MEC's - Time for a change

[taviswardlaw]

Hey tbers!

I've recently picked up a Corvette Standard fretless 4 (J pups) reasonably cheap and I'm really happy with the bass (warwick do build nice basses) but I find the tone of the MEC pick up and pre's really average. I've got a fretted 6er Thumb BO with Basslines and it's beautiful.

The MEC's (which are passive) tone wise have a decent low end but I do find myself dialing a lot of low lows on my amp (eden WT600) and then having to pick out the horrible treble frequency that's exposed with the tone knob on full that picks up finger sound but not in a nice way.

I'm wanting something a bit more mid rangy with full low end. The knobs are currently Volume, Blend and Tone. Am I looking at just pickups, just pre, or should i rip the lot out?

Thanks for your opinions and wisdom
t

[canshaker]

I put Bartolinis in all of my Warwicks. The MEC's are like putting a VW engine in a Rolls Royce.

[taviswardlaw]

Yeah I have to admit, I've heard a lot of people rave about MEC's and I don't get it. Bart's are beautiful. I have a friend who owns a few old Cort basses (a 4,5 and 6 string) that were incredibly cheap but nice basses and came stock standard with Bart pre's and pickups and they sound easily 5x what they cost him.

[Webtroll]

The preamps aren't all that but the pickups sound fine to me. Maybe try replacing just the preamp first?

[FunkMetalBass]

I actually quite like MEC's, and I'm probably the only one. I'd put an Aggy Pre- in the Warwick before I changed pups, but that's based on my tonal preferences.

[gre107]

I just put a Bart NTMB 3 band vol/vol, mid push pull, treb/bass in my Thumb 6 and love it. I kept the MEC's for now but am thinking of putting Bart PU's in it as well.
My Thumb has the soapbars in it so it is different than the 4 strings so you might want to change out the pre first and see.

Bestbassgear.com is where I got mine and they were great with any questions that I had. Very helpful.

All the best,

Gerry

[KsPiNeSh]

Originally Posted by Webtroll

The preamps aren't all that but the pickups sound fine to me. Maybe try replacing just the preamp first?

It sounds to me like the bass is passive - no preamp to change.

[nuno.ka]

I've already ordered a Dimarzio PJ set for my fortress one (maple body+all wenge neck+brass frets and nut) it was a shot in the dark but I bet it will sound GOOD!
The MECs always left something to be desired.

[goyin108]

I have also just come into a Corvette fretless and find the MEC pickups noisy. I put a Delano J pickup in another bass and was very impressed so I plan to drop a set in the Corvette.

[GYang]

Originally Posted by canshaker

I put Bartolinis in all of my Warwicks. The MEC's are like putting a VW engine in a Rolls Royce.

Word.

[Xx: V L F :xX]

The Delano JC 4 HE/M2 is what you seek! I cannot speak highly enough about these pickups! They are amazing. They will feel right at home in your Warwick since Delano is a German company, also.

[bassman74]

DELANO +10000000

I tried almost every brand of pickup with my 3 corvette in the past and there's nothing like delano (IMHO)

I feel like their pickup are made for the warwick basses, maybe it's because they are from Germany too!

If you want more low-mid (a la warwick) i would go with the JC 4 HE/M2 (my favorite on a warwick bass!)

If you want fuller mids i would go with the JMVC 4 FE/M2

You can always ask brian (best bass gear) what he thinks! he is a great guy!!!

Good luck with your tone!!!

[RedLeg]

You mean like this?

And this?

Take it from me, DO IT.

[Xx: V L F :xX]

I have some JMVC 4 FE/M2s, too. I like them better on my Fender. I agree with bassman74, the JC 4 HE/M2s are made for Warwicks!