What is it about MK-1 pre that everyone dislikes?

[prokfrog]

curious

[MyUsernameHere]

Its non-American!!!!!!!!! Its a foreign pre that's taking the job an American pre would do if given the opportunity!

I don't know. I actually think its a pretty good pre for the basses its in and the price-point they inhabit. In fact, I can't really think of a pre at its price-point that is appreciably better than it is.

[Kwesi]

Just got a Cort Elrick RB4 today and it has the MK-1 Pre and pickups. I freaking love the bass, the neck is to die for! But, the electronics and/or pickups aren't bad, rather they produce a very indistinct sound. The tone is very... i don't know ...flat? I think that would be a good description. It's not like you can't tell when you crank the bass or treble knobs or something but they all sound similar. For example, If you max the treble knob on a Jazz bass the sound is totally different, with the MK-1 it's not like that. Roll those knobs as much as you want, it'll still sound very... MK-1, lol. When i get a little cash i'll probably put in a Audere 3Z with Nordstrands or better Barts.

[Showdown]

I have a Lakland 44-01 that came with MK1 pickups and preamp. I thought it had very harsh highs and high mids. I changed the pickups for US Bart MKs and it sounds pretty good now. The preamp when used with good pickups sounds good. I'm not going to change it. There are better preamps out there, but the MK1 is perfectly acceptable IMO.

[kevinmoore73]

So which option would you pick if you were to do so:

1) Replace MK-1 pickups. (With US MK pickups)
2) Replace MK-1 preamp. (Say with an NTMB)
3) Replace both.

[Ach]

I think mk1 pre is a bit harsh because from not enough headroom.
I have replaced mk1 pups and pre on my IBZ SR505. Now it sounds not so harsh.

I found one thing about mk1 puups and pre -- it's ""tuned" to sound well in guitar shop, but they get lost in real mix.

Also i believe mk1 on 4stringers are the same as for 5stringers (mk1 actually are split P inside a soapbar), i heard a lot of bad things about D string on a 4 stringers with mk1 pups (thats beacause D string is located between rails)

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

So which option would you pick if you were to do so:

1) Replace MK-1 pickups. (With US MK pickups)
2) Replace MK-1 preamp. (Say with an NTMB)
3) Replace both.

In my case I replaced the pickups with MK and I'm happy with it. I'm sure it would sound even better with an NTMB too, but it sounds good this way.

I just don't like the pickups, too harsh in the highs and high mids for me. The preamp is fine, could be better, but fine. I personally don't see any reason to just change the preamp and not the pickups, but of course YMMV. Some people like the pickups. They are too aggressive and harsh for me. They would probably be great for metal though, so I guess it would depend on what kind of music you play.

[A9X]

Originally Posted by prokfrog

curious

It's junk. Sounds goddam awful.

[kevinmoore73]

Originally Posted by Showdown

I guess it would depend on what kind of music you play.

Jazz, mostly.

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

Jazz, mostly.

Personally I would change the pickups for jazz, the MK1s are too aggressive sounding for that, IMO. But of course that is subjective and others may feel differently.

[kevinmoore73]

I decided to go the "replace both" route. The project has been taking a lot longer than I expected.

The US-made MK pickups use three mounting holes instead of the two that the MK-1 pickups have. In addition to that, the hole on the side that has one hole is closer to the center of the bass on the MK than on the MK-1. That meant filling the holes with wood repair epoxy and re-drilling. So if you go this route, you're not using any existing holes in your bass.

The pickups have other differences as well. The MK-1 pickups feel and look like they're made of plastic, while the MK pickups seem to be ceramic. The MK-1 pickups in my bass had only two conductors: ground and signal. The MK pickups have four, plus a shield wire. I like that configuration, as I'm installing switches in the control cavity of my bass that will let me pick between series hum-bucking, single coil, and parallel hum-bucking.

The shaft sizes on the NTMB preamp are different than those on the MK-1, well for some of the pots at least. The shaft for the midrange pot is significantly larger than the MK-1 shafts, and larger than the rest of the NTMB shafts. I had to enlarge the hole for that one to get it to fit. The shaft for the volume pot looks smaller than the rest (I haven't measured) but that won't be a problem. The ends are split-shaft on the NTMB instead of solid like the MK-1, but they are the same diameter. It seems that I'll be able to use my stock 55-01 knobs without trouble.

The wiring on the NTMB preamp is very stingy. I had to replace the hot/tip wire that runs from the input jack to the volume pot because the one that came with the NTMB was only about three inches long. Some of the solder joints were shoddy as well, as two of them broke free with only a small amount of movement while trying to fit everything in the control cavity on my bass.

I will post pictures and clips when the project is complete. I'm hoping to finish it some time this weekend. The wood repair epoxy is currently enjoying a second day of drying. Once that's done I'll finish the copper foil lining in the pickup route and wire it up.

[Carias]

Replace both!! Mk1s suck!!
Best,

[Eric Perry]

I actually like the MK1 pickups. I think the pre is absolute poo, however.