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ESP-LTD B-205SM PUP/Preamp replacement

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
As the title says I'm looking to replace the pups and preamp in my ESP-LTD B-205SM. It's a 5 string.

I'm looking for a versatile, modern sound with a lot of bite and punch. I'm also looking for it to be a relatively low cost replacement.

It needs to have two soapbars, a pup blend control, master volume, and lo-mid-hi 3 band EQ.

New or used doesn't matter. The pots need to be clean and smooth as I change on board frequently and my current pots are scratchy no matter how much I've cleaned them.

Any recommendations?
 
#3
The pups are 4" long by 1.5" wide.

Prefer dual coil I guess, but I'm looking for a modern kind of sound (not P-Bass or Jazz). I'm open to try something different, but whatever it is, it needs to be more on the low budget end, even if it means going used. A separate 3 band EQ (Lo-Mid-Hi, not stacked unless the mid is a dual stacked control) with Volume and PUP Blend is a must though.
 
#4
That's EMG 40 series size- the dual-coils are rails inside, so will work with 5 or 6 string.
The EMG 40P5 is what you want if more towards a modern, but P neck sound- some like 'em in the bridge, also.
The EMG 40HZ is passive, but all can be used with EMG 3-band EQ's (BTS/BTC) as long as you use the correct value vol/bal pots for passive or active pickups.
The EMG 40 series also work well with Aguilar OBP3 EQ, if that's more you liking.
There is an EMG 40 series comparison on youtube with 40DC's, 40P5, 40CS pickups, swapped to diff positions that may help.
 
#6
Just as an aside, which makes a bigger difference in tonal change...PUPS or Preamp? Or can they each dramatically alter the sound independent of each other? I'm sure changing either PUPS or Preamp can change it quite a bit.

I really dig the sound of my Ibanez Soundgear and I really like the configuration of the controls. But it's only a 4 stringer (with only a Pup Blend, Volume, stacked Lo/Hi and a single Mid sweep EQ) and my main gigging bass is my 5 string ESP-LTD. I'm almost tempted to swap out the preamps and controls (leaving each bass's pups in place), just to see if it makes a difference.

I love the Mid sweep on the Ibby. It not only boosts/cuts the mids but also boost/cuts lows and highs at the same time. It's kind of a contour type control which makes for very easy tonal changes on the fly. I'd have a hole in the body I'd have to put a dummy control in though. Although I could put a preamp kill switch in there so I could leave it plugged in but kill the battery power.

Not sure how the Ibby's preamp will play with the ESP-LTD pups, or whether or not the Ibby's pups are more of it's tone than the preamp. Hmmm.

Just thinking here.
 
#8
I might be interested in trying the EMG 40HZ pups. The reason being is that I could go passive or active with them. So I'm thinking if they work well passive, they may be more suited to old school tones in passive mode, but modern in active mode.

I don't hate what I have, but I have to do a lot of EQing with my bass because the pups/preamp in this bass has kind of a brittle sound to it. Like it's a tad thin. Not sure how to describe it other than there is not a real even tone throughout. If I get my D and G strings tamed down so they aren't overly bright, then I lose clarity on the other strings. When I get the clarity I want with my lower strings, then the D and G strings sound overly bright, yet thin. Overall, I just don't get a nice deep fat tone that I can do a lot with, using the onboard EQ. I almost have to dial back the highs completely to get rid of the harshness, but that leaves the rest sounding a little dull.

Anyone have any experience/knowledge of the EMG 40Hz pups that can help me decide?
 
#9
I've got the 6 string version and replaced the pickups and preamp with EMG DCs and the BQS pre. I personally wouldn't change one without the other, but YMMV. The pre in the LTD was far better than the one in my Ibanez SR as far as neutrality and clarity, but the EMG was definitely an improvement. As for the pickups, the stock ones are not much different from the EMG HZ series. If I was doing it over again, I'd be very tempted to try the Aguillar soapbars or EMGs CS line, the latter being what I'd recommend to you along with the 40P5 seeing as you want something that goes deep and fat.

You will find that if you're doing a lot of EQing with the onboard pre, an aftermarket replacement will be more accurate and musical, with less coloration.
 
#10
After a little more research into the EMG 40Hz, they do not seem to be much of an improvement over what's in my ESP-LTD already. ESP-LTD's already have proprietary EMG designed pups in them, but I'm guessing they are on the lower end of the quality scale (given the price point of the bass).

Don't get me wrong, I love this ESP-LTD. It looks and plays like a much higher end bass. Super low action and a real dream to play. But the tone does not quite have the punch I'm looking for. It just seems a little thin. Thus far I've been able to EQ my amp to get what I want for the most part, but just want a little more oomph for lack of a better description.
 
#12
I'm still toying with the idea of using my Ibanez SR400 preamp in my ESP-LTD. The reason being is that I LOVE the tone and control of my SR400, but it's a 4 string, and I always use my ESP 5 string on gigs. I love the playability of the ESP over the SR400, but I love the tone of SR400. The pups on the SR400 would work on my ESP as well because they are oversized for the SR400. But, I'd have to route my ESP to make them fit.

Ideally I want the tone of my SR400 in my ESP. Ugh!
 
#13
I have a B206 (pre-SM). I didn't like the knee/corner frequencies of the stock preamp. I left the original pickups in it (OEM version of EMG HZ) and swapped in an EMG BQS preamp.
I was quite happy with the results. Note that if you go this route, the circuit board limits where you can place the mid control.
 
#14
That is part of the reason I was thinking about swapping preamps. Put my SR400 preamp in my ESP. While a lot of people haven't liked that style of SR400 preamp (with the mid contour control, not a standard mid boost/cut) I really love it. I can easily switch to a warm, clean tone to an aggressive mid bump and anything in between with just that one knob.

How much of my SR400 tone comes from the pups or the preamp (or the combination of them) I don't know. But I'm curious to at least try it once.

And I figured that although my ESP has 3 separate EQ controls and my SR400 only has two (with the Highs/Lows on one stacked control), If I like it, I can always solder the leads that go to each on the stacked control (in the SR400) to the separate Hi/Lo controls of the ESP.

I have some time to experiment before the band gets back together for the next rehearsal (drummer out of town until mid-September).
 

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