickup selector set to both pickups:
Neck pickup drives bass output, bridge pickup drives treble output.

Pickup selector set on bridge pickup:
Bridge pickup drives bass and treble outputs, neck pickup has no effect.

Pickup selector set on neck pickup:
Neck pickup drives bass and treble outputs, bridge pickup has no effect.

W E I R D.

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