suggestion on preamps for dual EMG DCs w 3 controls

[BoomBoomOGTL]

I recently picked up a ESP/LTD 404 which I've found a very nice carved top les paul style bass. It plays well and I really like it and wan't to work it into my gig rotation.

It has stock EMG DC35s with a passive pre. I assume the 9V powers the pups but there are no components on the PCB on the pot, just soldered connections to the traces. This bass sounds a little lifeless compared to my Spectors, Warwicks and Alembic (reeeeeeeally, that’s a shocker, huh?)

Soooo, I’m thinking a decent preamp could wake this bass up. There are 3 pots currently (V, pan, tone) so I’d like at least V, pan, and a stacked B/T control. Or possibly go full Monty and go with a stacked V/pan, stacked high mid/low mod and stacked B/T. There’s plenty of room in the cavity.

So what would be a good preamp to install? It seems I don’t have enough holes in the base for a Augilar OB3… OB2 then? EMG BTC? But if so I don’t get a mid control (which should'nt be a big deal since none of my other basses have one). Some of the pres I’m looking at don’t show or include a volume or pan pot so do I assume those are passive as I currently have and use those? In those instances, I’d only be swapping my passive tone for an active stacked control, right?

I’m very good w/soldering/electronics although have never installed a preamp in a bass.

Also, do standard concentric knobs fit the pots that come with the pres from EMG, Auiglar as I’d like to keep my smoked nickel hardware.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[grendle]

Stick a Spector 3 knob usa18v pre in there, or a tone pump wired for a single master vol. Wanted to pick up an esp hog body just for that. Willing to bet that might sound great with the Spector guts but different woods.....