I Hate My Active Preamp!

[Naggon]

I've got a Jackson CMG concert bass with passive pickups, but an active onboard preamp. I just hate this preamp! I always leave it flat and adjust the EQ on my rackmount preamp, so all the onboard one ever does is waste batteries and occasionally get bumped and give me the wrong settings.

Is it possible to just rip the whole darn thing out and run my bass as a passive?

I'm starting to get some cool ideas for what I might do if I did rip it out....you remember those smoke-bombs under the (fake) middle pickup on Ace Frehley's guitar? I love rediculous, dramatic stage shows...smoke, lights, lasers, angry bees, gimme some ideas you guys! What could I do with 3 knobs and a big cavity in the back of my bass?

[DavidRavenMoon]

You should be able to remove it if they are passive pickups.

I like my preamps... maybe the Jackson just doesn't sound good.

[Naggon]

well, it's not that it doesnt sound good...I suppose I've never heard the bass without it, so who knows... the main reason I don't like it is just because I never use it, but it costs me 5 bucks every month or so to replace the battery.

[DavidRavenMoon]

That's an expensive battery!

I use my BTC all the time.. Almost every song I tweak it for more bass, or less highs, or more highs.

I leave my amp pretty flat and have all the control on the bass. Plus, my amp doesn't have tone controls, only a 7 band EQ.

But if you don't use it, it should be fairly simple to remove, assuming the pickups work without it.

[A9X]

Originally Posted by Naggon

but it costs me 5 bucks every month or so to replace the battery.

I play my Steinberger (active pickups and pre) every day and after a year, I needed to change the batteries. If you're doing it every month there's something wrong. Do you unplug it when it's not in use?

Edit: a quick google shoows the pre is an EMG BEQ3. All the EMG pre's spec about 600hrs as the battery life.

Pickups are EMG HZ, so just get one of the myriad 2 pickup wiring diagrams, some new pots and wire it V/V/t. Easy. Looks like you might have a spare hole which you can plug with a spare pot and knob, not wired in.

[DavidRavenMoon]

I also use an EMG pre. I like it. I can't say much about the HZ pickups though, but they do work without the pre.

[alexofc69]

Originally Posted by Naggon

well, it's not that it doesnt sound good...I suppose I've never heard the bass without it, so who knows... the main reason I don't like it is just because I never use it, but it costs me 5 bucks every month or so to replace the battery.

get a powerbug battery. swap out the preamp for something better. Audere or EMG.
Most likely the preamp is nothing special in it and it will sound like crap passive.

[unclejam]

um 1 compresor and a 2.5 watt amp

http://store.guitarfetish.com/modboards.html

http://store.guitarfetish.com/on25waguamdr.html

have fun

[Naggon]

Originally Posted by alexofc69

get a powerbug battery. swap out the preamp for something better. Audere or EMG.
Most likely the preamp is nothing special in it and it will sound like crap passive.

Hmm, yeah, I'm looking into the Audere stuff. I don't quite follow you, though...if the preamp is nothing special, why would it sound like crap passive?

Also, btw, I do unplug when I'm not playing (of course), and I may have exaggerated a little when I said I changed it every month....but I really do need to change it ever few months, especially when I'm doing recording, or a big show, and I just want it to sound it's best/not have any chance of dying on me...the damn thing just worries me haha.

So come on, you guys, nobody has ideas involving fire shooting out of my bass, fake (or real) blood, LED's, or whatever? Cmon, get creative!

[Lobster11]

Originally Posted by A9X

I play my Steinberger (active pickups and pre) every day and after a year, I needed to change the batteries. If you're doing it every month there's something wrong. Do you unplug it when it's not in use?

It took me awhile to realize this when I got my first active bass: As long as the cord is plugged into the guitar the preamp is activated and draws power from the battery. If you can just develop the habit of unplugging the cord from the guitar when you aren't using it, you will have to replace the batteries MUCH less frequently.

[Naggon]

Originally Posted by Lobster11

It took me awhile to realize this when I got my first active bass: As long as the cord is plugged into the guitar the preamp is activated and draws power from the battery. If you can just develop the habit of unplugging the cord from the guitar when you aren't using it, you will have to replace the batteries MUCH less frequently.

Like I said....I do unplug

[wilsonn]

I don't like the pre in my bass either. I have a 55-01 and the stock pre is noisy. I am either replacing it with USA electronics or bypassing. The bass is in Dan Lakin's hands right now for a neck straightening or replacement and depending on the cost of the USA pre, I will have him do it. I just think ya get whatcha pay for with a cheap pre.
Neal

[A9X]

Originally Posted by wilsonn

I just think ya get whatcha pay for with a cheap pre.

Yup.