new pickup

r those soapbars in there or a P-J setup?

 

OK, I feel your pain. I'll give this my best shot, but realize now that I don't own an EDC705, and I don't think I've ever played one.

First, measure the size of the pickups accurately. Then check Bartolini's online catalog where you can find dimensional drawings. See if anything matches up. It looks like your pickups are soapbars, from the pictures I've seen, and you may be able to find something the same size or close enough. Then, decide whether you want Bartolini's. See if other manufacturers have something in a similar size.

When it comes to electronics, I imagine there's a big cavity in the back of your bass for them, so lots of different stuff would work. EMG makes controls and modules, as do Seymour Duncan, Bartolini, and many others.

I realize that this is pretty general information, but given the absence of other replies, I hope it helps.

 

According to the Ibanez website, your pickups are passive, so you can replace the preamp if you really want to. What problems are you having with the stock electronics?

 

Also, apart from the catalog, there are dimensional pickup drawings.

The RU pickup is 30 mm by 114 mm

The P4 is 32 mm by 118 mm

The M5 is 38 mm by 114 mm

I have no idea what these would cost, what they sound like, or if they're close enough in size. Just thought I'd point them out in case you missed them.

 

heres what I would do with your bass:

• Put in an 18 volt system (2 9V batteries)
• Put in active Bartolini pickups, close enough in size. Get slightly bigger ones and you can rout the body of your bass to accomidate them. you might want to have a luthier (guitar repair guy) do this for you.
• Get a good active bass preamp, like the Aguilar or Sadowsky preamp.

 

Sorry to change the subject but what do you guys think will affect the sound more. A enw preamp or new pups? Which will have a more profound impact? My guess is the preamp but I'd like some second opinions.

 

Hmmm, I would say the pups would drastically change the tone more than a onboard preamp would. I believe this because the pups is whre the sounds begin, where they were born, if you will. Different materials and different manufacturing methods affect pups from brand to brand. EMGs I believe are the quietest, cleanest, hi-fi sounding pups around. Connected to an EMG onboard, and you're freakin set. The Barts and Seymours are great pups, no doubt, but I feel they color the sound a bit. I rather have the natural tone of the guitar come thru and let the amp setup color it. This way it gives you more options in what tone you want for whatever specific style, I feel. My 2 cents.

 

I think I know what you mean. I'm gonna have to agree with you. My understanding is the preamp will color or change the sound to your liking more than anything else. Thanks guys.

 

Well the Ibanez preamp is nothing to write home about to begin with, so you should abandon its format. Trying to find a preamp with the same configuration of knobs and blend pots as the Ibanez one might be kinda hard. Beggers cant be choosers, you know

IMO, if I had an ibanez bass Id just stick in a good preamp, no matter what the config was. The Sadowsky onboard preamp is supposed to be one of the best ones out there, but I have no idea where to get it. You might have to go to New York and buy one from Roger. Maybe Nino Brown can help you get your hands on a Sadowsky preamp... I would PM him if I were you.

 

Well, I just checked the Sadowsky website and there was some stuff about an onboard preamp after all! It seems that you have to send your bass in to Roger to have it installed though...

 

The EMG BQC Control looks like what you're asking for. It has stacked bass and treble knobs, and a stacked mid/mid freq. You would supply a volume and blend pot of the correct values for your pickups (maybe the stockers would work). EMG also makes one called the BQC System which features the above features plus a volume and blend pot, but is designed for EMG pups only.

HTH