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Active EQ

Frizzle Fry

Frizzle Fry

May 13, 2014
19
5
36
United States
#1
Total newbie question, but I know little about bass electronics. If a bass has an active EQ, can you just drop in active electronics or are passive pickups the only option without replacing everything? Would I be correct in assuming EMGs come with their necessary electronics like their guitars? How does that even work out for someone with dual p-bass pickups, they don't seem to make a set like that. My bass is a BC Rich Heritage Classic Mockingbird, if that helps.
 
#2
If you have an active EQ, you already have active electronics. The pickups can be either passive or active. EMG's do not come with active EQ's, only volume pots and basic tone controls. You can add any number of preamps to them though. For dual P-bass pickups, you would just get two sets of P bass pickups and whatever preamp/eq you want.
 
#3
mmbongo said:
If you have an active EQ, you already have active electronics. The pickups can be either passive or active. EMG's do not come with active EQ's, only volume pots and basic tone controls. You can add any number of preamps to them though. For dual P-bass pickups, you would just get two sets of P bass pickups and whatever preamp/eq you want.
Click to expand...

So I can just drop EMGs straight in, no problem?
 
#4
It depends on the preamp. If a preamp works with passive pickups, it will work with active pickups, as well, since the impedance of active pickups is lower than that of passive pickups. However, there are two exceptions. Firstly, some preamps are designed to interact in some way with the impedance of passive pickup coils. Audere preamps, for example, have a Z-mode switch that allows various loads on the input for tonal effect. These sort of preamps will not work as intended with buffered, or low impedance (i.e. active) pickups. Second, there are pickups with very high output, which can distort the input of certain preamps. This can often be remedied with resistors.

In the majority of cases, preamps work just fine with active pickups, as long as the pot values are appropriate.
 
#5
I'm not really sure what output they are, but it's only a 2 band EQ with a pickup blend, it doesn't really sound super high output, but then again, I can't really compare them to other pickups, but considering BC Rich and EMG are BC Rich's main high end pickup, they'll probably swap.
 
#8
If you bass has a battery, it likely has an 'active' EQ, and from what I've seen, it looks like passive 'P' pickups. You'll have to open the control cavity cover to see if you have a battery, an EQ, and/or if a hot wire from the battery goes to the pickups.
You can add an EQ (if there's not one already in there) if there is enough room in the cavity for it and a battery. EMG EQs are module/pc's on the pots and there has to be room to install them,
or routing and a new cover is req'd.
An EMG preamp will work with most active or passive pickups, just req's 25k or 50k pots for active pickups, or 250k or 500k pots for passive pickups. I think their pre's can be ordered with pots for either.
If EMG makes active 'P' pickups (Ibanez did) they can be installed w/o a preamp, but still need a battery (and stereo jack to disconnect power by unplugging when not playing).
Other makes of preamps have different configurations, sometimes pc boards on pots, other times pc boards are separate, and some like Bartolini and Aguilar have separate molded modules with wiring to connect to the pickups, pots, and jack.
Lots of choices, but the cavity space you have to work with may be a limiting factor.
 
#9
Frizzle Fry, like you're doing here, do some research on what others have done. Ask questions. Read product specs. Find a good bass tech. In the end maybe go with your instinct. I'm a big proponent of electronic upgrades over stock. In my opinion the quality of tone difference is worth the cost.

I have a 2007/8 BC Rich Mockingbird Heritage Classic. Recently I had Nordstrand Fat Stack pickups and an Aguilar 3 band preamp installed. The Nordstrand pickups required just a hair shaved off of the pickup housing. The Aguilar 3-band preamp was a drop in. In the place of the original treble pot is a stacked pot with bass and treble. In the place of the original bass pot is now a push/pull 2 band mid pot. All other pots remained the same.

I'm very pleased with the sound. It's very full, deep bass, clear mids, crisp/not harsh highs and the overall clarity is exceptional. I play this bass through an Ampeg SVT 3-Pro head, an Ampeg SVT 410 HLF bottom and a Markbass compressor.

Yes, I spent about $475.00 on parts and labor. Now this bass looks great and sounds great.
 

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