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Installing OBP-2 into Corvette Std

hhalt

hhalt

Hans Halt
Nov 26, 2010
271
405
Reno, Nv
www.unr.edu
#1
Hi,

I just purchased a Corvette Std with EMGs with V, V, Passive T setup. I would like to get the OBP-2 with stacked b/t. Would I need to buy pots for the Vol and Blend, to match the Aguilar? Does the OBP come with these pots or just the stacked pot?
 
#2
You could use one of the existing volume pots for the new volume, but you'd need a blend pot and a stacked double pot for the tone controls. I believe you can order the preamp to include those pots. You're also going to need a place to put the battery. Fortunately the actual preamp is very small, so you may have room for a battery in the cavity. There are a lot of wires to connect unless you buy the preamp pre-wired from someplace like Best Bass Gear. The only problem with that is they typically leave all the wires full-length, so you need to do some creative bundling if the cavity is crowded. I make all the connections myself.

When I install an Aguilar preamp, I make a cardboard template and punch holes in it in exactly the same configuration as the control layout on the bass. Then I mount the pots on the cardboard so I can do all the wiring outside the bass. By doing it this way, I can trim the wires so they flow nicely between the various components.

Here's a pic of an OBP-3 I installed in an MTD Kingston earlier this week. Sorry for the cell-phone photo quality.

OBP3-in-MTD-TB.jpg
 
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#4
Thanks for the info. I saw the pre-wired options at Best Bass Gear. I was hoping to save some money by doing it myself. My set up already has a battery, so I'm not too concerned with space. Just want to make sure I get the right pots. I think EMG electronics use different pots than what is required for the Aguilar.
 
#5
Ahh, yes, I was assuming the bass was passive, but the EMG pickups are active pickups, hence the battery. If you're good at soldering, the task is not too daunting. You'll have at least a dozen connections to make with the OBP-2 (more for the OBP-3). It takes a bit of patience and foresight. Now, I've never installed an Aguilar with active pickups, so I'd have to review how that's done. With a Pope Flex-Core it's fairly straight-forward. I'll research my wiring diagrams and get back to you. It gets increasingly complicated if you add active/passive functions.
 
#8
Yeah, I'm not sure of the point of active EMGs with a passive tone control. They sound active to me without the benefit of cut or boost. I'm also thinking of switching out the pickups as well. The Corvette sounds great, but I've been using EMG's on my Modulus for years, and am looking for a different sound. Maybe i should figure out the pickups before i mess around with a preamp.
 
#12
EMG believe it or not makes one :) http://www.amazon.com/EMG-Potentiometers-A25KX2-Stacked-Volume/dp/B00829S4HM (and elsewhere)

part is this A25KX2-Stacked-Volume

Key issue is that for the active EMG's you need a 25k volume :( also you will need 3 batteries for 18V operation of the Preamp :(
if you only use one the battery will die REALLY quickly feeding both the pups and the pre...

2 batts one for pup one for pre is your best bet (or one for the pups and 2 for the pre in series for 18V)
hhalt said:
I was considering the OBP-3. The 3SK-PP comes with a stacked BT and ppMid. So where do I get the correct stacked Volume pot? Does that come with the kit? I actually don't mind the V, V set up I have now.
Click to expand...
 
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#13
Here's mine. Its a bit cramped but it all fit. I wired it Vol-blend-bass/treble, but then recently re-wired it for Vol-Vol-bass/treble since I wasn't digging the blend. While I was already re-wiring, I made one of the volume knobs to be a push-pull active/passive switch.

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1399825670.232189.jpg
 
#14
/\/\3phist0 said:
Key issue is that for the active EMG's you need a 25k volume :( also you will need 3 batteries for 18V operation of the Preamp :(
if you only use one the battery will die REALLY quickly feeding both the pups and the pre...

2 batts one for pup one for pre is your best bet (or one for the pups and 2 for the pre in series for 18V)
Click to expand...

It seems to me most active systems just have one battery to power both the pups and preamp. My battery on the the Modulus with an EMG system lasted forever. Is it because of adding a third party preamp?

I may just go with the EMG BTC for $90. Then if I decide I don't like the pickups, I can swap the whole thing out for something else.

Thanks again for all your input!
 
#15
hhalt said:
It seems to me most active systems just have one battery to power both the pups and preamp. My battery on the the Modulus with an EMG system lasted forever. Is it because of adding a third party preamp?

I may just go with the EMG BTC for $90. Then if I decide I don't like the pickups, I can swap the whole thing out for something else.

Thanks again for all your input!
Click to expand...
The modulus most likely had passive pups ad the batt only ran the pre... not certain but is the case iirc.... the btc is an option .... So are the various bartolini pres that can be purchased pre wired pots and all ....
 

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