Carvin BB75 and Jazz pickups...

[keb]

Another guy said he "switched the H50N pickups for Bartolini 69J's, and there wasn't a major difference in tone at all, after recording both pickups under identical conditions and listening back to both. Seriously, I was hoping for a major difference to justify buying the Barts, but it just wasn't there."

Ah yes, that was me.

There really wasn't much a difference, which honestly surprised me... the Carvins had, as I remember, just a hair more response in the treble frequencies (a little more "clack"), but it wasn't something that noticeable in a mix. But a choice of preamp might make all the difference too -- at the point where I tried the different pickups, I had already removed the stock Carvin pre (because it had died) and rewired the bass to all-passive.

 

[D.Don]

Ah yes, that was me.

There really wasn't much a difference, which honestly surprised me... the Carvins had, as I remember, just a hair more response in the treble frequencies (a little more "clack"), but it wasn't something that noticeable in a mix. But a choice of preamp might make all the difference too -- at the point where I tried the different pickups, I had already removed the stock Carvin pre (because it had died) and rewired the bass to all-passive.

Oh, you have run the hn50s "passive"?

I am oh so thinking of bypassing the active electronics in my carvin and see what get's out of that in the end.

Comments on running them "alone"?

D.Don

 

[keb]

Oh, you have run the hn50s "passive"?

I am oh so thinking of bypassing the active electronics in my carvin and see what get's out of that in the end.

Comments on running them "alone"?

D.Don

Honestly, I can't remember the difference in tone, if there was any, running them passive versus active... the preamp died some time before I got the Barts and that was a long time ago (and I no longer even have that bass actually, though those same Bart pickups live on in my 4-string Carvin-kit fretless... they're built to cover a 6-string but of course they cover a 4-string fine. I prefer the Barts' sound over the J99 pickups that came with the kit; they definitely have a noticeable difference in tone.)

I had heard from a few people's experiences that these particular Barts can really benefit from a preamp but that's something I just haven't gotten around to doing yet.

 

[jfortune]

I had an old Hamer 5-string with CRAPPY stock pickups and elctronics. I replaced the electronics with Carvin's older active preamp (9V with volume, pan, bass, treble controls, no mid). It added more thump but still didn't sound great. I replaced the pickups about 3 years ago with some H50S and it sounded MUCH better. It sounded "sweet". Very accurate, lots-o low-end punch and a nice (but not too tinny) high-end. The low end is different than most "modern" pickups like Bartolini. It's not deep (60-80hz), more like low-mid (100-200hz). It really reaches out and punches you in the gut. Same with the high. It doesn't get TOO high. It gave my cheap bass a quality sound. I would classify my playing style as maybe "busy". I add alot of guitar-like solo stuff all throughout a song. I have mostly played with a 3 piece band so I take on alot of the melodic solo stuff. I have since switched to an ICON IC6P which has a totally different sound (probably more suited to my playing style) but I still dig the sound of my old H50s for some songs.
If you're looking for a more old-school sound. You might try switching strings to flat-wounds. I switched to Steel roundwounds on my Hamer and it added alot more power to the sound. Flatwounds are more warm, vintage sounding.

 

[Brent T]

I have the. Similar situation. My Carvin 5 string has 2 blue dot pups and the stock active passive 4knob amp with one being push pul for active/passive. Active doesn’t work plus only the bridge pup works in passive. So I decided to get new pups and am looking at Semore Duncan’s. For the amps I was wanting to upgrade these too. So because I couldn’t find anyone to recommend an alternative I settled for ordering carvins electronics and am looking now for a good upgrade for the pups.but size is an issue since Carvin uses the same size for bridge and neck pups. Any recommendations?