a question of output...

johnson

johnson

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i noticed when i first started using my thumb nt 5 string that its output volume was noticeably lower than that of my streamer stage II. is this normal? the pick up heights on both basses are pretty much identical yet there is still less output from the thumb vs. the streamer. my eq'ing on both basses is also exactly the same. i thought it might be the battery getting low on the thumb so i replaced both batteries on both basses and still the same outcome. just wondering if anyone had heard of this before and if there is something i can do to correct it or if it is just the way the thumb is built or the thumbs electronics are built. let me know what you think. thanks
 
Hi Johnson,
there's a little preamp output level that can be adjusted in the electronic compartment, it's brown and located on the electronic "card"; you'll need a phillips screwdriver to adjust it.
 
Thumbfreak said:
Hi Johnson,
there's a little preamp output level that can be adjusted in the electronic compartment, it's brown and located on the electronic "card"; you'll need a phillips screwdriver to adjust it.
Click to expand...

Interesting. My Thumb output is way lower then my Streamer. So what your saying is that I can turn the Thumbs pre amp up? :D
 
does a left turn increase the volume and a right turn decrease it?
 
johnson said:
does a left turn increase the volume and a right turn decrease it?
Click to expand...

Hey Johnson, you turn left and ill turn right and we'll see what happens!
But you go first! :lol:
 
haha yeah... but no, if anyone could let me know which way is which, that would be awesome! thanks
 
Usualy is right-up, left- down... But the best setting is when the output of the preamp is equal with the output when bypassed.
 
If you are sensible you can adjust the outputs with the bass plugged in and experiment. The MEC pre on my basses has a small blue trimpot and that is clockwise louder, anticlockwise quieter.
 
johnson said:
haha yeah... but no, if anyone could let me know which way is which, that would be awesome! thanks
Click to expand...

No worries mate.Turn the trimpot clockwise to increase the output & anti clockwise to decrease it.There's no problem with the bass,the outputs dont match is all.
 
I have the same issue with some of my basses...all different outputs...do the Corvette Stds have trim pots on the MEC 2band EQ? I haven't seen one...
 
Florin said:
Usualy is right-up, left- down... But the best setting is when the output of the preamp is equal with the output when bypassed.
Click to expand...
Florin is on the right track. Louder is not always best. In the case of a bass you want the preamp output level to be the same as when you're using the bass in Passive mode. This means that you need to set the output of the preamp to a volume similar to the output level you get when you put your bass in Passive mode.
 
odominguez said:
Florin said:
Usualy is right-up, left- down... But the best setting is when the output of the preamp is equal with the output when bypassed.
Click to expand...
Florin is on the right track. Louder is not always best. In the case of a bass you want the preamp output level to be the same as when you're using the bass in Passive mode. This means that you need to set the output of the preamp to a volume similar to the output level you get when you put your bass in Passive mode.
Click to expand...


That would explain why I didn't hear much difference when I checked out the push/pull feature on the volume knob of my Rockbass Fortress 5. I'm learning the controls by trial and error and couldn't tell the diff, I've got all the other knobs set flat until I can really mess around with it.
 
a few more questions for everyone. i don't use my basses in passive mode so a difference in volume from one to the other does not seem like to much of a problem. my question is, when i open up the control cavity on my thumb nt there is a little brown flat head screw on the circuit board itself and then there is a Phillips head screw on the actual preamp which is silver and says MEC on it and has alot of numbers on it. i was wondering which screw i actually turn out of the two? sorry if these seem like stupid questions, i've never messed around with preamp output before. thanks again!
 
The trimpot is mounted (soldered) to the circuit board and will likely have a colored plastic recess in the center to adjust it. It has a very low profile and is likely cylindrical in shape. Without seeing a picture, my guess is that it's the brown one. The pictorial diagrams from Warwick show it as a straight slot. It requires very little force to adjust.

O
 
Mine has a little red mark half on the slotted dial and half off, I suppose to mark the original setting.
 
gerrywarwick said:
Mine has a little red mark half on the slotted dial and half off, I suppose to mark the original setting.
Click to expand...

Mine too Gerry.Wait a sec,you me & Daniel have the same bass. 8)
 
Thanks alot for all the help guys, i won't be able to adjust yet for another day or so, but i'll let you guys know how it turns out. thanks again!
 
watch it

Dont do any adjusting while the bass is plugged in and voltage is applied. You will/may hear a loud pop and do damage to the preamp and also scare the crap out of you. Do the adjustment unplugged then comapare you new volume with the previous.
 
I would agree that if someone is sticking a screwdriver in amongst the electrics of a bass without the foggiest idea of what they are doing then I'm with you that the bass should be disconnected. However, I've adjusted the preamp output of many (many) Warwicks and I can assure you that if you know what you are doing and your carrying out this tweak in good light with the bass securely on your lap or on a bench then turning the volume down on the bass is sufficient for such a simple task. I realise I'm only saving a few minutes doing it my way but you can then very quickly balance the two outputs, though it isn't the end of the world if you take a bit longer plugging and unplugging you bass from the amp; don't just pull the cord from your bass without the amp muted otherwise you 'will' get a crack through your amp... school boy stuff but newbies reading this may not know!
 
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