IB-4 Build Started!

[Simon Barden]

Pickup height can vary the tone and output by quite a lot, so always experiment. Which is why you never want to just set to a given figure and forget. The kit pickups haven't got adjustable pole-pieces, so you may want to angle the pickup height-wise to get a more balanced sound, normally with the treble side higher than the bass. Thicker strings create more output, so naturally the bass strings give a bit more output.

[NigeS]

Thanks again guys!

[NigeS]

Hi All
Finally back on my IB-4 build after a break due to holidays - and having a new kitchen fitted... I think I've finally solved the output jack issue, having filled and redrilled the original hole on the body centre line (it wasn't originally) and sourced a black oval mounting plate.
Quick question on wiring. I'm using the diagram for the IB-5 as this has the same pups / controls as my bass. The 'unused' terminal on both volume controls is shown bent onto the control body - but it isn't shown as a solder joint. Should this terminal be grounded?
Thanks for any advice!
All the Best
Nigel

[Trevor Davies]

... The 'unused' terminal on both volume controls is shown bent onto the control body - but it isn't shown as a solder joint. Should this terminal be grounded?
Thanks for any advice!
All the Best
Nigel

Hi Nigel, yes they should be soldered to the back of the pot.

[NigeS]

Thanks, Trevor!
Cheers!
Nigel

[NigeS]

Good Afternoon Fellow Builders!
I've made some progress this week. Pups fitted and wiring completed, then bridge and neck fitted. I bought a speed winder that certainly saves the wrist and fingers and strung the bass. Tuning has settled down really quickly (it took weeks on my six string build - and intonation is pretty spot on straight from the box. Only 1 string to weak.
So - I borrowed an amp to see if I have a bass - but nothing...
No hum (good), but also as far as I can tell no output. I've wired guitars before with no issues, so I'm puzzled. I have a multimeter, but no oscilloscope. What should the resistance (impedance) be between the hot output and ground? Are there any other tests I should do?
Any suggestions gratefully received as usual!
Thanks
Nigel

[fender3x]

Not sure what you used for a wiring chart, but it should be like this one:



I think this should be right for yours: Two tones, two volumes, no switches.

I took the diagram from a German source but it's pretty clear if you remember that "Masse" means ground/earth. The wire that says it goes to "Saitenerdung" is the ground/earth wire for the bridge. "Hot" is exactly what you'd think ;-)

First thing to do: See if the way you wired the bass looks like this.
Second thing to do, turn the volume pots all the way up and see if that makes a difference. If not, turn them all the way down to see if you hear the bass (you would not be the first person to wire it backwards).

If the hot leads from the pots go correctly to the pots, and the hot leads go from the pots to the hot on the jack, then the problem is may be with the ground wire going to the jack.

Since you are hearing nothing from either pickup, the next thing to check is the jack. Could be no ground to the jack. Could be hot wire and ground wire are reversed on the jack.

You may want to take some pics and post them. Sometimes folks here can see where the wiring might be off.

[Trevor Davies]

Good Afternoon Fellow Builders!
,,,
So - I borrowed an amp to see if I have a bass - but nothing...
No hum (good), but also as far as I can tell no output. I've wired guitars before with no issues, so I'm puzzled. I have a multimeter, but no oscilloscope. What should the resistance (impedance) be between the hot output and ground? Are there any other tests I should do?
Any suggestions gratefully received as usual!
Thanks
Nigel

Hi Nigel,

I had a possibly similar issue with my TB-4. Those pups had a hot wire and ground (bare and green) wires. The green wire part was not grounded as I had accidently trimmed it! And No sound.

For my TB-4, with the volumes on 10, I get a resistance of about 7 300 ohms. This is from the end of a lead plugged into the jack socket.

I would also test the hot to ground from the pups, the hot tab of the volume pots, tone pots and jack plug.

[NigeS]

Thanks for the advice, guys!
Some wiring mods and I now have sound - sounds great. I think the problem may have been shorting between the pot terminals and the conductive coated cavity. I've now got washers to prevent this and will fit tomorrow...
Nigel

[fender3x]

...I think the problem may have been shorting between the pot terminals and the conductive coated cavity....

That would definitely do it. Glad you have it sorted out.