Devon basses and switching "components". Is that important to you?

[TonyP-]

Hey TB

So I was having a discussion with some friends of mine about the new basses that Devon is building and the ability to switch pickups and preamps....

Looks like other builders are building similar conceptual ideas.

Are these aspects important to you the player?

Share you thoughts.
Cheers

 

[FearNoEvil65]

I'm not one to switch Pups and Preamps tone hunting, but many people do so I could see where it would be good for many, it's a smart idea, if it makes $$ good on them

 

[JimmyM]

A very cool idea that I have zero use for on bass but could possibly dig it for guitar. Not enough to buy one, though.

 

[Levent]

This is great and I wish It was universal. I love the idea of changing positions and axis of the pickup too. Someone in japan innovated many stuff like that.
Product Information Basses and Guitars (16) - Atlansia Guitars

 

[melloncollie]

Swapping preamps wouldn’t be super important to me but if there was a way to swap out pickups super quickly that would be great.

 

[India_Sierra]

I think the whole idea is great. I've seen a video of it in use in one of Devon's videos and it looks really slick and easy to get on with. Despite that, I usually feel that once I have the right preamps and pickups in a bass, I'll just stick with that.

 

[thisSNsucks]

Don’t get me wrong, very cool idea, and way more technical than anything I can figure out.

That being said, I’m assuming you’d have to buy the swapable components from the builder directly because the Oem manufacturer doesn’t sell their pickups and preamps with the swapable connectors.

Then there’s the issue of what pickups and preamp the builder uses. I’m sure they’re not going to offer every pickup and preamp manufacturer in the market.

I’d imagine the pure parts cost is more expensive, but you’d be saving on labor if having them installed, so that may be a moot point.

So in the end you’re actually limited on your options, more so than any other builder that just wires things up the old school way.

I could be wrong, and this could be the future of electronics installations. Maybe this will mean standardization in the industry on some sort of quick connection standardization in the industry, but I just don’t see that happening.

 

[JRA]

i voted "i like the idea....." (both pickups and preamps). i think it's a cool concept --- i'm just not picky enough to invest in it --- i chase tones for about 5 seconds and then i'm done.

 

[rashrader]

I use EMG Pickups and Preamps. With the connector cables, swapping pickups is pretty quick and easy. Honestly, I see no real advantage to Preamp swapping on the fly. Seems excessive.

 

[TonyP-]

Don’t get me wrong, very cool idea, and way more technical than anything I can figure out.

That being said, I’m assuming you’d have to buy the swapable components from the builder directly because the Oem manufacturer doesn’t sell their pickups and preamps with the swapable connectors.

Then there’s the issue of what pickups and preamp the builder uses. I’m sure they’re not going to offer every pickup and preamp manufacturer in the market.

I’d imagine the pure parts cost is more expensive, but you’d be saving on labor if having them installed, so that may be a moot point.

So in the end you’re actually limited on your options, more so than any other builder that just wires things up the old school way.

I could be wrong, and this could be the future of electronics installations. Maybe this will mean standardization in the industry on some sort of quick connection standardization in the industry, but I just don’t see that happening.

You make some very good points.
I know at this point for preamps
Devon is working with Darkglass, Nordstrand and Aggie.

Pickups are Nordstrand and Aggie.

 

[TonyP-]

I received some PMs on my post asking if I had some involvement.

I do not and I’m neither for or against.
More curious and opening the discussion.

 

[brianrost]

the new basses that Devon is building and the ability to switch pickups and preamps.... Looks like other builders are building similar conceptual ideas.

It's an old idea. The Ampeg Dan Armstongs had swappable pickups 55 years ago.

In the 1970s the Electra brand had instruments with interchangeable effects modules you could plug in, leave your pedalboard at home.

Each module had two trim pots. The knobs and switches on the instrument did the rest. Yes, they did make a bass, the Outlaw but the LP style guitars are the most common.

These ideas come back every so often and then fade away due to lack of demand.

 

[nonohmic]

Absolutely no appeal to me. I could see it being useful in a studio. But then you could just use a P bass, or software plug-ins.

 

[scuzzy]

I love the way he is executing it. Clean, compact, and elegant. I would love to own one, but not enough to drop the coin.

If I was a daily session guy, it would be in my budget.

 

[brianrost]

Notice the stated advantages over using pedals!

 

[Geri O]

I would imagine that there’s some players that would favor a pickup or preamp change every so often. To them, it keeps things fresh, different and not get boring or stale to them.

We talked about the John East preamps going in our Lulls. I went through two preamps (the OEM and the Nord) before installing the John East unit and that unit is permanent. Since that time, I got the Lindy Fralins and now, I’m set for life(if anyone is curious, I had to send in a set of pups that were made to fit the Lull pup spacing for Fralin to rewind as he didn’t have a form that size).
So for me, the ability to easily plug & play swapping idea would be beneficial as I’ve made the changes I wanted and gave no need to keep changing things. So….

In my humble-at-times, not so much at others.. opinion, it would be prudent to ask the market in general if this ability would be worth the expense of tooling up for such a feature. I would imagine that being a custom builder, Devon could make it an option to the buyer and still come out okay on the investment.
(Although I’m a Lull kinda guy, Devon makes positively gorgeous basses!)

 

[TonyP-]

(Although I’m a Lull kinda guy, Devon makes positively gorgeous basses!)

You are always a gentleman Geri, and I agree with this statement whole heartedly.

 

[pepj]

Yes and No.
Swapping out easier doesn't always mean better but it might encourage more to chase perceived gains.
But swapping out too many variables in a short space of time actually can waste time because you might struggle to identify which swap is good ..or not.
I think you need weeks and weeks to groove in a component and determine if it is a success or not. ime.

So, good idea on paper...or maybe introducing confusion.

 

[cnltb]

Hey TB

So I was having a discussion with some friends of mine about the new basses that Devon is building and the ability to switch pickups and preamps....

Looks like other builders are building similar conceptual ideas.

Are these aspects important to you the player?

Share you thoughts.
Cheers

Isn‘t it totally normal as the client to decide the components used when commissioning a bass, including diversions from the things commonly used by the builder?

 

[ELG60]

It's a nice option. I have 3 of his basses and am quite satisfied with the electronics packages for each, but I'm a sucker for variety, modularity, and flexibility.