Pickups and Onboard Preamps

Willbur · #1 11-17-2011, 01:29 PM

So just out of curiosity I wanted to ask some questions about pickups and how they work with onboard preamps. First off a little background info: I have only owned passive 4 string basses. I have just recently found an interest in the low B so I tuned and adjusted my 2001 American std P for BEAD tuning. I have really enjoyed it, but am now becoming interested in 5 strings. I played an ibanez 305 and enjoyed it quite a bit.

So Ive heard that some people think to get a good B sound you need an active bass. Is this, for the most part, true?

Im also a very simple person, and after looking around at some preamps i think, if I decided on one, it would be a 2 band boost only preamp.

Bartolini also has the TC3 which is to boost the output of passive pickups. Would this boosted output give an "active" umph and sound without the tone shaping capabilities?

Do preamps provide any kind of compression? Sometimes I dig in quite a bit.

So I tried to ask these questions as clearly as possible, but if you would like clarification I can try. Hopefully some of you have had these same questions in the past. Much thanks in advance!

bongomania · #2 11-17-2011, 01:43 PM

Some preamps compress a bit, but most not so much. Whether a preamp provides "umph" kind of depends on the preamp, and your expectations. For example some preamps have quite a bit of gain (boost of volume) and others not so much. Some have a built-in EQ pre-shape (even with the EQ knobs "off") that makes them sound punchier or less punchy, subjectively. Some will distort slightly, which can either sound like "umph" or like crap, subjectively.

I do think a preamp can help a low B, but it's not a requirement. I have a couple of passive 5-stringers with killer low B's, so "it depends".

I know this post is unhelpful in many ways, but it's all true.

Willbur · #3 11-18-2011, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the reply bongo! Your post helped shed a little light on the situation. I am just a curious want-to-be gear head who wants to understand bass tech a little better.

Its sounds like even among preamps there is quite a bit of variation.

What passive 5 stringers do you play?

bongomania · #4 11-18-2011, 11:48 AM

They're both heavily-modded frankenbasses; one was originally a 70's Ric 4001 clone, and the other was originally a 90's Jackson Concert V.

Unfortunately I think what makes a great low B has as much to do with random chance (like the specific pieces of wood used) as it does with more easily controlled things like pickups or brands.

You'll notice in threads about basses with good/bad B strings that having a preamp is not what makes the difference. But OTOH if a B doesn't have enough strength or punch, a preamp can sometimes help.

Willbur · #5 11-21-2011, 07:09 PM

cool cool. Thanks a bunch man! Anyone else want to put in their 2 cents/experience? Ive noticed a few recent threads popping up about the Bartolini TC3 and Aguilar OBP 1, so Im definitely not the only one interested in learning

Jefenator · #6 11-21-2011, 08:21 PM

With the right wood and the right high-quality passive pickups, I really have no desire for onboard active electronics.

The exception might be for that modern/slap vibe. That can be achieved passively IME, but a good onboard pre can certainly help. In my travels, the OBP-1 has been the best for providing massive amounts of woolly bass and glassy treble boost when desired, while retaining a certain purity of response.

As far as low B goes, my 6-string Dingwall is passive and it is THE Holy Grail for low B! (I think that has a lot to do with the 37" scale on that string, and the stellar build quality.)

YMMV

ex-tension · #7 11-22-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbur

...Anyone else want to put in their 2 cents/experience?...

These videos would be interesting to watch:

How to enhance your 5 strings bass guitar sound - part 1 - Frudua GFJ bass - YouTube

How to enhance your bass guitar B string sound - part 2 - Frudua GFJ Bass - YouTube

lowfreq33 · #8 11-22-2011, 05:54 PM

In my experience active basses tend to have a bit wider frequency response and more headroom, both of which can help in getting a good sound out of a b string. I can't say I've ever played a passive fiver that I've liked, but I haven't played every bass out there.

khutch · #9 11-22-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbur

Anyone else want to put in their 2 cents/experience?

I've only just started looking at 5s and spent some time today in a local shop trying what they have. It's a very nice but small shop so they only had three. One was a lowly passive Squier VM Jazz V. Even with the cheap pickups that everyone likes to take pot shots at the B string sounded just fine. I did not find the neck particularly to my liking. They had two Peavey's and I did not try the Grind today because I am more interested in the Millennium. I did give their Millennium 5 AC BXP a workout. It has their VFL active humbuckers and a 3 band EQ and that all worked quite well. You get a much broader tonal range from that arrangement than from the passive Squier but I can't say that the B string was any stronger due to the preamp. The neck was a better fit for me than the Squier though still a bit awkward feeling. The SR305 is on my short list and I wanted to play one but the closest they had was an SR300. It has passive humbuckers and Ibanez's "Stylesweeper" three band EQ. I thought that was a very impressive combination actually. Do you need to look any further?

I liked everything about it as well as I like my own bass, a Fender Deluxe Active Jazz. I wonder if I will like the SR305 as well or if the natural feel the SR300 had was simply because it was a 4 string? If I can't find a 5 I like I would almost buy the SR300 to tune to BEAD!

Not much experience, obviously, but comparing basses in the same price range there was no evidence that you need a preamp to get a good sounding B string. A preamp is no more necessary to the B string than the G. When I was done with those I tried a Standard Precision they had just for grins. One pickup, brain dead tone control, very satisfying none the less. Even though a preamp brings a lot to the party it is still a great party without one!

Ken

Willbur · #10 11-23-2011, 03:26 PM

hmmm so why do most high end bass builders use preamps?

khutch · #11 11-23-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbur

hmmm so why do most high end bass builders use preamps?

Perhaps because high end customers expect them? Personally I think that preamps with a 3 band EQ are a huge asset on any bass, it doesn't matter if you have a B string or not. The single pickup Precision with a passive tone control has a nice range of tones, I don't deny that. It would have a broader tonal range with a preamp/EQ though. Commonly preamps and passive tone controls are mutually exclusive on basses (in my price range anyway) but it doesn't have to be that way and some preamp skeptics might be "converted" if basses were commonly built with both. That way you could set the preamp flat and get the passive tone that you know and love, or dial it into new territory with the EQ.

Ken