Active pickups with active preamp? How would I wire it?

[fourstringbliss]

I have a Peavey Millennium Plus J/J which has active J pups and an active preamp. I'm not crazy about the preamp and want to replace it with something else.

I'm thinking about using this preamp:


How would I wire these active pickups to it? Would I connect active pup wires from the pickups to the battery clips as well? I also need it to be 18v - how would I do that?

Thanks!

[line6man]

The wiring is the same as with passive pickups. You just also have a supply lead from each pickup that needs to go the positive terminal of the battery.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by line6man

The wiring is the same as with passive pickups. You just also have a supply lead from each pickup that needs to go the positive terminal of the battery.

The red battery wire, right? This preamp has an active/passive switch - how would that work with active pickups?

[line6man]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

The red battery wire, right? This preamp has an active/passive switch - how would that work with active pickups?

Yes.

Like I said, the wiring is not any different, except that the pickups need a connection to the battery. Active/passive switching is really just preamp bypass switching.

[mmbongo]

The pots would need to be changed for active pickups, no? You don't want to use 500/250k with active pickups.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

The pots would need to be changed for active pickups, no? You don't want to use 500/250k with active pickups.

Yeah, well I didn't notice that these are not recommended for active pickups. Looks like I'm stuck with Audere (which is great) which costs $80 more (which is not).

[mmbongo]

There's also EMG and Aguilar preamps that work fine with Actives. Hard to beat Audere, though. EMG would definitely be cheaper though.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

There's also EMG and Aguilar preamps that work fine with Actives. Hard to beat Audere, though. EMG would definitely be cheaper though.

Thanks! EMG would be cheaper, but not by much, and I don't see that they come with volume or blend controls. I don't know how to wire it up either, so I think I have to go with Audere.

[Jamie_Funk]

EMG preamps come in many variations, and certainly volume and blend are available if needed- see here:

http://www.bestbassgear.com/emg-preamps.htm

J

[line6man]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

The pots would need to be changed for active pickups, no? You don't want to use 500/250k with active pickups.

He said the bass already had active pickups, so nothing is changing.