Villex pickups preamp suggestions

chrapladm · #1 05-21-2009, 10:35 AM

I am going to be buying some Villex P/J style pickups for my 6 string bass. They will be in the shape of soapbars. Anyways I am going for the Victor Wootenish jazz vibe style as far as "tone/sound." I was wondering which preamp should I use with these pickups? I was told I should go with maybe an EMG preamp.....But which one and will any others out the do the trick? EMG, EAST, AUDERE, DEMETER, AGUILAR? I would keep asking the person who gave me the helpful suggestion to "use the EMG's," these questions but I feel he has done enough and I shouldn't burden him with a million questions from myself.(I did that once to KJUNG and I think he got sick of me) So anyone out there with the knowledge please help.(or Jauqo III-X if your not busy)

fullrangebass · #2 05-21-2009, 11:04 AM

IMHO and IME you can achieve the "Victor Wootenish jazz vibe style tone/sound" by using the mid-control that comes with the pickups. I own few basses loaded with Villex pickups (that carry preamps) and I can say that the preamps have hardly see any action.

However, if I were pressed hard to use a preamp, it all depends how far you want to go with preamp-tone-shaping of the Villex "palette of tones" (and in what direction. I find EMG preamps a little "cold" and "extreme" for my taste, wheres a filter based pre would involved a learning curve to achieve certain tones. Demeter, Aguilar and Glockenklang sound more "musical" to my ear. Then again, tone is VERY subjective

chrapladm · #3 05-21-2009, 04:58 PM

I have heard good and bad things about the Demeter Most people like the Agy and I haven't seen any reviews yet on the Glock.(I just havent searched in archives yet) I like the fact I could probably get the tone with nothing but the Villex. I would like to be able to alter the sounds alittle though. It doesn't have to extreme changes. Just enough to dial in more "slap tone," or "finger style tone," or "dub sound," when needed. If you think any of these preamps would work then tell which do you feel would do the job. Preamp brand or no preamp?

chrapladm · #4 05-21-2009, 05:38 PM

Oh and secondly I am using a Demeter preamp(HBP-1) also. I was thinking about the EAST onboard preamp also but not sure which to get

ModulusMK · #5 05-21-2009, 05:53 PM

If you want something more transparent I would suggest you Aguilar OBP-3 or Bartolini NTMB. They both have a good separation of channels and have big range of boost/cut. Both are "eating" the battery very slowly, especially Bartolini. With everyday usage of approx 2-3 hours it will last at least 6 months.
On my basses I have Bartolini and Aguilar and I'm extremely satisfied with both. Aguilar sounds a little more "modern". Both are 3 channel preamps which gives you enough frequencies to modify. On www.bestbassgear.com you have the preamps and can take a look at them and the specifications of each.

For Wooten's sound I think it would better be Bartolini. Of course the first thing to keep in mind is the pups. I think he uses EMG.

chrapladm · #6 05-22-2009, 09:03 AM

Well after thoughtless hours of reading I am going to be buying the ACG preamp. I have not been able to get ahold of Villex to make the pickups yet. It has been awhile so I will just keep annoying him till he returns my emails. But anyways when I get the Villex and the ACG preamp I will tell everyone what I think of them.

fullrangebass · #7 05-22-2009, 09:57 AM

I am more than surprised that you have not been able to get ahold of Mr Villex. He always replies very fast (email is the best way IME, so he has something in writing of your request to reply to). I have not heard from him since Monday (I have a Villex set made for one of my fretless basses) but I am sure he will get back to me ASAP (as always). Are you sure Mr Villex has received your emails?

ACG is a very wise pre-amp choice (involves a learning curve too, but nothing too difficult)

chrapladm · #8 05-22-2009, 07:34 PM

Yes I have spoken to Mr. Villex a few times and on my last email regarding how much will the pickups cost I have not heard back from him. I was trying to see how long they will take to be made and how much but it has been about 10 days so I am still waiting. I sent him another email 5 days ago just to see if the other got lost and he has not responded since either.
I normally get a quick email back from him. So I am waiting patiently for his response back.