problem running bongo w/ sansamp

[dobs1981]

I have a Bongo 5 HH and a sansamp programmable bass driver
Last night it was peaking out the PA system and giving me a shocking distorted noise coming out of my Mark Bass quad.

I changes the batteries less than a month ago so I don't think it is the pick ups

Last night I switched off the channel on the sansamp after the fist set and it stopped the distorted noise out of the speaker. Before you think I'm really silly the gain was only on a quarter turn.

Part of my trouble shooting was to back the bass off on my head and run the bass eq flat, still no joy

so I'm wondering if there is a problem with running the bass driver with the Bongo?

Surely not?

 

[adouglas]

I've got one and never had any trouble with it.

What you describe definitely sounds like too much signal level.

For reference, here's the unit:

There is no "gain" knob, so I assume you mean you had the LEVEL knob up only a quarter turn.

Note that this pedal, like a lot of amps, has TWO knobs that control output. The other one is the DRIVE control. Where was that?

Did you check the batteries in the SansAmp? You only said you'd changed the batteries in the bass.

Also...is this a new phenomenon that you've not run into before (in other words, have you been able to run the pedal with the same settings successfully in the past without peaking the PA), or is the pedal new to you?

If it's the latter, then it's reasonable to assume you just need to use different settings. If the former, then something might be wrong with the pedal.

Since shutting the pedal off eliminated the problem, it follows that your bass is fine. So:

1) Verify that the pedal batteries are good, or, if you're powering it through the XLR connector from the PA, make sure that power source is good (was the sound guy providing you with phantom power?).

2) Do you have the "boost" button pushed in? Turn it off.

3) Do you have the "Phantom Power" button in the correct position? (Depends on how you're powering the pedal).

4) Start with all controls flat and adjust slowly.

5) General rule...don't turn ANYTHING all the way up, especially the controls on your Bongo. That includes the volume. You won't hurt anything by turning it all the way up, but BP has recommended using half-way as your default and letting the amp do the work. A lot of us, recognizing that BP is always right, have elected to follow his advice.

6) Last thought...maybe it's not you. During the sound check, did you feed the sound guy your signal with the SansAmp on or off? If he set gain with it off and you only switched it on during performance, then you could easily overdrive his input.

Occam's Razor points to the last one.

 

[dobs1981]

This is all very new to me
ok here's my settings

I was running phantom power this week just gone but the previous week I used a power supply. The guy who sold it to me said it would just go through too many batteries if I was using it constantly through the night.

boost button was off

The volume on my bass was all the way up, I will adjust that.

during the souncheck sansamp was on

 

[adouglas]

Try engaging the "pad" button. IIRC that reduces overall output (check the manual, or if you don't have it, download it from the Tech21 website).

 

[Ed x TWWK]

Its possible that the high output of the bass and the high output of the sansamp peaked everything out. When I was using my Warwick double $$, I went out and got a DBX 266xl compressor, and it brought down the gain without killing the sound. Before the compressor, the peak light on my amp's gain (SVT4-Pro) would go off even at low settings due to the output of the bass/sansamp. Maybe if you have a compressor, give it a try. Right now I have my sansamp level at over half, and my amps gain knob near half, and nothing peaks at all.

 

[Big Poppa]

ok your problem is too much gain....with the bongo please try all the same but with the volume on the bass it 2/3rds You dont have to dime the volume on an active bass

 

[Randracula]

ok your problem is too much gain....with the bongo please try all the same but with the volume on the bass it 2/3rds You dont have to dime the volume on an active bass

Well said......

 

[dobs1981]

everything seems to be going well now

I have backed the bass right off, pushing the Little mark a bit harder now, sounds sweet!

I have two gigs this weekend so that will be the big test I can't wait

Thank-you all for your advice

very much appreciated

 

[Big Poppa]

Yeah just remember if you are getting that overloaded sound...you are overloading the input of your amp....The 18volt bongo is very powerful and coupling it with another preamp is just overloading the poor input of the amp. When we designed the bongo we took into consideration he standards for input of most amps and pushed the envelope.

 

[syciprider]

Because of the nature of some of my FX I run my MMs vol wide open all the time. To control my gain structure I use an EB volume pedal at the end of the chain.

 

[thunder]

sans amp + 18v pre amp (bongo) + time = BLOWN SPEAKERS. to make the bass sound good, the levels on the bass pre amp and amp input have to be low, thus negating the reason why you would need the extra pre amp. adding the pre amp just dramaticly raises the overall input into the amp causing the the speakers to move more than they should especially if all of the eq's are set differently. 18 v pre amp is more than enough to get great sound. it your adding sound effect pedals like distortion use the amps effects loop for better sound. save the sams amp for you p-bass. your bongo dosn't need it. IMPORTANT: when buy an insturment try to make sure the input of the amp is greater than the out put of the instrument. it will save your speakers and prevent head aches. can my fellow sound guys, engineers and guitar techs give me an AMEN!

 

[syciprider]

sans amp + 18v pre amp (bongo) + time = BLOWN SPEAKERS. to make the bass sound good, the levels on the bass pre amp and amp input have to be low, thus negating the reason why you would need the extra pre amp. adding the pre amp just dramaticly raises the overall input into the amp causing the the speakers to move more than they should especially if all of the eq's are set differently. 18 v pre amp is more than enough to get great sound. it your adding sound effect pedals like distortion use the amps effects loop for better sound. save the sams amp for you p-bass. your bongo dosn't need it. IMPORTANT: when buy an insturment try to make sure the input of the amp is greater than the out put of the instrument. it will save your speakers and prevent head aches. can my fellow sound guys, engineers and guitar techs give me an AMEN!

The Bongo pre can't give you that "tubey" feel that Sansamp fans want though.

 

[thunder]

you lose that "tubey" sound. because, you have the levels so low in order to get rid of the destortion due to the over loaded input. further more as you use the blend the signal get thinner. thus, losing your low freq. plus the eq of the amp???!!!!??? but as i said over time your speakers will suffer. solution get a tude pre amp that dosn't have an eq or a eq off switch. the pre amp should not have a input knob but have a -10 or -20 db switch.

 

[syciprider]

I have several stages of gain and eq between my bass and my amp and don't have a problem overloading inputs so i don't know where you're coming from with your explanation. It's all about managing your gain structure.

 

[thunder]

i thought i was addressing dobs 1981's problem. if you read big poppas comment. the input level is the problem that he's having. it sounds as if your rig (syciprider) is working right. remember every one uses different equipment your rig may not be the same as his. dobs 1981 is going from 18v pre + the sans amp + the mark bass preamp + the p.a. systems preamp = then the speakers. thats a lot of gain!!!! and the "tubey" sound..... live?? ain't nobody going to notice it. all he needs live (rehearsal, shows) bongo+ markbass= bliss.

 

[Psychicpet]

just curious to know what your EQ settings are on your Bongo?



because, cranking all of the eq knobs on your bass to 10..... that pretty much equals the worst tone that you'd want to send anywhere. period.

 

[dobs1981]

everything flat on the bass

 

[AtomicPunk]

That's one thing I learned about the Bongo, the output is MASSIVE. No need to crank it. Lay back a little bit on the volume, sounds like your amp can do the work.

 

[Psychicpet]

Granted, Bongos have huge output but I'm still from the camp of "volume full at all times"... mainly due to it not being a segmented type of pot, but also, gives more headroom for the hands to get dynamic.

I haven't run into any problems like this in the years I've had my Bongo running full bore. BUT I do appreciate the fact that sometimes, this does happen so ya, I guess back off the volume a bit

 

[oli@bass]

Granted, Bongos have huge output but I'm still from the camp of "volume full at all times"... mainly due to it not being a segmented type of pot,

That would be cool... to have the volume pot with a detent at -9dB or -6dB.

but also, gives more headroom for the hands to get dynamic.

I think that's not true, at least not for the StingRay. You don't have less headroom when you turn the volume down a bit. I even have the impression the opposite is true.

I haven't run into any problems like this in the years I've had my Bongo running full bore.

Probably you play less aggressively thant the OP (from having seen you playing, I had the impression that you play with a very light touch).