EMG Mid Control

**NOLA Bass** · #1 06-04-2009, 08:09 AM

So, I"m going to do the "tonedump" on my Spector Euro 4LX that is currently getting a refin (EMG PJ pickups). I want boost/cut capability, so I've narrowed it down to the BQS vs BTS systems. Basically, I wasn wondering anyone's experience with the mid control. Usefull or not going to a 3 band over a 2 band?

mikezimmerman · #2 06-04-2009, 08:33 AM

I've got an EMG 3-band on my Curbow, but am not crazy about it. The sweepable mids give too much flexibility without any obvious point of reference, if that makes sense--I have a hard time getting predictable, reproducable changes with it, and so I pretty much never touch it.

In general, though, I like having a mid control, and I have no problems with the Bart 3-position mid frequency switch (for instance), 'cause I know what each position is going to give me...

Mike

**NOLA Bass** · #3 06-04-2009, 10:37 AM

Mike

Great info, thanks!

I should have mentioned I was also considering the Aggie OBP2 or 3 with the same issue of to get the mid control or not.

stflbn · #4 06-04-2009, 10:39 AM

I'm the opposite. I greatly prefer 3-bands over 2-bands. I've used primarily OBP-3's but have a new bass coming with a Nordstrand 3-band that many builders are dumping Aggy's for.

**NOLA Bass** · #5 06-04-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

I'm the opposite. I greatly prefer 3-bands over 2-bands. I've used primarily OBP-3's but have a new bass coming with a Nordstrand 3-band that many builders are dumping Aggy's for.

I wonder how those Nordies are with EMG's. It seems the safest bet with the EMG's from a tried and true fashion are EMG and Aguilar.

Ach · #6 06-04-2009, 08:48 PM

I've used EMG VMC (Vari mid control) in junction with EMG BTC (Bass, Treble control). VMC is pretty usable tool. The only drawback is that it goes way to high, but not enough to lows, high which can be boosted with VMC became unusable already after halfturn the pot.

Ian Perge · #7 06-05-2009, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

I've got an EMG 3-band on my Curbow, but am not crazy about it. The sweepable mids give too much flexibility without any obvious point of reference, if that makes sense--I have a hard time getting predictable, reproducable changes with it, and so I pretty much never touch it.

In general, though, I like having a mid control, and I have no problems with the Bart 3-position mid frequency switch (for instance), 'cause I know what each position is going to give me...

Mike, I have sweepable mids on my '96 Ibanez SR1206 six-string, and your description is exactly what I haven't been able to put into words since I purchased it in 1998. I've heard people when playing venues that have stages or walls that seem to "absorb" certain frequencies using their mids to "sweep", find, and boost the areas that were being soaked up, but that's never happened to me - I mainly ended up using it as a "Feedback Finder" when playing in a band that had me using real distortion-heavy tones.

I'm having Aguilar OBP-3/SK-PPs replace the stock TonePump boost-only preamps in my 3 Spector ReBop DLXs, and in looking over the wiring diagram I'm definitely leaning towards having the mids wired onto a push/pull pot giving me two selectable points: 400Hz & 800Hz by default, or whatever the tech and myself feel is the best "usable" frequencies rather than sweepable between the two and again having a "free-floating" *Mids Zone* that I'm much less apt to use. That's also why I prefer as well the Bartolini MCT-3MC 3-way mid boost (250/500/750 Hz mid boost with separate 2KHz to 15KHz treble boost) that's with the NTMB preamp in my Mike Lull Modern 5.

mikezimmerman · #8 06-05-2009, 07:31 AM

Ian, I'm glad someone else feels that way about sweepable mid controls! Oddly, I never had the same problem with the sweepable filter controls on my Wals, but maybe that's because the knobs have numbers on them.

Mike

**NOLA Bass** · #9 06-05-2009, 08:22 AM

Guys, that is really interesting feedback on the sweepable mids. Thanks for all the feedback. For all the many basses I've owned, I've never had a 3 band EQ except on a Stingray (and I only kept it for a few weeks, never gigged with it). I think I may avoid the sweepable mids for sure.