Getting repairs on active basses

John Patten

John Patten

Aug 5, 2018
64
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4,906
New Jersey
#1
hi all!
I recently purchased a project bass (Ibanez SR505) that needed a new pre-amp. I installed the preamp then found out the pups on it were incorrect (4-string pups on a 5-string! Pretty sure the shop I bought it dirt cheap from put all their surplus parts together on it...).
Anyway, I didn’t really mind replacing the Ibanez Bartolinis with actual Bartolinis but I didn’t have the time or patience to install them myself and took it to the local Guitar Center for the installation.
A few days later, the GC tech calls me says he can’t do it, doesn’t know enough about active circuits. Refers me to two other GC locations, both about an hour away.
I took it instead to another nearby store. Two eeeks later they call say the guy had the pups installed without any problem but when I asked the passive/active switching, I got no answer.
They’ve had the bass six weeks now and I told them I want it back - even if I can only play it passively.
To get to the point: is it normally this difficult getting pups or an active circuit repaired? It doesn’t seem it should be that difficult to me.
Has anyone else had similar issues?
 
#3
Well, if they are waiting on parts - actual Ibanez parts - the wait could be months. Ibanez or their North American dealer/importer don't stock replacement parts in any quantity so the wait on a simple component or hardware part can be several months to a year. This is the unfortunate case up here in Canada and it may be why you've been waiting so long. It's worth calling the tech and asking what they're waiting for and if another solution is worthwhile.
 
#4
Zooberwerx said:
No. Appears the techs are incompetent which is all-too-common nowadays.

You're in New Jersey...I'm hard-pressed to believe there's not a competent (not "trusted", not "respected") tech who can handle the simple task of installing pups and a preamp.

Are you sure the pups were incorrect to start with?

Riis
Click to expand...
Yes. I used magnetic green tape to confirm - and pulled one and saw it marked as a 4 string model...

I can’t believe it’s been this difficult, either. Active basses are not a novelty item.
 
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#5
As mentioned above, if they have all the parts, just wiring everything up shouldn't take too long. A couple of hours max and that's allowing time for forgetting which set of contacts is which on the push-pull switch and having to change them.
 
#6
Not all good guitar techs are good electronic guys. You'd think so, since active instruments are part of the territory. Thankfully, I can handle my own electronic work.

Around here, we are loaded with good guitar techs, but don't exactly "get" setting up basses, which is weird to me. The one guy I could trust to fix a fret or a nut problem on a bass has an ever-expanding acoustic guitar-building business and has all but forgone doing guitar repairs and set ups. He's a great friend, a great tech, so I get it. But more and more, I'm getting better at taking care of my own basses. Out of necessity, not because I want to....
 
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#8
What was the problem with the pickups? Was there a sound issue or is it just a matter of pride ?
The only difference between 4 and 5 string Bartolini pickups is the length of the magnets and since SRs are quite narrow, it isn't uncommon to find 4 string form factors on them.
 
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#9
Competence is often an under-appreciated trait
Jazz Ad said:
What was the problem with the pickups? Was there a sound issue or is it just a matter of pride ?
The only difference between 4 and 5 string Bartolini pickups is the length of the magnets and since SRs are quite narrow, it isn't uncommon to find 4 string form factors on them.
Click to expand...

no, there is a noticeable drop in volume on the A string because there is a gap between the coil under the B and E strings and the coil under the D and G strings. Drove me nuts.

If it’s not uncommon for Ibanez to interchange the 4 string pups and 5 string pups on 5 string basses, then I would recommend never buying one without checking it out firsthand. That’s a pretty deceptive practice.
 
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#10
My 2 cents.

I haven't had any issues with electronics in basses. I suck at soldering, but I can wire up my own basses. The solder joints I make can be hit or miss. Soldering grounds to the back of a pot is my downfall, but I think my iron is too cold. You need an iron hot enough to heat the pots quickly. If your iron is too cold it can fry your pots because it heats up the internal components as it transfers heat to the "case"

If I were you I'd try to find a schematic and wire it myself. If you can uderstand the schematics the quality of your solder joints isn't as important. Solder joints can be cleaned up and redone in the future.

There's a definite learning curve to understanding electronics and it can be confusing.

Personally I suggest you learn how to do it yourself. Once you start to understand guitar electronics a little bit it makes your playing experience better. You feel proud of having wired your guitar yourself. If your bass stops working, you can peek at the electronics and find out why it isn't working.

It's good information to know and a good skill to have if you're passionate about making music.

Again, just my 2 cents. I don't mean to offend or belittle you. I'm still learning this stuff myself.
 
#11
Jazz Ad said:
What was the problem with the pickups? Was there a sound issue or is it just a matter of pride ?
The only difference between 4 and 5 string Bartolini pickups is the length of the magnets and since SRs are quite narrow, it isn't uncommon to find 4 string form factors on them.
Click to expand...

Also, the bass came with the Ibanez pups licensed from Bartolini. There may not be much difference with regular Bartolinis but there definitely was on this guitar. (And I think it can be said the licensed Barts do not sound as good as regular Barts).
 
#12
cmcbass said:
My 2 cents.

I haven't had any issues with electronics in basses. I suck at soldering, but I can wire up my own basses. The solder joints I make can be hit or miss. Soldering grounds to the back of a pot is my downfall, but I think my iron is too cold. You need an iron hot enough to heat the pots quickly. If your iron is too cold it can fry your pots because it heats up the internal components as it transfers heat to the "case"

If I were you I'd try to find a schematic and wire it myself. If you can uderstand the schematics the quality of your solder joints isn't as important. Solder joints can be cleaned up and redone in the future.

There's a definite learning curve to understanding electronics and it can be confusing.

Personally I suggest you learn how to do it yourself. Once you start to understand guitar electronics a little bit it makes your playing experience better. You feel proud of having wired your guitar yourself. If your bass stops working, you can peek at the electronics and find out why it isn't working.

It's good information to know and a good skill to have if you're passionate about making music.

Again, just my 2 cents. I don't mean to offend or belittle you. I'm still learning this stuff myself.
Click to expand...

I can do it although my soldering iron is probably on the cold side, too, an d have the schematics provided by Bartolini. But I don’t really have the time and end up doing a rushed job, which never works.
 
#13
John Patten said:
I can do it although my soldering iron is probably on the cold side, too, an d have the schematics provided by Bartolini. But I don’t really have the time and end up doing a rushed job, which never works.
Click to expand...

I understand that. A rushed job never feels good. Feels like there's something missing or a cold joint that could crack at any moment.
 
#17
John Patten said:
They’ve had the bass six weeks now and I told them I want it back - even if I can only play it passively.
Click to expand...

Passively, as in... unplugged? I have an SR805 (2015, I think), and it's straight "active"... there's no mode switch for passive on mine.

Did you replace the active preamp with the same? If so, wouldn't the connections used for the Bart 5 be the same as those for the Bart 4?

If not, I would hope a schematic/wiring diagram would be provided with the new preamp.

Sorry about your experience, though.
 
#18
Hell you think that's bad! I brought a bass in to have a new pickup installed, not only did the tech not route the cavity the way I wanted and explained it, but he also wired out of phase like how a telecaster is wired. Apparently he used a tele schematic to wire the darned thing. Another time I wanted a pickup routed and wired the same as in a Warwick $$. But instead he puts about 2 inches between the pickups instead of side by side! That ruined that bass for me so I got rid of it :(
 
#19
I'd avoid using GC for repairs in general. Where in NJ are you? I'm in central NJ and there are a couple places in my area. I'm sure others on the forum can make recommendations too. There are also a ton of folks in luthier's corner who do this kind of work. A little $ in shipping is better than not knowing who is doing what to your bass.
 
#20
John Patten said:
hi all!
I recently purchased a project bass (Ibanez SR505) that needed a new pre-amp. I installed the preamp then found out the pups on it were incorrect (4-string pups on a 5-string!
Click to expand...
Are they pole pieces or bars?.(If they are bars it doesn't matter.It's the coverage of the string width that matters)
 
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