Uncle Rodney

Luv 'em or hate them, I bought one of these from the big Az, was £20!? I was wanting a pre-amp so I could plug my BG into the line level computer interface, this does it. I also use the XLR into my mixer desk which is also connected to my computer audio interface at line level. For my purpose there is a lot of tonal variation to be had 🙂 I can get all kinds of BG tones. There is some "distortion" available when Drive is >90%. There's so many variations of distortions, this is just one. My BG is always very boomy bassy on the E, I can easily "correct" that with this unit. I'd need to measure the current drawing from the PP3, anyway I now use a mains PSU. By using this unit, I am trying various VST fx to see what works for me, knowing the impedances are correctly "matched", so even in bypass I believe this unit still presents the correct Z to my passive BG.

In my last band, I just happen to pass (sorta) a car-less band member's house enroute to the rehearsal room. I couldn't bring myself just to drive past.. It worked most of the time. I was driving a very long way, he was just crossing town and sometimes got "itchy" when I got stuck in traffic and not on his doorstep at the agreed time. 🙄 When it came to gigs, it would depend where it was, if I was passing I would pick the guy up, if not he would ask another band member. He would always offer ££, I tended not to take the £ as "I was going that way anyway". My current band, just at the last weekend I picked up our car-less singer. Again a long drive for me with an insane journey 2 miles across town after picking the guy up. He helped with town knowledge getting around the many "road closed" signs. And a band years ago, I would pick up the drummer as he had drink driving ban. Sadly, although being a nice chap, once the ban was over he got a car and no surprises for what happened next. 🤡 Maybe foolishly, I tend to see it as part of the team effort being in a band. It can go wrong, being mindful what is being said in the car matters. For me it was, be respectful and courteous. As in, don't make demands on the lift driver, be ready when the lift arrives. No smoking, drugs, faffing about, farting, politics in the car.. etc. ..and don't sit on my driving spex. Before -> 🤓... after->🧐

Thanks guys for your comments. I've seen one on ebay and another on Fb Market place but currently too many miles away (>100), plus some I know will have horrible little roads. I will keep my eyes open then. Thanks too for the "active only" comment, I did wonder.

I like to buy this kind faulty kit and repair it. It's part of the fun. I've had Ashdown amps, did a bit of fixing and they sound great. It's also good because it can put back into circulation otherwise decent kit.

I have done some experiments with Z (the load the pups see) - and found there can be all kinds of changes in sounds as a result. However, I found, deciding which is "the best one?" an difficult choice- it's possible to make 20 modifications, each yields a different sound, the obvious one to go for is not always that obvious! So for me, end result, just don't waste time experimenting. I connect passive pups into a hi Z preamp/interface (>1Mohm) using a short good quality lead. If I want fuller/cleaner tone I go for active pups. One test was to have little capacitors across the passive pups at the socket on the guitar, using a selector switch, say 20pF, 100pF, 220pF, 1000pF I could switch between. They did seems to have an effect on tone, which directed to me think, I need a short good quality lead (low C) - but then a radio link which has a high Z input, all sorted. So now I don't do anything - I take it as-is. Just my MO.

My suggestion, open the unit up, take a good close up photo of the "pot" (potentiometer), we need to see how it is mounted to the PCB and to the front panel, from that it's possible to guess what it type is going to be. We also need to see its resistance value (and taper) so look for something like 200KB, A10K it's usually printed on the "pot" in black or white ink. I would have thought Music Tribe would direct you to their Service Centre, but I know sometimes that doesn't always get a result.

These seem to be well specced and not too costly - CX100 -with bubinga top I like the idea of active pups. Opinions? I will use it for home recording, doing slap and classic rock, maybe softer stuff like country. No metal.