Looking Into Active J Pup's...Qs?

[RustyStringer]

I am looking at putting some active pickups into my Jazz and have some questions...

I am wanting to get some that are active/passive. Some that I can kick on and off in the event of dead battery...or just not wanting that active sound for whatever reason. I am planning on wiring them for full tone...and replacing my tone pot with the on/off switch for the pups...

How easily is this done?

What are some good active/passive jazz pickups?

(4 String by the way)

Thanks for any help!

Josh

 

[Rickett Customs]

You may have better luck doing a passive pickup and active/passive electronics................ Have not heard of an "active"/passive pickup, that would allow you to bypass the buffer circuit, may be a one way street.....one way or the other....

 

[RustyStringer]

I'm sure that's what I was trying to get at...a guy I know has an Hohner 5 String that has a switch to go from active to passive....

So I can use my current passive's or some kind of after market passives, and then get active/passive electronics? I found some thing like this on MEC's website...but they have the three regular pots, with the volume being push/pull for the on/off. I want to take the tone knob out and put a switch there...would it just be a matter of soldering the switch in?

 

[interstatejoe]

Passive pickups and an active preamp with an active/passive switch is what you're looking for. Aguilar, Sidereal, Bartolini, Delano, Nordstrand, etc. all make great preamps that should fit the bill...just got to pick your flavor.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Nordstrand NJ4SV passive pickups with an Aguilar OBP-3 active preamp that is easily bypassed by installing a preamp bypass switch.

 

[Kwesi]

I just did exactly that with my Fender AmDlx FMT Jazz V. I went with Bartolini CBJD1 pickups and a Bartolini NTMB HR-4.7 preamp. I took a stab at doing the the full installation myself in the interest of curiosity and my wallet (really didn't want to pay someone more money to do it) and it turned out great. Sounds awesome and works like a charm.

 

[Chasarms]

. . . Some that I can kick on and off in the event of dead battery . . .

For what it's worth, not all circuit designs will function in "passive" mode if the battery is dead. If that feature is important to you, make sure your design does.

 

[Chasarms]

. . . I want to take the tone knob out and put a switch there . . .

Typically, active electronics offer more than simply a tone knob. Depending on your choice, they may offer either two or three bands of EQ. Bass, treble and possibly a mid range. They may be boost only or both boost and cut.

This is much of the point of the active circuitry. An active bass with no tone controls doesn't make much sense.

Of course, in passive mode the eq is lost, so you would then have your "full tone."

You can wire the act/pass switch on a push/pull pot instead of a toggle. It saves a hole. Many preamp kits that come with pots will come with this.

 

[interstatejoe]

Of course, in passive mode the eq is lost, so you would then have your "full tone."s.

Not necessarily, you can wire in a passive tone pot between the volume and preamp...not sure if it can be done on all preamps, but I know Nordstand and I think Delano offers a wiring diagram with one...

 

[line6man]

This is much of the point of the active circuitry. An active bass with no tone controls doesn't make much sense.

What are you talking about?

That's why people put simple buffer circuits on their basses, you can have the low impedance output without the extra EQ.

 

[line6man]

Not necessarily, you can wire in a passive tone pot between the volume and preamp...not sure if it can be done on all preamps, but I know Nordstand and I think Delano offers a wiring diagram with one...

It can be done on any preamp, provided that you can work it into the wiring easily enough.
Some preamps are completely PCB mounted, such that it's difficult to modify their controls.

All you need to do is put a passive tone control parallel to the preamp's input.

 

[Chasarms]

What are you talking about?

That's why people put simple buffer circuits on their basses, you can have the low impedance output without the extra EQ.

I am familiar with that and even have installed such a thing in a bass. But, those are typically designed specifically for that purchase, even homemade (as was mine). As you said, it is a much simpler design.

I don't think it makes any sense at all to buy a preamplifier designed with EQ functionality and then bypass it all.

 

[Chasarms]

Not necessarily, you can wire in a passive tone pot between the volume and preamp...not sure if it can be done on all preamps, but I know Nordstand and I think Delano offers a wiring diagram with one...

The Sadowsky "vintage tone control" is simply this. My point was the absence of it would be "full tone" in passive mode.