Pickups and EQ for fretless build?

[Roland777]

I'm wondering what kind of pickups and EQ I should put into this 6-string fretless build I'm sketching up. Given that I am a complete newbie when it comes to basspickups and preamps, I thought I'd ask around here.
The only point of reference that I have is the pair of Bartolini Mk1's in my BTB555 - I like them quite a lot, but what I'm looking for here is something with more emphasis on a dry low-end, that still can go sweet once you start sliding up the neck. Given the fact that I'm meddling around with harmonics a lot lately, something that handles those well would be too.
I have no idea how much voicing the preamp gives to the final sound, but I am looking for a 3-band variable mid EQ, that's for sure. The total electronics section would look like this; two soapbars centered around the 36th fret position, wired to a blending pot, going into a 3-band active variable mid EQ.
I was recommended the Bartolini CB soapbars and the Bassline AB soapbars. Any word on those?

[Roland777]

Gahah! Just found the type of sound I'm looking for. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo

This video featuring Jeff Schmidt has basically the kind of sound that I'm looking for - perhaps a bit drier sound, meaning a bit less warmth and a TAD TAD more mids in the low-end.
So, given that, what tips what you give me on pickups and preamp? Note what I'm looking for - pair of soapbars and 3-band variable mid EQ.
Also, if it matters, I'll be tuning to A-D-G-C-F-A# (i.e standard six-string down a step).

[Roland777]

Hey. Don't mean to be an excessive bumper, but someone has got to know something.

[DEbassist]

Check out Q-Tuners. Neodymium humbuckers.

[Jamal Hurse]

DEbassist, you beat me to it!

I have these Q-tuner humbuckers in my bass in my avitar. They kick @ss. You can hear a soundclip of my bass right hear...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=295ekSiFB7A . Not sure if Erno can/will make a pickup for a 6 string bass. I would definitely ask him if he could/would. You can contact him at Q-tuner.com. Can't help you on the EQ, my personal oppinion is those things belong in the rack not on the bass. I only use 2 volume pots on my bass no tone controls to kill the signal. Or you could just ask Jeff what he uses...

[gre107]

If you like the sound Jeff's bass is making just go with the bart's and the bart preamp.

All the best!

[Roland777]

Yeah, I talked to Erno about another build, where a problem arose. The neodymium magnets are very powerful apparently, and he said that with the pickup placement I had in mind (side-to-side - I'm not budging from this), he was worried about the pups providing excessive string-pull. Thus, the Q-tuners are more or less out of the question, unfortunately.
However, I seem to have found a good alternative in the Bartolini M56CBC's, judging from their description. Question now just is... which preamp? I am dead set upon having an onboard 3-band EQ with variable mids - an active one at that. I checked the Bartolini-site, but could only find 3-band EQ's with switchable mids. :/ Got any suggestions?

[Jamal Hurse]

Erno is right the neodymium mags are intense. To much string pull could cause a muting effect. My BL-4 pickups are just a half inch apart. No problems there.

Sorry I can't help with the pre, I really know very little about them.

Just curious, why do you want the pickups side by side?

[Roland777]

Two practical experiences led me to the conclusion that for me, side-by-side positioning is the best. The first was the fact that on my BTB555-bass, I pretty much always keep the balance in center, or a little bit towards the neck. Second was the great sound that was produced by the Warwick $$ Corvette - which incidentially had side-by-side pickup positioning, and also the fact that the finger-rest that the pickups when placed next to eachother provide is VERY good in terms of tension and tone.
In short, I've found that the sweetspot is located precisely where the 36th fret would be, both in terms of plucking and pickup-placement.

[Jamal Hurse]

Interesting to know. Thanks. My neck pickup would actually be placed at about the 36th as the fingerboard in my pic is 30. I have 2 seperate outputs, one for each pickup independantly. I run into 2 seperate channels on my rig. I mix with the onboard volumes.

[fullrangebass]

I'd suggest you look up for Villex pickups. They are great across the spectrum, with a good output, no excessive string pull and while passive they are very versatile (you can add any pre-amp you like, but I find no use for rhe pre-amp in any of my Villex equipped basses)