Kent Armstrong pickup... too loud?

kellogc · #1 06-13-2011, 12:01 PM

Hello,

Sorry if this thread is duplicated, I did browse through and couldn't find what I was looking for.

Anyway, I just bought a beautiful Carl Thompson bass which comes with 2 Kent Armstrong pickups, that I assume are hand wound. The bass is passive and already had a higher volume than any of my other basses which are active.

I just installed an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp and the bass just sings. Clearer, fuller and richer tone.

My only concern is that it seems to be pretty loud.
Sounds like a good problem to have...
My concern is that it'd seem that my effects chain (in particular Sansamp BDDI) and/or preamps are saturating because of this.

Any of you with this configuration have the same volume response?

I'm not sure which pot value has the Volume pot. I kept the one that came with the bass which is the same Carl installed.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

maturanesa · #2 06-13-2011, 08:43 PM

Maybe your actives are weak

BassBod · #3 06-14-2011, 03:52 AM

I think (could be wrong) that Carl uses the standard WD version of Kent Armstrong pickups - these are made in Korea to Kent's design. Nothing wrong with them, but not handmade. From memory, the Aguilar circuit doesn't really add much gain..it pretty much takes what it gets from the pickups. It may be a case of just reducing the input gain settings along your signal chain. I've used a Sansamp for years, and I've found it very forgiving - its one of the few "drive" pedals that takes passive or active basses without getting nasty.

best of luck..and enjoy the bass!

slaphappychappy · #4 06-14-2011, 04:22 AM

yeah, iwas gonna say reduce gain, or put your amp on active settings. God, how i wish for my little passive 1980s samick re build to be too loud. I cant get it to be loud enough, lol.

kellogc · #5 06-14-2011, 11:37 AM

Thank you all for your answers.
I did try lowering the pickups and it help reduce the gain somewhat. I have Bartolini NTMB preamp on my other basses so I could try and level the gain on all based on this CT. That way the effect chain will behave similarly on all.

I was also under the impression Carl Thompson used Hand Wound Kent Armstrong pickups. At least most posts I've read online suggest that. I could be wrong.

Thanks again!

BassBod · #6 06-14-2011, 01:21 PM

Doesn't really matter if Carl has used "hand made" or production pickups from WD, they are still designed by Kent Armstrong and will be very good. Most custom makers here in the UK use pickups designed by Kent, or even made by him. His son currently makes the bespoke versions here in the UK, as Kent now lives back in the USA. Carl worked with Dan Armstrong in the 1960's (Kent's Father) so I'm sure he has some attachment to the brand!

Any chance of a picture of your bass? They rarely get to the UK.

LeonD · #7 06-14-2011, 02:16 PM

I have a Karl Hoyt bass with a set of the custom wound Armstrong pickups in a passive configuration.

Just to confirm your findings, it is louder (hotter) than any other active or passive bass that I own.

As an aside, they are probably the most tonefull humbucking pickups I've ever heard.

kellogc · #8 06-15-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBod

Doesn't really matter if Carl has used "hand made" or production pickups from WD, they are still designed by Kent Armstrong and will be very good. Most custom makers here in the UK use pickups designed by Kent, or even made by him. His son currently makes the bespoke versions here in the UK, as Kent now lives back in the USA. Carl worked with Dan Armstrong in the 1960's (Kent's Father) so I'm sure he has some attachment to the brand!

Any chance of a picture of your bass? They rarely get to the UK.

I'll try to get a picture uploaded today. The bass is so nice, plays like butter and has a great growling punch!

kellogc · #9 07-04-2011, 06:21 AM

This is the picture for the bass. I did lower the pickups and the gain lowered enough as to not saturate my signal chain.

Thanks!