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Cruise 2Tek guys: Which pickups do U Like?
- Thread starter Zapp
- Start date
I own a Cruise 2-Tek and a Cruise with the Gotoh bridge. I agree that the 2-Tek seems to add clarity, and that may affect which pickups are best in the bass.
When I bought it, it had the EMG JVs in it (pole pieces) with the EMG BTC preamp. I found the combination pretty good, but with a certain flavor/emphasis in the mids/high mids I didn't quite like.
So I put in a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups. GREAT modern sound--these don't sound vintage to me in the least. But too much spiky treble for me, and cutting back on the EMG pre didn't fix the issue. So I pulled out the pre and liked the passive sound better--the tone control was effective in fixing the treble issue. But I found that the pickups had unusually low output (I have heard others claim the opposite--maybe I had a bad set?). They sounded great, and I left them in for several years.
I swapped them out maybe 5-6 months ago for a set of active Basslines pickups--the ones without pole pieces. These are warm and dark with good midrange and attenuated high end. I find them to be a terrific all-around pickup for me: They sound warm and fill up the mix, but are articulate enough that I can hear the notes I play very well. Not the best for the high end Marcus slap tone, but I can get that by eq-ing from my amp. These are excellent pickups for a great supportive sound. Not as big and wide on the bottom as the UltraJazz, but a very rich studio-track sound.
I have played a 2-Tek with the passive vintage Duncan/basslines, and have these in my Gotoh-equipped Cruise. I think these sound great--I get plenty of bottom, but it's not overstated or boomy. The mids are aggressive, almost snarly, and the top has that ragged vintage bite. Pretty balanced, but definitely lean toward the aggressive/ragged side--kind of the opposite of what I get from the actives in my 2-Tek. If I have any knock at all on these it's that they're maybe a hair shy in the low mids compared to the true Fender J sound.
I have played several different Bart J pickups in various basses, but not in anything 2-Tek equipped. I haven't liked them personally--they tend to sound a little artificial and synthy to me, but others swear by them. If anything, they remind me a bit of the active Basslines I have, only woolier and more synthy while the Basslines are cleaner.
When I bought it, it had the EMG JVs in it (pole pieces) with the EMG BTC preamp. I found the combination pretty good, but with a certain flavor/emphasis in the mids/high mids I didn't quite like.
So I put in a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups. GREAT modern sound--these don't sound vintage to me in the least. But too much spiky treble for me, and cutting back on the EMG pre didn't fix the issue. So I pulled out the pre and liked the passive sound better--the tone control was effective in fixing the treble issue. But I found that the pickups had unusually low output (I have heard others claim the opposite--maybe I had a bad set?). They sounded great, and I left them in for several years.
I swapped them out maybe 5-6 months ago for a set of active Basslines pickups--the ones without pole pieces. These are warm and dark with good midrange and attenuated high end. I find them to be a terrific all-around pickup for me: They sound warm and fill up the mix, but are articulate enough that I can hear the notes I play very well. Not the best for the high end Marcus slap tone, but I can get that by eq-ing from my amp. These are excellent pickups for a great supportive sound. Not as big and wide on the bottom as the UltraJazz, but a very rich studio-track sound.
I have played a 2-Tek with the passive vintage Duncan/basslines, and have these in my Gotoh-equipped Cruise. I think these sound great--I get plenty of bottom, but it's not overstated or boomy. The mids are aggressive, almost snarly, and the top has that ragged vintage bite. Pretty balanced, but definitely lean toward the aggressive/ragged side--kind of the opposite of what I get from the actives in my 2-Tek. If I have any knock at all on these it's that they're maybe a hair shy in the low mids compared to the true Fender J sound.
I have played several different Bart J pickups in various basses, but not in anything 2-Tek equipped. I haven't liked them personally--they tend to sound a little artificial and synthy to me, but others swear by them. If anything, they remind me a bit of the active Basslines I have, only woolier and more synthy while the Basslines are cleaner.
I've owned a 2tek fretless 4, a Gotoh fretless 4, and currently own a Gotoh fretted 4. I tried a lot of pickup/pre varieties back in the day until I hit the SD/Basslines Antiquity IIs.
Then I stopped trying pickups.
Seriously, for my tone goals (which seem similar to the OPs) they are great. Good solid organic J bass with some more bottom. I think in a standard J they might sacrifice a bit of top end for said bottom, but since the Cruise has the neck pickup closer to the bridge it seems to compensate.
They might not be for everyone, but they sure work for me!
Then I stopped trying pickups.
Seriously, for my tone goals (which seem similar to the OPs) they are great. Good solid organic J bass with some more bottom. I think in a standard J they might sacrifice a bit of top end for said bottom, but since the Cruise has the neck pickup closer to the bridge it seems to compensate.
They might not be for everyone, but they sure work for me!
Thinker you da man I been looking for.
Which model basslines pup is it?
The passives I think are called SJB-1. The actives, I don't know--you'd need to check the site. They're the ones without the visible pole pieces.
If you ever decide you just can't get the right sound from your 2-Tek drop me a line, I'll consider buying or trading for it
I've owned a 2tek fretless 4, a Gotoh fretless 4, and currently own a Gotoh fretted 4. I tried a lot of pickup/pre varieties back in the day until I hit the SD/Basslines Antiquity IIs.
Then I stopped trying pickups.
Seriously, for my tone goals (which seem similar to the OPs) they are great. Good solid organic J bass with some more bottom. I think in a standard J they might sacrifice a bit of top end for said bottom, but since the Cruise has the neck pickup closer to the bridge it seems to compensate.
They might not be for everyone, but they sure work for me!
If I wanted a more vintage-sounding pickup with tons of bottom for my 2-Tek, those are definitely the next ones I'd try! If the OP wants really big fat bottom and a more vintage vibe these are probably going to do it better than the active Duncans.
question for both of you: would the antiq II's be similar to the fender custom shop 60's rewind? i may be showing my ignorance, but it seems like the design goals of each were similar...
I'm ready to buy something - just trying to take my best shot first. have some flats on the way and would like to do the pickup job before I put those on.
should I leave the Cruise pots in there and just bypass the pre-amp? [assuming it has one.... I dunno if those EMG pickups are self-serving or routed through and EMG or other preamp. didn't look at the circuits that closely but if there is a pa, its very small]
I'm ready to buy something - just trying to take my best shot first. have some flats on the way and would like to do the pickup job before I put those on.
should I leave the Cruise pots in there and just bypass the pre-amp? [assuming it has one.... I dunno if those EMG pickups are self-serving or routed through and EMG or other preamp. didn't look at the circuits that closely but if there is a pa, its very small]
question for both of you: would the antiq II's be similar to the fender custom shop 60's rewind? i may be showing my ignorance, but it seems like the design goals of each were similar...
I'm ready to buy something - just trying to take my best shot first. have some flats on the way and would like to do the pickup job before I put those on.
should I leave the Cruise pots in there and just bypass the pre-amp? [assuming it has one.... I dunno if those EMG pickups are self-serving or routed through and EMG or other preamp. didn't look at the circuits that closely but if there is a pa, its very small]
The Antiquities will an exaggerated bottom compared to the Fenders.
If you go to passive pickups, I believe you'll need to replace the pots as well--I think EMGs require different values than are typically used for passives. If the Cruise is stock it should have a 2-band stacked knob instead of a tone knob. The board of the EMG preamp is small--only about an inch or two across if memory serves.
ah... I see it now. you're right... 2CM x 2.5CM. I had missed it on a glance 'cause its edge mounted adjacent the 2-stack pot.
any recos on what pot to replace that with?
any recos on what pot to replace that with?
My fretless came with the Basslines AJB-5 pickups (the active J pickups). It's got passive electronics--Vol/Vol/Tone
I like it with the Basslines. I'll probably keep them, but I've considered other options like Villex pickups, or maybe something I've not tried like Delanos or Aeros.
I like it with the Basslines. I'll probably keep them, but I've considered other options like Villex pickups, or maybe something I've not tried like Delanos or Aeros.
