• 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.

on board 3 band EQ preamp for modern five string bass build

Juicyanalog

Juicyanalog

Jan 9, 2010
217
136
Shokan, NY
#1
Hello, my fellow bass players
Can use your help about now

I have a custom 5string build
I'm revamping it
I'm using Chris Turner multicoil pickups, and I'm looking for an onboard preamp to complement these pick ups. Sonically speaking, I'm looking to be in the modern jazz clean universe. I could throw out names like Ken Smith, Alembic, Wal, Fodera, etc. But even they are different from each other. But that's the direction. (not into any grungy edgy distorted 'rock/metal' thing)

My biggest concern is having concentric control over the midrange

My builder originally put in Fishman pickups with their preamp
And I was not happy with it at all. sterile and lack of control over mids. ..with one mini toggle.
Toggle on; too much mids…
toggle off; two scooped

So he suggested the darkglass preamp, but I found it too grungy like the aforementioned.

Also, all those high-end preamps are $600 plus… I was hoping to keep it in the 300-400 range

Maybe in the future, I'll save up for the $$$ thing, but for now I just gotta get something in there for a reasonable price… while giving me a chimy clean character

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Juicy
 
  • Like
Reactions: SC Bassboy
#2
The Pope Flexcore sounds like what you're looking for. Lots of configuration options and multiple mid controls.

www.flexcorepreamps.com

FLEXCORE PREAMPS - High performance onboard bass preamp

The FLEXCORE preamp system will breathe new life into your favorite bass or add the ultimate in tone control to the new bass that you are building.
www.flexcorepreamps.com www.flexcorepreamps.com

I have one in my 5-string (tune EADGC) and it sounds fantastic. Modern, crystal clear, but it still has plenty of thump if you bump the low end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lo-E, Juicyanalog and ahbass2500
#3
JonathanPDX said:
The Pope Flexcore sounds like what you're looking for. Lots of configuration options and multiple mid controls.

www.flexcorepreamps.com

FLEXCORE PREAMPS - High performance onboard bass preamp

The FLEXCORE preamp system will breathe new life into your favorite bass or add the ultimate in tone control to the new bass that you are building.
www.flexcorepreamps.com www.flexcorepreamps.com

I have one in my 5-string (tune EADGC) and it sounds fantastic. Modern, crystal clear, but it still has plenty of thump if you bump the low end.
Click to expand...
Thank you let me check that out
 
#6
Juicyanalog said:
Hello, my fellow bass players
Can use your help about now

I have a custom 5string build
I'm revamping it
I'm using Chris Turner multicoil pickups, and I'm looking for an onboard preamp to complement these pick ups. Sonically speaking, I'm looking to be in the modern jazz clean universe. I could throw out names like Ken Smith, Alembic, Wal, Fodera, etc. But even they are different from each other. But that's the direction. (not into any grungy edgy distorted 'rock/metal' thing)

My biggest concern is having concentric control over the midrange

My builder originally put in Fishman pickups with their preamp
And I was not happy with it at all. sterile and lack of control over mids. ..with one mini toggle.
Toggle on; too much mids…
toggle off; two scooped

So he suggested the darkglass preamp, but I found it too grungy like the aforementioned.

Also, all those high-end preamps are $600 plus… I was hoping to keep it in the 300-400 range

Maybe in the future, I'll save up for the $$$ thing, but for now I just gotta get something in there for a reasonable price… while giving me a chimy clean character

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Juicy
Click to expand...

John East. The UniPre in one of its various configurations, depending on the number of knobs etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wboyd68, funkinbottom, Steve88 and 2 others
#9
Another recommendation for Underhill (underhillbass.com). I have The Full English in a 6-string fretless and Cali Classic in a 6-string fretted. The preamps that I replaced were good, but these are so much better.

There is also a version for Turner multicoil pickups.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mdalamond
#10
Juicyanalog said:
Hello, my fellow bass players
Can use your help about now

I have a custom 5string build
I'm revamping it
I'm using Chris Turner multicoil pickups, and I'm looking for an onboard preamp to complement these pick ups. Sonically speaking, I'm looking to be in the modern jazz clean universe. I could throw out names like Ken Smith, Alembic, Wal, Fodera, etc. But even they are different from each other. But that's the direction. (not into any grungy edgy distorted 'rock/metal' thing)

My biggest concern is having concentric control over the midrange

My builder originally put in Fishman pickups with their preamp
And I was not happy with it at all. sterile and lack of control over mids. ..with one mini toggle.
Toggle on; too much mids…
toggle off; two scooped

So he suggested the darkglass preamp, but I found it too grungy like the aforementioned.

Also, all those high-end preamps are $600 plus… I was hoping to keep it in the 300-400 range

Maybe in the future, I'll save up for the $$$ thing, but for now I just gotta get something in there for a reasonable price… while giving me a chimy clean character

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Juicy
Click to expand...
You have multicoil pickups, so it would be criminal not to install a filter preamp. This would essentially make your bass a Temu Wal/Alembic, and that's a good thing. Tim at Underhill is a joy to work with and all the preamps are modular so it's easy to switch out filters and reconfigure them. My fretless is a tone monster now. DO IT!

www.underhillbass.com

Bass Guitar Preamps | Underhill Bass Guitars

Underhill Bass Guitars makes modular onboard bass guitar preamps with filter/eq modules, bass parts, and bass guitars.
www.underhillbass.com www.underhillbass.com
 
#12
The John East Uni-Pre has alot of flexibility and control built into it. I've got the 5 knob version that I pulled from a bass I sold, but I don't really have any plans for it in the near future and just haven't gotten around to listing it. PM me if you're interested.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mcnach
#15
You really want Lusithand Filter pre-amps, He has a model that's tailored for multicoil pickups - Might as well and have a WAL like tone stack, I have a bass with Pope and another one with John East 5 knob. Both are a bit finicky and you have to work a bit more. I think the John East is easier to dial in specially live because of the passive tone. Pope only has a bypass

I think you really should go with a filter preamp. I just have regular jazz type split coil and with just one filter preamp and I dial a base tone pretty quickly for each song . The one model for the multi coil has additional features like the balance of the gain of each coil.
 
#16
Thank you everybody,
wonderful responses and great suggestions
But I probably should've pointed something out from the get-go.
I only have 1 inch to work with (that's what she said) no seriously, the cavity is wide,
79866146815__093DE774-EAE4-4616-BA84-55CA763DA917.jpeg
but shallow… so I guess that limits me… but I am going to research a lot of of these suggestions, possibly even call up the manufacturer to see what can fit

Again, great suggestions
Thank you

Juicy
 
#17
JonathanPDX said:
The Pope Flexcore sounds like what you're looking for. Lots of configuration options and multiple mid controls.

www.flexcorepreamps.com

FLEXCORE PREAMPS - High performance onboard bass preamp

The FLEXCORE preamp system will breathe new life into your favorite bass or add the ultimate in tone control to the new bass that you are building.
www.flexcorepreamps.com www.flexcorepreamps.com

I have one in my 5-string (tune EADGC) and it sounds fantastic. Modern, crystal clear, but it still has plenty of thump if you bump the low end.
Click to expand...
Hey, thanks, I had a long talk with Justin from trickfish. He was very cool and informative. But because of a few details, I don't think I'm gonna be able to fit his preamp down there.
I told him everything I was looking for in a preamp, (concentric control over the mids-like an Alembic) and we left the door open for something in the future that would fit into such a shallow cavity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JonathanPDX

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back