Mighty Mites pickups: active or passive?

Cade · #1 12-13-2010, 07:36 AM

Hi guys!

[This is my first post. Loving the forum, been lurking around for a few weeks now.]

I recently purchased my first bass, marking my transition from geetar to bass. I got a Tobias Toby Pro five string which is described as active and, as has been mentioned elsewhere on here, the pickups and preamp are re-branded Mighty Mites stuff. I'd love to increase the output from the bass -- the preamp is as quiet as folks say -- but I don't know if my pickups are 'active' as well. I notice on the Mighty Mites website that they have both passive and active pickups so there might be some active circuitry on there besides the preamp itself?

Just wondering if anyone knows for sure and/or can make a recommendation for a replacement preamp.

Many thanks, folks!

FunkMetalBass · #2 12-13-2010, 08:21 AM

It's rare that the actual pickups are active. If you open up the control cavity, take a look at the leads coming from the pickups. If they are active, there should be a red, black, and white lead. Most passive pickups have an even number of leads.

Cade · #3 12-13-2010, 11:44 AM

Perfect, thanks! I guess what threw me was that all the pickups on their site (http://mightymite.com/Soap_Bar_Type.html) all have only two leads ...

Given that I play a wide range of things, though rarely really rock out, what would be a good replacement for the preamp? I'm particularly interested in something that's going to have a good balance and be clear for partial chords and whatnot.

Thanks for the help!

Cade · #4 12-14-2010, 07:21 PM

For a bit more info on what I _think_ I need: My bass has for pots just now -- vol/blend/treble/bass and I'd like to move to vol/blend/stack:bass|treble/stack:mid/mid-feq I've found a couple of preamps that can do most of that but I don't think I've found one that has a way to select the frequency (like a parametric eq) via a pot (only push/pull between two set frequencies).

Anyone have one in mind that would be able to do this? Do I need it, or is switching between two set frequencies enough in practice?

Thanks!

SGD Lutherie · #5 12-14-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cade

...I've found a couple of preamps that can do most of that but I don't think I've found one that has a way to select the frequency (like a parametric eq) via a pot (only push/pull between two set frequencies).

EMG BQC Control

Quote:

The BQC Control features a bass and treble equalizer on a concentric (stacked) pot along with the concentric (stacked) mid-control. It takes up very little space and will work with any pickup, active or passive.

Just add a volume and blend control. They sound good and are fairly cheap.

BigOldHarry · #6 12-14-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cade

Hi guys!

[This is my first post. Loving the forum, been lurking around for a few weeks now.]

I recently purchased my first bass, marking my transition from geetar to bass. I got a Tobias Toby Pro five string which is described as active and, as has been mentioned elsewhere on here, the pickups and preamp are re-branded Mighty Mites stuff. I'd love to increase the output from the bass -- the preamp is as quiet as folks say -- but I don't know if my pickups are 'active' as well. I notice on the Mighty Mites website that they have both passive and active pickups so there might be some active circuitry on there besides the preamp itself?

Just wondering if anyone knows for sure and/or can make a recommendation for a replacement preamp.

Many thanks, folks!

few p'ups are actually "active". Mighty Mite stuff is pretty much as budget as it gets, so if you want mo tone, just replace the preamp & P'ups - you'll be happy.

Cade · #7 12-15-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

EMG BQC Control
Just add a volume and blend control. They sound good and are fairly cheap.

Cool! Thanks for the heads up on that one. I think I avoided EMG as I think of it as a fairly 'Metal' -focused company. This preamp is versatile enough to handle other styles though?

Cade · #8 12-15-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Mighty Mite stuff is pretty much as budget as it gets, so if you want mo tone, just replace the preamp & P'ups - you'll be happy.

If you had to choose replacing either the preamp OR the pickups, which would you replace first?

FunkMetalBass · #9 12-16-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cade

Cool! Thanks for the heads up on that one. I think I avoided EMG as I think of it as a fairly 'Metal' -focused company. This preamp is versatile enough to handle other styles though?

It's such a common misconception that EMG is a metal company. Victor Wooten plays EMGs.

A preamp is a preamp is a preamp - they just boost/cut specific frequency ranges.

Many people on these boards like the EMG preamps - they're quiet, versatile, require little soldering, and do the job. I've never personally played one, but I think you'll like it.

SGD Lutherie · #10 12-16-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cade

Cool! Thanks for the heads up on that one. I think I avoided EMG as I think of it as a fairly 'Metal' -focused company. This preamp is versatile enough to handle other styles though?

I used the 2-band version in several of my basses for about 15-20 years, and I don't play metal. I even used them after I stopped using EMG pickups.

EMG isn't a metal focused company at all, it's just that a lot of metal guitarist like their pickups.

But it's a nice clean preamp with a good range of tones. Also when set flat, it sounds bypassed.

You can hear the two band (BTC) version on some of my pickup sound clips, like this one. This clip starts off passive and and then I switch in the preamp, cycle though each pickup combination, and then start messing with the controls. I boost the highs, then turns the highs down, boost some lows, etc.

Passive/Active Neos

Cade · #11 12-18-2010, 11:45 AM

OK, based on further reading on this here forum, I think the first step is to replace the pickups. Once installed, I'll try them passive and through the existing preamp and see if either or those is a go'er. If not, the BQC might be just the ticket.

So, now my question becomes who does pickups in the dimensions of the current ones. [I measured the current pups dimensions as 1-9/16" x 4-1/8" / 40mm x 105mm] I've found a Bartolini (the CF5CBC - "5-string Mighty Mite pickup Shape"), and maybe the EMG 40HZ (don't know if it's an exact fit, but I do want passive pickups in there). If the EMGs fit, then maybe the equiv SGDs would be a better choice. Are there any other options out there that folks are aware of?

mark286 · #12 12-18-2010, 12:21 PM

Bartolini makes a 5 string Mity Mite replacement designated the CF5CBC.

http://www.bartolini.net/information...bass_pu_s5.htm

I think, but I'm not sure, that the Bart is the only drop in replacement available as the Mity Mite pickup has unique dimensions. If you can deal with a slightly smaller pickup, then you would have a lot more options. The EMG 40 dimensions of 4 x 1-1/2 inches are shared by pickups sold by EMG, Seymour Duncan, Bartolini, Sadowsky, and probably others.

The 5 string Mity Mite is 4-1/8 x 1-9/16 so the EMG 40 is an 1/8 inch shorter and 1/16 inch narrower than your current pickup. Depending on the bass, and your sense of aesthetics, this size difference might not be a big deal.

Mark

mark286 · #13 12-18-2010, 12:28 PM

Oops. I didn't read your post carefully enough to see that you're already aware of the Bart.

But if you can deal with the EMG 40 size, then you can go with the SD basslines NYC Phase 2 which are very nice http://www.bassplayer.com/article/ba...il-2010/110625, or my personal favorites the Sadowsky soapbars.

Mark

Cade · #14 12-18-2010, 03:23 PM

Mark,

Thanks for the info. Do you rate the direct replacement Barts at all? Also, what do you like about the Sadowsky pups?

Cheers! :-)

SGD Lutherie · #15 12-18-2010, 03:51 PM

The Bart Mighty Mites are 39mm X 104mm. EMG 40 size is 38mm X 102mm, so they would fit right in there with just a little gap around the pickup.

You can get a lot more pickups in the 40 size covering just about any tone you want.

So what kind of tone are you looking for?

Cade · #16 12-18-2010, 07:18 PM

Ah, the million dollar question! :-) The short answer is I don't know. Having played guitar for so long, my bass 'ear' isn't really in yet. I guess somewhere in the middle of old-school and hi-fi. Something versatile, balanced, that'll let me experiment to find my tone but that is a quality starting point. Any or all of the pickups mentioned so far may be perfect or not -- I have no idea, and why I'm very grateful for everyone's input. :-)

LJ Michaaels · #17 12-18-2010, 07:29 PM

Lots of country pickers use em to

bassday · #18 12-19-2010, 02:28 PM

I just did what you are asking about. I have a Stingray 5 and a G& L tribute 2500 and a Toby pro 5, I put The barts Pre amp and the Bart PU's on the recommendation from someone at harmony Central Bass fourm. With this set up I'll put it up with My Stingray or G&L any time, it sounds that good. You might go over there and ask, a few guy's over there have owned that Bass.