Aguilar preamp and Basslines Phase II's

SMILEYSIXX · #1 10-04-2010, 02:00 PM

http://www.warmoth.com/Phase-II-Pass...P1399C742.aspx

http://www.warmoth.com/Aguilar-3-Ban...s-P40C196.aspx

I'm looking to replace the preamp and pickups in my Schecter Studio 5 and found these. I know the pickups will be a pretty direct replacement, but what about this preamp? Has anyone tried it? It should replace the preamp in it with little to no trouble, I think, but I wanna be sure it will work before I drop that much money on it. If anyone has any other recommendations for a preamp, I'd love to hear them. I'm pretty hellbent on getting rid of the EMG preamp and pickups that are in it...

FunkMetalBass · #2 10-04-2010, 02:33 PM

IMO/IME, in this case, changing the pickups will get you the biggest difference in tone for the Studio (it did for my Studio 6). The EMG preamp is decent, so I haven't changed it out yet.

The Aguilar OBP-3 is my preamp of choice and I have one in every other bass that I own.

SMILEYSIXX · #3 10-04-2010, 02:39 PM

The preamp would be easy to change right? It would just drop right in? There's nothing fundamentally wrong with EMG, but I just don't think that it's the best option for the sound I want.

FunkMetalBass · #4 10-04-2010, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

The preamp would be easy to change right? It would just drop right in? There's nothing fundamentally wrong with EMG, but I just don't think that it's the best option for the sound I want.

1) It requires some wiring, (in fact, wiring up a preamp is rather tedious), but they do offer them pre-wired. If you're thinking of the EMG quik-connect style, then no. But it's no different than any other preamp in terms of installation.

2) If you're looking to replace one first and then the other, I might recommend (again) replacing the pickup before the preamp. The Aguilar preamp is fairly transparent, so you'll just be hearing a more pure sound from the EMG HZs you don't care for.

Let me know how the Phase IIs work out for you. I bought a set a while ago for a project that never took off, so I sold them on eBay and never got a chance to try them.

SMILEYSIXX · #5 10-05-2010, 02:43 PM

Right now, this whole thing is just a thought. I'm actually considering trading my Schecter to my jazz band teacher for one of these.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ss-?sku=511595

If I do end up getting the pickups instead of the trade, I'll let you know though. And yes, the pickups were gonna be the first thing switched anyway.

RedLeg · #6 10-05-2010, 02:48 PM

I love my opb3. IME, the SD pups usually sound great with the SD pre's. I love the SD ASB2's with the STC3 pre.

Thornton Davis · #7 10-05-2010, 05:29 PM

I installed two new EMG 40P5 active p/u's and an Aguilar OBP-2 TK into my 2008 Schecter Stiletto Elite-5. It went from bland to killer! Everything just dropped right in, no mods needed.

TD

topcat2069 · #8 10-06-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

Right now, this whole thing is just a thought. I'm actually considering trading my Schecter to my jazz band teacher for one of these.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ss-?sku=511595

I had one of these Jazz Basses and I loved it noiseless pickups and the USA active preamp.... if you like the feel I'd say get it...... if he'll let you try it first, all the better.

But.... I agree change the pickups first, that's where your sound comes from, and do the aggie second.