Whats more important - Preamp or Pickup?

-MattMacLennan · #1 05-31-2009, 08:18 AM

Hey all , Im looking for an improvement in tone in my Brice Z6, and i've been told with the right preamp you dont even need to change the pickups. Everything on the bass as of now is stock. I was wondering if i bought a preamp, what are the sence of buying new pickups? thanks!

fullrangebass · #2 05-31-2009, 08:56 AM

IMHO if you like the tone of the bass but you need more flexibility, change the preamp. If you don't like the tone of the bass, change the pickups

My .02

**line6man** · #3 05-31-2009, 09:07 AM

It was my understanding that a preamp should not affect the tone, only shape it.

If you want tonal changes, change the pickups.
If you want versatility, change the preamp.

I am almost laughing at loud though at the thought of putting a nice preamp with crappy pickups.
Why would anyone want to put a better preamp on a bass but not change the cheap pickups first??

CrashClint · #4 05-31-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

It was my understanding that a preamp should not affect the tone, only shape it.

If you want tonal changes, change the pickups.
If you want versatility, change the preamp.

I am almost laughing at loud though at the thought of putting a nice preamp with crappy pickups.
Why would anyone want to put a better preamp on a bass but not change the cheap pickups first??

+1

71jazzbass · #5 05-31-2009, 11:58 AM

the sound amplification begins at the pickup. If it starts out lacking (tone), it will end the same way no matter what pre-amp you use. the pre-amp will simply give highlights to what you begin with.

PaulMacCnj · #6 05-31-2009, 12:06 PM

Tone shaping can do a lot. For example, a preamp with midrange control adds a lot of versatility. But, I also agree that you should like the tone of the pickups at least somewhat.

seanm · #7 05-31-2009, 12:17 PM

I assume that the Brice has passive pickups. If you can solder at all, try temporarily wiring the pickups straight to the output jack. If you like the sound of the pickups this way, replace the preamp.

If you don't like the sound of the pickups, replace the pickups!

WARNING: You may end up replacing both

GAS is a terrible thing.

Good to have move MacLennan's on TB

GBassNorth · #8 05-31-2009, 12:22 PM

You'll probably eventually end up changing both. But my advice would be to spec out the pickups and preamp you want then buy whichever is cheaper. Install it and if it meets your needs your set, if not, save a little longer and by the other half of the conversion.
I went this route with an American Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe 5 string Ash. Didn't like the sound so I put Bart pickups in for about $150, that improved things a lot (probably got me 70%of the way there). Then I decided the stock preamp was not flexible enough so I put a John East preamp in, that really opened the flexibility of the bass up and gave me active and passive options. Then I decided to try new strings and went with LaBella Tape wounds, that took the bass to a whole different level of great - thump and dark with tons of punch. The string change got me wondering if I really needed to make the preamp/pickup change in the first place. If I had it all to do over again and had a very limited budget I'd start with strings, then the pickups then hit the preamp if needed.
Good luck.

-MattMacLennan · #9 05-31-2009, 12:47 PM

Thanks for the response guys! Ill take a closer look at Pickups now then i will for a Preamp, although i probably will get the whole package.

TB'ers are very friendly, Intelligent people!

Oric · #10 05-31-2009, 12:59 PM

for me, strings, scale length and the pickups are the most important factors in tone on a bass. Try a different kind of string first, if that doesn't make it better, then go for pickups. Don't necessarily have to be expensive.

-MattMacLennan · #11 06-01-2009, 01:07 PM

Thats also true. these pickups are stock , &havent necessarily been rated as the best sounding stocks . Im looking at some Nordstrands now. On this topic actually, What am i limited to in terms of pickups? can i replace the two stock soaps with anything i want?

Here is a link to the bass.

http://www.rondomusic.com/z6red.html

seanm · #12 06-01-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -MattMacLennan

Thats also true. these pickups are stock , &havent necessarily been rated as the best sounding stocks . Im looking at some Nordstrands now. On this topic actually, What am i limited to in terms of pickups? can i replace the two stock soaps with anything i want?

Here is a link to the bass.

http://www.rondomusic.com/z6red.html

Anything that will fit in the pickup cavity. If you are willing to route out the cavity, you can use anything you want

3506string · #13 06-03-2009, 01:56 AM

The Z6 pickups are a little smaller than the EMG45 shape so you will probably have to route the cavity with any pickup change. Also you have to make sure the pickup will cover a 95mm total string spacing if using bar or 19mm string to string at the bridge if using poles. You might be able to get away with 18mm string to string as but I would measure over the bridge and neck pickups and compare it to the pole positions to be sure.