Godfrey Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I have a Bolin NS5 that suddenly stopped working - no signal out. I checked in the main cavity and behind the double battery box (it's an 18v preamp) and found a wire off behind the battery box - the loop between the two batteries. I soldered that back on and the bass started working again, however, neither of the volume controls for the main pickup or the piezo under the bridge will turn down to 'off' and the tone controls have minimal effect. I've had a look in the main cavity again and can see nothing obvious - has anyone any ideas about what I might have done wrong please? (It was working fine before so it must be something I've done). Any advice gratefully received. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I can photograph my Bolin 4 controls and see if it helps you spot the potential problem. Just out of interest is this bass the one that Owen had (formerly mine)... just like keeping track of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Hi warwickhunt - thanks for your reply. No - I imported this bass directly from Bolin Guitars back in 2004. It was originally fretless but I could never get it to sound just as I wanted so subsequently had it fretted. The only thing I've done is solder back the loop wire on the battery box to where it seemed obvious it had come from, but I somehow seem to have upset something by doing that, which I find a bit of a mystery. The thing that would be most helpful if you could be bothered, is to ease out the battery box and photograph the connections so I could check I have got it right. I'll fully understand if you don't want to do that though. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Probably dead easy to diagnose and fix, but I've hunted high and low and just can't find a circuit diagram for it anywhere. Does anyone know if the NS5 has a bespoke preamp or if it's one made by a known hardware supplier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Hi icastle The preamp is made by Fishman if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Just had the battery box off and not a lot to get wrong! Pic upload is giving me grief (will upload asap) but the wiring is basically red/black/red/black. The piezo preamp is Fishman but the electric is EMG I'd have thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Too many variables going on here. Some parts are obviously Fishman, some parts are potentially EMG and both companies make an OEM range that is supplied to manufacturers only. Reconnecting the link wire between the two batteries has got you closer to where you are supposed to be but there is something 'else' going on in there as well. EMG often use a solderless solution (little push on connectors) so my best 'blind guess' is that perhaps one or more of those connectors has managed to become dislodged. Pull the battery cage out of the cavity and carefully inspect the rest of the wiring and make sure it's all seated properly and nothing is flopping around disconnected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Really appreciate your help. Below (I hope) are a couple of pictures. The battery box shows what I repaired - the connection on the loop wire to the left - hard see how that could be wrong or cause any problem with the volume or tone circuitry? Is this the same as your battery connections? The other shows inside the main panel. I haven't altered or disturbed (knowingly) anything in there, nor can I see anything loose or dislodged - mystery! Godfrey[attachment=99571:BatteryBox.jpg][attachment=99572:Preamp1.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Exactly how mine is wired! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Again - thank you both [b]warwickhunt[/b] and [b]icastle[/b] for your help - think I've cracked it! First, thanks [b]warwickhunt[/b] for confirming the battery wiring is right. Second,[b] icastle [/b]prompted me to look at the internal wiring again. I decided to go through it all again and carefully check the ends of each and every wire. I took off the EMG pickup first, sure enough push fit connections underneath it but apparently OK. After first checking all the other easily visible ones, I took the preamp board off it's mounting and discovered that amongst the bunch of wires attached to the back of it, one end has come off. I had looked before and not seen it, but this time I was inspecting everything with a magnifying glass. All I need to do now is get it repaired. The soldering required is far too fine for me to do so I'll get my local guitar tech to look at it. At least I'll be able to point him straight to the fault (assuming it's the only one!), so he won't have to spend time looking for it. I really am grateful for your help and inspiration - thanks again. Godfrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Excellent news If that's two wires gone simultaneously then it'd be well worth getting your local tech to take a look at the remaining ones and make sure they're not on the verge of falling off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Very good advice which I will follow - thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1328705997' post='1531382'] I can photograph my Bolin 4 controls and see if it helps you spot the potential problem. Just out of interest is this bass the one that Owen had (formerly mine)... just like keeping track of it. [/quote] Daf Lewis has that now and it is fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lictor4 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) I've created a Bolin thread over on the talkbass forum, please check it out. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/official-bolin-ns-design-info-registry-889478/ Edited July 31, 2012 by lictor4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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