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Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: dzordz on December 27, 2012, 03:50:12 AM

Title: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: dzordz on December 27, 2012, 03:50:12 AM
Hello!
I need wiring diagram for ampeg ada 4 (japan reissue).
Maybe someone can help me?
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: dzordz on December 29, 2012, 01:23:17 AM
Hello again.
it can be pic of existing wiring from bass.
regards.
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: Dave W on December 29, 2012, 10:02:00 AM
I'm not aware of anyone else here having one. It's a recent bass, Ampeg should have the schematic available.
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: dzordz on December 29, 2012, 12:10:18 PM
of course.
A few days a go i wrote to ampeg,and still wait...
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: Rob on December 30, 2012, 07:52:46 AM
Isn't that a dual cored humbucker?
If so you might find a diagram on Seymoure Duncan's site.  Or try some Kent Armstrong forums.
http://www.kentarmstrong.com/pages/products.html (http://www.kentarmstrong.com/pages/products.html)
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: Pilgrim on December 30, 2012, 01:57:02 PM
Quote from: dzordz on December 29, 2012, 12:10:18 PM
of course.
A few days a go i wrote to ampeg,and still wait...

Suggest you check online rather than waiting for snail mail.....
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: jumbodbassman on January 06, 2013, 02:42:28 PM
is the ada the lucite bass.   I f so let me know i have a japanese first series reissue with the  interchangeable pups
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: Aussie Mark on January 07, 2013, 03:39:20 PM
Quote from: Dave W on December 29, 2012, 10:02:00 AM
I'm not aware of anyone else here having one.

I own one, and use it in my Stones tribute band.  I have a wiring diagram at home somewhere, but am in the middle of moving house so it might take me a little while to find it.  Will see what I can dig up.

I do know that the wiring of the "tone" control is the same as the original Dan Armstrong model - ie. there is a center position, and from there, the control is a blend of the two coils contained in the pickup. I've had mine modified though - it just has a straight tone control now, and the bright switch has been disabled.  I also had Kent Armstrong make me a true humbucking pickup for this bass as well, as I didn't like the tone of either the "Deep Bass" or "Bright Bass" interchangeable pickups that came with it as standard.

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/mdeayton/Rolling%20Stoned%20-%20Blacktown%20RSL%20August%202012/332986_10151153981615763_681989801_o.jpg)
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: Aussie Mark on January 07, 2013, 03:45:06 PM
Here's the original schematic for the bass, which doesn't have the bright switch that the reissues have ....

(http://www.danarmstrong.org/schematics/guitar_schematics_700.jpg)

And there is also this document .... http://www.unofficialampeg.com/pdfs/da.pdf
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: jumbodbassman on January 07, 2013, 04:44:54 PM
tell me more about the changs you made and the other pickup.
Title: Re: ampeg ada 4 wiring diagram
Post by: Aussie Mark on January 07, 2013, 05:03:16 PM
Quote from: jumbodbassman on January 07, 2013, 04:44:54 PM
tell me more about the changs you made and the other pickup.

I just had the split coil tone pot replaced with a conventional tone pot.  So, instead of being centred with each direction bringing in more of each pickup coil, it just rolls off like a P bass tone control.  The bright toggle switch (or whatever it's supposed to do) was taken out of the circuit entirely.  I also had my tech shield the wiring cavity a lot better than it was originally - but it still has more 50 cycle hum than any other bass I own.

Regarding the pickup, I emailed Kent Armstrong and asked him if he could make me a proper humbucker that could be plugged in and out like the other 2 interchangeable pickups (two coil DB and BB) that come standard with the ADA4 - after some delay and tooing and froing (Kent is not the best person I've encountered when it comes to email communication) I sent payment to his business in the UK, and he made the pickup and posted it to me.  Off the top of the head I think he charged me $120 for the pickup - it's got the same 3 prongs and thumbscrew thread as the standard pickups, so it slots straight in and out into the pickup rout, just like the other modular pickups.

I love the neck and ergonomics of the ADA4 - but I wish it just had a meat and potatoes P bass pickup in it instead of the unusual configuration it comes with.