Swapping out carvin Electronics

[BassoP]

I've got a couple old carvin LB76s (one fretted one fretless) with the stacked J pickups and 2 band eq on the active pre amps (early to mid 90s). They are good, but not great sounding basses, and I'm thinking about upgrading the guts of them. So, a series of questions.

1. What is the weakest link here? The pickups? The pre? If I were going to replace one or the other, which would make the most difference?

2. Does anybody make 6 string J pickups stock? I'd really rather not rout the basses, but I'm not having much luck finding 6 string J sets.

3. Anybody else upgraded basses like these? What did you use? Were you happy?

[MysticMichael]

I've got three Carvin LB70s. But they're four-strings, not six-strings. I know there are some manufacturers who make J-style pickups for six-strings, but offhand I couldn't tell you who they are.

Thus far, I've upgraded one LB70 (my 1992) with a set of active EMG Js. And it was a definite improvement. The other two are going to get Nordstrands - one with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp; the other with a Bartolini NTMB.

The pickups on your LB76s are the Carvin H50N. I know because they came stock on my 1992 LB70. And while I'm not impressed with those particular pickups, I think the early 90s Carvin two-band preamp sucked even more. So I'd suggest a preamp upgrade as the first step.

MM

[BassoP]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I've got three Carvin LB70s. But they're four-strings, not six-strings. I know there are some manufacturers who make J-style pickups for six-strings, but offhand I couldn't tell you who they are.

Thus far, I've upgraded one LB70 (my 1992) with a set of active EMG Js. And it was a definite improvement. The other two are going to get Nordstrands - one with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp; the other with a Bartolini NTMB.

The pickups on your LB76s are the Carvin H50N. I know because they came stock on my 1992 LB70. And while I'm not impressed with those particular pickups, I think the early 90s Carvin two-band preamp sucked even more. So I'd suggest a preamp upgrade as the first step.

MM

Cool. Thanks. I figured the pickup might be the place to go. I run both of my bases with both tone controls dimed, which to me is indicative of something in the pre sucking.

[shwashwa]

i'd say replace the pickups first. they definately are a weak link, as well as the preamp, but the pickup is the first step in the chain. you can have an awesome preamp preamping some pretty sucky input from the pickups and you still wont get a great sound. on the other hand, if your pickups are awesome, you could run the preamp flat and do alot of tone controling on the amp, until you get your preamp. i'm not 100%, but i think bartolini is the only company with a 6 string J pickup right now

[BassoP]

Originally Posted by shwashwa

i'd say replace the pickups first. they definately are a weak link, as well as the preamp, but the pickup is the first step in the chain. you can have an awesome preamp preamping some pretty sucky input from the pickups and you still wont get a great sound. on the other hand, if your pickups are awesome, you could run the preamp flat and do alot of tone controling on the amp, until you get your preamp. i'm not 100%, but i think bartolini is the only company with a 6 string J pickup right now

Thanks. I've not been wild about barts for the most part, but I'll keep them in mind. It looks like delano would make them, but I'm not sure if they are a stock item.

[62bass]

My Carvin has the single coil J99 pickups and they definitely don't lack for tone and a lot of variation depending on my blend control and it's a passive bass. The Carvins I've heard with the H50 pickups were a little more bland to me. I thought of swapping out the J99s when I first got the bass but decided not too as it sounds just fine as is.

So, I'd say both the a pickup swap and a completely different preamp would give you a radically different sound. Pickups first.

Some have used Bill Lawrence J45 pickups in your bass and been very pleased.

[chucko58]

I suggest a pair of Bill Lawrence J45L pickups and the preamp of your choice... or go passive for that matter.

The later Carvin preamps are a lot better.