Pope Flexcore preamp

[stix_clgi]

Originally Posted by JonKim

Hello! I have an 1988 Warwick streamer. Cherry body wenge neck. Original emg p/j with MEC 2 band.
My question is: will I see a much improvement over what I have now with the flexcore pre? $300 improvement?
I love the way my bass feels and sounds now. I usually play it with bass slightly boosted (2 notches from mid)
I don't touch the treble at all unless I need to slap a bit. But even then I like it flat.
I love the mid range growl of warwicks and I'm thinking a 3 or 4 band pre would help enhance those growl?
Don't get me wrong I love the bass as it is now but if it can dramatically change it for the better, it's a $300 step I'm willing to take.
I'm also looking into the alnico emg x pickups to give it a more old school funk growl!

Hey JonKim,

My personal opinion is that the Pope would enhance the tone that's already there. Tone is such a subjective thing though. The Pope pre definitely has more boost in the mids section than some of the other pre's I've played, and those mids (or lack thereof) are crucial to anyone's tone. Having control over the low and high mids would definitely enhance the tone IMO.

When I put the Pope in my Cirrus I was actually looking for more low end boost, but I didn't want to take away from the character the Cirrus is known for. The Pope met my basic requirement, while giving me extra flexibility in the mids. It always sounds like a Cirrus to me, just with added thump if I want, or more aggressiveness if I want. I think that's what will happen with a Pope in the Warwick.

Still in other news, my mid switch is still being delayed by that hurricane.......

[GYang]

Originally Posted by JonKim

Hello! I have an 1988 Warwick streamer. Cherry body wenge neck. Original emg p/j with MEC 2 band.
My question is: will I see a much improvement over what I have now with the flexcore pre? $300 improvement?
I love the way my bass feels and sounds now. I usually play it with bass slightly boosted (2 notches from mid)
I don't touch the treble at all unless I need to slap a bit. But even then I like it flat.
I love the mid range growl of warwicks and I'm thinking a 3 or 4 band pre would help enhance those growl?
Don't get me wrong I love the bass as it is now but if it can dramatically change it for the better, it's a $300 step I'm willing to take.
I'm also looking into the alnico emg x pickups to give it a more old school funk growl!

I have my first Pope pre installed in Warwick Stryker with DiMarzio P pickups and have Delano PJ + Delano pre in Streamer S1.
Can't say that any of these pres are 'better' over each other, but they both opened Warwick sound I had before (obviously Stryker is different than Streamer). Is it 300$ difference? Very subjective question.
I think that Pope might have slight edge over other pres what is justified by higher price, but I wouldn't consider necessary to 'upgrade' Delano or Bartolini preamps.

[Modulus1906]

Does the passive tone control on the Flexcore work in active mode as well as passive or just in passive? Thanks

[thepontif]

Originally Posted by Modulus1906

Does the passive tone control on the Flexcore work in active mode as well as passive or just in passive? Thanks

Active and passive

[Modulus1906]

Originally Posted by thepontif

Active and passive

Cool, thank you

[MichaelSmalley]

Hey all-
just ordered 2stk.2stk flexcore and a set of nordstrands for my Jazz bass. What kind of knobs do I need for the stacked pots?

The single pots are the 6mm set screw kind.

Are the stacked ones 8mm set screw with 6mm on top?

thanks
Mike

[shwashwa]

hey guys, i just bought a bass 2nd hand that has a pope preamp installed and im experience some strange behavior and i was wondering if anyone else has experienced this or has an idea what it might be. i got confirmation of this problem by another set of ears too, not just mine. basically, in either active or passive mode, with the master volume maxxed, the passive tone control does nothing. when you back off the volume, even just a hair, and dont change anything else, then the passive tone control starts to work and it makes a noticeable difference in the sound. so basically the passive tone control doesnt work with the volume up and starts to work when you back off on the volume in both active and passive modes. the neck pickup currently isnt hooked up (it will be getting hooked up) and the pickups are emg

[smeet]

It sounds like everybody likes the flexcore, but I'm not getting a clear idea of exactly what it sounds like. I've used pres by: Bartolini, Aguilar, East, EMG, Fender, Carvin (SB5000), Peavey (Millenium), Audere, and Nordstrand. So far I've liked the Nordstrand the best, for its natural and musical sound.

Does anybody have experience with the Nordstrand and Flexcore? I'd love to hear some comparisons. I know it's subjective, please let me know your opinions.

[shwashwa]

bump for my above question

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by stix_clgi

I know you've posted about putting the Cirrus pups in other basses, and I think that sounds awesome! Personally when I get my custom I plan on going with the pups that give that company's products it's "sound" (i.e. Brubaker, Ken Smith, etc...).

I didn't see this before. In the case of Brubakers I think what gives the basses their sound are the basses themself. Bartolini does a great job of transmitting that without getting in the way. So you have a wide tonal pallette available based on core wood choices.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by smeet

It sounds like everybody likes the flexcore, but I'm not getting a clear idea of exactly what it sounds like.

It sounds like the bass. It's a clean transparent preamp. The only reason a preamp would its own sound is because it always have some kind of EQ curve going on. Some are made like that. The other factor is where the center frequencies are for the tone controls.

[phishaholik]

I'm switching my pickups from active EMG's to passive pickups. Once I flip the jumper for passive pickups, will I get more headroom with the preamp?

My logic is, if the pickups are active, then one 9 volt is probably powering the pickups and the preamp is running on the other battery. If the pickups are passive, then the preamp would run on 18 volts.


Am I anywhere close?


Michael

[aban]

You guys seem to have a lot of experience with the Flexcore ....
I want to install one in my MTD Artist (import) .....my question is.... will it fit ? does any one know if the Artist MM (music man style) Pickup design is active or passive. I'm hoping to use the MTD MM w the flexcore. Just need a little guidance before I lay down my $300.

BTW Does BestBassGear give a Discount to Talkbass members
Aban

[stix_clgi]

Originally Posted by smeet

It sounds like everybody likes the flexcore, but I'm not getting a clear idea of exactly what it sounds like. I've used pres by: Bartolini, Aguilar, East, EMG, Fender, Carvin (SB5000), Peavey (Millenium), Audere, and Nordstrand. So far I've liked the Nordstrand the best, for its natural and musical sound.

Does anybody have experience with the Nordstrand and Flexcore? I'd love to hear some comparisons. I know it's subjective, please let me know your opinions.

I don't have any experience with the Nordy pre other than youtube clips. However, to me the Pope pre builds on what your bass/pickups sound like. My Peavey Cirrus still sounds like a Cirrus, only with added control in the hi/lo mids. I guess I'm trying to say the Pope is transparent, but can be very musical. I've played all of the preamps you have minus the Carvin and Nordy, but the Pope is by far my favorite.

I hope this helps a little bit

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I didn't see this before. In the case of Brubakers I think what gives the basses their sound are the basses themself. Bartolini does a great job of transmitting that without getting in the way. So you have a wide tonal pallette available based on core wood choices.

Thanks for the advice Brad. I've been communicating with Kevin about commissioning a bass from him. They are pretty expensive and I need to save more before I commit, but everything I've asked for he is able to do, which makes me super excited! IceBass will be here soon lol....

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

It sounds like the bass. It's a clean transparent preamp. The only reason a preamp would its own sound is because it always have some kind of EQ curve going on. Some are made like that. The other factor is where the center frequencies are for the tone controls.

+1. The only difference I noted in my Cirrus was when I had the bypass switch installed, which completely turns off the preamp. The Cirrus pups by themselves have a surprisingly scooped sound....not super scooped, but enough to be noticeable. They were still very aggressive sounding. I took the bypass switch out though because I just wasn't using it, and it didn't save me any battery (pups are active). I have a hi-mid freq switch installed now. I want a lo-mid freq switch, but I'm scared to drill a hole in my Cirrus

Originally Posted by aban

You guys seem to have a lot of experience with the Flexcore ....
I want to install one in my MTD Artist (import) .....my question is.... will it fit ? does any one know if the Artist MM (music man style) Pickup design is active or passive. I'm hoping to use the MTD MM w the flexcore. Just need a little guidance before I lay down my $300.

BTW Does BestBassGear give a Discount to Talkbass members
Aban

You may want to email Mike from Michael Pope Design. He might be able to help you with the fit. I can tell you the preamp is mostly modular, as all of the pots are connected to some type of PCB, which are in turn connected by cables. I put one in my Brice bass, which was a pretty tight fight. If your Artist is like THIS ONE though, I'm sure it will fit. IMO it doesn't take up any more space than a Bartonlini NTMB...

[stix_clgi]

Originally Posted by shwashwa

hey guys, i just bought a bass 2nd hand that has a pope preamp installed and im experience some strange behavior and i was wondering if anyone else has experienced this or has an idea what it might be. i got confirmation of this problem by another set of ears too, not just mine. basically, in either active or passive mode, with the master volume maxxed, the passive tone control does nothing. when you back off the volume, even just a hair, and dont change anything else, then the passive tone control starts to work and it makes a noticeable difference in the sound. so basically the passive tone control doesnt work with the volume up and starts to work when you back off on the volume in both active and passive modes. the neck pickup currently isnt hooked up (it will be getting hooked up) and the pickups are emg

I'm not sure, but Micheal Pope is extremely helpful and will give you a pretty quick answer if you email him. I know it took me a while to get used to the tone control because at first I didn't really hear a difference. But it's a subtle control.

How is the gain set on the preamp? Maybe you have it up too high Just an idea, I don't know much lol.

[shwashwa]

Originally Posted by stix_clgi

I'm not sure, but Micheal Pope is extremely helpful and will give you a pretty quick answer if you email him. I know it took me a while to get used to the tone control because at first I didn't really hear a difference. But it's a subtle control.

How is the gain set on the preamp? Maybe you have it up too high Just an idea, I don't know much lol.

thanks, emailed mike a few times already, still waiting. probably just busy

[maurilio]

In my experience the Pope pre is not very transparent. I love it in one of my basses, but it did darken another one I put it in. If you are looking for a very clean, no frills and very transparent pre, I prefer the Nordy (vs. the Pope).
Still, I very like the Pope for its versatility and "twickability" (is this even a word?)…

IMO/E etc…


M

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by maurilio

In my experience the Pope pre is not very transparent. I love it in one of my basses, but it did darken another one I put it in. If you are looking for a very clean, no frills and very transparent pre, I prefer the Nordy (vs. the Pope).
Still, I very like the Pope for its versatility and "twickability" (is this even a word?)…

IMO/E etc…


M

Wow. The Pope is the cleanest preamp I own. (Bartolini, East J-Retro, Sadowsky, Aguilar OBP-3, Fender)

[maurilio]

well, on my sadowsky metro 5-24 the pope pre was darker and a tiny thicker sounding in active mode (comparing passive/active modes).
Still I like it a lot for what I have in mind and too bad it needs too much depth to be installed in my basses (coming up) which are "only" 1.5" thick… I really like Mike's pre concept and flexibility… oh well..

M

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by maurilio

well, on my sadowsky metro 5-24 the pope pre was darker and a tiny thicker sounding in active mode (comparing passive/active modes).
Still I like it a lot for what I have in mind and too bad it needs too much depth to be installed in my basses (coming up) which are "only" 1.5" thick… I really like Mike's pre concept and flexibility… oh well..

M

I wouldn't put a Pope in my 5-24s - I like them just they way they are. Doug Parent came over today and rang them out. They sounded great.

On the other hand, I really dig the sound of the Pope in my UV70. Clean, clean, clean. Really versatile for sure. I also have a Pope in my 55-94. It cleaned up the dullish tone I was getting from the Bartolini. I dropped some Nordstrand dual- and quad-coil humbuckers in it, too.