Your dream PJ and Preamp config...

GBassNorth · #1 03-02-2013, 09:20 AM

I'm considering replacing the PJ pickups and preamp in one of my basses. Not really looking for passive options at this time.

If money was of no concern what PJ pickup and preamp combination would you select?

It will be going into a 4 string alder body with maple/rosewood neckthru construction. I don't slap or use pics so it will get finger style playing only and be played mostly in a classic and hard rock setting with some alternate, grunge and maybe a little jazz thru an SVT-VR/610Berg rig or a GK 210 combo for smaller venues.

So hit me with your best shot.

Pitter_Patterns · #2 03-02-2013, 09:58 AM

I was considering buying a new bass to replace my old 24 fret Ibanez PJ, but decided I would try replacing the pickups and preamp first. I installed a Nordstrand npj4sv set and Nordstrand 3B-5b preamp in the bass and it completely came to life! I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this pickup and preamp combination. It sounds so amazing that I usually just keep it in passive mode and play around with the balance and tone knob. When I do need some tonal sculpting, the preamp is very open, natural, transparent, versatile and responsive. I have been getting endless compliments from my band mates and sound persons. So, my vote would go to the Nordie npj4sv set, and 3B-5b preamp. All the best in your research and decision!

GBassNorth · #3 03-02-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitter_Patterns

I was considering buying a new bass to replace my old 24 fret Ibanez PJ, but decided I would try replacing the pickups and preamp first. I installed a Nordstrand npj4sv set and Nordstrand 3B-5b preamp in the bass and it completely came to life! I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this pickup and preamp combination. It sounds so amazing that I usually just keep it in passive mode and play around with the balance and tone knob. When I do need some tonal sculpting, the preamp is very open, natural, transparent, versatile and responsive. I have been getting endless compliments from my band mates and sound persons. So, my vote would go to the Nordie npj4sv set, and 3B-5b preamp. All the best in your research and decision!

I've heard a lot of good about the Nordie pickups but haven't heard much about their preamps. I'll have to look into them.

smeet · #4 03-02-2013, 10:13 AM

+1
The Nordstrand preamp is my favorite, and I've owned a lot of preamps.

GBassNorth · #5 03-02-2013, 11:09 AM

So far it's looking like Nordstrands are the set up of choice.

Any other suggestions out there? Be creative, help me spend my money

The Sailor · #6 03-02-2013, 11:14 AM

Personally, I would go with an EMG pj set and an Aguilar OBP-3. Just my two cents.

4Mal · #7 03-02-2013, 11:29 AM

Pretty much already have it...

Vintage Vibe spilt P using Alnico 3 magnets coil tapped at -5% and +5%. The tap sit's on a pull pot. Pull up for a little less vol from the split P and slightly brighter tone. Warmer, still punchy and articulate when down.

Vintage Vibe Side by Side coils J. Humbucking but still sounds like a J.

Preamp wise... On the floor. I want the options of vintage, passive and also active so active on the floor works best for me. The one thing I miss is the active buffered blend... If I could get that with absolutely nothing else and still retain ALL the passive tone characteristics, I'd be real interested...

If I were going active, it would be with Audere. Dave's voicing and clarity work for me. I have had several of his preamps installed and liked them all. Currently I have the 4 band classic installed in an 80's Guild Pilot 5 fretless. Very nice. I don't miss the Z-mode, would like a passive tone option though.

I get the active on board electronics thing. For that I have a 44-01 which blows me away for how good it is for such little money... So my Fender remains passive and a Radial bassbone or Zoom B3 give me some options ...

GBassNorth · #8 03-02-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sailor

Personally, I would go with an EMG pj set and an Aguilar OBP-3. Just my two cents.

LOL - that's exactly where I was at when I posted this thread. My bass currently has EMGs and I had planned on dropping an OBP-3 in it but before I pulled the trigger I thought why not ask the TB community for their ideas first. I really like the EMGs just not the stock preamp. I have an OBP-3 in one of my other EMG equipped basses and love the combination.
So far this is the low cost option and may be the best bang for the buck.

GBassNorth · #9 03-02-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Pretty much already have it...

Vintage Vibe spilt P using Alnico 3 magnets coil tapped at -5% and +5%. The tap sit's on a pull pot. Pull up for a little less vol from the split P and slightly brighter tone. Warmer, still punchy and articulate when down.

Vintage Vibe Side by Side coils J. Humbucking but still sounds like a J.

Preamp wise... On the floor. I want the options of vintage, passive and also active so active on the floor works best for me. The one thing I miss is the active buffered blend... If I could get that with absolutely nothing else and still retain ALL the passive tone characteristics, I'd be real interested...

If I were going active, it would be with Audere. Dave's voicing and clarity work for me. I have had several of his preamps installed and liked them all. Currently I have the 4 band classic installed in an 80's Guild Pilot 5 fretless. Very nice. I don't miss the Z-mode, would like a passive tone option though.

I get the active on board electronics thing. For that I have a 44-01 which blows me away for how good it is for such little money... So my Fender remains passive and a Radial bassbone or Zoom B3 give me some options ...

I'm with you on the Audere. I have one of those in my P/MM bass and it sounds great.

GBassNorth · #10 03-02-2013, 01:32 PM

Still taking suggestions, keep em coming!

How about an Alembic set up, with their matched P/J set and preamp. It will run about a $1000

but I bet it does sound good.

Or maybe a setup like Warwick uses with MECs.

Feel free to be creative.

4Mal · #11 03-02-2013, 06:24 PM

To me it's not so much creative as it is convergence. For most of us there is a fairly narrow window of acceptability when it comes the 'body'. Too much and we drown other instruments out, too little and we sound like clank ... again For most of us the differences are very much a matter of nuance. Hence the popularity of Fender and Fender derivative basses, IMO. So the question is, how do we all find that middle ground and our flavor of nuance on top... Convergence.

In many of the settings I play in, roots rock and country, a little R&B of the Duck Dunn variety. Nothing beats a passive Fender, tube amp and a couple of 15's... For other settings, under acoustic instruments, nothing magnetic sems to fit. So I'm almost exclusively piezo there. In my vocal oriented pop band, the 44-01 get's me to the in between'ville I call convergence.

The one thing I miss with my passive PJ setup is that active blend... I Suppose I should pick up the phone and call Dave Meadows and ask for it...

SGD Lutherie · #12 03-02-2013, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

The one thing I miss is the active buffered blend... If I could get that with absolutely nothing else and still retain ALL the passive tone characteristics, I'd be real interested...

...I don't miss the Z-mode,

That's what the Z mode is for. It loads the pickups as if it was a passive bass.