changing pickups?what to get??

akusu86 · #1 06-19-2010, 07:52 AM

hi . i am quite new to this ... i am currently using a schecter hellraiser 5 which is rosewood fingerboard and mahography w/ figured maple body. A EMG 40hz pickup with EMG 18v 2 band EQ. I hope to remove the preamp as i kind of like a more fully passive tone kind of sound and also to save me the trouble of changing batteries at times.. the sound i wanted is something like a warm bass tone which have boost in bass and treble . with low mids... and also which make nice warm bright harmonics sound ... can any bros out there help me with this?? i only heard good review with basslines and bartonlini pickups ... and also would my fingerboard and body affect the sound too?? and because of my bass model .. i guess i only can change within the soapbars pickup

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 06-19-2010, 08:54 AM

Nordstrand also make some soapbars, but I'm not sure if they'll be the right dimmensions for you.

You could always keep the preamp and just have it so it's possible to bypass? Do you leave the cable plugged into your bass when you aren't playing it, as that would keep draining the battery. I generally only change batteries every 6 months, other than with my first active bass, that I had left plugged in when I first got it

.

The only reason I bring up the preamp part is because, to me, it would make more sense to just change one thing or the other. You might find that you get the tones you like just by changing the pickups.

akusu86 · #3 06-20-2010, 02:32 AM

hmm well i kind of more lyk the passive type of sound more too .... oh i didn't knew the preamp can be bypass .... so does it mean that the preamp will be there but not using it at all?? or it meant can switch if needed anytime?

i_got_a_mohawk · #4 06-20-2010, 04:27 AM

Yeah, you could have a switch that could switch the preamp in or out of the circuit

Bass-Adrenaline · #5 06-20-2010, 07:37 AM

If you like passive and dont mind the HZ pickups just switch out the regular volume pot with a push pull for an active/passive switch. That would be the easiest and cheapest way to get what youre looking for.

akusu86 · #6 06-20-2010, 10:57 AM

hmm ... maybe i will do that 1st ... and listen hw it sound before really deciding on changing the pickup ... but i think eventually i will still change .. cause the EMG 40HZ is givin a more harsh bright treble sound, may sounded gd if playing rock or metal ... but nt so with funk blues type .... i wanted something abit more warm and versatile

Rick Auricchio · #7 06-20-2010, 11:01 AM

Removing the preamp from the circuit will probably not alter the basic tone of the EMG pups.

akusu86 · #8 06-20-2010, 11:32 AM

ohh .. one question is ... if the volume is change to the push/pull passive/active switch, does it meant that when i pull it and it become passive then the rest of the knobs wont be able to use as it is for the active preamp??

Bass-Adrenaline · #9 06-20-2010, 11:46 AM

Correct, you cant use an active EQ while its in passive.

akusu86 · #10 06-21-2010, 11:38 AM

omg~~ so in the end i think i will still take out the preamp and change the pickups ~~ question which shld i get ... if only i can hear hw each sound like on my bass ~~ if nt i had to depend on my MXR di ... i always keep the colouration button on ... that makes the tone more warm and less bright and treblish .. mine is the treble sound is way too overwhelming that it cover the bass ..