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Bass Mods Preamps... Anyone use them?

#103
Robear22 said:
I uploaded two videos demoing the Bassmods BEQ-12. I installed the preamp in a Squier Deluxe Active V and an Ibanez GSR206 that is also for sale in the classifieds. Let me know what you think.

Squier
Squier Deluxe Jazz Active V preamp Demo - YouTube

Ibanez
Ibanez GSR206 preamp mods!!! - YouTube
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It's nice of you to try to help by providing these videos, but honestly the recording quality is so bad (noisy rooms, clipped mic signal, playing through an amp and using an open-air mic recording, etc) that it's not possible to get an accurate idea of how the preamp itself performs. Any chance you can record some clips or videos direct-in to a clean recording interface?
 
#105
c0d3h4x0r said:
It's nice of you to try to help by providing these videos, but honestly the recording quality is so bad (noisy rooms, clipped mic signal, playing through an amp and using an open-air mic recording, etc) that it's not possible to get an accurate idea of how the preamp itself performs. Any chance you can record some clips or videos direct-in to a clean recording interface?
Click to expand...

I have a Zoom B9.1ut that can record through the USB. I will do that and post that audio up for you. I am going to also purchase a microphone to record with so I can control the level so I won't get that clipped audio signal.
 
#107
This thread is causing me a headache. I have a FrankenBass project on the stove and I'm trying to figure out the best 'tronics for it. One the one hand people seem to be very pleased with the BassMods choice, particularly for the value it offers. Thing is, if I go this way, I have the pup choice to consider. Even if I get a good buy on some Geddy Lee used, I'm pretty close to the price of a full-on EMG-JVX set-up, which is very appealing, easier to install, and well known for resale if I decide to do that later. The Bass Whisperer seemed genuinely impressed by the JVX choice. That's pretty much gospel in my book. Ed knows his stuff.

Comments?

iJazz
 
#108
iJazz said:
This thread is causing me a headache. I have a FrankenBass project on the stove and I'm trying to figure out the best 'tronics for it. One the one hand people seem to be very pleased with the BassMods choice, particularly for the value it offers. Thing is, if I go this way, I have the pup choice to consider. Even if I get a good buy on some Geddy Lee used, I'm pretty close to the price of a full-on EMG-JVX set-up, which is very appealing, easier to install, and well known for resale if I decide to do that later. The Bass Whisperer seemed genuinely impressed by the JVX choice. That's pretty much gospel in my book. Ed knows his stuff.

Comments?

iJazz
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I have a FrankenJazz that I put the EMG JAX set into last year, and it's awesome. Go for it, you won't be disappointed. But also consider pairing it with a non-EMG active preamp to provide more tonal control -- the J** sets generally only come with an active treble control, which isn't much control at all.
 
#109
Robear22 said:
I have a Zoom B9.1ut that can record through the USB. I will do that and post that audio up for you. I am going to also purchase a microphone to record with so I can control the level so I won't get that clipped audio signal.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks. As soon as my BassMods preamp arrives and I get it installed, I'll do some recordings as well.

As for the EMG-HZ pickups, they're okay but not great. They have a very "honky"-sounding midrange and really lack that deep buttery low-end.

Delano makes some highly-regarded passive soapbar pickups that are direct replacements for the EMG-HZs, and I thinking of ordering a pair, although they're expensive compared to others (such as the Seymour Duncan Basslines Phase II SSB-4 Soapbars).

So now I'm curious, what pickups are you and other folks using with your BassMods preamps?
 
#111
Well, so far I'm not very impressed by the quality of the products I received from BassMods. I ordered one standalone prewired BEQ12 3-band 4-knob preamp (for my Schecter), and one Jazz plate prewired BEQ 3-band 4-knob preamp (to upgrade my FrankenJazz).

I installed the standalone preamp, but it has a bad/crackly push/pull volume pot. I already contacted them about it, and they shipped out a replacement free of charge. I haven't received it yet, but once I do I'll report back if it's any better.

I was going to install the Jazz plate, but the preamp's black plastic housing is slightly too big to fit inside the Jazz bass control cavity, meaning it's impossible to install without routing the cavity larger. This is a subtle but critical fact they completely neglected to mention anywhere in the product description on their web site. This means I'm going to have to undo most of the copper shielding job, route the cavity larger, and then redo the shielding. Major hassle. Also, after wiring up the Jazz plate to check the electronics, I discovered it has a bad/crackly blend pot. I contacted them about the second pot tonight, so we'll see if they do the same and ship out a free replacement for that one.

The preamp itself sounds quiet and natural, and the customer service has been good so far, but I'm not thrilled with the defect rate on the pots. Plus, the lack of warning about the preamp not fitting inside a typical Jazz control cavity is a major negative.
 
#112
c0d3h4x0r said:
The preamp itself sounds clean and natural, but its black plastic housing is actually just barely too big to actually fit inside the Jazz bass control cavity, which means it's impossible to install the Jazz plate without actually routing the standard Jazz control cavity larger. This is a subtle but critical fact that they completely neglected to mention anywhere in the product description or anywhere on their web site. Not only does this mean some woodworking for me, it means that I'm actually going to have to undo and then redo most of the copper shielding job I did on this bass, which is a major PITA.
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This is actually the most number of times I've seen some use the word 'actually' in a paragraph.
 
#113
I've just installed the QDD2 on my Jazz Bass and to say this was designed for guitar it actually sounds great :bassist:. This device is easily installed and replaces the tone pot (which I never use anyway), Its easy to follow the wiring diagram and also easy to solder. The complete kit I bought from AXESRUS UK for £17, it comes complete with the QDD2, Stereo Jack Socket, Battery Clip, Battery Box and all the screws, nuts, washers etc. I plug my bass directly into my amp (nothing in between), position 1 is bypass mode (no battery needed for this), Pos 2 boosts the signal slightly giving it a crisp warm tone, pos 3 boosts it out further increasing the lows, scooping the mids slightly, pos 4 gives it a slight distorted sound, pos 5 gives it a fine fuzzed out sound (which is what I was out to acheive), all this is with the gain set at half way. If your lucky the battery can be housed under control the plate without any body modification, bit of a tight fit in a Jazz so I had to install the battery box in the rear of the body. All in all a great buy with no regrets, If I get another Jazz Ill do it again. :hyper:
 
#116
c0d3h4x0r said:
Delano makes some highly-regarded passive soapbar pickups that are direct replacements for the EMG-HZs, and I thinking of ordering a pair, although they're expensive compared to others (such as the Seymour Duncan Basslines Phase II SSB-4 Soapbars).
Click to expand...

Btw, I ordered these after playing one gig with the EMG-HZs. 4-6 weeks for them to arrive (custom order from Germany). I'll report back and provide some recordings once I've got them installed along with the BassMods preamp.
 
#118
dave888 said:
I had the HZ's on a Bc Rich Mick Tomson Warlock, pretty good pickups.
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I have to completely disagree. They completely lack bottom end. You can dial the bass knobs up on your EQ until the cows come home, but it won't help because you can't boost what's not there to begin with. When I gigged with my band with these pickups, the entire band sounded thin because I couldn't get that solid low-end a bass should have. If you're just rehearsing at home or something I'm sure they're fine, but for gigging purposes they're totally unacceptable.

Now, that said, the EMG-HZs I've got are the ones that came stock in the Schecter bass I bought. Who knows if they are actually made by the same factory that makes the EMG-HZs you would receive if you ordered a set directly from EMG. It's always possible Schecter has some sort of arrangement to have a crappy Chinese manufacturing plant make them at low-cost "to EMG's specs" and stamp the EMG-HZ logo on them to keep costs down, but that they aren't the real deal.
 

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