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69 Precision To Active. Fishman???

BobbyJ55

BobbyJ55

Aug 16, 2010
10
0
Long Island, NY
#1
I've been using a Sadowsky Metro which has active pickups and love the "demanding" sound it gets. I also have a 69 Precision which has a jbass pickup installed between the split and the bridge. Now to my question, in an effort to make these 2 basses interchangeable, I'm thinking about getting a Fishman platinum preamp/ EQ. After using the Sadowsky then going to the Fender, the Fender has a sickeningly dead sound. Do you feel the Fishman preamp will get me closer to the sound that I'm enjoying with the Sadowsky with active electronics? Thanks for your thoughts.
 
#3
I don't think so, but that's more of a gut feeling. Doesn't Sadowsky make an outboard pre that is essentially like the one on his basses?

I think the fishman is voiced for acoustic instruments, and I think Fishman is behind the curve as far as acoustic pickups/electronics go anyway. LR Baggs and Highlander have put Fishman to shame in that department.
 
#4
Your sadowsky (if stock) will have passive pickups and an active preamp, (not active pickups)

I would not recommend altering a 69 precision to add an active preamp. As Depalm says... I'd buy a Sadowsky outboard preamp, which is the same exact preamp as what is in your Sadowsky bass, just in an external box.
 
#7
An outboard preamp with 10' or 20' of standard instrument cable will not be the same thing as an onboard preamp. You may like the tone but the high end will be effected by the capacitance in the instrument cable. The passive pickups have to drive the high capacitance (or low impedance) of the instrument cable. This rolls off high end.

In fact you could look at the outboard preamp the same way you look at the preamp on your amplifier. Again, once you put a long instrument cable between the pickups and the preamp, you have effectively created the "passive" sound or high end response.

Active basses that uses passive pickups and an onboard preamp alter the sound of the high end because they buffer the high impedance pickups from the high capacitance instrument cable. The pickups drive into a high impedance preamp that in turn drives the high capacitance (low impedance) of the instrument cable without any roll off or altering of the signal.

If you want to get as close to active as possible, try a George L instrument cable. These are very low capacitance. You could use a Geroge L between your bass and a Sadowsky outboard preamp and get close to the same response as your Sadowsky. Or you could just try the George L cable straight into your existing preamp and see if that gets you the high end response you're are looking for.
 
#8
bongomania said:
While I also agree about just getting a pedal as the best solution, you might also look into the John East P-Retro. It's an excellent preamp designed to drop into a P-bass with NO modifications to the bass.
Click to expand...

Except desoldering the pickups from the original pots, which only matters to the most persnickety collectors but worth mentioning.
 
#9
BobbyJ55 said:
I've been using a Sadowsky Metro which has active pickups and love the "demanding" sound it gets. I also have a 69 Precision which has a jbass pickup installed between the split and the bridge. Now to my question, in an effort to make these 2 basses interchangeable, I'm thinking about getting a Fishman platinum preamp/ EQ. After using the Sadowsky then going to the Fender, the Fender has a sickeningly dead sound. Do you feel the Fishman preamp will get me closer to the sound that I'm enjoying with the Sadowsky with active electronics? Thanks for your thoughts.
Click to expand...

While I agree that the Sadowsky outboard is the path of least resistance I feel it's worth asking the question: why play a holy grail vintage instrument just to buy a pedal to make it sound more contemporary? You could buy a great Sadowsky for the money a 69 P would fetch. Just food for thought.
 
#10
what i'm thinking is why change the precision, if you already have the Sadowsky? have some variety to choose from!

either that, or an outboard pre, even if it's not the same as an onboard! it would be a shame to lose what you have with that 69 P!
 

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