Is it possible to use active MEC pickups without the preamp? (like EMGs)

[Massan]

I'm about to order MEC 60205 soapbar pickups taken out of Warwick Streamer Stage 1,
planning to use them in a build, mimicing the Thumb placement
I was wondering if I could just hook them to 2 25k volume pots and they would sound like if the preamp was set flat?
I don't really need preamps in the studio, just want to make sure the pups don't rely on the preamp too much (since they are active)

Or should I just grab new emgs and be on the safe side?
I prefer the sound of MECs though to be honest

Thanks

 

[96tbird]

Yes. The pickups are passive and can be used without a preamp.

You’ll need 250k or 500k pots though. 25k is too low for decent control.

 

[Massan]

Yes. The pickups are passive and can be used without a preamp.

You’ll need 250k or 500k pots though. 25k is too low for decent control.

They are active.
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[96tbird]

I was looking at the wrong items online. No, you cannot run them without passing them through the preamp buffer to get the output voltage down to instrument level. Otherwise you'll have 9 volts running right to your mixer, maybe not a good idea: there may be distortion or worse, the magic smoke in your mixer may be released. The Warwick pre's have a active on off push pull pot switch.

I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound like a good idea to me. There's a reason the word buffer is used interchangeably with pre-amp.

 

[Massan]

I was looking at the wrong items online. No, you cannot run them without passing them through the preamp buffer to get the output voltage down to instrument level. Otherwise you'll have 9 volts running right to your mixer, maybe not a good idea: there may be distortion or worse, the magic smoke in your mixer may be released. The Warwick pre's have a active on off push pull pot switch.

I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound like a good idea to me. There's a reason the word buffer is used interchangeably with pre-amp.

sure. but EMGs work exactly like that, isn't it? I thought the preamps are kinda built-in into active pups.

I'm plugging into the instrument input of my audio interface. Its 470kOhm and has a PAD switch for hotter signals.

 

[Massan]

So just to reiterate, can MECs be used as EMGs - with passive 25k volume pots and no preamp?
Is it safe? Are there any downsides at all?

With EMG its all really clear, they function 100% as intended without any preamps - Ask a Tech: Do I need a preamp? | eBass

I've heard somewhere that MECs were reverse engineered from EMGs, but who knows to what extent.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Try it with 25K Ohm pots. Here's a Streamer wiring diagram:

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[MPU]

You can use active MEC’s with or without preamp. They have buffers built in them.

 

[tom-g]

Works fine without a preamp or with a different preamp than MEC.

 

[mcnach]

Yup, no preamp needed, but they do need a 9V supply to work.

 

[Massan]

Thanks guys.
Actually I just got an answer from warwick confirming that its completely fine. Problem solved

 

[danalogue]

Seems like you have your answer, but just to reiterate, you do not need a preamp. Source: I used to run the Warwick repair shop.

 

[arbiterusa]

Seems like you have your answer, but just to reiterate, you do not need a preamp. Source: I used to run the Warwick repair shop.

I'll take that as a final answer, and thank both you and the OP as I had the same question myself.

 

[nilorius]

If they are passive then you need at least 250k, if active then you need at least a 9v battery.

 

[Blankandson]

I go through phases with the MECs on my $$ 5-string Corvette. Currently I just pull the volume knob up and run passive, but I also remove the 9-volt battery. I kinda like how it sounds with our current house system. If I need more 'ump' for playing blues, I just insert the battery and push the volume knob down. Easy greasy.

 

[Massan]

I go through phases with the MECs on my $$ 5-string Corvette. Currently I just pull the volume knob up and run passive, but I also remove the 9-volt battery. I kinda like how it sounds with our current house system. If I need more 'ump' for playing blues, I just insert the battery and push the volume knob down. Easy greasy.

they should still sound the same in "passive mode" as in active but with the preamp set flat?
all the demos I've heard on youtube still sound incredibly bright and "active" even with the push pull in passive mode. I'm really going for that sound

I'm pretty sure he didnt remove the battery though

 

[Blankandson]

True that. When the bass and treble knobs are set in the middle, which is flat, there is no difference between active and passive. BUT with the battery in, and in active mode, set the balance to almost full on the neck pup, set the bass knob to full up and treble about 60% up, set the neck pup toggle switch down and the bridge pup toggle switch to middle (sorry, don't remember if that is series, parallel or single) and you will be heard in the house. I play through a GK 550 amp and a GK 2x12 Neo cab with a few pedals. This setup is all I need.

 

[Massan]

True that. When the bass and treble knobs are set in the middle, which is flat, there is no difference between active and passive. BUT with the battery in, and in active mode, set the balance to almost full on the neck pup, set the bass knob to full up and treble about 60% up, set the neck pup toggle switch down and the bridge pup toggle switch to middle (sorry, don't remember if that is series, parallel or single) and you will be heard in the house. I play through a GK 550 amp and a GK 2x12 Neo cab with a few pedals. This setup is all I need.

Yeh, thats understandable. But in the studio application I'm fine with outboard EQs.
Also these pups are split coils, so no toggles for parallel/series etc. Just 2 leads - hot/battery

So probably the wiring should look like this? Sorry I'm a complete wiring noob
a pair of 25k pots and a stereo jack obviously

 

[Blankandson]

I'm completely clueless from here on in. I only know the switches and knobs on the outside. I no nuthin' about what's going on on the inside. Sorry

 

[LUpton]

Your diagram is fine, just remember that even active pickups have a ground wire. Tie those to the same point the bridge ground and output jack ground are tied.