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Audere: Should I???

J Posega

J Posega

Cat Dad and Dingwall Enthusiast
Inactive
Suspended
Jul 16, 2005
11,796
17,172
38
Portland, OR
#1
After reading numerous postings and reviews on the Audere preamps, I'm considering getting one for my Ibanez.

The combination of MK-1 pickups and preamp in the bass give it a very bland tone. Not much variety comes out of the pre. I can boost and cut till the cows come home, but I'm never quite pleased.

After playing the bass numerous times through different amps and big ol' graphic EQ's, I'm starting to think I'm just not boosting/cutting the right frequencies. Problem is, I don't like running all kinds of hooplah on my amp, or my POD. I set my EQ flat on the amp and bypass EQ on the POD, which makes it easier just to reach for a knob on my bass.

If I go Audere, I want to go all out. No holds barred, pimped out with lots of knobs and doodads.

I'll stick with the volume/balance, like the bass currently sports, and go with a four-band EQ, one knob for each. It's also going to be active/passive switchable with a true passive tone knob. All in all, this makes 7 knobs as well as 2 switches. The bass only has 5 holes, but I'm not adverse to drilling new ones. I may go with the 18-volt option, but that'd require routing to fit another battery.

What are your thoughts? I can have the preamp installed by a local tech for about $15 and lunch.
 
#2
Well to honest- a new eq is not going to solve your problems. I think you may want to consider new pickups. If the tone is what you don't like- then its pickups. But if its just a matter of dialing in tones then it could be the pre-amp.

Personally- start with your strings, then go to your pups if your tone is bland.

my .02
Dan
 
#3
I agree. If you have already tried different strings and gotten the same bland sound, IMO you definitely want to change your pickups. I have an Audere preamp, and it has strengths and weaknesses, and one thing I am sure it will NOT EVER do is make bland pickups sound good. I feel that the Audere is best suited to getting a few subtle tonal variations out of your pickups, and will only sound as good as the pickups already do.
 
#5
I'm satisfied with everything else about the bass. I've tried Elixirs, D'addario nickels and steels, GHS nickels, and La Bella steels, but still felt like I was missing something.

The Bart's in it now are their MK-1's, which are mighty popular amongst Cort, Ibanez, and Lakland. The pickups are oddly sized for Bart's (4.33" by 1.33"). Thing is, I absolutely loved the tone I got from my Jazz, but couldn't do what I wanted with less than strings.

I'm more than willing to look into replacement pickups. I'm sure someone around my neck of the northwoods can do some router work. I want to keep the pickups passive in case I do decide to go with an Audere or other pre in the future, plus it allows for a more natural passive tone control.
 

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