• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Villex Pickups and Passive EQ

#61
For the sake of clarity, the new Villex pups [NVT?] will have a three band [cut only] EQ whereas the current versions only have a tone control and that famous mid control? Do I have that correct?

Oh, and the NVT model pups are not available to the general public quite yet?
 
#62
The Passive EQ has 3 bands of Passive cut And boost. The current EQ sports detented pots (the detent being flat; no cut or boost). The one that I reviewed had no detent pots (thus I believed that the fully cut was the neutral position; yet the sound is fantastic).

The famous mid-control and tone control are part of the Villex "Classic" line of pickups. The infamous Passive Rotary Tone Booster (PRTB) is yet another Passive booster. As yet, very few pieces of the NVT pickups have been produced. The pickups on the Villex site are the Villex "Classic" ones. The NVT line will shortly be available to the general public (as soon as the pot manufacturer provides the proper pots with center detent)
 
  • Like
Reactions: PawleeP
#65
bassrique said:
For the sake of clarity, the new Villex pups [NVT?] will have a three band [cut only] EQ whereas the current versions only have a tone control and that famous mid control? Do I have that correct?

Oh, and the NVT model pups are not available to the general public quite yet?
Click to expand...

What fullrange says is correct. The new system is boost and cut; impossible as that may seem. How it's done is unknown to me, but it does just that. The detented pots are something William just got in (they are a specific type and it took him a while to find ones that he was satisfied with), and AFAIK, I received the first system with detented pots. These will be standard soon, I understand.

The impression I get is that the new Villex system will eventually become the standard because William feels it is so superior. I do not know this for a fact; it's just the impression I get talking with him.

The biggest problem I had was having the new system in a humcancelling design in a J bass housing. It presented a few problems but we were able to work around...again, it's the first humcancelling NVT set in a J bass housing AFAIK. Once again testament to Williams' willingness to work with you to achieve a goal everyone can be happy with.

Good stuff....:bassist:
 
#66
This is just a wild guess, but if you have a hot, high output pickup and design a "cut" into the electronics so that is considered the flat starting point you can have the effect of boost and cut. Just a guess, I know that Villex makes great pickups and I'm probably going to use them in my next bass.
 
#67
cybersnyder said:
This is just a wild guess, but if you have a hot, high output pickup and design a "cut" into the electronics so that is considered the flat starting point you can have the effect of boost and cut.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that theory has been advanced and it's probably the best guess out there. Kind of a work-around and a purist might say it's not a true boost, but I say who cares? The result is the same and that's what I'm concerned with. Methods are interesting and I like to know for the sake of knowing but results are what count.
 
#68
Great thread, guys. :D

This is a side bar for those who would like to see other products equipped with Villex pup's. I was totally blown away when Chapman Stick player Greg Howard demoed a Villex module a few years ago. Awesome sound!

Invalid Link Removed

I think I'll be doing a USACG project within a year or so and I appreciate all of your opinions on these pup's.
 
#69
Marcus Willett said:
Yeah, that theory has been advanced and it's probably the best guess out there. Kind of a work-around and a purist might say it's not a true boost, but I say who cares? The result is the same and that's what I'm concerned with. Methods are interesting and I like to know for the sake of knowing but results are what count.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Who cares? After going down the active route, I'm finding that I prefer passive electronics. It's more organic or maybe I'm just hearing voodoo in my head.
 
#71
The first Passive boost from Villex came in the form of the PRTB (which I've tested many times around and the input gain says it works) so I suppose it's the next step up.

AFAIK Marcus has the first detent pots EQ as well as the first set of J housing NVT pickups. I expect my pots when they become available to the maker, really.

I am not aware of Billy Sheehan using Villex in any of his basses cause he is a DiMarzio endorser (he is missing something unique, not me ;) )
 
#74
cybersnyder said:
This is just a wild guess, but if you have a hot, high output pickup and design a "cut" into the electronics so that is considered the flat starting point you can have the effect of boost and cut. Just a guess, I know that Villex makes great pickups and I'm probably going to use them in my next bass.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's what I thought at first too, but that still doesn't explain the Villex passive booster which works with other pickups as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PawleeP
#77
2fullrangebass & others who are knwo things about NVT pickups,
I am a bit confused, could you guys please explain to me:
Villex gonna start to manufacture new line of pickups, The NVT, right? Also Villex is going to produce new EQ - three band passive, as i understood.

So, the question: Will new EQ be able to work with generic pickups or only with Villex only?
Or i understood something completelly wrong: Classic Villex pickups, features Mid control while NVT Villex pickups sports 3 band passive EQ?
Which statement is true?
 
#78
I am NOT Mr Villex, but IME the Villex Classic features Mid-control, while NVT pickups comes with 3-band Passive EQ.

To my understanding the NVT pickups are ready but the Passive EQ is behind schedule due to the pot manufacturer not producing and delivering the proper pots till now. I am not aware if the Passive EQ would work with other pickups (I highly doubt it though), but I know that the mid-control is an integral part of the circuit for the Villex "Classic"
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back