Cave Passive Pedal "RFF Tour" begins!

[cassius987]

John, you tried the Cave pedal downstream from the Aphex PF right?

[johnallg]

John, you tried the Cave pedal downstream from the Aphex PF right?

Cursory quick test the day I got it. I'm off all next week and plan to try it in many situations of what drives it and what it "drives".

[johnallg]

Okay, I've had this for a week or so now, and got very frustrated not being able to get the results the others were experiencing. I PM'd Woody for info on what he did, and he kindly sent me a very informative PM back.

I had tried the Cave with the bass into it and it into a Shure wireless transmitter, I tried bass to Cave to Aphex Punch Factory, I tried it Shure receiver into Cave into the Aphex, and I tried Aphex into Cave into SVT-3 tube/MOSFET preamp (3.7M input impedance). All these varied only in total volume but were the same in being much less volume, and the DRV control being a level control, and the LVL control being a shallow tone control. Nothing like what Woody posted in his videos.

Point of surprising interest: A bass into the Cave into the Shure wireless gave a volume boost with the LVL control. This was repeatable and surprising. Not sure (Shure ) why it did this but turning the control actually increased volume. Only setup I could get that to happen.

So after his PM, I put the bass into the Cave then into the Ampeg. Again the total volume varied with the bass, but I was getting some distortion with the DRV and volume control with the LVL. The 4004C with HB1s worked the best, sounding like Woodys 4004. A 70s 4001 gave my old results, volume and tone control. My V63 (hot higain pickup levels) was almost as good as the 4004C, with distortion and volume control.

What I conclude is the pedal seems a lot more dependent on signal level into it than impedance as I though. The effect is very noticeable with a bass able to deliver signal like a 4004 does. With a lower output bass, it didn't really work for me.

I will be getting it in the mail to JPS tomorrow or Thursday. Thanks to Eden for making this possible!

Happy New Year to all!

[jps]

John, PM sent!

[johnallg]

Jeff, it went out today with tracking and should arrive Friday.

[jps]

Looking forward to enter the Bass Cave!

[woodyng]

So,John....did you play fingerstyle or with a pick? I noticed the effect was less pronounced when i tried playing with a pick. (Which i did not post any video of....)
I think the markbass input stage must be a bit unique,in that it is one of the few modern day amps that does not have any switching/separate inputs for active/passive levels. According to my new minimark's manual,the input stage is 500kohm impedance.

[jps]

I think the markbass input stage must be a bit unique,in that it is one of the few modern day amps that does not have any switching/separate inputs for active/passive levels. According to my new minimark's manual,the input stage is 500kohm impedance.

My Tone Hammer 500 has a -10dB pad switch but I do not think that affects the input impedance (I have not found any documentation as to what the impedance is); the Walter Woods is 1M Ω on all inputs (channels, effects returns), it does not have separate hi/low gain inputs, either. I will try the pedal with both amps and all my basses (Ricks, Martin Keiths, Rick Turner, Yamaha to see how their output impedances and gain levels affect the pedal. The Concert Amp may get a shot too, to see what affect a vintage Fender input stage does with the pedal. I may try some recording to GarageBand direct into the Mac and through my PHA-1 preamp.

[johnallg]

So,John....did you play fingerstyle or with a pick? I noticed the effect was less pronounced when i tried playing with a pick. (Which i did not post any video of....)
I think the markbass input stage must be a bit unique,in that it is one of the few modern day amps that does not have any switching/separate inputs for active/passive levels. According to my new minimark's manual,the input stage is 500kohm impedance.

Both Woody.

[jps]

The B-Drive has landed!

[woodyng]

I'm sorry,is there something in those pictures besides a fabulous 4001? (Drool)

[jps]

Okay, where is the hidden battery? How does one produce 10dB of gain from a passive device?

[weemac]

Okay, where is the hidden battery? How does one produce 10dB of gain from a passive device?

It is powered by smoke and mirrors...

Eden.

[woodyng]

Or a tiny peice of radioactive material....

[jps]

Or a tiny peice of radioactive material....

Is that what's inside that lead shielded cylinder?