Bass Mods Preamps... Anyone use them?

[c0d3h4x0r]

Originally Posted by seang15

Hey, thanks for the reply. You think it's worth replacing pots and jack? Thanx again!

Only if you discover problems.

My biggest complaint with the BassMods preamps is the quality (or lack thereof) of the wiring. The wire insulation is cheap plastic stuff that melts very easily when soldering your pickup outputs to the pot lugs. The insulation (or conductor inside) clearly isn't doing its job well either, since you can hear some static/noise when you just wiggle/move the wires or preamp box around inside the control cavity. This would be easy enough to fix if the preamp box had external solder points for all the wiring, but it doesn't -- it's a sealed plastic box that all the wires run directly into, so it's not "user-serviceable" at all. Bad design, IMHO.

[Robear22]

I have installed a number of the bassmods preamps and I can honestly say this pre is becoming one of my favorites. For the price you cannot beat it. If it cost more it would not be a deal. Of course you are going to have cheaper components because it is an overseas preamp. I have personally talked to Al and he has helped me with any problems.

[mixx80]

For me not happening ! 1.Missing nuts and washers

2. Found out set screw was missing which set install back two weeks

3. Overly Bright I guess useable for some slappers maybe ? Not bad sounding but too bright if not for that it would be cool. 4. Affordable but I am ripping it out and probably will sell it lesson learned I wonder how much longer they will make it ???

[zackthompson]

I put one in a frankenbass. I don't really like it. It gives it that "cheap" sound like some basses have. If you don't wanna spend a lot of money, sure get it. But if you want a quality sound, I don't recommend it. That's just my opinion though

[mixx80]

Originally Posted by zackthompson

I put one in a frankenbass. I don't really like it. It gives it that "cheap" sound like some basses have. If you don't wanna spend a lot of money, sure get it. But if you want a quality sound, I don't recommend it. That's just my opinion though

That what I thought ! Good ears my man !

[alexofc69]

Im sure it depends on what pickups you pair it with as well. I think that also these dont have the QA of the big name pre's so they are hit or miss. I like it for what it is, but probably wont be using one again.

[mixx80]

Originally Posted by alexofc69

Im sure it depends on what pickups you pair it with as well. I think that also these dont have the QA of the big name pres so they are hit or miss. I like it for what it is, but probably wont be using one again.

I hear you man !

[seang15]

Geeeez guys, 75 bucks!!

[Rano Bass]

Originally Posted by seang15

Geeeez guys, 75 bucks!!

75 bucks? More like 59.95 bucks
http://www.bassmods.com/-3-Band-Prea...4AP_p_202.html

These preamps are perfect for what they are... The Aguilar OBP 3 costs twice as much, don't come prewired, you have to buy the volume, blend, and output jack, and to my ears the bass control is less useful than the bass control on the Bass Mods preamp.

It's a cheap preamp but a very good deal IMO.

[SGD Lutherie]

A 2-band preamp might also work better. On a 3-band the treble control is usually voiced a lot higher. On 2-bands they are more in the upper midrange band, and are wider.

[c0d3h4x0r]

A "good deal" isn't really a good deal if you end up spending twice as much time, hassle, and money in the end making up for its shortcomings. This is a lesson often learned the hard way (or not at all). But remember, it never pays to go with the cheapest bidder. Always go with at least the middle of the pack.

[alexofc69]

Originally Posted by c0d3h4x0r

A "good deal" isn't really a good deal if you end up spending twice as much time, hassle, and money in the end making up for its shortcomings. This is a lesson often learned the hard way (or not at all). But remember, it never pays to go with the cheapest bidder. Always go with at least the middle of the pack.

like i said these are obviously hit or miss. Mine was perfect out of the pack and can report no problems or issues. I feel the value I got out of it was many times the original cost. If I use one again? its 50/50. in your case it was a pain that made it not worth it.

[mixx80]

Originally Posted by c0d3h4x0r

A "good deal" isn't really a good deal if you end up spending twice as much time, hassle, and money in the end making up for its shortcomings. This is a lesson often learned the hard way (or not at all). But remember, it never pays to go with the cheapest bidder. Always go with at least the middle of the pack.

That was my thought ! Hey I tried .. But new system on the way !

[mixx80]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

A 2-band preamp might also work better. On a 3-band the treble control is usually voiced a lot higher. On 2-bands they are more in the upper midrange band, and are wider.

It was the two band that didn't work for me.

[JDM2010]

Originally Posted by brattbugg@sbcgl

Pm me if your interested in the 3 band I have. I sold the bass it was in and still have it in my pile 'o stuff with instructions.

sold already?? I have a warwick corvette rockbass 5 that has 4 knobs. It needs a preamp to add to the EMG's

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by JDM2010

sold already?? I have a warwick corvette rockbass 5 that has 4 knobs. It needs a preamp to add to the EMG's

You can't go wrong with an EMG preamp then.

[mixx80]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

You can't go wrong with an EMG preamp then.

That is the route that I am going .

[c0d3h4x0r]

Originally Posted by mixx80

That is the route that I am going .

The EMG BTS 2-band preamp that came preinstalled in my Schecter Custom-4 was noisy (hissy) as hell. That's why I ripped it out and replaced it with the BassMods preamp. The BassMods preamp may have its issues, but it's not noisy the way the EMG BTS was. Now maybe I got a defective BTS preamp, but somehow I doubt it, because I've read many complaints about it having an unusually high amount of hiss. Search for "EMG BTS hiss" and see what turns up.

[JDM2010]

Originally Posted by c0d3h4x0r

The EMG BTS 2-band preamp that came preinstalled in my Schecter Custom-4 was noisy (hissy) as hell. That's why I ripped it out and replaced it with the BassMods preamp. The BassMods preamp may have its issues, but it's not noisy the way the EMG BTS was. Now maybe I got a defective BTS preamp, but somehow I doubt it, because I've read many complaints about it having an unusually high amount of hiss. Search for "EMG BTS hiss" and see what turns up.

Really? Thats the first time I heard that. a friend of mine has the BTS in a beater bass he owns. It does not hiss to me....I guess I will go the Aguilar OBP-3 Prewired option from best bass gear. I like the tone I get with the OBP-2 in my Spector NS-2A with Active EMG X pickups. I have it wired 9v. I hear EMG does not recomend running the EMG X series 18V A little more $$$ but worth it for all the praise my tone has gotten with my Spector NS-2A!

[c0d3h4x0r]

I run my EMG-X pickups at 18V. There's no audible difference in output or tone, but it certainly doesn't hurt anything. I may rewire the battery compartment in parallel so it's running at 9V but lasts twice as long :-)