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Active Preamp/Pickups comparative

Walko Guitars

Walko Guitars

Commercial User
Jan 16, 2024
7
9
40
Toulouse, France
Disclosures
Luthier
#1
Hello everyone,

I'm a guitar and bass builder, mostly guitars, and I always have this need to understand what the player needs, so I can build each guitar or bass to match perfectly with the owner.

I'm thinking about to create my first bass model available in stock, but for that I would like to choose the right pickups and electronics.

I know that it won't be for all the bassists that's not the point, I just want to configure a high quality instrument with the gear she deserves :)

The bass would be modern, for rock and metal, active electronics, 4 strings, fanned fret for 5 strings (or both).

I would like to go with the Delano pickups, the SBC 4 coils seem to be a good choice, but open to other brands.

For the Preamp, I already used East UNI Pre 4, but it's kind of hard to reach them.
I could go for Delano Sonar maybe, Aguilar (I do not knowthem as well), Glockenklang...

I'd just like to have some bassists constructive opinions about one preamp or another, same for the pickups.

I hope my demand is not inappropriated, looking to read from the guys who play !

Cheers,
 
#2
If I built a bass tomorrow it would be with Gemini Devasrstors and a Darkglass Tone Capsule Preamp.

For modern rock and metal, go for the Darkglass Tone Capsule. It targets the frequencies us heavy bass players need.

Pickups: This is harder to answer as there are so many options in every country. I know that I prefer my Gemini Devastators to Seymour Duncan or EMG, and I've tried pretty much all their products. To me the Gemini are perfect. To you, who knows. Maybe if I try more brands I will change my mind.
 
Last edited:
#6
Zooberwerx said:
That was my first response, too, but there's a hiccup:

Everybody and his brother wants an active / passive option nowadays which (AFAIK) Audere does NOT offer.

Riis
Click to expand...

It's active only.

When I bought my first one I was a little concerned about that. But I soon discovered I really didn't mind it at all. Battery life on these preamps is excellent. But if you're building for other people it could be an issue. I've installed Auderes for friends who also initially had misgivings about not having the option to go passive. They changed their minds afterwards. But that doesn't help you.
 
#7
40Hz said:
It's active only.

When I bought my first one I was a little concerned about that. But I soon discovered I really didn't mind it at all. Battery life on these preamps is excellent. But if you're building for other people it could be an issue. I've installed Auderes for friends who also initially had misgivings about not having the option to go passive. They changed their minds afterwards. But that doesn't help you.
Click to expand...

Not an issue with me...I've installed more than a handful. For that fact, I found the Audere to be a perfect foundation for any project. Just add the desired pickups, active or passive.

Riis
 
#9
The Trickfish IPA preamp is my latest favorite preamp. It rides a nice fine line of transparency and just a bit of character.

That preamp and a set of Lindy Fralin single-coil Jazz pickups have sent me over the moon.

It doesn't come on a plate as it's made to work as a two-pickup preamp with any passive pickups (meaning not active like some EMGs). And there are a few wiring options, explained very well on the documentation sheet.

Oh, yeah, had to add, there is a passive feature to this preamp. Admittedly, I just had to check the bass to see. It's an option that can be easily implemented depending on which volume pot one chooses to use. I went with it.

Availability and tech support is fantastic. Email and phone calls answered very promptly, if not then and there.
 
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#11
Delano's are great and versatile pups especially the dual or quad coils. Check out fishman too as they have blades so they are easy plugs especially for fanned frets. For modern preamps, darkglass as mentioned is a great and more versatile than given credit. While expensive john east pres are awesome too. Triple pickups are pretty popular as seen in dingwalls. Me personally I like versatility as I play a wide range of genres. So I enjoy all the above and that's what I look for in a bass nowadays.
 
#12
Zooberwerx said:
Not an issue with me...I've installed more than a handful. For that fact, I found the Audere to be a perfect foundation for any project. Just add the desired pickups, active or passive.

Riis
Click to expand...


Same here. I've installed about a half dozen to date for friends and done three for myself. It's a sweet preamp. And very affordable considering the feature set. Battery life is unreal with these.

But the OP has to deal with the whims of his customers. And he indicated he's worried lack of a passive mode would be a deal breaker for many of them.
 
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#13
Walko Guitars said:
Hello everyone,

I'm a guitar and bass builder, mostly guitars, and I always have this need to understand what the player needs, so I can build each guitar or bass to match perfectly with the owner.

I'm thinking about to create my first bass model available in stock, but for that I would like to choose the right pickups and electronics.

I know that it won't be for all the bassists that's not the point, I just want to configure a high quality instrument with the gear she deserves :)

The bass would be modern, for rock and metal, active electronics, 4 strings, fanned fret for 5 strings (or both).

I would like to go with the Delano pickups, the SBC 4 coils seem to be a good choice, but open to other brands.

For the Preamp, I already used East UNI Pre 4, but it's kind of hard to reach them.
I could go for Delano Sonar maybe, Aguilar (I do not knowthem as well), Glockenklang...

I'd just like to have some bassists constructive opinions about one preamp or another, same for the pickups.

I hope my demand is not inappropriated, looking to read from the guys who play !

Cheers,
Click to expand...

I really like the Noll and Glockenklang ones with a one knob dual pot for active and passive treble controls in one hole.

I've also been very impressed with the set of LeCompte Triple Threat pickups I have in one of my fretless basses.
 
#14
Thank you all for your answers :)

kyral210 said:
If I built a bass tomorrow it would be with Gemini Devasrstors and a Darkglass Tone Capsule Preamp.

For modern rock and metal, go for the Darkglass Tone Capsule. It targets the frequencies us heavy bass players need.

Pickups: This is harder to answer as there are so many options in every country. I know that I prefer my Gemini Devastators to Seymour Duncan or EMG, and I've tried pretty much all their products. To me the Gemini are perfect. To you, who knows. Maybe if I try more brands I will change my mind.
Click to expand...

I will look into the Darkglass Tone Capsule, I didn't know it but what you say about it seems to fit perfectly with the kind of basses I'm going to.

Snert said:
Simply choose an EMG shape/size so that you can experiment with different pickups as nearly all aftermarket manufacturers make in these sizes.
Click to expand...

I didn't think about this tip... pretty clever I'll think about the EMG size thanks !!

40Hz said:
I've been using Audere preamps for awhile now and I've always been happy with the results.
Click to expand...

Don't know it either, but like @Zooberwerx said I will build for customers, and a lot of them want the electronics capable to be passive as well (battery issue for example)

DangaDanga said:
Delano's are great and versatile pups especially the dual or quad coils. Check out fishman too as they have blades so they are easy plugs especially for fanned frets. For modern preamps, darkglass as mentioned is a great and more versatile than given credit. While expensive john east pres are awesome too. Triple pickups are pretty popular as seen in dingwalls. Me personally I like versatility as I play a wide range of genres. So I enjoy all the above and that's what I look for in a bass nowadays.
Click to expand...

The Delano Quads seems to be a good choice I guess, but I will dig a little bit on the EMG size like I said. The basses will be Fanned fret, so the blades construction looks like a good choice. The Delano have big poles if I'm right, so it wouldn't be and issue

So I think I will look for :
- Delano EMG size (if they fit my multiscale configuration)
- Fishman could be an option, have to dig it
- Gemini I don't know them but I will have a look
- Darkglass Preamp (seems to be a pretty good choice for now)
- Audere seem to be serious too
- For Underhill I will need some informations, I'll look for a website too

I'll check this out quickly and let you know my choices :)
 
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#18
Quads are interesting, so I presume you'll offer a series/parallel/"single" switch? ("Single" = split coil). I'm not exactly your target audience, but I'd like that option.

also, for fanned frets, make sure the part where coils meet won't line up with one of the strings. May need to have pickups designed for fanned frets. I believe Delano does offer that.

I've no opinion on preamps. Darkglass I hear is popular, but if you wanna stand out maybe a filter based pre? Could match that with multi coil pickups.

actually, Nordstrand is allegedly gonna release a multi coil version of Big Rigs. That might be a unique niche on the market.
 

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