Which high end pickups + pre for a Mag/Peizo system [Graphic open heart pic] !!!!

[jibreel]

I have a Carvin AC 50 that I have installed a mag pickup in.

Once again, I am hacking and modding

When all is done, that nice piece of Wenge shown in the picture will be a pickup cover over the Carving The other marks on the front of the bass are just tape residue.

Currently, the mag pickup is passive and runs to a separate jack. The piezo is still using the Carvin active pre to a separate jack. VERY decent sounding but a bit of a pain runing two cables out of the bass. Tweaking two electronic systems is also not that fun.

This is a great bass. EADGC. It will be my go to fretted bass as my main basses are fretless. I had Mike Lull double plek it so the frets are very low. The action is killer. While I will mostly play fingerstyle and chords, I also slap.

Since it is now open as I have been experimenting with pickup placement, I want to consider installing the best pickup or pickups and electronics. In general, I will be staying with the warmer, organic acoustic sound, not into the metalish string sound much.

I am willing to spend the money and go high end. I wonder about installing 2 pickups and switches if needed [ there are 6 knob holes in the front of the bass after all ] so that I could dial in anything from p bass thump to slap etc. However, the string spacing is narrow.

What one or two pickup system combined with what preamp system that includes the piezo would you recommend?

Since it is already open, I could really get creative with a couple high end pickups

Any opinions about using a Bart pre with the Bart piezo buffer so I have one unified preamp system?

It would have to work with the under saddle piezo.

Thanks !!

[richnota]

nice project. love wood pickguard over the flame.

If Im right the bart piezo buffer should be able to accomodate most every system. its actually seperate from the preamp.

Id be tempted to run the single pickup (a nordstrand perhaps?) and piezo into the buffer/pre combination.

I like having a seperate roll off for the piezo. Parker Fly Bass uses one. Good addition on a fretted piezo.

Vol + Blend + piezo tone + T + M + B


let me know your progress

[smperry]

Nice. I like the Citron magnetic pickups a great deal. I'm using a DTAR preamp to blend with piezo, but I've heard good things about RMC preamps for fretted piezo equipped basses. I think the Bartolini system is fine too.

[jibreel]

Originally Posted by smperry

Nice. I like the Citron magnetic pickups a great deal. I'm using a DTAR preamp to blend with piezo, but I've heard good things about RMC preamps for fretted piezo equipped basses. I think the Bartolini system is fine too.

Which Dtar preamp are you using?

Thanks !

[smperry]

I'm using the Eclipse. The blend works well and it's very smooth with a wide frequency response. It does have the quality of Rick Turner models you're probably used to - with the tone wide open, there is a ridiculous amount of treble, such that I treat it as a treble boost when I'm soloing the piezos. When blended, I find myself using more piezo treble to give the magnetics more "air" though. I have separate tone knobs for my piezo and Citrons; this works very well for my particular bass since I usually keep the magnetics wide open, but dime the piezos. I like it more than the preamp on my now former Electroline, which was less refined in terms of blending and tone controls.

I still owe you samples, but much of my gear has been in storage since August (moved cross-country & waiting to close on a house).

[richnota]

my veilllette singlecut uses a DTAR + Citron pickups and an alvarez piezo unit.

Very different concept. Its essentially a tonally passive system with super hot output. So much so that you really have to "tame" the bass with amps or outboard eq. Fretless with tapes is great but fretted? probably be explosive.

[smperry]

Originally Posted by richnota

my veilllette singlecut uses a DTAR + Citron pickups and an alvarez piezo unit.

Very different concept. Its essentially a tonally passive system with super hot output. So much so that you really have to "tame" the bass with amps or outboard eq. Fretless with tapes is great but fretted? probably be explosive.

Interesting; mine is louder than some of my other basses (unless I boost their preamps) but I wouldn't call it super hot. I just run mine flat and only tweak the settings on the bass for variety. The only way I can get it to sizzle is if I solo the piezos and turn the piezo tone all the way up...and that's not harsh, it's more just too much treble. I originally had Nordstrands in my bass, and while I love Nordstrand pickups (have them in other basses) I preferred the tone and lack of noise of the Citrons.

But you've had most every piezo system under the sun, while I've only owned five different ones. If I were to gamble, I'd go with your experience.

[Keith Guitars]

Hey Fellas,

Just worth noting that both richnota and smperry's basses actually have essentially the same wiring setup - same ceramic piezos and Citron pickups into the stock D-Tar Eclipse blender.

The only difference is that smperry's bass has separate channel Tone controls, vs. richnota's Master tone.

Body woods and constructions are different, but the wiring is pretty much the same.

(PS: if you guys are having issues with output level, PM me and I'll let you know a simple mod to reduce it.)

Back on-topic for OP: the Eclipse is a great system with one or two minor complications: it requires 2 9v batteries, and you also have to use a 9-pin 'box' jack to switch the power on and off - a regular stereo jack won't work.

It 'feels' passive to the user, since the controls are only Volume, Blend, and passive-style Tone. However, the overall response and the smoothness of the blending system, along with serious flexibility of wiring options, make it a standout system.

If you decide to try it, PM me and I'll talk you through it, since there is no documentation anywhere about how to wire it.

Best,
Martin