| Author | Message | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 814 Registered: 8-2005 |
Hi everyone!! I've been speaking with "Bigyouth" in France recently, as he speaks very little English, and I speak French. He has this problem.............He was playing his 83 Series 1, when he heard a "buzz" from the bass Unacceptable to all of us , so what does he do?? Sends the card back to Alembic for a Makeover! The buzz was still there!! So.the problem isn't the card...so he sends to Alembic for a new pickup...........problem still the same!! It moves when he moves, but the other pickup seems to be fine! NOT an Alembic problem, but if anyone has any ideas on this, I'd/we be gratefull If you speak French then contact Mehdi directly........or just contact me!! Hope to solve this prob that may affect all older Series owners G | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2254 Registered: 6-2002 |
Did Mehdi try different location, different rig, etc.? Problem could even be in the DS-R5 - easily tested by running on batteries. (Message edited by adriaan on June 26, 2009) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8257 Registered: 5-2002 |
Let's start from the top. Turn the selector switch to the neck pickup. Is the buzz there? Turn the selector switch to the bridge pickup. Is the buzz there? | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 815 Registered: 8-2005 |
I'll try all these with him. Thanks guys! G (Message edited by georgie_boy on June 26, 2009) | ||
| jos
Junior Username: jos Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2009 |
I have had some hum/noise/buzz problems in the past with my Series II. It was tereble on a sound check just too much noise. I did soleve the problem for that gig by usin batteries and not the DS5 and everything was OK. Its also good to check the bass in a studio. If everything is quiet there then the bass is OK. Also remember to check the trimmers behind the bass because they also causes noise if they are set wrongly. Alembic basses have single coil pickups……. | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 817 Registered: 8-2005 |
Just waiting for him to get back to me on these suggestions. Thankyou for your help! George (Message edited by georgie_boy on June 27, 2009) | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1556 Registered: 6-2002 |
I had a bad buzz from my series I guitar recently and using the jack it was quiet. I opened the back of the DS5 and re-soldered the connections on the mains side of the circuit and it has been quiet ever since. Jazzyvee | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 818 Registered: 8-2005 |
Mehdi has told me that the same problem exists even when using batteries. He now thinks that it could be the connections on the hum canceller. He's going to have that looked at , and report back to me. George | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8266 Registered: 5-2002 |
Have him plug a pair of headphones into the quarter inch jack. Can he hear the buzz in the headphones? | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 825 Registered: 8-2005 |
Just curious? What would that reveal? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8269 Registered: 5-2002 |
That the problem is not in the bass. | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 826 Registered: 8-2005 |
He's due to e mail me shortly. i told hom to try this yesterday, so I'll keep you posted. Thanks David! George | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 924 Registered: 11-2004 |
Buzz usually is earth(grounding) or inductance from lights particulary fluoro's. Check plug in amp, earth lift, speaker connections, if batteries then check lead. One easy way is to open the back of the bass and touch the ground connection, if it get louder then it's the earth. | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 829 Registered: 8-2005 |
Still waiting to hear back from him, but thanks everyone. He says he's tried all the usual stuff, so I'll report the headphone result ASAP George | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 837 Registered: 8-2005 |
Well....it seems he put his bass into a local guy,who touched the strings and, at the same time, touched the solder points on the pots. Seems that the Buzz went away!! He'll pickup the bass tomorrow and get back to me. Seems that the Earth to the Bridge is not connected properly! Will get back to the forum tomorrow with the results..yet I thought Series electronics didn't need to be earthed to the bridge. An expensive lesson.......new pickup, and the preamp card sent to Alembic for a check over!! Still!..till tomorrow! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6223 Registered: 6-2000 |
There is no ground connection to the bridge. We must look elsewhere. Does the same pickup plugged into the other channel have the same buzz? | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 842 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks Mica. He just E mailed me to say that there is still a slight buzz, but is now a lot less than before. Could it be the grounding on some of the pots/parts?? I'll ask him right now, about whether it's the pickup or maybe the card/connections. | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 843 Registered: 8-2005 |
E Mail sent to Mehdi now. Just waiting for the reply G | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 850 Registered: 8-2005 |
He says now, that even when he swaps the pickups around, the buzz is still in the same position.ie at the "neck" side. So it appears that the problem is not the pickups. Could be the card??.yet he told me he sent the card to the Mothership to have it redone! Anyone any further ideas?? Mica?? George | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6225 Registered: 6-2000 |
Have him check the connections listed as "jumper to ground bus" as shown on this picture are properly soldered:  It would be helpful to understand exactly what modification was done for the buzz reduction yesterday. Can he upload a picture of the work? It will make it harder to remote troubleshoot if we don't know what we're dealing with on the other end. Thanks! | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 865 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks Mica! I'll send him the info! George | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 866 Registered: 8-2005 |
Picture sent. He says that he has now all but eliminated the buzz..but there is still a slight buzz there!? I suggested that the DS5 does produce a slight buzz, so am still waiting for the reply. Thanks Mica................you are ever so helpful, as is the Company. I know, that even at home, I get a slight buzz from my DS5....normal...I assume?? George | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 890 Registered: 8-2005 |
Well. He's all happy now! Seems the buzz is gone. What he has asked me now is......... Can he take the electronics out of his SC Standard, and replace them with Series stuff? I said that it would be expensive, and, that the body might not be thick enough. Any ideas? George | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1331 Registered: 2-2005 |
Unless the SC Standard was built with a Series prep package the Series electronics won't fit. You hit the nail on the head when you suspected the body is not thick enough. Keith | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 891 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks Keith! Just what I thought. His does NOT have the prep package. George | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 892 Registered: 8-2005 |
So, after all that..........seems that the problem was a few solder connections, and then a reset of the trim pots!! Operator error yet again.........happens to us all guys!! Thanks for all your help George |
