For sale John East U-Retro 4 Knob Deluxe

Bump

I know I like John East as I’ve had the j retro. I’m unfamiliar with this model. I have a bass with 2 Bart soap bars and a BART op-2? pre. Cavity size aside, would it hookup to that? If yes, I’d need to get measurements on my pot holes to see if this would fit.
I have a set of Fralins for 5 string jazz I’m not using and I might have the original control plate from the American jazz for trade value also...
I’m on L.I..

bbh said:

I know I like John East as I’ve had the j retro. I’m unfamiliar with this model. I have a bass with 2 Bart soap bars and a BART op-2? pre. Cavity size aside, would it hookup to that? If yes, I’d need to get measurements on my pot holes to see if this would fit.
I have a set of Fralins for 5 string jazz I’m not using and I might have the original control plate from the American jazz for trade value also...
I’m on L.I..

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As I recall, the tone is very similar, if not identical to, the DJ Retro's I have had and assuming the same as the J retro as they are the same except for the plate. I also believe this is compatible with any active oe passive pickup, I only used with passive Nordstrands. Hookup is simply a matter of hot and negative pickup wires attaching to the two small input blocks with the two small screws per pickup. Couldn't be easier. It would replace your Bart pre of course.

Neither trade item has any use for me though.

nervous said:

As I recall, the tone is very similar, if not identical to, the DJ Retro's I have had and assuming the same as the J retro as they are the same except for the plate. I also believe this is compatible with any active oe passive pickup, I only used with passive Nordstrands. Hookup is simply a matter of hot and negative pickup wires attaching to the two small input blocks with the two small screws per pickup. Couldn't be easier. It would replace your Bart pre of course.

Neither trade item has any use for me though.

Click to expand...

I’m gonna do some measuring and will get back in a few days at most. Doing funeral stuff now.

Price drop to $170 PayPalled and shipped CONUS

Can the bass frequency be adjusted as on the UniPre?
And can it be run at 18v?

I run mine at 18V. Never tried 9 V. There is boost/cut but no sweep other than mids, I believe.

How’s the difference in tone between active and passive?

TrevorOfDoom said:

How’s the difference in tone between active and passive?

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@bbh is correct, no onboard adjusytments for the bass freq, only the sweepable mid control and pull bright on the treble. It looks like the newer versions may offer some additional interbal bass control.

It's wired stock at 9V and I have not ever run any East at 18 so I cannot comment on that. But the East website indicates that all East products are designed to operate with 9 & 18 volts.

Difference from passive to active is what I find on most with this option. Set flat there is little to no differemce, possible a small gain change, I honestly can't recall. With any active EQ dialed in the change on all is much more dramatic. If I am adding an active preamp I personally consider teh passive option a safety net should something go wrong live to get through the job. Otherwise I am active on all the time, that's why I installed it for the onboard flexibility. Amp inputs/pads set that way. Going passive on any always requires me to then go back an make amp input and tonal adjustments. No big deal, just not something that I am doing on the fly.