What pickups/preamp to 'phatten' up my Warwick Thumb Bolt-on 5 LTD 2003?

wezpost · #1 12-23-2010, 11:13 PM

So i have a 5 string Warwick "Bleached Blonde" Thumb Bolt-on LTD 2003 and I really adore the bass. It's quite a stunner looks wise and is sentimental to me too so I'm not keen to sell it.

However all that maple is just so damn bright (swamp ash body, maple top, maple neck, maple fingerboard) and it really lacks phat'ness is the low end/low mids - really bright and poppy - but just no low guts. And I reckon the stock MEC Gold pickups/preamp (2 band) aren't doing much for the cause.

So can anyone suggest some pickup/preamp set ups for me to get some bottom end back into the bass. Aguilar OPB-2's seem a popular pre-amp in the forums. As do Bartolini pickups...
Any suggestions or experience with this stuff in Warwicks (esp. with maple)?

darkstorm · #2 12-24-2010, 12:15 AM

Thats why I allways come back to mahogany and similair woods for bodies and rosewood or ebony for fretboards. And insist on either soapbar or P pups for myself. Anyway Dimarzio or EMG pups would be my choice for darkening up the sound of your bass without sacrificing any detail, articulation and growl etc.

If you can find them, Rockfield J pups are also very very good for darker J voice.

tubby.twins · #3 12-24-2010, 03:03 AM

You might consider a pair of Lace Aluma-J bass bars. I've been testing one of these and it's got a great low-mid response.

Tyand · #4 12-24-2010, 04:21 AM

Hi,

I'm playing a maple warwick too. (SS1) And know what you're talking about. I like a highs of this bass, but with new steel strings on it its just too much.

As i were you, I wouldn't change preamp nor pickups. I disengage the preamp of my SS1 and put a aguilar tone hammer behind it. With new steel strings it's still to much, but the high roll of the aguilar(just a touch) is just amazing. My bass becomes so warm... Year ago I bought the aguilar and sold it after a few recordings. Last month i listened to the recordungs again and bought the aguilar again. Go to a store, take your bass and use it with a clean amp.(i use markbass)

Happy Chrismas
Daniel

wezpost · #5 04-25-2011, 08:35 PM

Just thought i'd post to say that I ended up putting an Aguilar OBP3 preamp and a pair Bartolini classic bass pickups (59 CBJD L/LN1) in my bass. And boy does she sing now! SO much phatter. Just what I was after. Sounds so good when you roll off the 400 low mids a bit and boost the bass a touch. Thanks for everyone's help.
(got em from bestbassgear.com - they were super helpful)

eastcoasteddie · #6 04-26-2011, 06:45 PM

This is only MY opinion, but I'd rather go with a Bart preamp over the OBP. The Bart's have a tendency to growl a lot more, which is why I like them. The OBP-3 sounds way to clean for my tastes. I've tried both BArt 2 and 3 band pre-s, and although having the mid cut/boost and frequency range is nice, I still like the 2-band better because it's so straightforward