Dimarzio Model J + Audere Proz = Growl Machine?

[alreadytaken]

Hey guys so I recently picked up a 93 Ibanez Sr1305 (MiJ and amazing bass!) but the pickups and preamp aren't really doing it for me. If I crank all the eq and dial in the mid frequency I get very close, but not quite there. I am considering replacing the stock afr active pickups with Dimarzio Model J's and see how that goes. If I'm still not there I'd like to try an Audere Pro Z pre amp to replace the factory Vari-Mid eq.

I also have a warwick thumb Nt and absolutely love the tone, the snarly mid range is what I am trying to emulate (in a more comfortable to play Ibanez). Below are two examples of the tone I am after. I play 80s and 90s metal and rock and like to dig in and play aggressively with my fingers and use overdrive. I'm all about the thick warm low mid growl, presence, and character (not emg!). Here are two examples of the tones I am chasing:

(bass starts at about 1:00)



(3:07-3:22)



Will the model 5 pickups get me where I want to be? Is there a pre amp with selectable or sweepable mids that will get me there? Should I just try to track down a set of MEC pickups and pre to match the thumb I love so much? I only have four holes for pots, and I definitely to not want to drill into this bass.

Any help greatly appreciated! Here are my basses

 

[Warpeg]

Good luck. The overall tone from a Thumb is in the notorious category of 'hard to duplicate with a different make and model'. If I were to try my hardest to duplicate the Thumb tone on another bass, then I would probably be looking at pickups and preamps by either MEC or EMG.

 

[alreadytaken]

Good luck. The overall tone from a Thumb is in the notorious category of 'hard to duplicate with a different make and model'. If I were to try my hardest to duplicate the Thumb tone on another bass, then I would probably be looking at pickups and preamps by either MEC or EMG.

Yeah the thumb definitely has its own thing going on.