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Changing the Electronics in an Epiphone Viola Bass
- Thread starter Hippiejoe
- Start date
If you're going to do something like that, you may want to consider getting an ACTIVE-PASSIVE setup to replace the pots and tone circuits. I'm REAL close to trying a 3 band with sweepable mid in a Brice T-Bird. Something like this:
Link Removed
Link Removed
They can be found here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ARTEC-BASS-3-BA...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or a similar one at a more familiar place:
http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/category/3activeelectronics.3basspreampseq/
Link Removed
Link Removed
They can be found here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ARTEC-BASS-3-BA...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or a similar one at a more familiar place:
http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/category/3activeelectronics.3basspreampseq/
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
I just took out a similar setup from a '60s Japanese Hofner copy. It was wired such that switches were used to put series caps into or out of the circuit to for bass rolloff. What you might do well to do would be to put in a small varitone circuit...
Maybe use two of the existing pots as-is for volume for each of the PU's, and replace the third with a push-pull for a 2-position varitone with intensity control. I did something similar in a wishbass and it sounds great.
The values I used were 1.4H for the inductor and .047mfd (shallow) and .1mfd (deeeeep) for the caps. This provides a very useful mid-cut that gives a lot of tonal options. Alternatley, you could pickup a varitone from HAS or Artec and have 5-positions to choose from, but no intensity control.
http://www.has-sound.com/
Maybe use two of the existing pots as-is for volume for each of the PU's, and replace the third with a push-pull for a 2-position varitone with intensity control. I did something similar in a wishbass and it sounds great.
The values I used were 1.4H for the inductor and .047mfd (shallow) and .1mfd (deeeeep) for the caps. This provides a very useful mid-cut that gives a lot of tonal options. Alternatley, you could pickup a varitone from HAS or Artec and have 5-positions to choose from, but no intensity control.
http://www.has-sound.com/
If you don't have room inside, then you could always make an external pre. put it in a small box.
I also have an epi viola bass and would love to upgrade the electronics as well. I'm not sure I would have use for an active system as much, but I would love to mount a Rickenbacker 4003 bridge pickup in. Would I have enough clearance to do so? and how would the output of that compare with the EPI factory neck pickup. Any suggestions? I really love the sound and feel of the bass, I would just like to modify/personalize it!
I've got one of these, and it sounded very dry until I put LaBella Beatle Bass flatwounds on it. I was also considering changing the pickups, but the new strings made it sound great, very much like the Hofner. It can also do a fair approximation of P-Bass thump, an unexpected bonus with the new strings. The stock pickups are nice and quiet, and I am happy with the sound now. You might want to give that a try, then if you're still not happy look into new pups etc...
I have a Viola. Her finish was flawless, and she plays exceptionally well. Her neck has a finger joint at the bend, which should makes her neck less susceptible to breakage. This is a weak spot in Gibson products, by the way.
The first thing I did was to rid her of the stock roundwounds.
I too, was disappointed by the lack of tonal range, and was also experiencing some hum.
A friend (knowledgeable about electronics) suggested changing the pickups. A luthier told me that Bartolini replacement pickups for the Rickenbacker would fit directly, without modification. He changed them for me. Now, the hum is gone and the tonal range has widened appreciably.
The result was well worth (literally) doubling the cost of the bass. Afterward, she plays and sounds great.
The next step is to find a bridge with intonation adjustment. Duesenberg Guitars makes such a bridge for their version of the Beatle Bass, but I don't know if they'd sell just a bridge.
Finally, get yourself a wide, leather strap with suede on one side. That will solve any neck divewhich is much of a problem, anyway.
The first thing I did was to rid her of the stock roundwounds.
I too, was disappointed by the lack of tonal range, and was also experiencing some hum.
A friend (knowledgeable about electronics) suggested changing the pickups. A luthier told me that Bartolini replacement pickups for the Rickenbacker would fit directly, without modification. He changed them for me. Now, the hum is gone and the tonal range has widened appreciably.
The result was well worth (literally) doubling the cost of the bass. Afterward, she plays and sounds great.
The next step is to find a bridge with intonation adjustment. Duesenberg Guitars makes such a bridge for their version of the Beatle Bass, but I don't know if they'd sell just a bridge.
Finally, get yourself a wide, leather strap with suede on one side. That will solve any neck divewhich is much of a problem, anyway.
I was looking on the bartolini bass pickup page, and was wondering if the old thunderbird bass pickup size would fit best or the BB soapbar shape? I need to find the pickup specs for what is already on the epi viola bass
