pickup suggestion

DaS HaaS · #1 08-18-2007, 08:37 PM

I have this bass as a backup, but the pickups suck. Any suggestions on what pickups I can use to give it some balls? I like the feel of the bass and I dont want to shelf it so I figure changing the pickups might help. I would like to add some EBMM style pickups but I think that will require some routing to make them fit. Any suggestions?

!Rob! · #2 08-18-2007, 08:46 PM

Bartolini's are awesome, and they come in many styles/sizes, their website is very informative and has all the specs.

Human Bass · #3 08-18-2007, 10:33 PM

4 knobs...you could put some Villexs on it!! It would be a vol/vol/mid-tone/high-tone configuration! Versatile and passive, i really think that an emergency/backup bass is better passive.

m.oreilly · #4 08-19-2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaS HaaS

I have this bass as a backup, but the pickups suck. Any suggestions on what pickups I can use to give it some balls? I like the feel of the bass and I dont want to shelf it so I figure changing the pickups might help. I would like to add some EBMM style pickups but I think that will require some routing to make them fit. Any suggestions?

i believe there are a set of q-tuners that will fit, negating routing. how much are you willing to spend?

fullrangebass · #5 08-19-2007, 09:37 AM

I vote for villex pickups. The sound is full and balanced and the vol/vol/mid-control/tone configuration is really very versatile. It may turn out better than the No1 axe

www.villex.com

DaS HaaS · #6 08-19-2007, 12:24 PM

i dont have a set budget, but i dont want to spend an arm and a leg.

Dragonlord · #7 08-19-2007, 01:17 PM

Villex are worth it. If I ever needed to get a budget/backup bass, my #1 choice would be a Peavey bass with villex pickups.

DaS HaaS · #8 08-19-2007, 05:47 PM

cool, I will check them out. Im leaning towards barts but i will def look into the Villex pickups. Would they have my size stock? or will it be a custom job?

FunkyFlashFive · #9 08-19-2007, 09:02 PM

what about a little love for emg?

Dragonlord · #10 08-19-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaS HaaS

cool, I will check them out. Im leaning towards barts but i will def look into the Villex pickups. Would they have my size stock? or will it be a custom job?

I'm not sure, but I do know that they do custom sizes so no problem. Actually, I have played the same bass with barts and then with villex and IMO villex pups took it to another level, but YMMV.

DaS HaaS · #11 08-20-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonlord

I'm not sure, but I do know that they do custom sizes so no problem. Actually, I have played the same bass with barts and then with villex and IMO villex pups took it to another level, but YMMV.

hmm, are villex more expensive? and was it a huge difference from the barts?

Dragonlord · #12 08-20-2007, 11:13 AM

Both me and the owner of the bass felt it was just in another level. Actually, it was a Dingwall (fullrangebass') that he had for sale, but when I compared it to his other Dingwalls (Dingwall-equipped) it was just clearly a level below. When I tried it with Villex pups, we both felt they took the bass up to the same level as the rest of his Dingwalls (in a different way, but same league) and when I asked for a new price he told me it's no longer for sale... so yes, I would say that it was a huge difference from the barts. Actually, the Dingwall I ended up buying has barts and I haven't decided what will replace them yet, but I'm between Dingwall and Villex.

fullrangebass · #13 08-21-2007, 04:26 AM

The Villex pickups are different to the Dingwall pickups. Both super great, yet different directions. I was offering to sell the Bart equipped Dingwall (super great bass but not on the same leaguel as the rest of the dingwall pickup equipped Dingwalls), but once the Villex pickups were placed, the bass turned into a keeper.

12bass · #14 08-21-2007, 04:37 AM

If you are interested in Bartolinis, bear in mind that there are many different coil types. The CB series are what I would recommend, as they are more open-sounding than the others. Haven't heard the Villex, but am definitely curious. The Q-Tuners are great too, if you are looking for an open, extended frequency response tone.

fullrangebass · #15 08-21-2007, 08:02 AM

The first pair of Villex pickups I bought came in action on my Warrior bass (Fully Armed 5 str, originally Bart equipped)). The Barts were replaced 2 times over (from the originals to the CB to the disontinued CX IIRC) and still the bass was a bass to sell. Once the Villex pair came on it was revelation. Even people who had heard the bass repeatedly and told me to sell it (cause the sound was below par in comparison with the rest of my herd) when they heard it with the Villex they insisted that I keep it. Need less to say, the Bart preamp has seen no action ever since the villex were installed. That was the only reason I was daring enough to place a pair on my Bart equipped Dingwall. Even with the Barts, the Dingwall was a league (or two) above the rest of the basses (but below the rest of the Dingwalls). And now that Dingwall is a keeper too.