EMG BQC Control for G&L L2500?

**lowfreqgeek** · #1 11-10-2010, 01:01 PM

Anyone tried it? Seems like a good option for the MFDs, especially with the selectable treble points. Also, the sweepable mids would be a nice feature.

I've considered some other preamps, including filter-based and a version of the stock G&L passive cut-only, but I'm curious if anyone else has tried the EMG preamp with G&L pickups.

If you have, do you have samples?

wcriley · #2 11-10-2010, 03:30 PM

I can't speak to that particular bass, nor can I supply clips, but...

I put an EMG BQS control (same preamp with a different control layout) in an LTD B206 and am pleased with it.

Haven't experimented with the the high freq points much, but I really like the adjustable mid. Being able to make adjustments between the low-mid and high-mid controls on my amp helps in problem rooms.

Battery life is excellent. (At least compared to the preamp it replaced.)

Hugh Jass · #3 11-10-2010, 09:43 PM

Seems like it would work well. I remember a couple years ago, when we had a G&L specific subforum, that a TB'er (I think it was Ken Baker) put an Aguilar OBP-3? in an L2500 with good results. The BQC control should accomplish the same thing.

Unfortunately I have never heard of anybody putting and EMG pre in a G&L so I can't help you there.

I recently put a BQC system in a Spector rebop. I haven't really messed with the treble knee frequencies but I sure do like mid control! All of the adjustments are very usable and actually fairly conservative compared to other basses I have owned/played. You can dime any of them without getting into unusable tones.

**lowfreqgeek** · #4 11-11-2010, 08:58 PM

Thanks for the responses.

The reason for my interest in the BQC vs. most other preamps is 3-fold: 1, the slightly higher bass shelving freq is, IMO, better for pulling lows out of the MFDs for a more authentic single-coil tone. 2, the mid-sweep is great for dialing in or out mids depending on the pickup settings (parallel, single coil, series). 3, the adjustable treble corner frequency will help add anything from a little presence to some aggressive bite, depending on where it's set.

Of course, the fact that the BQC is about 1/2 the cost of much else out there makes it more interesting as an experiment... and the 3-band with 2 concentric pots is nice, too.

walterw · #5 11-11-2010, 09:29 PM

i've put a few of the 2-band EMG circuits in G&L basses over the years, and they really just sound good.

set flat, they're at unity with the bypassed (passive) setting, and the active EQ is way more useful than that goofy "boosted preamp+passive cut-only knobs" thing.

Hugh Jass · #6 11-11-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

way more useful than that goofy "boosted preamp+passive cut-only knobs" thing.

+1

I really don't care for the stock pre. All it really does is add clank and "string zing".

mmbongo · #7 11-12-2010, 06:45 AM

I think it sounds like an interesting idea.

Here's my only problem with it...EMG pre's do not allow for preamp bypass. If you ask me, the L2500 sounds its best in pure passive mode. I'm sure it would sound great with a better pre (I also think the stock one doesn't do much and I'm thinking of just taking it out) but I would not want to give up that pure passive sound.

And by the way, the best thing I ever did to my L2500 was to install a 3 way switch for each pickup. Now I have series/parallel/single for each pickup. Unreal. Now I need a blend control

**lowfreqgeek** · #8 11-12-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I think it sounds like an interesting idea.

Here's my only problem with it...EMG pre's do not allow for preamp bypass. If you ask me, the L2500 sounds its best in pure passive mode. I'm sure it would sound great with a better pre (I also think the stock one doesn't do much and I'm thinking of just taking it out) but I would not want to give up that pure passive sound.

And by the way, the best thing I ever did to my L2500 was to install a 3 way switch for each pickup. Now I have series/parallel/single for each pickup. Unreal. Now I need a blend control

You *DO* need a blend control. Or better yet, dual volume controls.

There are very easy ways to bypass any preamp, so no need to lose passive mode. I agree that the G&L sounds best in passive mode, which is why I took the preamp completely out and then added independent volume and 3-way switching for each pickup. But I chose to drop the on-board tone controls in that scheme. However, the G&L preamp has some severe "color" built in to it that the EMG preamp may not have.

I may have to try one in my fretless L2500, too. Hmm... swept-mids in a fretless are always nice.

walterw · #9 11-12-2010, 06:09 PM

just so.

i've wired those preamps to be "true bypass" just like an effects pedal, and i can say that when set flat, the EMG pres are pretty much no different that when bypassed entirely.

i do of course hear the change in cable loading going from active to passive, but the volume and overall tone don't change.

Hugh Jass · #10 11-12-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

just so.

i've wired those preamps to be "true bypass" just like an effects pedal, and i can say that when set flat, the EMG pres are pretty much no different that when bypassed entirely.

i do of course hear the change in cable loading going from active to passive, but the volume and overall tone don't change.

Thats fantastic to know! With people complaining endlessly about pre's "coloring" their tone it's nice to have proof that this is not the case!