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Brubaker Brute Club, Part 2

#801
Headed to the Brubaker Shop tomorrow to pick up my KXB-5 Custom. Looking towards some sore fingers in the future as I spend time getting acquainted.
 
#803
mmbongo said:
Well here's a starting point, as that's definitely not right. You should not have any wires connected directly from the bridge pickup to the preamp. They all have to go through the mini-toggle switch (unless you don't want to use that function).

The bridge is wired to the mini switch, then the output from the mini switch will connect to the blue on white wire. The ground from both pickups then connect to the green on white common wire.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip mmbongo! I've got everything hooked to the switch, but the directions for the switch say to connected a wire from the blend pot to the end lug on the switch. There's already the bridge hot (pickup out) on that lug, so I'm not sure what this second wire is. I have the bridge hot and black/white wire (from pre) connected to the first lug, red and white wires (coil taps) to the center, and pickup ground to the last lug. The pickup shield is connected to the green/white along with the shield and ground from the neck pup. I get sound from the neck pup, but nothing from the bridge:hmm: I'm going to switch the wires around and replace the batteries tonight and make sure everything is fresh.

Still pressing on lol....

P.S. If any of you Brute fam has the single/series/parallel switch installed in your Brute and doesn't mind opening it up and noting which wires from the bridge pup are connected to which lugs on the switch, I'd REALLY appreciate it. This is my only dilemma, everything else is straightforward. Thanks!
 
#804
Ds1 said:
The Aggy pre is about the most versatile pre-amp ever made, IMO. I would say its the pickups. The "original" ones like you have are quite aggressive, as the bass is supposed to have "that" modern tone.

My suggestion would be a pair of Aguilar J's. I've been loving them recently - plus they have a couple different cool windings. And obviously they will sound good with the OBP-3, too.
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Thanks Ds1! I'll start with the pickups.
 
#805
stix_clgi said:
Thanks for the tip mmbongo! I've got everything hooked to the switch, but the directions for the switch say to connected a wire from the blend pot to the end lug on the switch. There's already the bridge hot (pickup out) on that lug, so I'm not sure what this second wire is. I have the bridge hot and black/white wire (from pre) connected to the first lug, red and white wires (coil taps) to the center, and pickup ground to the last lug. The pickup shield is connected to the green/white along with the shield and ground from the neck pup. I get sound from the neck pup, but nothing from the bridge:hmm: I'm going to switch the wires around and replace the batteries tonight and make sure everything is fresh.

Still pressing on lol....

P.S. If any of you Brute fam has the single/series/parallel switch installed in your Brute and doesn't mind opening it up and noting which wires from the bridge pup are connected to which lugs on the switch, I'd REALLY appreciate it. This is my only dilemma, everything else is straightforward. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Did Tom or Kevin respond to you yet? If not I can pop the top on mine and tell you what I see. I personally am ignorant about this kind of work. I'm just a Playa LOL!!!! Mine however is supposed to be wired North Coil/Series/South Coil.
 
#806
phillybass101 said:
Did Tom or Kevin respond to you yet? If not I can pop the top on mine and tell you what I see. I personally am ignorant about this kind of work. I'm just a Playa LOL!!!! Mine however is supposed to be wired North Coil/Series/South Coil.
Click to expand...

No sir, just you and mmbongo. They tried to help me out at the beginning stages, perhaps they were as confused as I was lol. No worries either way, it was my undertaking this "project" that caused all the problems any ways, it's been rectified. Yep, I ripped the preamp out, and threw it across the basement....

I've got a new Bartolini package on the way. Bart 59CBJD-S1 Neck, and DL5CBC bridge pup, being paired with an HR4.6AP pre with the push/pull knobs for active/passive and mid freq control. I bought the pups from Best Bass Gear, they've been shipped already. I bought the pre-wired harness from Pro Audio Land, hopefully they'll ship it this week sometimes.

I'll let everyone know when it's wired up; should prove to be much easier since I've done Bartolini packages before....

Thanks for keeping in touch philly (and mmbongo!).
 
#807
Ewo said:
Enjoy your _Christmas_ bass, Walt! :cool:
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Thanks. I'm enjoying the bass and it's made from a very light weight swamp ash so it's very gigable. I'm still learning how to work the pre in combo with the coil splitter. IMO so many useable tones I don't know which I like best. However when all coils are on man it's Thunder City.
 
#808
stix_clgi said:
No sir, just you and mmbongo. They tried to help me out at the beginning stages, perhaps they were as confused as I was lol. No worries either way, it was my undertaking this "project" that caused all the problems any ways, it's been rectified. Yep, I ripped the preamp out, and threw it across the basement....

I've got a new Bartolini package on the way. Bart 59CBJD-S1 Neck, and DL5CBC bridge pup, being paired with an HR4.6AP pre with the push/pull knobs for active/passive and mid freq control. I bought the pups from Best Bass Gear, they've been shipped already. I bought the pre-wired harness from Pro Audio Land, hopefully they'll ship it this week sometimes.

I'll let everyone know when it's wired up; should prove to be much easier since I've done Bartolini packages before....

Thanks for keeping in touch philly (and mmbongo!).
Click to expand...

When you get it together that thang will be killin.
 
#809
phillybass101 said:
When you get it together that thang will be killin.
Click to expand...

Yessir!

So, I received the new electronics Friday and got most of it installed...turns out I wrote down the wrong part number for the neck pup and ordered the 59J1, which is about .38" too small. Just for fun I went ahead and wired the NTMB preamp, Bart DL5 pup, and left the original neck pup in. Sounds much better IMO...that MM pup is like contained thunder....I like it a lot.

Funny thing, in line with all of my wiring woes. The coil tap switch I bought is an on/off/on switch, which I attempted to wire Parallel/neck single coil/Series....Of course parallel and series work fine, but neck sc didn't work...why? Oh yeah, you need an on/on/on dpdt switch dummy(D'Oh!!!!) So once the correct neck pup arrives, I'll swap out the current switch with the correct one...I'll be cooking with gas then....
 
#811
scubaduba said:
Hey all. Considering buying one of these Brutes. Is the consensus that the new electronics in the latest batch are much better than the prior earlier versions? From my research here it seems like there are less people modding now... but maybe its too early still?
Click to expand...

I don't have firsthand experience with the older Brutes, outside of hearing one at a concert 3 years ago (which I thought sounded fantastic!); I'm not the most qualified to answer. However, I think the electronics in my SC MJX-5 were fine. Initially I wanted to change the preamp due to a lack of mid boost/cut, and I went ahead and changed everything out (see previous posts in this thread for my electronics woes lol). This is all personal preference, I've modded almost every bass I've owned...

You'll love the Brutes, I wouldn't hesitate in getting one!
 
#812
tdfriday said:
I've just acquired a Brute JJX-5. White with green pick guard. I seemed to also scored with an Aguilar obp-3 pre inside. The pickups don't have any markings, so I guess they may have been the originals. The serial number is B-00050. So far I love the bass. The neck is smooth and fast, and has a low action which I like. The only thing I'm not sure about is the aggressive tone. I'm coming from a BTB with bartolini soapbars. I'm thinking of changing out the pre, which I think is reason for the aggression, and also the pickups.
I need suggestions. What has worked for you guys that have done upgrades? I'm looking for a warmer modern tone, but in a jazz, maybe with a passive/active switch. Am I looking at a different bass or can this be found made with the Brute? Thanks!
Click to expand...

A set of Aguilar J-HC pickups is exactly what you're after!

Alnico magnets for some true vintage warmth, split coil to kill the 60 cycle hum, and some incredible clarity and even string to string response - the playing starts about three minutes in:

The OBP-3 is extremely versatile and very transparent when set flat, definitely not one of the aggressive preamp designs. ;)
 
#813
Who in the club here owns one of the new versions? I'm considering purchasing one and having a hard time deciding on the color combination. I like the idea of the bursts (blue burst/tobacco burst) but from some of the retailer website pictures I've seen the associated burst pick guards don't seem to really match. Like in the case of the tobacco burst the pick guard burst seems to be a lot more orange. Anybody have any pics they can share?
 
#816
Okay....it's been like 2 months....but SUCCESS lol!

Per my last post, I received the Bart HR4.6 pre and Bart pups and attempted to install them, while wiring a switch for the MM pup (Neck SC, Series HB, Bridge SC). I ran into two problems....1). Jazz pup was the 59CBJD, which was way too short, so I sent it back and received the 57CBJD a few days ago, installed flush after I ran the dremel over the outside of the case to shave a few mm's off. 2). The wiring for the MM pup required an on-on-on switch...I didn't pay attention and pulled out an on-off-on switch, so I ordered a new switch that was shipped with the replacement Jazz pup.

*NOTE* Best Bass Gear is a great place to order almost anything you need to your bass, and their customer services is top notch!

Got everything installed last night (this morning at like 1am lol), and I decided to wire the switch parallel/bridge sc/series. I'm not the most descriptive person, but I'm really digging the all Bart setup so far. I've only had a chance to play through my practice 8" Fender amp, tonight I'll be playing through the Wt800C and Lil G, I'm looking forward to it. I'll try to record a few clips, you all can compare to the other clips floating around of the stock Brutes.

All in all I'm happy this has come to a successful conclusion!
 
#817
Hello Brubaker people , I recently bought a used Brute JJX-5 up here in Ontario Canada , amazing considering there are no Brubaker dealers anywhere in Canada . The problem is that the previous owner cut the pickguard . I am looking for a Brute JJX-5 black/white/black plastic pickguard . Does anyone have one they would be interested in selling ? Does anyone know who make the originals is it Brubaker or someone else ?

I called Brubaker ( not sure who I was talking to ) before the holidays and they said to contact AP international . Tom at AP said that he had some but they were all in bad shape and suggested pickguard Heaven/Chandler Music. I wrote to Chandler and they said they have a template for the MJX-5 and could make one without the bridge pickup opening and I could make my own additonal opening. Also the material would not be the same thickness as the original Brute pickguard. They would also make a pickguard complete if I sent them my old one. That could get expensive considering I am in Ontario Canada and they are in Chico California , plus its possible my original pickguard could end up lost once sent . Plus the thickness would be less .

Anyone have one they want to sell ?

Anyone have any further ideas or information that could help?

Thanks
 

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