Looking for alternative for MEC MM humbuckers in my Doublebuck

[SurrenderMonkey]

I'm mulling over the idea or replacing the stock MEC hunbuckers in my Corvette $$ 5 string with an alternative set of pickups. They are three-way MusicMan style pickup (series parallel, coil tap), with the large soapbar casing. I'm pretty OK with soldering things), I'm more concerned about the difference they would make to the standard passive MECs, which I find lacking in low end clarity and high freq grit (MM trademark). I'd like something more lively and more punchy.

problems :
- Fit : Will they just drop into the cavity?
- Sound : Is it actually worth it? I suspect the sound problems are a combination of the light swamp ash and the pickups used.
- Wiring : Will they accomodate with the standard MEC preamp? Will active pickups work? I'm willing to upgrade the pre as well.
- What to buy : Does Ernie Ball sales MusicMan pickups? Nordstrand MMs are expensive, what do they add? Other recommandations?
- Experience : Anyone done this before on a corvette $$? Was it worth the hassle / money?

so far :
Seymour Duncan SMB-5A
Nordstrand MM5.2 / MM5.3 / MM5.4
Bartolini MV5CBC
Delano (they dont seem to make the 'no ears' casing).


Thanks for your input.

[sir juice]

if i were you i'd get custom winds from aaron armstrong (kent armstrong's son) he's based here in the UK and only charges £75 a pickup all inclusive

[SurrenderMonkey]

intresting. The upgrade would be expensive...

[sir juice]

it's about the same as any delano would cost you

Originally Posted by SurrenderMonkey

intresting. The upgrade would be expensive...

[SurrenderMonkey]

probably. I'm just not 100% it's a worthy upgrade tbh. The bass is on sale, but I like it enough to keep it and customise it.

[sir juice]

how much are you selling it for just out of interest?

[RavCat]

I'm waiting on a Nordstrand MM5.2 for my Streamer Jazzman, because I'm after exactly the same tonal enhancements as you - more low end, more high end zing, less clank.

The MM5.3 and 5.4 won't fit your bass without you removing some more wood from the pickup routs, due to the extra coil on the back. Worth bearing in mind.

As for the Nordies being more expensive, I ordered mine from the States and the strong £ to $ ratio means that they were much cheaper than picking up an SD here. You'll need to order from abroad anyway - there's no-one in the UK stocking them.

As for wiring, the MMs connect mostly to the little series/parallel/single toggle switches, plus a few grounds (or at least that's the case on the Jazzman) - it would be a pretty simple upgrade. I'm planning on doing the soldering myself. The MEC preamps are famed for being a bit rubbish, so dropping in an Aguilar might be an idea also, but of course you're looking at more cost.

I haven't received my MM yet, so I can't tell you whether it's a worthwhile swap, but it won't be far off now. I'm of the opinion that almost anything would be better than the MEC MM I've got in there now.

PM me if you want more info.

[BassKS]

did these upgrades ever take place?

Im kind of mulling over the idea of changing the pups on my $$ 5er.

Fatos

[Unrepresented]

I swapped the pickups in my 4 string $$ for the SD Baselines. Much happier.

[socialleper]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I swapped the pickups in my 4 string $$ for the SD Baselines. Much happier.

Which model SD Basslines did you go with (alnico or ceramic)? Was the the installation pretty straight forward?

[mmbongo]

I put Delanos in my Jazzman. LOVE them!

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by socialleper

Which model SD Basslines did you go with (alnico or ceramic)? Was the the installation pretty straight forward?

Ceramic. I didn't do the swap, my luthier did. Much happier with the resulting usability of the tone.

[socialleper]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Ceramic. I didn't do the swap, my luthier did. Much happier with the resulting usability of the tone.

I guess what I meant was did that fit without routing, do the series/parallel/single switches still work, and does the passive/active switch still work?

I'm starting to find on my $$ that the MECs are a little dark sounding and that the high tone knob doesn't add much in the way of bite.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by socialleper

I guess what I meant was did that fit without routing, do the series/parallel/single switches still work, and does the passive/active switch still work?

I'm starting to find on my $$ that the MECs are a little dark sounding and that the high tone knob doesn't add much in the way of bite.

All features of the stock pickups were retained and no routing was required to my knowledge. The main difference for me was that the high frequency peak was shifted down to a much more useable musical position which caused a decrease in top end brittleness and replaced it with a brighter tone.

[socialleper]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

All features of the stock pickups were retained and no routing was required to my knowledge. The main difference for me was that the high frequency peak was shifted down to a much more useable musical position which caused a decrease in top end brittleness and replaced it with a brighter tone.

Nice, I think that's what I'm looking for. Ever contemplate changing your pre-amp too or are you happy with that?

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by socialleper

Nice, I think that's what I'm looking for. Ever contemplate changing your pre-amp too or are you happy with that?

That was originally what I approached my luthier about. He suggested a pickup swap would provide me the change I was looking for. Since the pickup swap, I haven't found any reasons to try and alter my tone further.