A wee bit of p-bass pup help please

pedrodelawasp · #1 08-04-2011, 07:33 AM

I've got an EMG p-bass pickup in my parts bass at the moment. I want to change for a passive pup as I use quite a lot of dirt pedals that work far better with the passive pickups in my geddy jazz and ibanez semi w/ HB. I undertsand this is a common problem (thank you, search function).

I've looked at Seymour Duncan QPs, Fender USA and Kent Armstrong (as a potential budget buy) and have read a fair bit about these. Thing is, they don't seem to come with pots like the EMG did so, my question is: can I use the EMG pots with the battery clip removed? The tone is cut only, so I imagine the pot is pretty standard, with the battery serving to power the pups themselves? Would I be better advised to go for some new pots from somewhere like WD or allparts?

SGD Lutherie · #2 08-04-2011, 07:37 AM

No, you can't use the EMG pots. They are 25k, which is too low for a passive pickup.

You need 250k pots. You can find them at many places. You will need a different value tone cap as well.

I've never had a problem using distortion with active pickups. They just tend to be a little brighter, so you need to adjust the tone control on the pedal.

pbd · #3 08-04-2011, 07:38 AM

^^^ I second that motion

Phendyr_Loon · #4 08-04-2011, 07:44 AM

I would replace the EMG pots with 500k pots. The 'Bay, StewMac, Allparts, Basspartsresource, are all good places to get what you need.
A few of these sites even sell standard wiring kits for basses and guitars like SGs, LPs, P bass, J bass, Strat, Tele, PRS, etc. These kits include wire, pots, cap, jack and diagram. I've used the StewMac P bass kit in the past, works great.

pedrodelawasp · #5 08-04-2011, 07:56 AM

Thanks folks. I wasn't sure of the EMG pot value.

gjbassist · #6 08-04-2011, 08:05 AM

Bass Parts Resource sells a complete P bass wiring kit for under $20.

pedrodelawasp · #7 08-04-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

I've never had a problem using distortion with active pickups. They just tend to be a little brighter, so you need to adjust the tone control on the pedal.

Doesn't really describe my problem. I'm losing volume and low end, plus somehow the original signal seems to be coming through on a weakly distorted noise bed (my dirts are a James LoMenzo hyperdrive, an EHX LBM, an Ibanez PD7 and a Marshall Guv'nor). I've tried cranking the pedals, increasing gain, boosting lows, all sorts. Those EMGs and my pedals just don't seem to like each other, and I'm NOT replacing the contents of my board, I'm afraid GAS would rear it's ugly head again!

SGD Lutherie · #8 08-05-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrodelawasp

Doesn't really describe my problem. I'm losing volume and low end, plus somehow the original signal seems to be coming through on a weakly distorted noise bed (my dirts are a James LoMenzo hyperdrive, an EHX LBM, an Ibanez PD7 and a Marshall Guv'nor). I've tried cranking the pedals, increasing gain, boosting lows, all sorts. Those EMGs and my pedals just don't seem to like each other, and I'm NOT replacing the contents of my board, I'm afraid GAS would rear it's ugly head again!

I never heard of anything like that happening. Active pickups are just like any other active device. If a pedal didn't like active pickups, it also wouldn't work with another pedal, but that's never a problem. You can plug one pedal into another, and people do it all the time.

But some people don't like active pickups with pedals because of the tone.

How does the bass sound directly into the amp? Have you checked the battery lately?

pedrodelawasp · #9 08-07-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

I never heard of anything like that happening. Active pickups are just like any other active device. If a pedal didn't like active pickups, it also wouldn't work with another pedal, but that's never a problem. You can plug one pedal into another, and people do it all the time.

But some people don't like active pickups with pedals because of the tone.

How does the bass sound directly into the amp? Have you checked the battery lately?

have found a few things on TB where others have said their active pups don't work so well with distortions - i really don't know why that would be the case. the battery is new, sounds fine direct in to the amp. Gigged the bass last night with passive pups, quite happy with that. Some EMGs to rehome, I think

SGD Lutherie · #10 08-07-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrodelawasp

have found a few things on TB where others have said their active pups don't work so well with distortions - i really don't know why that would be the case.

The reason is either that the active bass is too hot, or that the resonant peak is too high. Some distortions like a weaker/darker tone.