weird problem

Granny Gremlin · January 26, 2018, 04:41:24 PM

So the other week I went to bust out the RD Artist to lay down a track. No signal (tried new battery).

Took it home to fix it. Worked fine (old battery).

Took it back to the studio. Still no workie. Tried no pedals; diff Amp; diff cable; third amp.

Took home again. Works there with cable fro the studio into solid state Peavey, but nothing when I plug into my Bogen (tube). The amps at the studio are tube. I swear it used to work fine with my Bogen and Garnet at least.

The only thing I can think of is that the output jack went bad and I replaced it (proper long bushing Switchcraft TRS); maybe I wired the 9V and signal backwards; or 9V and ground and somehow this works on the Peavey but no go on tube amps. But then why doesn't this work when I use a bufferred pedal (figured same as solid state Peavey but maybe the Peavey is just a brick shithouse vs everything else)? Can anyone confirm for me by wire colour (e.g. which colour to tip, ring and sleeve)?

Incidentally, after the RD didn't work I busted out the Victory; also problems (intermittant signal due to the jack (which freaked me out till I giggled the cable) and in 1of 2 switch modes the D and G strings made no sound (also freaked me out until I realised that it was the series/parallel switch - did we know that was a split pickup in there? It's even more like a P than I realised).

Granny Gremlin · January 26, 2018, 04:47:01 PM

Looks like 2 x Green to Sleeve (ground)

Black to Ring

Yellow to tip

in this pic on Jules' site (but I may have ring and tip backwards - hard to tell). .. off I go to open my girl up (again).

Granny Gremlin · January 26, 2018, 05:23:42 PM

Hmmn, looks like that's not it (seems to be wired right). Any ideas; this is super weird.

Anyway, will take the Peavey to the studio. Worst case I can use the preamp line out into another amp.

Granny Gremlin · January 26, 2018, 06:48:32 PM

I don't even believe this. I screwed down the jack nut (just a tad loose; could move the jack if I poked it hard but not floppy) and bent the ring leaf back a bit and it works. Makes no sense because using same cable worked with one amp but not others. Also brand new jack. Works with the Bogen now so hopefully the Sunn too. Leaving the cover off so I can poke if I need to. Still bringing the Peavey as a safety.

Granny Gremlin · January 27, 2018, 08:04:32 AM

Well, that worked. This whole issue was a steaming pile.

Highlander · January 27, 2018, 09:01:52 AM

Gadgets...

uwe · January 29, 2018, 01:21:26 PM

Jake, you're our hero!!!

Granny Gremlin · February 05, 2018, 03:39:21 PM

So I took JR to the studio for a drum lesson and he always asks me to jam along so I pick u-p thje RD. %#*! No neck pickup output. After some fussing abotu I realise it's just the neck pickup in FX mode that does not work. Thats' the mode I use all the time and it's bloody maddening because it was totally fine a couple days ago and been sitting there on the stand ever since.

At least the bridge pickup works. It's the only bass where I use that on the regular/most of the time.

amptech · February 05, 2018, 11:50:33 PM

The answer is simple: Quit drugs and get a P bass

doombass · February 06, 2018, 01:36:32 AM

Maybe you're already on to this but anyway: If you're lucky it's just a tired function switch. Looking at the schematic on Jules' site it shows that the function switch chooses the path for the rhythm pickup (compressor or not). If there's no connection between 4 and 5 on the function switch you'll get no rhythm pickup sound.

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDartist_circuit_diagram.php

If the switch is not the culprit, maybe follow the advice above...

uwe · February 06, 2018, 05:50:40 PM

Quote from: amptech on February 05, 2018, 11:50:33 PM
The answer is simple: Quit drugs and get a P bass

Captain Dave, help me for a moment, do we have explicit rules that prohibit the stoning of crew members who have gravely erred?

Dave W · February 06, 2018, 05:58:04 PM

Quote from: uwe on February 06, 2018, 05:50:40 PM
Dave, help me for a moment, do we have explicit rules that prohibit the stoning of members who have gravely erred?

Nothing wrong with a P Bass. One pickup. Truth.

Not as much Truth as an EB-0, but still Truth.

the mojo hobo · February 06, 2018, 06:32:33 PM

And so the Thunderbird II is also much loved.

Granny Gremlin · February 07, 2018, 05:09:24 PM

Wait, y'all think I'm on drugs? I'd have to be to switch to a P. I mean I already have a Victory. And no P does what the RD does. It's my truth maaaaaaan.

I obviously will be looking at the switches, but if the function switch works in FX mode for bridge and the pup selector works for all in normal mode, then it seems very unlikely to be the issue.

doombass · February 09, 2018, 01:24:09 AM

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on February 07, 2018, 05:09:24 PM
I obviously will be looking at the switches, but if the function switch works in FX mode for bridge and the pup selector works for all in normal mode, then it seems very unlikely to be the issue.

I may have interpreted the circuit wrong, but to me it looks like if the connection between 1 and 2 on the function switch is ok while 4 and 5 connection is bad, you'll have the bridge pickup expansion mode working while the neck compression mode circuit is open with no sound from the neck pickup at all.