Pick-up questions and suggestions ofr a dual Musiman style configuration

[Metalman X]

Hey all! New here, but been around in the HC Forums under the same screename.

Anyways, I got a few questions and whatnot regarding a basds I'm modifying. It's going to be a bass used for death and black metal, so a thick, full, yet cutting tone is necessary. I prefer my clean to be precise, and modern...think Dave Ellefsons' tone from Megadeths' "Hanger 18", or some of D.D. Verni of Overkills more modern tones (stuff from there late 90's era material and up). I also use a fairly dense overdrive on some parts (typically slower to mid-paced passages where the gain won't blur the notes as much as they would in fast-tempo parts). Sometimes in almost Type-O Negative-ish type gain...kinda grindy, almost industrial sounding. This comes from my GK Backline 600 head.

First off the bass I'm modifying is a BC Rich Warbeast Trace:



some pertinent specs-
Construction: bolt on
Body wood: basswood
Fretboard: ebony
Frets: 24 jumbo
Scale: 34”

Anyway, heres what I'm looking at for pick-ups:
-Dual EMG MM-CS pick-ups
-EMG MM-HZ's (the passive versions of the above, mainly cuz I may need to watch my costs)
-Seymour Duncan SMB-4D ceramics

Now...s'far as I know to really get the most from the passive models I'd still need some kind of active pre-amp installed. I have avaialable to me a wiring set-up I pulled from a Brice Fretless 6-string that has Master Volume, Blend control, and seperate Bass and Treble Controls, along with a push/pull pot that switches active/passive. Would this be usable witheither the HZ's or SD's? And if so...would the Alnico SD be a better choice?

I'd prefer to keep my electronics expenses under $200 (labor's not an issue...I do all that myself, including routing if absolutely needed)

So...suggestions? Advice? Tips?

All would be appreciated. Thanx guys!

[tomas_almeida]

Do you think it's worth the investment? I'm not sure if I'd do it on a BC Rich...
You may consider changing your bass...

But if you REALLY are sure that you want to do the investment I would advise the Seymour Duncan's or the EMG-CS. I really don't like the HZ's.

[Metalman X]

Originally Posted by tomas_almeida

Do you think it's worth the investment? I'm not sure if I'd do it on a BC Rich...
You may consider changing your bass...

But if you REALLY are sure that you want to do the investment I would advise the Seymour Duncan's or the EMG-CS. I really don't like the HZ's.

oh yah...I'm sure. It's a good solid bass. I know they get a bad rap some places...but I think it's primarily cuz of the cheap-o bronze series' or the sub-par electronics they use...which I'm rectifying here. I own 5 BCR guitars of varying makes and models, and all play, feel, and (after a good pick-up swap) sound great.

What is it you don't like about Richs' I'm curious?

Plus, I like having a rear point as well...I can tuck my strap over it in a way that it angles the bass upwards slightly towards my face, which is good, because otherwise my belly angles it downward when at the comfortable playing height for me, which makes precise picking and fingering awkward when playing fast stuff...for me anyway. so, for me at least, shapes like this not only look bad-ass (I'm a death metal guy through and through...traditional shapes are fine, but don't quite appeal to me as much as something like this), but actually serve a function as well. I've owned a few standard p-bass type body basses before, and still own a Brice fretless 6-string, and on ALL of them, I 've had to implant a large screw sticking out of the side of the body to hang my strap on in such a way to accommodate my needs. And it never works nearly as good as just tucking it over the tip or wing of a pointy shape. I do this with all my guitars and basses.

Yeah...I suppose I'm a little weird

[Rano Bass]

Originally Posted by Metalman X

Anyway, heres what I'm looking at for pick-ups:
-Dual EMG MM-CS pick-ups
-EMG MM-HZ's (the passive versions of the above, mainly cuz I may need to watch my costs)
-Seymour Duncan SMB-4D ceramics

I have avaialable to me a wiring set-up I pulled from a Brice Fretless 6-string that has Master Volume, Blend control, and seperate Bass and Treble Controls, along with a push/pull pot that switches active/passive.

I'd prefer to keep my electronics expenses under $200
So...suggestions? Advice? Tips?

I recommend SMB-4d's (ceramic), they sound a little more modern than the alnico version IMO.
I don't think EMG MM-HZ's are good at all.
A preamp might not be necesary and i would stay away from that brice preamp, if you want good and cheap you could get the EMG BTC control.
Good luck.

[Metalman X]

Originally Posted by Rano Bass

I recommend SMB-4d's (ceramic), they sound a little more modern than the alnico version IMO.
I don't think EMG MM-HZ's are good at all.
A preamp might not be necesary and i would stay away from that brice preamp, if you want good and cheap you could get the EMG BTC control.
Good luck.

A buddy of mine had the ceramic SD in his Stingray, and yeah...it sounded incredible! Though he was also playing it through a much better amp than mine (he had an Ampep SVTpro at the time, w/ 8x10 cabinet). nonetheless...I could hear the difference between it and the stock Sterling pick-up...and it was awesome.

Ah yes...the BTC is nice...thats actually what I have installed in my Brice 6er, along w/ a 45DC Bridge and a 45TW neck pick-up. Sounds great too.

though, I never did try the Brice pre-amp...I kinda just pulled it, and put the BTC in that I had laying around, right away. Is there anything that makes the Brice bad? I'm probably gonna put it in, just for now....after the holidays I'll probably get a better pre. But I'm thinking it is better than nothing at all, no?

[Rano Bass]

Originally Posted by Metalman X

though, I never did try the Brice pre-amp...I kinda just pulled it, and put the BTC in that I had laying around, right away. Is there anything that makes the Brice bad? I'm probably gonna put it in, just for now....after the holidays I'll probably get a better pre. But I'm thinking it is better than nothing at all, no?

I just have a thing against cheap preamps, they tend to color the signal (not in a good way) and take away transparency IMO.

[Metalman X]

Originally Posted by Rano Bass

I just have a thing against cheap preamps, they tend to color the signal (not in a good way) and take away transparency IMO.

Ahhh....gotcha'.

[cdawzrd]

SMB-4D's all the way! Put them in and play it for a week before you think about a preamp, though, those pickups sound KILLER passive, and have tons of output.

[Metalman X]

Originally Posted by cdawzrd

SMB-4D's all the way! Put them in and play it for a week before you think about a preamp, though, those pickups sound KILLER passive, and have tons of output.

Nice!

Hows there noise factor though? I imagine there well sheilded and what not. I only ask cuz I DO use a heavy overdrive at times

[Metalman X]

Also....would it be worth my while to put an Alnico SMB in the middle position, anf only use the ceramic for the bridge?

[cdawzrd]

Originally Posted by Metalman X

Nice!

Hows there noise factor though? I imagine there well sheilded and what not. I only ask cuz I DO use a heavy overdrive at times

Completely silent; I have mine in a MM2 that has shielding paint in the cavity. In coil cut, of course there is single coil noise. I almost always use it in one of the humbucking modes, though, and there is no extra noise; I've played it with a heavy overdrive and several flavors of Big Muff and it works great.

[Metalman X]

Originally Posted by cdawzrd

Completely silent; I have mine in a MM2 that has shielding paint in the cavity. In coil cut, of course there is single coil noise. I almost always use it in one of the humbucking modes, though, and there is no extra noise; I've played it with a heavy overdrive and several flavors of Big Muff and it works great.

sweet....that reminds me...I ought to pick up some shielding tape....or just line the cavity with 2-3 layers in aluminum foil (it works...I've done it before)