So, an interesting and surprising, yet final conclusion to the whole B25P Preamp saga. From last week's episode:
- I bought a B25P from the Carvin Store in Hollywood.
- It had an active/passive switch.
-On further research, it turns out I had a different preamp in it.
- Carvin support jumped all over it and sent me a new pre.
- I installed it, but it didn't sound right, so they said to send it to them through the Hollywood store and they'd take a look.
Well, it turns out that, unbeknowst to me or the former employees of the Carvin Hollywood Store (not former because of me. They moved on before this happened.), this bass has humbuckers in it.
The 'Bromberg Electronics' apparently only ship with single coils. When you get a B25 with humbuckers, you get the Icon series preamp, whch has the active/passive option. So now they are re-installing the original preamp back into the bass and I'll have it back on Thursday (probably).
So what have we learned, good and less-than-good?
Less-than-good:
- The Hollywood Store should have known what they had on the wall.
- It should be noted clearly when ordering or in the specs that Humbuckers are not compatible with the B25 Bromberg Electronics, and that the Icon module is used in that case.
- Unless the above is simply not the case. But I'd prefer not to think that.
Good:
- Carvin service (especially Albert) is a world-class organization that stands behind their products.
- The B25 is still arguably the most comfortable bass I've ever played.
- The humbuckers sound frikkin' great!