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Active Preamp/Pickups comparative

#21
Consider this for the ultimate in versatility.
Route under the pickguard so that either a P, J, or Stingray pickup could be a bolt on installation and offer a different pickguard for each application with solderless connectors. Install a standard J pup at the bridge that could be turned off with a pot.
Have @Passinwind design the preamp or use one of his standards.
Bent metal bridge to save money and use the funds on lightweight tuners.
The entire bass needs to be under 8.5 lbs.
I would think that you would want to order at least 25 CNC bodies cut at a time and maybe 15 of each pickguard style.
Overseas manufacture is OK so long as QC/QA was good and maybe retail at $1,500 without a case.
 
#22
sikamikanico said:
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.
Click to expand...

Yes it would be Serie/Parallel/Split, I'm thinking about 1 switch only for the 2 pickups. 2 switches could be great, but it also could be too much configurations for some people. I like the idea of multiple possibilities, but I need to think like a customer too, it explain my demands here ;)

For the Fanned fret, don't worry I'm used to build them, you can have a look on my website if you want to see custom builds I've made, but thanks for the advice :)

Killing Floor said:
East preamps are great. You make good choices.
Click to expand...

Yes I already worked with East for custom builds, they are great but they NEVER answered my multiple e-mails and phone calls... I needed to ask my customers to buy the preamp by themselves... that's not professionnal and could lead to issues for me and the customer in case of problem (warranty...)
So bye bye East, maybe I'm not big enough I don't know.

Killing Floor said:
Also, your take on the Tele is lovely. I like the clever truss wheel access.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot ! I wanted to make my own modern Tele, and she's appreciated so I guess it was a good move :)
 
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#23
Jim C said:
Consider this for the ultimate in versatility.
Route under the pickguard so that either a P, J, or Stingray pickup could be a bolt on installation and offer a different pickguard for each application with solderless connectors. Install a standard J pup at the bridge that could be turned off with a pot.
Have @Passinwind design the preamp or use one of his standards.
Bent metal bridge to save money and use the funds on lightweight tuners.
The entire bass needs to be under 8.5 lbs.
I would think that you would want to order at least 25 CNC bodies cut at a time and maybe 15 of each pickguard style.
Overseas manufacture is OK so long as QC/QA was good and maybe retail at $1,500 without a case.
Click to expand...

I don't really build guitars to save money on the parts, I mean yes I have to think about it but I always build for the final result : lightweight, well balanced, good hardware, nice woods and electronics to have the best result I can provide.
I mostly build customs, and I don't want to take down the quality to reach a price, but offer very good guitars on a fair price.

I have my own cnc, so I make all my components with (bodies, necks, pickguards...) but your right for the standard body cavities, it's a game changer for the production
 
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#24
I will go with Darkglass Tone Capsule, the best sounding (metal, but not only!) preamp I've ever used, super clean and hi-fi sounding, working on the frequencies which I like the most, talking about pickups: I love Delano too I had a past experience with them when I was searching for 6 strings music man style pickups and they were incredibly kind, responsive and professional :bassist:
 
#25
Gigas444 said:
I will go with Darkglass Tone Capsule, the best sounding (metal, but not only!) preamp I've ever used, super clean and hi-fi sounding, working on the frequencies which I like the most, talking about pickups: I love Delano too I had a past experience with them when I was searching for 6 strings music man style pickups and they were incredibly kind, responsive and professional :bassist:
Click to expand...

For now I think I'll go for the Darkglass, I read so many good reviews on it. For the pickups, Delano may be a good choice.

I would like to find a Musicman-ish sound style, I really like this kind of sound, but still thinking about it...
 
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#27
Walko Guitars said:
For now I think I'll go for the Darkglass, I read so many good reviews on it. For the pickups, Delano may be a good choice.

I would like to find a Musicman-ish sound style, I really like this kind of sound, but still thinking about it...
Click to expand...
Keep in mind, the typical Musicman type of tone comes from both the pickup (type and placement) as well as the specific type of preamp, so to get that tone exactly right you have to have both ingredients! I'd say it's 70/30, so I still think it's possible to get close enough simply with the right pickup placement :D
Also, MM style pickups are quite wider than soapbars, and could be a problem when slanted to accommodate for a fanned fret instrument (unless custom made, like Delano offers).
 
#28

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