Can you run G&L M2000 MFD pickups passive, without a preamp?

[covermego]

OK, the reason I am asking is because I bought a set for a project: I bought an early 2000's Ibanez GAXB150 bass and am giving it a "Ripper-ish" look to it. See the pics.
Anyway, These come in at 7.7k. Seems like most things I've read or watched say these NEED a preamp, but I'm asking you good TB folks what your experiences are. I bought a 3-band "Tone Monster" amp for it, but just not sure if I wanna do that. All thoughts/ideas/comments welcome. Many Thanks! -Lenny

 

[ahbass2500]

The pickup itself is passive (so can run without battery). I expect you could probably run it without a preamp and not have output issues.

I have not tried the M series pickups passive. However, I have used the L series pickups and the M series pickups going into the same preamp, an Underhill Filter Pre. Underhill preamp has a buffer. I used the same buffer settings (dialed all the way back) on both the M series and the L series pickups. The M pickup was only slightly lower output than the L with coil switch set to parallel (M pickup coils are wired series). You are not going to get L pickups wired in series output from the M, but you do not really need to.

Worth noting pickup height matters. If you try it and are not getting enough output, try raising the pickups and/or pole pieces.

 

[covermego]

The pickup itself is passive (so can run without battery). I expect you could probably run it without a preamp and not have output issues.

I have not tried the M series pickups passive. However, I have used the L series pickups and the M series pickups going into the same preamp, an Underhill Filter Pre. Underhill preamp has a buffer. I used the same buffer settings (dialed all the way back) on both the M series and the L series pickups. The M pickup was only slightly lower output than the L with coil switch set to parallel (M pickup coils are wired series). You are not going to get L pickups wired in series output from the M, but you do not really need to.

Worth noting pickup height matters. If you try it and are not getting enough output, try raising the pickups and/or pole pieces.

Thanks. I was hoping you'd chime in and you answered right away. I think I'll give it a go without a pre, but keep room available for it. The back cover on this bass is huge and I believe I can even sink a battery box into it. And, good advice on pickup height. Thanks, again.

 

[GrooveCaptain]

I haven't tried the M series mfds, but I put a L series humbucker in one of my basses and kept it passive. Sounds great. Those pickups don't need a preamp in my opinion. They're very powerful and bright by themselves. I've heard the M versions are warmer, but I would think they'd be fine too.

 

[3NotesAbar]

I tried both M and L series passive. No problem.

 

[Chris Chong]

I rmb the MFDs with a full sound and distinct high mids in the L2500.

I think you will benefit from having SC/parallel/series switching options.

 

[gt96g]

I ran an m Series pickup in an l1000 (passive bass) and it sounded amazing, way better than the L series pickup. It's a much smoother and Warner tone, and not nearly as barky as the L. Frankly I think it's something G&L should consider making an option on the L1000.

 

[atquinn]

The L series basses have a passive mode and that's how I play mine most of the time. My concern would be the tone controls. I'd never be able to use an L series MFD with just a tone control. I usually have the bass on mine turned down about 60%. But those tone controls are also passive, so no reason you couldn't have them in a passive setup. I also like all the various mode switches I have on my L2000 (I have series, parallel, single coil and OMG mode options). Again, all available passively.

The M series pickups were designed for an active-only setup. Those might work better with a passive-only setup with a tradition tone control, but I don't have as much experience with those as I do with the L pickups.

 

[covermego]

Thanks for all the replies; I appreciate it!
I'm thinking of starting off by just going passive with simple controls (V-V-T or V-T V-T) and seeing how it does. The Series/Parallel/Single/OMG modes configuration does intrigue me, though - I owned a Tribute Fallout bass for a minute and was pretty amazed at the huge array of sounds you could get. It was also passive, but I know it had an L series pickup in it. Well, that can be down the road.... I have a gig on the 22nd, so I'm hoping it will be in the "rotation".
Thanks, again! - Lenny

 

[Cleezmo]

The M-series pickups are basically the L-series pickup, but 'underwound' by 18% if I remember correctly. This, according to a interview with Paul Goggin, the then-VP of product, was because the preamp in the M is an 18-volt one with a ton of headroom, which is much different than the L-series passive/active/active+treble boost 9V system. Given that the L-series are crazy hot even in passive mode, I think the M-series would still work in passive, but obviously without as much output as the L-series.

 

[definenredefine]

Is this gonna be the build thread, as well?

 

[covermego]

Is this gonna be the build thread, as well?

Hi. No, I had planned on posting a NBD or something on that line.
I also have another GAXB150 in the works, but that's probably several weeks off.
Here's another pic, though..... I still have pots to install. Passive first. If all sounds good, I'll keep it thataway. If not, I'll install that preamp. NBD soon, hopefully. I will also link the NBD from here. Thanks.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Hi. No, I had planned on posting a NBD or something on that line.
I also have another GAXB150 in the works, but that's probably several weeks off.
Here's another pic, though..... I still have pots to install. Passive first. If all sounds good, I'll keep it thataway. If not, I'll install that preamp. NBD soon, hopefully. I will also link the NBD from here. Thanks.View attachment 7174185

It's coming together nicely Lenny!

 

[covermego]

OK, I have now posted it as a NBD, beolw:

Thread 'NBD for me! Ibanez/G&L/Ripper-ish - type thingamajig that needs a name!'

Mar 13, 2025

Howdy, all. I recently bought an old Ibanez GAXB150 from Goodwill and I immediately started wondering what I was gonna do with it. Well, I just stared at it for a while and it occured to me that it kinda had a "Ripper-ish" shape to it, so I decided to take that direction. As soon as I had that idea, I found another one, so there will be yet another of these weird creations coming soon........
Anyway, I made sure the neck was in good shape and it is. I did some fret leveling and dressing prior to starting this build/mod, just to make sure. I then pondered what pickups to install. Let's...

• covermego
• Replies: 27
• Forum: Basses [BG]

• 
• 
• 

 

[definenredefine]

That came together really nicely! Well done!

 

[dmckee]

I’m currently getting a short scale built and thinking of putting a pair of G&L M series pickups in it, with active/passive. Interested to hear how this worked out, but also did you experiment at all with the pickup placement? I thinking I might either move them BOTH closer to the neck, or leave the ‘sweet spot’ one where it is and move the bridge pickup to up near the neck. Anyone any thoughts on that?

 

[covermego]

I’m currently getting a short scale built and thinking of putting a pair of G&L M series pickups in it, with active/passive. Interested to hear how this worked out, but also did you experiment at all with the pickup placement? I thinking I might either move them BOTH closer to the neck, or leave the ‘sweet spot’ one where it is and move the bridge pickup to up near the neck. Anyone any thoughts on that?

Hi - I had replied to some of the question in a different post, so there's that. As far as placement, I took G&L's M2000 placement and, since this one is 32" instead of 34", I multiplied it by .9412 and placed them on this bass accordingly. I did not experiment with moving them fore or ft, though. I must say, though that the bridge pickup had a lot of nice growl, along with heft/fullness. I was totally satisfied with the placement of both neck and bridge.

 

[dmckee]

Thanks for your replies @covermego