Aguilar vs. Glockenklang onboard preamp

[donsterisout]

After 1,000+ gigs I 'upgraded my 95' Modullus Quantum 5 from the Bartolini NTMB 18v system to an Aguilar OBP3 loved it for 9 months until it died at a gig (there is no active/passive switch, and yes it was totally EMBARRASSING & EXPENSIVE) the repair tech here in Dallas said "I've had to replace 5 of those models recently, they are made in China now & are NOT serviceable in any way & is made to be disposable" (the circuit board is filled with epoxy. We ended up ordering a Glockenklang 3 band unit and I have NEVER been this happy with my bass. The passive/active push-pull volume pot is almost identical in output (given the tone controls are at center).
Much happier now!

[liquid sunshine]

how hard would it be to make the glock run off 18 volts instead of nine

[Dan Robbins]

Originally Posted by donsterisout

After 1,000+ gigs I 'upgraded my 95' Modullus Quantum 5 from the Bartolini NTMB 18v system to an Aguilar OBP3 loved it for 9 months until it died at a gig (there is no active/passive switch, and yes it was totally EMBARRASSING & EXPENSIVE) the repair tech here in Dallas said "I've had to replace 5 of those models recently, they are made in China now & are NOT serviceable in any way & is made to be disposable" (the circuit board is filled with epoxy. We ended up ordering a Glockenklang 3 band unit and I have NEVER been this happy with my bass. The passive/active push-pull volume pot is almost identical in output (given the tone controls are at center).
Much happier now!

Wow I guess I'm NOT going to order an Aguilar OPB- 1...Disposable is incongruous with my philosophy of life

[donsterisout]

Mr Sunshine,
Just series 2 9v together & or use 9v lithium batteries (a little more expensive but absolutely worth it)
Donno

[R Baer]

I've tried the Aguilar on a couple basses and it never really worked for me. I always found that anything more than the very slightest bump of the controls gives me way more than I want. I've really become a big fan of the Nordstrand pre-amp. Very transparent, IMO and gives me a bit more finesse over the freq. control.

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by R Baer

I've tried the Aguilar on a couple basses and it never really worked for me. I always found that anything more than the very slightest bump of the controls gives me way more than I want. I've really become a big fan of the Nordstrand pre-amp. Very transparent, IMO and gives me a bit more finesse over the freq. control.

Bingo.

The Nordstrand system is usable in its whole range. The Glock has too much boost and cut 18 DB Treble and 14DB Bass as does the aggie 18 Bass and 14 Treble vs. the Nordstrands 12 both Bass and Treble

The Nordstrand unit also doesn't have the pieces of board attached to each pot just one small main board. Really opening up the installer to a wider range of pot placement options.

Just my opinion though....t

[PilbaraBass]

An old thread, but not yet petrified...
I just wanted to comment on the Glock 2-band in a Squier Jazz Deluxe Active V....
I installed one last night... am so glad I did...
Transparent? Yes it is... with controls flat it is definitely that
Bass boost/cut? Too much? It’s strong, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn the knob less. The frequency centre at 40Hz is spot on. It makes the lows stand out without delivering mud. Better watch your cabinet when you boost though as the speakers may complain.
Treble boost/cut? 18kHz works so nice as a centre... it only adds a bit of “air” on top of the sound without introducing broken glass... How sweet this is... And the Treble knob acts in passive as a passive roll off...SWEET!
I also added a series/parallel switch to where the old slap switch resided...
I have some seriously nice tones coming out of this baby now...
By the way, I’m still using the stock single coils... they may be cheap but they work REALLY well with this bass.
The spaces in the cavity are quite tight (especially the corners), but no problem fitting the glock bits into this puppy.

[Aguilar/Dave B.]

Originally Posted by donsterisout

After 1,000+ gigs I 'upgraded my 95' Modullus Quantum 5 from the Bartolini NTMB 18v system to an Aguilar OBP3 loved it for 9 months until it died at a gig (there is no active/passive switch, and yes it was totally EMBARRASSING & EXPENSIVE) the repair tech here in Dallas said "I've had to replace 5 of those models recently, they are made in China now & are NOT serviceable in any way & is made to be disposable" (the circuit board is filled with epoxy. We ended up ordering a Glockenklang 3 band unit and I have NEVER been this happy with my bass. The passive/active push-pull volume pot is almost identical in output (given the tone controls are at center).
Much happier now!

The units are made in the USA, as always. They are tested before and after the circuits are enclosed in epoxy. Your techs idea that they are designed to be disposable is silly. They have a long warranty and are very dependable. You can obviously add an active/passive switch if you choose, and then you won't run into a problem if your battery dies.

Hope that helps.

DB

[PilbaraBass]

^even though I drive a glockenklang that I am completely satisfied, I must agree with Aguilar's claims here. And adding an active/passive switch is quite straight forward.

One of the reason I chose glock, however, was pre-wired pots...but that can actually be a detractor for some... It depends on what you want and what/how you are prepared to do.

[Smit_Dogg]

Ive had a Glock put in my Yamaha TRB, I love its crystaline tone although it does seem to have a fairly low output on it, around 5dB lower than the stock pre. My Lakland Skyline, which i considered to have great tone, but a low output, is a couple of dBs louder too. Is this normal for Glocks?

[Munjibunga]

I've got OBP-3 preamps in a couple of my basses (LeCompte and Drozd) and I really like them. The OBP-3 does have a passive tone control (at least the one in my LeCompte does). It also has a switchable mid frequency. It has a very broad range of usable tones, with clean bottom (no mud) and crisp highs. I've never compared it to a Glockenklang.

[PilbaraBass]

The reason why the Glock pre is lower in output is that it is design to be completely transparent with tone knobs centred. Many others give a little overall boost.

[DaniKettu]

I had aggy obp-3 in one of my basses. I liked the sound soloed but i had a hard time cutting through the mix. My bass wasn't a jazz andit had neckthru and emg active pups. So i would go with the glockenklang. The passive switch is a nice thing to have.

[chadds]

...and I thought the Pickups & Electronics threads would be less subjective...

[PilbaraBass]

I've read little in this thread that would classify as subjective... The Glock IS more transparent and the Aggie DOES have more boost and cut.

They're just preamps... Nothing magical , Neither one will have major impact on the tone. I guess this may be where subjectivity comes in, because it comes down to preference in user controls

[Munjibunga]

Of course then you have the option of the Mike Pope Flex Core. Very uncolored and versatile. Clean, clean, clean. I have them in two of my basses.

[SPYD3R #9]

I have both glock and aggie, both was great pre's! but I was looking something different now, an ACG pre's was so tempting..
the only downside from glock that it doesn't have mid selector

[Cney]

I have a Squier VM 70 jazz with SD quarter pounders in it.

I want a pre amp to give me that nice full fat sound, little Derrick Hodges'ish.
I'm stuck between the glock 3 band and the aggie obp-3.

anyone know how this would work out with these pickups?
I chose these pickups because the soft maple body made the duncan designed sound flat, have plastic low's and unclear highs.

[Emibass]

Glock fan here. I have the 2 band on the L2500 and takes out the most of this bass. Also my Adamovic comes with the 3 band glock with is absolutly amazing. It sounds natural.