svtb15
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- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
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Fender American Elite 5 - Preamp Swap?
- Thread starter phillipkregg
- Start date
I also run my preamp with treble cut off or just boosted from 0. No law says you cannot use the cut side of controls. And, as in Sadowsky's and Aguilar's OBP-1, the bass and treble are boost only. So I essentially treat mine as the same. Turn it to off, and bring in what I need. I actually use the cut side of the mid control, too. To help to even the level when switching from passive to active. I agree with the above, the EQ points are very good. In fact, the cut side of the treble cuts highs at a very similar point as the passive tone. To my ears. I try all positions of controls to learn the electronics' effects on tone. Use my knowledge for specific goals. And I do prefer to buy a bass and not have to change anythin. So, in tryin to avoid change, I use the controls a bit different. Plus, in a mix, those high might help ya cut thru. Lots of guys use boost pedals. This avoids the need for one. I use my switch for soloing, too. Passive is perfect for keepin an overdrive nearly clean, but active kicks drive up when wanted. I like the tone of the preamp, tho. So I am loathe to change it. I will say, tho, I've used the Audere. Very transparent. No solder install. And a great way to see if change is necessary.
These are all good points. You can almost view the active/passive switch the same way you would an EQ pedal.
I’ve also found it turning the treble down seems to help quite a bit.
I kinda like the boost the stock preamp gives. I played my Elite 5 earlier and I was getting almost a Ric-ish growl out of it. But yea, I think a little treble cut as others have said should work.
An alternate perspective from a guy who owns 3 Fender Elite Basses and plays the crap out of them:
1) These are incredibly versatile tools: Passive = Vintage Tone. Active = Modern...two templates to paint with...which is rad imho..
2) A bump in volume can effect your perception...If you want the passive sound louder...turn up the volume..
3) If you perceive a bump in high frequencies, simply cut a bit of treble from the active pre-amp. The EQ is there for a reason...use it...
4) IMO, there are very limited scenarios where you would switch between active and passive during an actual performance. Furthermore, if you are running thru a house PA, the soundman will hate you if you switch. Ok...maybe hate is a strong word...but you will definitely elicit an eye roll because after spending the first 4 songs to get everyone sitting properly in the mix,,,you went ahead and went active thus blasting out the pretty boy singer and pre-maddona guitar player that he (or she) had dialed 'just right...'
5) If you like passive mode, just bump the volume a bit.
6) if you like active mode, just tweak the EQ a bit
Just one dudes 2 cents....
Here is my Fender Elite Jazz Bass review...listen to the active vs. passive sections..
1) These are incredibly versatile tools: Passive = Vintage Tone. Active = Modern...two templates to paint with...which is rad imho..
2) A bump in volume can effect your perception...If you want the passive sound louder...turn up the volume..
3) If you perceive a bump in high frequencies, simply cut a bit of treble from the active pre-amp. The EQ is there for a reason...use it...
4) IMO, there are very limited scenarios where you would switch between active and passive during an actual performance. Furthermore, if you are running thru a house PA, the soundman will hate you if you switch. Ok...maybe hate is a strong word...but you will definitely elicit an eye roll because after spending the first 4 songs to get everyone sitting properly in the mix,,,you went ahead and went active thus blasting out the pretty boy singer and pre-maddona guitar player that he (or she) had dialed 'just right...'
5) If you like passive mode, just bump the volume a bit.
6) if you like active mode, just tweak the EQ a bit
Just one dudes 2 cents....
Here is my Fender Elite Jazz Bass review...listen to the active vs. passive sections..
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I second this. I have two American Deluxe J 5’s. I had Audere pro JZ6’s in them. Eventually, I sold them and got the Audere Jazz preamp that doesn’t have Z mode so I could retain the tone knob. They’re PERFECT. I also tried a John East Retro J in between and wasn’t impressed. It had too much baked in tone.
Thanks for posting that, I believe I saw this review on another thread as well. For me it basically just comes down to the fact that Fender didn't make the passive tone control usable while in active mode.
Rolling off the treble helps, but there's a whole spectrum of tones that you can achieve when you can roll off the tone control, then bump the treble or vice-versa. It's something that I grew quite accustomed to on the Sadowsky (and the Sire, and the Skjold) but a little annoying that I can't do that on the stock Fender.
Not a huge deal, but it would have been a very nice feature to have. I'll talk to the tech I normally use and see if it's possibly just a simple wiring modification that would allow for it to work in active mode.
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
I am curious, did you ever upgrade the preamp? I have used the J-Retro and J-Tone preamps in J basses and the passive tone works in both active and passive modes. The J-Retro adds a lot more punch than the J-Tone, the J-Tone is more subtle. I agree, having a passive tone control that works in both mode adds all types of different tones.
No I actually ended up selling it. I'm more accustomed to having 24 frets and playing my Sadowsky Modern.
However, I was tempted to do this conversion:
That's probably the best sounding Fender I've ever heard - with JRetro deluxe and Bartolini B-Axis pickups.
For me the Fender preamp was too trebly sounding when trying to record, but when playing live through a 15 or a 410 cab, it was less harsh and provided some nice bite to help you cut through a loud mix. It may have been engineered with "live playing" in mind more so than studio or "bedroom" playing.
I put a Sad pre in my American Deluxe 4 string as I wanted to have the Vintage tone in active mode. I Couldn't be happier with the results and it mates really well with the Nordstand pups that I had previously installed. My main 5 string is a Sadowsky so it was kind of a no-brainer for me.
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CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
I know I’m late to the party but is there somewhere in Nashville that carries the Sadowsky outboard preamp that you could try out? If you lived nearby I’d let you try mine.
I know, I know, you sold the bass and you’re nowhere near Ottawa. This has to be my most useless post ever!
I know, I know, you sold the bass and you’re nowhere near Ottawa. This has to be my most useless post ever!
Honestly every fender I have, I’ve changed the preamp in. I have a Nordstrand set up in one of my elites and a mike Pope in the other.
Thoughts based on preamps mentioned and not yet mentioned here...
John East J-Tone (not the Retro). I currently have one installed in my G&L JB5 with Nordstrand Alnico III 60s wind pickups. Passive mode sounds fantastic after swapping to the cap that fits what you want from the passive tone control knob. Active mode set flat is identical to passive to my ears. Active mode has some adjustment knobs for bass/treble that I was able to dial in for the active tone that I want when boosting/cutting. I have not tried the Retro, so I cannot offer a comparison there. The J-Tone is based on the Uni-pre which would probably make more sense for a 4 knob Fender preamp setup. The big thing with this preamp is spending the time to get the controls on the backside of the plate dialed in to your liking.
Nordstrand does not make a ready to go jazz plate, but they make preamps with active passive mode and passive tone control. I have their 2b-4c in an Ibanez SR885 LE loaded with their Warm and Wooly Big J Blades. I love this preamp. Great passive tone. Active tone is incredibly transparent. I seem to recall an interview where Carey said he was trying to build something like the Sadowsky preamps. This one might be in line with what you are looking for while giving you something other than using another Sadowsky.
I have the Audere with z-mode in a USA Peavey Millennium. It is an insanely versatile preamp. However, I prefer the other two mentioned here better due to ease of install and operation.
Based on what OP has said so far, I would suggest the Nordstrand 2b-4c or 3b-4a if you want a 3 band. Both have passive tone controls and active/passive mode.
John East J-Tone (not the Retro). I currently have one installed in my G&L JB5 with Nordstrand Alnico III 60s wind pickups. Passive mode sounds fantastic after swapping to the cap that fits what you want from the passive tone control knob. Active mode set flat is identical to passive to my ears. Active mode has some adjustment knobs for bass/treble that I was able to dial in for the active tone that I want when boosting/cutting. I have not tried the Retro, so I cannot offer a comparison there. The J-Tone is based on the Uni-pre which would probably make more sense for a 4 knob Fender preamp setup. The big thing with this preamp is spending the time to get the controls on the backside of the plate dialed in to your liking.
Nordstrand does not make a ready to go jazz plate, but they make preamps with active passive mode and passive tone control. I have their 2b-4c in an Ibanez SR885 LE loaded with their Warm and Wooly Big J Blades. I love this preamp. Great passive tone. Active tone is incredibly transparent. I seem to recall an interview where Carey said he was trying to build something like the Sadowsky preamps. This one might be in line with what you are looking for while giving you something other than using another Sadowsky.
I have the Audere with z-mode in a USA Peavey Millennium. It is an insanely versatile preamp. However, I prefer the other two mentioned here better due to ease of install and operation.
Based on what OP has said so far, I would suggest the Nordstrand 2b-4c or 3b-4a if you want a 3 band. Both have passive tone controls and active/passive mode.
Just to update this thread, after I sold this particular Fender elite jazz, I found another one that I fell in love with that had a maple fingerboard and champagne finish.
After a week or so the harsh treble sound of the preamp started to annoy me again, so I went with my gut and had a Sadowsky on board preamp professionally installed.
The bass sounds absolutely wonderful now, and I got a chance to play with it through my Aguilar rig tonight. The preamp turned out to be very transparent and brought the passive tone of the fender alive and allowed me to add more warmth and crispness to the top end.
If anyone else is considering a similar change to their fender, I highly recommend the Sadowsky preamp.
After a week or so the harsh treble sound of the preamp started to annoy me again, so I went with my gut and had a Sadowsky on board preamp professionally installed.
The bass sounds absolutely wonderful now, and I got a chance to play with it through my Aguilar rig tonight. The preamp turned out to be very transparent and brought the passive tone of the fender alive and allowed me to add more warmth and crispness to the top end.
If anyone else is considering a similar change to their fender, I highly recommend the Sadowsky preamp.
I thought these basses sounded great passive, the preamp to my ears is unpleasant..
I just swapped out the preamp for a Sadowsky and the pickups for a Nordstrand NJ4SV set in my Elite 4. Sounded great at rehearsal tonight! Much less harsh. Can’t wait for tomorrow night to try it live.
