EMG HZ vs 35DC

jonesn4bass · #1 08-28-2009, 07:04 AM

Hey all -

I'm just looking for a little input here before I do any surgery on one of my old basses.

Backstory: I have a 10 or 11 year old ESP F-204 bass that still has the stock EMG HZ's in it. A while back I build a "frankenbass" and put 35DC's in it for the metal band I was in at the time. I'm no longer in that band and I'm updating the bass with a Basslines SMB-4a (amazing pickup, btw.) As a result the 35DC's are starting to collect some dust!

The Question: Using the same pots and electronics that are already in the ESP, would there be a noticeable improvement in sound by swapping the HZ's for the 35's? I don't really play the ESP much anymore (its an image thing mostly) but it was my first bass and it has some pretty serious battle wounds so I can't really picture selling it, but since it doesn't see too much usage I don't really want to invest in a better preamp or anything either.

If I won't notice too much of a change in sound, I guess the next step would be offering up the 35DC's to anyone here who might be interested...

Any input would be great!!

Thanks everyone.

jonesn4bass · #2 08-30-2009, 03:13 PM

anybody?

BassieMike · #3 08-30-2009, 03:21 PM

The 35DC's will work with the HZ's pots, but the jack will have to be changed to switch the battery for the 35's. That is unless the bass has a preamp, then just tap in to the B+ lead to power the pups. You can use the actives with other pots, the roll on/roll off curves will be a bit different, not that big of a deal. No so using the active's 25k pots with passive pups, they will pad down the output substantially.

-mike

jonesn4bass · #4 08-31-2009, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the info. The HZ's are active as well, so I'm assuming there is a built in preamp, but in all honesty its been a while since I've taken off the electronics cover and dug around.

Providing there is a preamp and the swap is easy, will the DC's provide a substantially different/better tone or will the tone and output be limited by the existing preamp that was provided by the HZ's?

Thanks for the input Mike!

Tropic · #5 08-31-2009, 08:29 AM

I don't know much about pickups but I do know HZs are passive and are usually paired with an active preamp.