User guide

Bassbone V2 Preamp
Radial Engineering Ltd.
7
USING A SECOND BASS
Many players employ two basses when they perform. These typically
include a traditional passive bass such as a Fender P-Bass® and a new
generation 5 or 6 string with active pickups. These basses produce very
different output levels and tonal ranges. This poses a problem when
switching from one instrument to the other, as the amplifi er settings must
be dramatically adjusted to suit each instrument.
The Tonebone Bassbone V2 solves this problem because each channel
features separate level and equalization controls. You can preset
channel-1 for your active bass and use channel-2, with it's enhanced
EQ, to shape the sound of your passive bass.
Connecting a second bass to the channel-2 input jack automatically
changes the Bassbone V2 into a two instrument preamp. With two
basses, use the SELECT footswitch to transition between instruments.
INPUT-A
INPUT-B
A/B
SELECT
Adjust the 3-band EQ settings to suit your second bass and use the
LEVEL-2 control to match the volumes.
CONNECTING PIEZO PICKUPS
The trouble with most piezo pickup systems is that they are not very
faithful to the original tone when you plug them directly into a regular
instrument amplifi er or direct box. The sound is often thin and peaky. To
accommodate acoustic upright players that use piezo pickups we added
the Radial PZB™ piezo booster to channel-2. The PZB booster allows you
to connect a piezo transducer directly to the Bassbone.
The recessed PZB switch is located next to the channel-2 input jack and
is used to turn the piezo booster on/off. Use a small screwdriver to access
the switch. When the PZB switch is
set to the outward position the piezo
booster is off and channel-2 accepts
standard electric bass signals from
active or passive magnetic pickups.
Pushing the PZB switch inward turns
the piezo booster on increasing the
input impedance to 10 meg-ohms
and boosting the gain by 10dB. The
higher impedance widens the piezo's
frequency response to bring out your
instruments natural tone.