| Author | Message | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 13 Registered: 8-2005 |
I have 2 1997 Epics. Both of them have seem to have a characteristic that I have never experienced with other basses. I do not know if they are unique to Alembic. The first is that if I play a note softly, I hear a hissing sound. It goes away if I mute the string. In fact, it goes away as soon as I touch a string. It is not a grounding problem as it happens no matter where I play. The other problem is that if I hit a note, the sound seems to get progressively louder. Almost like the electronics are compressing the signal. In a span of about 1 1/2 to 2 seconds the volume gets louder and levels off. Has anyone else experienced this? I love the tone and feel of my Epics but if I cannot solve these problems I may be forced to try something else. I play everything from small clubs to outdoor arenas and needless to say these issues have caused problems for me and the sound engineers. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 502 Registered: 10-2003 |
Have you tried new batteries? Surely you have, but in case you haven't, then try some and see if it helps. John | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2372 Registered: 5-2002 |
John's suggestion is the first one I thought of as well. I would also try a different cable and a different rig. | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2005 |
At first I thought it was a problem with the batteries or my wireless. I have tried different batteries, different amps, different cables,etc. I get the noise with both basses no matter where I play or what I use for amps. | ||
| mattheus
Intermediate Member Username: mattheus Post Number: 133 Registered: 5-2003 |
I've had a same sort of problem playing through wireless sysems. Somehow the shielding of the electronics weren't good enough to protect the electronics of the bass against the signals from the transmitter. There are a few otions: try to put the transmitter as far away as possible from the electronics of the bass. Or try to use a ferrit-tube inside your bass. Simple solutions are playing the bass with a wire (sounds better!) Or playing the bass without wire (for optimum movement onstage) and without a wireless system (so you don't have any hiss at all) and claim to the world that you are the world's first bassplayer who plays wireless AND soundless.... | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks Mattheus, I have tried using several different cables and I still get the noise. I have changed batteries in both basses as well as my wireless. I even played through a friends amp. It doesn't seem to matter what I do, I still get the noise. Both of my Epics do this. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2375 Registered: 5-2002 |
Did you check to see if the ferrite beads were missing? | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 17 Registered: 8-2005 |
What is a ferrite bead? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 675 Registered: 7-2004 |
A ferrite bead looks like a single piece of rigatoni or penne pasta, but made out of gray metal. Some of the wires pass through it and it helps to insulate the system from interference. You find a ferrite bead in the electronics cavity. Bill, tgo | ||
| mattheus
Intermediate Member Username: mattheus Post Number: 134 Registered: 5-2003 |
A little more help on the ferrite bead: It looks like a ring just like lbpesq said. The wires from your pickups run through it twice. It did wonders on my Spoiler! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2376 Registered: 5-2002 |
And here is the FAQ entry. | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 18 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks for your help. I checked the electronics cavity and both basses have a ferrite bead. I can't figure out why I am getting this noise from both basses. I have had basses with active electronics before and have not experienced this. Does anybody have any other thoughts? Thanks again | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 608 Registered: 6-2002 |
You say you changed the cables but was that without the wireless? Do you still have the hiss if you plug in using a decent quality cable? And what kind of wireless do you use? As others have pointed out: if you use another bass with the same setup, same problem? If you use the same bass with a different rig, same problem? | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2005 |
I have a feeling that it something unique to Alembic since I never had this problem before. I have 2 Epics which were purchased at different times and from different sellers. Both basses make the noise that I described. I have a Sennheiser wireless and noise has never been a problem. I recently got rid of a Musicman Stingray 5 string with active electronics and did not have this problem. I have tried a friend's Pedulla and Modulus and there wasn't any noise. I have tried high quality cables from the wireless to the head and also plugging directly from the bass to the head. I have tried different bass amps and have played at different locations. It doesn't seem to matter what I do, the noise follows me everywhere. Is there some type of sensitivity adjustment in the electronics cavity that may be causing this? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 609 Registered: 6-2002 |
Do you have the treble boost on the bass wide open? That position is known to produce a hiss - though more a constant hiss, even when no note is played. Assuming the Sennheiser is multi-channel, you might try another channel, see if it's frequency-related. But you could also be overdriving the Sennheiser: does the hiss disappear when you turn down the volume on the bass? In that case, you could set the trim pot in the control cavity a bit lower, or decrease the sensitivity on the Sennheiser. The ancient art of trouble-shooting also tells me there may have been something outside of your rig that changed at the same time as you started using the Epics, like something with the lights. That's why I was wondering if you had AB'ed the Epics and a completely different bass in the exact same setting. You say you compared with a Pedulla and a Modulus, but was that really an AB test? Other than that, the ferrite bead should solve the problem in most cases - but AFAIK Epics have always had the bead installed, so it would be strange if the beads were missing. | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 22 Registered: 8-2005 |
I do not have the treble boost wide open. It is usually set in the middle. I have tried different channels on the wireless. It doesn't matter where I play or what I play through, the noise is there. I have played at different venues, through different amps, with and without the wireless. The noise is the same no matter what I do. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2379 Registered: 5-2002 |
Just for fun, try switching the pickup leads and see if that makes a difference. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2380 Registered: 5-2002 |
Also, try Adriaan's suggestion regarding the trim pot. In the control cavity it's the little blue box with the round white area on the top. The white area is a slotted adjustment screw. With a small screw driver turn back the gain some and see if that makes a difference. Also, try panning all the way to one pickup; then try all the way to the other pickup. Try this when you try switching the pickup leads. Also, does adjusting the treble boost/cut have any effect on the noise? Or even the bass boost/cut? Or even the volume control? | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks Dave, I am going to try adjusting the trim pot. Hopefully that will solve the problem. I only get this noise when using my Alembics and not with any other bass. This leads me to believe that it is something to do with the electronics in the basses and not anything else. The noise subsides a bit if I turn the treble and bass all the way down and goes away with the volume off. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2647 Registered: 6-2000 |
For the purpose of troubleshooting, you'll need to play your Epic(s) through a wire only, eliminating the wireless, as suggested by others. We need to know if the bass makes the hissing noise under all circumstances, or only some. Make sure you use the same levels on your rig when you do this so the test is fair. Write back with your results. | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 24 Registered: 8-2005 |
Hi Mica, As I mentioned in previous postings, I have tried running directly into the head without the wireless. I have tried different cables, different amps, different venues. I have played at my house as well as a friend's house. I tried his basses through my amp and there was no noise present. As soon as I plug in one of my Epics, the noise returns. It doesn't seem to matter what amp I play through, where I am playing, or if I am using a cable or wireless. Both Epics make the same noise. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2648 Registered: 6-2000 |
Can you confirm that "In a span of about 1 1/2 to 2 seconds the volume gets louder and levels off" is the same without the wireless? Also, check on the output jack to see if you can see an orange capacitor installed. | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 25 Registered: 8-2005 |
Yes, it is the same with or without the wireless. | ||
| rockbassist
Junior Username: rockbassist Post Number: 28 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks to all who responded. I took Dave's advice and adjusted the trim pot levels on both basses and that solved the problem. For some reason the previous owners of both basses had them cranked all the way up. Thanks again. |
