toby upgrade, would u agree with this statement

[lil nelson]

i wanted to upgrade my old toby 5 string. the only pickups i could use were j style where the neck is slightly smaller than the bridge one. there was no room to open the routing of the pickups as i wanted to install MM style but the control cavity is huge and was on the edge of the original j pickup routing. So i replaced with active J pickups and preamp. It sounds alot better the low B string is nolonger muddy. I am very happy but the reason i wanted to upgrade was to equal the output of my other bass. It didn't! I have to turn up the amp when switching basses cause the Toby dosn't have the output of the Bongo. So would you agree with this statement......J bass pickups can never equal the out put of MM pickups, and i will always have to adjust volume when switching from my 4 to 5 string basses. I have to increase the volume on the amp 3 clicks to equal the volume level. Thanks guys any advice will be appriciated

[SGD Lutherie]

MM pickups don't have a lot of output, but they have a preamp.

Active J pickups, like EMGs are not very high output. But you can have higher output J pickups.

[lil nelson]

SGD which J pick up would you suggest? Im trying to get the Toby to equal the volume of a MM Bongo HH. Im trying out EMGX with the BQC preamp in it now.

If the MM pickups have a low out put, is it the preamp that i need to change in the Toby? Cause its the preamp in the MM that gives it such a larger output volume. Thanks any input is greatly appricated!

[lowendrv]

You may go thru alot of pre-amps to get a match. I would just go this route. It's alot easier and would work for sure.
Radial Tonebone - Using the Bassbone

[Lee H]

I have a couple of J basses with Dimarzio Ultra jazz pups. I am pretty happy with them. They are humbucking style, but the size and shape of standard Jazz pups

[DBCrocky]

Some Preamps, like Barts, have a small screw pot on them that turns their output up and down. What preamp did you use?

[lil nelson]

Originally Posted by lowendrv

You may go thru alot of pre-amps to get a match. I would just go this route. It's alot easier and would work for sure.
Radial Tonebone - Using the Bassbone

thats awesome man thanks. I never thought of it, looks like the perfect solution. thanks

[lil nelson]

Originally Posted by DBCrocky

Some Preamps, like Barts, have a small screw pot on them that turns their output up and down. What preamp did you use?

thanks for the input, im using EMG BQC preamp, not shure if it has a dial, but ill check.