No need for a preamp, right?

[iiipopes]

EMG active pickups can be wired with passive volume and tone controls. The guitar sets are wired that way, no reason a bass set can't be provided proper component values are used.

Also, I assure you @dwizum knows exactly what he's talking about. He's a seriously talented bass builder

So do I. I have been wiring guitars and basses since 1975. Yes, the stock EMG pots supplied with active pickups for the solderless hookups are technically passive in function, being cut only and not boost, but they are designed to function with an EMG active pickup. EMG makes different pots for the active pickups (25kohms) as opposed to the HZ passive pickups (500kohms). You can't use a standard passive Fender-style 250kohm audio taper pot with EMG actives, and you can't interchange the active and HZ pots on an EMG setup. Don't confuse them when installing a set of pickups. EMG also makes, in addition to the well known preamp setups, an active tone control, although it appears to be designed for guitar, so the slope may or may not suit a bass player.

My current gig bass has the EMG actives, which, of course, I wired myself, has a master volume, an ABCX (because one of the pickups is an X pickup), and an EXB to get variable scoop. At the end of the chain I do have one of the EMG tone controls supplied with the pickups to serve two functions: 1) to tame "new string zing" after a string change until they settle in, and if for some reason there is any residual hiss above the noise floor, to slightly trim the high frequency output to kill the hiss without affecting overall tone.

 

[Reedt2000]

So do I. I have been wiring guitars and basses since 1975. Yes, the stock EMG pots supplied with active pickups for the solderless hookups are technically passive in function, being cut only and not boost, but they are designed to function with an EMG active pickup. EMG makes different pots for the active pickups (25kohms) as opposed to the HZ passive pickups (500kohms). You can't use a standard passive Fender-style 250kohm audio taper pot with EMG actives, and you can't interchange the active and HZ pots on an EMG setup. Don't confuse them when installing a set of pickups. EMG also makes, in addition to the well known preamp setups, an active tone control, although it appears to be designed for guitar, so the slope may or may not suit a bass player.

My current gig bass has the EMG actives, which, of course, I wired myself, has a master volume, an ABCX (because one of the pickups is an X pickup), and an EXB to get variable scoop. At the end of the chain I do have one of the EMG tone controls supplied with the pickups to serve two functions: 1) to tame "new string zing" after a string change until they settle in, and if for some reason there is any residual hiss above the noise floor, to slightly trim the high frequency output to kill the hiss without affecting overall tone.

Yeah, I've been looking at the VLPF and I think they make both a guitar and bass version, the bass version acting an octave below the guitar. I have a Markbass combo with the VLE control which is exactly that, a LPF that starts at 20k and rolls down into the low mids.

I think if I'm gonna put active controls in I'm going to go whole hog and drop the EMG 3 band preamp in it. I might start with the 25k pots and wire passive first just to see what it sounds like. The concensus is VVT or VBT so I'd have a hole to fill. I've considered putting a push-pull pot in it to engage passive fuzz:

Guitarheads - Underdrive Passive Distortion Mod

It might be cool, I have to do more reading but if the pull could engage it and the pot determine the fuzz level...

 

[Reedt2000]

Found a video of the Black Ice passive distortion on a bass. It's kinda cool...



https://www.blackiceoverdrive.com/

 

[sunbeast]

Yeah, I've been looking at the VLPF and I think they make both a guitar and bass version, the bass version acting an octave below the guitar. I have a Markbass combo with the VLE control which is exactly that, a LPF that starts at 20k and rolls down into the low mids.

I think if I'm gonna put active controls in I'm going to go whole hog and drop the EMG 3 band preamp in it. I might start with the 25k pots and wire passive first just to see what it sounds like. The concensus is VVT or VBT so I'd have a hole to fill. I've considered putting a push-pull pot in it to engage passive fuzz:

Guitarheads - Underdrive Passive Distortion Mod

It might be cool, I have to do more reading but if the pull could engage it and the pot determine the fuzz level...

I don’t think that would work with active pickups unfortunately.

As far as my opinion on your quandary, my favorite EMG active control is the VMC and in my case if I already gonna have active pickups I figure I may as well have at least some active tone shaping in there since a full-passive option is already off the table. I think a VVT (or VBT) with a VMC stack added would be a powerful/versatile combo. The beauty of the EMG preamps is that they are designed to be totally modular, so you could always add their BTC (stacked active bass + tone) later.

 

[Reedt2000]

So, I'm stoked to report on the new Spector...

...but FedEx has delayed the package twice

Won't be here til Tuesday now I'm told

 

[Reedt2000]

Delivery happened today

Visually it's stunning

Neck feels really good, but it needs a setup. It's got too much relief and the saddle and pickup heights need to be adjusted.

It sounds pretty good though I find the lack of detents to be awkward. I won't have time to tweak it tonight, better report to follow

 

[Reedt2000]

I had a chance to sit and play a little without it plugged in. I'm really impressed with how resonant it is acoustically. It actually has some volume and the notes sustain pretty strongly. It's wonderfully light, when you pick it up it feels like it might be neck heavy but it balances very well on your leg sitting down or on a strap. The ebony fingerboard feels great. I've been playing 34" scale 5 strings for quite a while now and this 35" has a noticeable difference in feel but not in a bad way. The B string feels great and notes ring loud and clear.

I think with some tweaking this bass will be awesome, exactly the kind of light, good sounding, not-crazy-expensive bass to gig with I've been looking for

 

[Reedt2000]

Oh, and it might get a set of blue fretfx LED side markers

 

[Riff Ranger]

Visually it's stunning

Are we supposed to just take your word for it? ...

 

[dwizum]

I'm starting to wonder if this bass even really exists at all...

 

[Reedt2000]

Are we supposed to just take your word for it? ...

I'm starting to wonder if this bass even really exists at all...

Ok, that's fair

I have an informal rehearsal tonight (friends who get together to play just cause it's fun, we only play maybe 3 gigs a year but "practice" more than any other act I play in ) so I sat down with it to adjust the relief, string height, and pickup heights. First, some pics for the doubters:

Happily this neck likes almost no relief and the action came down super-low (lower than any of my other basses without buzzing). I'm very impressed with the fretwork, everything is level with zero sprout. It took the setup really well, it came intonated and my tweaks didn't affect that. I know I'll need to do some of this again when I put my preferred brand of string on it but I wanted to see it setup with the stock D’Addario strings in case something was bad and it had to go back. Check out this action:

The finish is really cool. It's "sandblasted" and the grain lines are sunk in so you can feel the texture. It's super smooth and has a really nice tactile feel:

All continues to go right with this one, might be time to order the LEDs

 

[Ryan in PDX]

Ok, that's fair

I have an informal rehearsal tonight (friends who get together to play just cause it's fun, we only play maybe 3 gigs a year but "practice" more than any other act I play in ) so I sat down with it to adjust the relief, string height, and pickup heights. First, some pics for the doubters:

View attachment 4499616
View attachment 4499617

Happily this neck likes almost no relief and the action came down super-low (lower than any of my other basses without buzzing). I'm very impressed with the fretwork, everything is level with zero sprout. It took the setup really well, it came intonated and my tweaks didn't affect that. I know I'll need to do some of this again when I put my preferred brand of string on it but I wanted to see it setup with the stock D’Addario strings in case something was bad and it had to go back. Check out this action:

View attachment 4499619

The finish is really cool. It's "sandblasted" and the grain lines are sunk in so you can feel the texture. It's super smooth and has a really nice tactile feel:

View attachment 4499618

All continues to go right with this one, might be time to order the LEDs

That sandblasted ash looks great!

 

[Reedt2000]

That sandblasted ash looks great!

Thanks! I really like it and it's light. Of the 4 in stock when I bought it this was the lightest at 8 lbs 3 Oz, but the other 3 were between 8 lbs 4 Oz and 8 lbs 14 Oz.

You get a lot of what makes a Spector great with this bass without the nearly $3k price of a euro (let alone the $5k+ US models) and in a great looking and lightweight platform

 

[Ryan in PDX]

Thanks! I really like it and it's light. Of the 4 in stock when I bought it this was the lightest at 8 lbs 3 Oz, but the other 3 were between 8 lbs 4 Oz and 8 lbs 14 Oz.

You get a lot of what makes a Spector great with this bass without the nearly $3k price of a euro (let alone the $5k+ US models) and in a great looking and lightweight platform

My main bass for many years was my Marcus Miller Jazz, ash body, weighing in at around 14#. It's more like 12.5# now, without the preamp and battery. I mostly play my fretless squiert hese days, which I consider light at about 9 pounds. Your Spector must feel like a bass-shaped feather! I bet the finish feels great, and will age/wear/take abuse gracefully. Bridge design seems well thought out too. If it sounds as good as it looks, I think you're set for many years.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Ok, that's fair

I have an informal rehearsal tonight (friends who get together to play just cause it's fun, we only play maybe 3 gigs a year but "practice" more than any other act I play in ) so I sat down with it to adjust the relief, string height, and pickup heights. First, some pics for the doubters:

View attachment 4499616
View attachment 4499617

Happily this neck likes almost no relief and the action came down super-low (lower than any of my other basses without buzzing). I'm very impressed with the fretwork, everything is level with zero sprout. It took the setup really well, it came intonated and my tweaks didn't affect that. I know I'll need to do some of this again when I put my preferred brand of string on it but I wanted to see it setup with the stock D’Addario strings in case something was bad and it had to go back. Check out this action:

View attachment 4499619

The finish is really cool. It's "sandblasted" and the grain lines are sunk in so you can feel the texture. It's super smooth and has a really nice tactile feel:

View attachment 4499618

All continues to go right with this one, might be time to order the LEDs

 

[dwizum]

Spectors have such an iconic look and identity. The body shape, the open grain ash, the EMGs, the neck... it's very cohesive and works very well as a complete package. Something to be proud of owning, for sure!

 

[Reedt2000]

So... this bass is pretty awesome

It sounds killer, a bit of a one-trick-pony... but that trick is deep and defined bass tone that cuts right through the mix!

The preamp doesn't sound bad at all and I think I got my head around using it. If you start with bass and treble all the way down you essentially get a slight mid boost as the zero position is cutting both but only a couple db. Then turn the bass up till its full enough, turn the treble until its got as much articulation as you want, and off you go

Definitely gonna spend some more time with it and take it out to gigs with my main band before making any changes.