I need some advice from those who know...

[fourstringbliss]

I have an Ibanez BTB1005 bass and I've completely changed the electronics scheme. I had an MM route placed between the two soapbars and installed a Nordstrand MM5.2 pickup. I replaced the stock Ibanez soaps with SGD Sidewinders. The MM is connected to a series/single/parallel mini-toggle switch and then to an Audere preamp as the "bridge" pickup. The Sidewinders are connected to a pickup selector mini-toggle and then to the Audere pre as the "neck" pickup. Everything is working, but the sound is less than inspiring.

Everything sounds kind of the same, and all of it is pretty lifeless. I thought these were all fairly bright pickups, but the tone is pretty subdued so that I have to dime the treble to get the clarity I was expecting. I am using TI flats, but haven't had any problems with clarity using them before on other basses.

Is it the preamp? Is this just too much for it? I had thought about going passive with the before mentioned switches each connected to a volume and then a tone control, and then to the jack. I've got some 500k pots and orange drop caps on order. Would this give the clarity back? I've heard that the Nordstrand MM is pretty clear, but it doesn't seem to be here.

Any suggestiong?

[fourstringbliss]

Anybody?

[fourstringbliss]

Come on, you electronics experts! I know you're out there!

[narud]

what does the bass sound like acoustically?

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by narud

what does the bass sound like acoustically?

It sounds punchy and growly acoustically. It doesn't sound bright, but it's not muffled. At full volume the pickups sound pretty darn good.

I'm going to test whether passive is the way to go by connecting the hot from my MM pickup right to the jack and the ground right to cavity ground. I might also switch to GHS pressurewound strings as well.