• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Should I replace MEC with Duncan?

W

Weasel

Feb 18, 2003
77
30
44
Tampere, Finland
www.myspace.com
#1
I have a slight problem with my Warwick FNA, its sound is too "good" for rock. It handles jazz, funk, soul, pop etc. really well but doesnt go well with distorted guitars.

The sound should be more "ugly" and crunchy. So, do you have any experience with Seymour Duncan SMB-4 pickups? Do you think it would make the trick?

Thank you!
 
#2
FWIW:

I did a review on SMB-4d (I think it was) under Dimento's MM experiment. I haven't had their Alnico version. I have concluded that I prefer Alnico 5 mag's in an MM pup. I have a Carvin, a Nord, and had a original Sterling all of which are Alnico and the tone is not as clear - more raw, warmer, and more to my liking. The Nord is new condition and for sale for $82 shipped to 48 contiguous states. There's a review on it as well. It sounds very close to an original MM.
 
#5
try a distortion pedal with just the lightest amount of noise added, will fuzzy up y our signal a bit, and dump some more mids in your sound.

i used a very "bright" sounding bass, and with the right tweaking, can get it VERY deep sounding, and bring it right back to a nice crisp sound for a solo spot.
 
#10
I've owned 6 Warwicks and the only ones that had a "growl" to them were my Thumb Bolt-Ons. I had a 5-string and I have a 6-string now.

The Streamers seem to have a pretty smooth, round tone and the Corvettes seem to have a pretty smooth jazz tone. I have had MECs and EMGs in these basses, and either way, it seems to be the body shape of the Thumb that give it its trademark sound.

Sound clips of my 1994 Thumb 5 Bolt-On with stock MEC Js and the stock 2-band pre. Wenge neck, wenge fretboard, ovankol body: Link Removed

Pardon the playing. :)
 
#11
Sonorous said:
Hmm. I've always believed warmer and deeper were opposites of growl...
Click to expand...

Maybe we have a language problem? I have to translate everything from finnish to english and phrases arent same in every language you know?

Well, I try to explain...

MEC was growling like a grizzle or a big dog but Duncan´s growl is more like a lions, much deeper and warmer like I said ;D
 
#12
Weasel said:
I have a slight problem with my Warwick FNA, its sound is too "good" for rock. It handles jazz, funk, soul, pop etc. really well but doesnt go well with distorted guitars.

The sound should be more "ugly" and crunchy. So, do you have any experience with Seymour Duncan SMB-4 pickups? Do you think it would make the trick?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Nope, MECs are the best for pure rock and distorted guitars. Seymour Duncans, in my limited experience, are have less growl and more gain. Instead of changing your pickups, I'd change your equalization or add some light fuzz.
 
#13
Puarija said:
The Streamers seem to have a pretty smooth, round tone and the Corvettes seem to have a pretty smooth jazz tone. I have had MECs and EMGs in these basses, and either way, it seems to be the body shape of the Thumb that give it its trademark sound.

:)
Click to expand...

You might (or might not depending) want to check out "Tone is in the neck" in the luthiers forum
 
#14
Mud Flaps said:
Nope, MECs are the best for pure rock and distorted guitars. Seymour Duncans, in my limited experience, are have less growl and more gain. Instead of changing your pickups, I'd change your equalization or add some light fuzz.
Click to expand...

MEC´s were real pain in the ass combined with dist. guitars. Don´t know about active ones but at least the passive MM-pickup is. No matter what the EQ says.
 
#15
luknfur said:
You might (or might not depending) want to check out "Tone is in the neck" in the luthiers forum
Click to expand...

Yeah I checked out that thread a few days ago.

I've owned 5 Warwicks with Wenge necks/fretboards. The Thumb is the only one with a growl. The neck has a lot to do with tone, but the body shape can't be ignored.

I agree with most that body WOOD doesn't matter much, but the shape of it has something to do with the way it resonates. Just my experience.
 
#16
Puarija said:
Yeah I checked out that thread a few days ago.

I've owned 5 Warwicks with Wenge necks/fretboards. The Thumb is the only one with a growl. The neck has a lot to do with tone, but the body shape can't be ignored.

I agree with most that body WOOD doesn't matter much, but the shape of it has something to do with the way it resonates. Just my experience.
Click to expand...

FWIW:

Never tried isolating growl specifically but, having changed lots of pups and kept everything else constant, growl varies significantly in the same bass with a change in pups. Basses that are brighter acoustically yield more growl. Has a lot to do with amp settings and probably strings, but I don't change strings to know that.
 
#17
Just a side note: The engineers at Seymour Duncan/Basslines (Kevin Beller and crew) designed all of the circuits for MEC.

Also,if you want as much growl as one person can stand,try to get your hands on a good,used Ken Smith bass.They'll growl the walls of your house down.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back