Source Audio Zio Bass Preamp

#501
lomo said:
Other factors to consider......are you playing a cab without a tweeter, or with the tweeter dialed down.....or with the upper mids or treble dialed down on the amp, or does your Gibson need a signal boost before it hits the Zio?
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I've had some more time to mess with the Zio and my LP Jr and I've sussed out how they work together much better. I've also been able to see where the LP Jr and my P diverge — and it's a pretty big difference, though I think they can often be used for the same goal, albeit with their own inherent flavor. I'm still not getting much grit when I use the Gibson, but I'm ok with that. Not trying to chase that when it's so easily available with the P.

The Zio's Bass/Focus controls and the LP's big round bottom work so nicely together.
 
#503
I want to preface my question by saying the Zio is my first preamp pedal so I don't have much to compare.

I've noticed that when the Zio is engaged at fairly moderate volumes, the pedal seems loud and noisy, I'm getting a hum that gets a bit worse with the grit toggle on, and the grit dial is not maxed out (I'm going for a mostly clean sound).

Have you experienced the same?

Also, I'm using a TrueTone 1 Spot plug, and a daisy chain adapter powering two other pedals. I've read this is not ideal, could that be the source of the issue?
 
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#504
CuiFoo said:
I want to preface my question by saying the Zio is my first preamp pedal so I don't have much to compare.

I've noticed that when the Zio is engaged at fairly moderate volumes, the pedal seems loud and noisy, I'm getting a hum that gets a bit worse with the grit toggle on, and the grit dial is not maxed out (I'm going for a mostly clean sound).

Have you experienced the same?

Also, I'm using a TrueTone 1 Spot plug, and a daisy chain adapter powering two other pedals. I've read this is not ideal, could that be the source of the issue?
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Absolutely could, and probably is the problem. What are the other two pedals?
 
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#506
Johno Dunn said:
Absolutely could, and probably is the problem. What are the other two pedals?
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Thanks for the reply! The other two are an octaver and a compressor.

BadMonk said:
Is the Zio noisy when you unplug everything else in the signal chain? If Zio is quiet by itself (which has been my experience), keep adding in a pedal until you hear the noise. Then, that pedal or that pedal in that sequence with the others is the problem.
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I have unplugged everything but the Zoo and still get noise. I haven't tested powering the Zio directly without a daisy chain adapter but I'll try that, thanks!
 
#508
Yeah, daisy chain es no bueno.
But if you're running the Zio solo (no other pedals and no daisy chain), it sounds like an issue with the pedal itself. Try contacting Source Audio. When my pedal was new, every time I'd move either the Grit or Scoop switch, it would smack my cabinet speaker hard. SA spent lots of time working with me. It eventually settled down. Great pedal, great customer service.
 
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#509
CuiFoo said:
Thanks for the reply! The other two are an octaver and a compressor.



I have unplugged everything but the Zoo and still get noise. I haven't tested powering the Zio directly without a daisy chain adapter but I'll try that, thanks!
Click to expand...

If you find that it’s the daisy chain that’s creating the noise then something like the Joyo ZGP might help without having to drop $150+ on a new supply. A new power supply is ultimately a worthwhile investment for sure, but the Joyo may solve your problem.
 
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#512
mikeynets said:
Who's using the XLR out on the Zio? Has it replaced your dedicated DI box? Is the DI comparable to Radials or the DI outs on say the Mesa Subway heads or Genzlers?
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I am doing exactly that… in fact, that’s why I bought the ZIO: so I could stop taking my Mess Subway head to gigs to use as a Preamp/DI. The DI works perfectly well, and the sound appears to perfectly mirror the 1/4” output. A Radial doesn’t (shouldn’t) color the sound much, but your Subway or Genz head unit may (even set to flat, all voicing switches off). The Zio is a simple pre, so you have (albeit, fewer) tonal options with it, and of course the scoop and grit switches.
The grit switch is a very powerful thing: I run mine always on, with the control on it almost off. This is a clean, thickening, authoritative voice that I run always on.
It adds a bit of tube-ish hair (grit!) to the signal at higher yet modest settings, and is a low-gain dirt when turned up.
I, like many, find it to be a real benefit when turned way down, because it still engages the transistor-style circuit and gives a lovely sound
 
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#513
Not that this would happen or actually being suggested, but, having the SA Bass ZIO like the first ZIO without the DI and slightly smaller footprint 👣 would be super cool... probably a fairly sweet reduction on the price.

However, for so many Bass players, just having the Bass ZIO as their only pedal makes increadable sense overall...
 
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#514
Mastiff_5 said:
I am doing exactly that… in fact, that’s why I bought the ZIO: so I could stop taking my Mess Subway head to gigs to use as a Preamp/DI. The DI works perfectly well, and the sound appears to perfectly mirror the 1/4” output. A Radial doesn’t (shouldn’t) color the sound much, but your Subway or Genz head unit may (even set to flat, all voicing switches off). The Zio is a simple pre, so you have (albeit, fewer) tonal options with it, and of course the scoop and grit switches.
The grit switch is a very powerful thing: I run mine always on, with the control on it almost off. This is a clean, thickening, authoritative voice that I run always on.
It adds a bit of tube-ish hair (grit!) to the signal at higher yet modest settings, and is a low-gain dirt when turned up.
I, like many, find it to be a real benefit when turned way down, because it still engages the transistor-style circuit and gives a lovely sound
Click to expand...

Running the Grit switch with the lowest gain possible really does tighten up my sound quite a bit and make it punchier. Solid!
 
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