Sergeant_Stagger Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Hey all, I've been having a problem with my G&L Tribute L-2500 distorting. I've tried different amps, low gain settings, changing the battery, all sorts but it keeps happening. The guy who had it before me fitted it with an East-UK J-Retro preamp, which is where I suspect the problem lies. It happens all the time whenever I play the lower strings - the B and the E - and being a regularly gigging musician, is a bit of a problem. I thought at first it was a ripped speaker cone - that's what it sounds like! I've even set the two gain screws on the preamp to the minimum setting - no difference. If anyone has any ideas or has/has had the same problem, please post - it's driving me mad, and the nearest music shop which maybe could solve the problem is about 60 miles away - no small distance when you haven't got a car! Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Maybe it's the jack socket or the electrics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Have you wound your pole pieces down as I recall when I had one some people found the output too hot and I guess it will be hotter on the lower strings? As you say it might be the East retro, have you spoken to them ? Also have you asked the question on the US Talkbass G&L site as there is quite a bit of knowledge there too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Stagger Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) Ooh no haven't tried the US site, thanks for the info! Got a spare jack socket lying around somewhere, may as well try that Have tried winding the poles down, doesn't make a difference :/ Edited January 20, 2009 by Sergeant_Stagger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Have you tried turning the volume knob on your preamp down? Diming the volume can do that sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Stagger Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 [quote name='budget bassist' post='386760' date='Jan 20 2009, 09:21 PM']Have you tried turning the volume knob on your preamp down? Diming the volume can do that sometimes.[/quote] Yes, I have tried that also - it makes the same noise at any volume from the bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Stagger Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thanks for the replies and suggestions - I emailed Mr. John East and he sent this reply: "Hi Ben Are you using the retro with the volume at max? The J or U-Retro is not designed to be used in active at max volume especially if you have a lot of EQ dialled in. Many are used to using passive basses this way of course. Remember that the retro volume control should be thought of more like a slider in a sound mixer channel strip, where it isn't the norm to have them all at max. The more EQ you have, the more they tend to be backed off. The retro has a lot of EQ boost capability, being a quite a 'sharp tool', and a single 9V battery isn't capable of giving anywhere near enough headroom, especially with really powerful pickups. To set retro up with a rig etc: * Go to passive mode with volume at max, with both pickups and set the volume of the rig to a good level. * Back off the volume and then switch to active. * Set the EQ and adjust the volume to taste. * Backing off the volume effectively creates more headroom. Please try as above. Very happy to look at your preamp if you think it has a problem. By all means call me if that would help? Best wishes John" Turns out when I backed the volume off before I didn't do it enough, this seems to have solved the problem Hope this helps anyone else who may have the same problem - although to be honest, it was really me just being stupid and not trying the easiest solution! :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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