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Do Onboard Preamps Improve Output on a Passive?

#2
Try it with your stock ones first. Yes, compared to a passive circuit (tone pot and capacitor), you will notice quite a difference. If you are installing it yourself, be sure to insulate your pickup cavities and control cavities, the audere will also bring extra noise in with the signal, if you don't. Enjoy.
 
#4
Jazz Ad said:
It depends on what you mean with power.
A preamp doesn't always increase gain, sometimes it even lowers it.
On the other hand, it really lowers impedance, preventing your signal from degradation through long cables.
Click to expand...

100% true! Also, just FYI, the Audere is one of the ones that actually lowers the output level of your signal a tiny bit.
 
#7
CurryHalfndHalf said:
Hey, I've just purchased an Audere JZ3 onboard preamp for my passive MIM Jazz. I bought it primarily for tonal control, but will it improve the power of the output?

It's just so depressing switching to it at gigs from my powerhouse of a Musicman!

Should I invest in some active pups? Or can I keep my stock ones?
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the difference between the levels?

First, you shouldn't invest in active pickups, because your preamp has to specifically allow their use. I don't think you can use that Audere with active pickups.

The preamp you bought should allow you to control the gain (pots that are initially set and stay inside the cavity). Perhaps you could try to set the gain to match your other bass.
 
#8
drpepper said:
Are you talking about the difference between the levels?

First, you shouldn't invest in active pickups, because your preamp has to specifically allow their use. I don't think you can use that Audere with active pickups.

The preamp you bought should allow you to control the gain (pots that are initially set and stay inside the cavity). Perhaps you could try to set the gain to match your other bass.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys! I'm still waiting for the preamp, as it's coming from America to the UK, USPS says that it's in customs now.

^Could you explain your last paragraph there drpepper? cheers
 
#9
drpepper said:
First, you shouldn't invest in active pickups, because your preamp has to specifically allow their use. I don't think you can use that Audere with active pickups.
Click to expand...

:confused:
The only difference between active and passive pickups is output impedance.
If the preamp's input impedance is high enough for a passive pickup, it won't matter if you lower the pickup's output impedance, just so long as the voltage stays high enough to be audible.

Or did you mean the variable impedance load feature on the Audere? That feature probably won't do very much with a low impedance pickup.
 
#11
drpepper said:
I'm not sure what confuses you about my statement.

Are you saying that the op can use active pickups with his preamp???
Click to expand...

I'm confused by your statement that a preamp "has to specifically allow for" the use of active pickups, when a high impedance input doesn't care what's plugged into it.

Yes and no.
You could use active pickups with an Audere, the Z modes just wouldn't do much.
 
#12
CurryHalfndHalf said:
Thanks guys! I'm still waiting for the preamp, as it's coming from America to the UK, USPS says that it's in customs now.

^Could you explain your last paragraph there drpepper? cheers
Click to expand...

Well, I wasn't completely sure what you were saying in the initial post, but I took you to mean by "power" that you hadn't been happy switching between basses because of the difference in "volume" between the two.

What I was suggesting is that since gain is adjustable/settable, it may be possible for you the match the basses. Just a thought, not something I've done.
 
#13
line6man said:
I'm confused by your statement that a preamp "has to specifically allow for" the use of active pickups, when a high impedance input doesn't care what's plugged into it.

Yes and no.
You could use active pickups with an Audere, the Z modes just wouldn't do much.
Click to expand...

Yes and no?

Within the context of the original question being "should I get active pickups to pair with this preamp in order to deal with this issue I'm having," I think it's irresponsible to answer that active pickups would be viable without regard to whether that preamp is intended for passive pickups, active pickups, or is intended to support either.

Given the question the op is asking, it seems clear to me that he's unaware of the potential limitations and restrictions on active pickups with his particular preamp.

So, I think the most helpful answer is one that suggests he should not simply run out and "invest in active pickups," but should first know what is supported by his preamp.
 
#14
drpepper said:
Yes and no?

Within the context of the original question being "should I get active pickups to pair with this preamp in order to deal with this issue I'm having," I think it's irresponsible to answer that active pickups would be viable without regard to whether that preamp is intended for passive pickups, active pickups, or is intended to support either.

Given the question the op is asking, it seems clear to me that he's unaware of the potential limitations and restrictions on active pickups with his particular preamp.

So, I think the most helpful answer is one that suggests he should not simply run out and "invest in active pickups," but should first know what is supported by his preamp.
Click to expand...


I never said that the OP should get active pickups, nor that he shouldn't, because I wasn't answering the OP's question. I was speaking in regards to your assumption that the Audere could not be used with active pickups, when indeed, it can. (Albeit, with limitations to the functionality of the preamp.)
 
#18
Hey guys! I installed the preamp just this afternoon, and it's fantastic! It gives me great tonal control, made especially versatile with that snazzy lil' z-switch.

It also perfectly meets my needs mentioned above, like 'power' etc.

I've set the gain to match my MM, and there's surprisingly little distortion that comes with that. I'd recommend it any day, it only took me about fifteen minutes to install!
 
#19
CurryHalfndHalf said:
Hey guys! I installed the preamp just this afternoon, and it's fantastic! It gives me great tonal control, made especially versatile with that snazzy lil' z-switch.

It also perfectly meets my needs mentioned above, like 'power' etc.

I've set the gain to match my MM, and there's surprisingly little distortion that comes with that. I'd recommend it any day, it only took me about fifteen minutes to install!
Click to expand...

Hey, good for you!

One thing though...you seem to be saying the level that you had to go to in order to match the basses up introduced distortion? Distortion that's not there at a lower level?

You know what you're hearing and what's acceptable to you, but if that is the case, I think that means you've gone too high with the gain.

Is it that important to have them match? Maybe someone can suggest a way to get more gain without distortion.

I wouldn't think that there would be any reason for the MM to be adjustable, but you might check on that. Just a thought.
 
#20
drpepper said:
Hey, good for you!

One thing though...you seem to be saying the level that you had to go to in order to match the basses up introduced distortion? Distortion that's not there at a lower level?

You know what you're hearing and what's acceptable to you, but if that is the case, I think that means you've gone too high with the gain.

Is it that important to have them match? Maybe someone can suggest a way to get more gain without distortion.

I wouldn't think that there would be any reason for the MM to be adjustable, but you might check on that. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Sorry, my bad. When I said 'distortion', I was just referring to a slight, tiny increase in the hum coming through my rig, no biggie =)
 

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