Onboard Preamp Help!

[zacharybass76]

Hi! I have a 94 Ibanez SR1205FL and I want to upgrade its stock electronics. I was gonna start with the preamp, then change out pickups later if the preamp upgrade doesn't do it for me. The preamp has a volume, pickup blend, stacked treble & bass, and a stacked midrange and sweepable frequency "Vari-Mid 3-Band EQ" knob. Who makes a good replacement preamp that I can drop in this bass? Thanks in advance!

 

[RestlessBoom]

John East Uni-Pre 4 is fantastic

 

[lokikallas]

EMG BQC, Aguilar OBP3

 

[A9X]

How do you know the electronics are the sonic limitation?

 

[ahbass2500]

If you have decided to swap, I would probably swap pickups and preamp at the same time. The SR1205 has active (ADX) pickups (http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1994/94038.jpg). This complicates the replacement a little more.

While I am not an expert on the topic (hopefully one will chime in), I do know that active pickups do not always play nicely with preamps. I also know that Best Bass Gear changes potentiometer values on preamps if you are using them with active pickups (for example their OBP-3 listing). My limited understanding is that you need lower valued potentiometers when using active pickups to account for the low impedance signal coming from the pickups. If you go with a preamp setup that is geared for active pickups, you will either need active pickups when you swap (which limits your options) or you will need to change preamps again/modify the preamp you bought.

Noting that my understanding is limited primarily due to lack of need to understand. I have only dealt with active pickups on two basses (Peavey GV and Peavey Millennium Plus). In one of those basses, I like the stock setup. In the other one, I swapped pickups and preamps at the same time, so I did not have to worry about pickup/preamp compatibility.

 

[zacharybass76]

How do you know the electronics are the sonic limitation?

I don't know for sure, but I know I don't particularly care for the stock sound, so I do know from past experience that changing electronics usually does more for these basses than changing pickups. I am willing do change pickups, too, but I figure I'll start with preamp then go from there, if necessary.

 

[zacharybass76]

If you have decided to swap, I would probably swap pickups and preamp at the same time. The SR1205 has active (ADX) pickups (http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1994/94038.jpg). This complicates the replacement a little more.

While I am not an expert on the topic (hopefully one will chime in), I do know that active pickups do not always play nicely with preamps. I also know that Best Bass Gear changes potentiometer values on preamps if you are using them with active pickups (for example their OBP-3 listing). My limited understanding is that you need lower valued potentiometers when using active pickups to account for the low impedance signal coming from the pickups. If you go with a preamp setup that is geared for active pickups, you will either need active pickups when you swap (which limits your options) or you will need to change preamps again/modify the preamp you bought.

Noting that my understanding is limited primarily due to lack of need to understand. I have only dealt with active pickups on two basses (Peavey GV and Peavey Millennium Plus). In one of those basses, I like the stock setup. In the other one, I swapped pickups and preamps at the same time, so I did not have to worry about pickup/preamp compatibility.

I am more than willing to swap out both preamp and pickups. I was curious if there were any options for one or the other first before I pursued changing both. So now I'll need recommendations for compatible pickups.

 

[dwizum]

If you have decided to swap, I would probably swap pickups and preamp at the same time. The SR1205 has active (ADX) pickups (http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1994/94038.jpg). This complicates the replacement a little more.

While I am not an expert on the topic (hopefully one will chime in), I do know that active pickups do not always play nicely with preamps. I also know that Best Bass Gear changes potentiometer values on preamps if you are using them with active pickups (for example their OBP-3 listing). My limited understanding is that you need lower valued potentiometers when using active pickups to account for the low impedance signal coming from the pickups. If you go with a preamp setup that is geared for active pickups, you will either need active pickups when you swap (which limits your options) or you will need to change preamps again/modify the preamp you bought.

Noting that my understanding is limited primarily due to lack of need to understand. I have only dealt with active pickups on two basses (Peavey GV and Peavey Millennium Plus). In one of those basses, I like the stock setup. In the other one, I swapped pickups and preamps at the same time, so I did not have to worry about pickup/preamp compatibility.

Worth noting that this is a "limitation" of the preamp more than the pickups. Just about any off the shelf preamp will work totally fine with any off the shelf pickups, active or passive. There are a few notable exceptions but generally anything sold as mainstream aftermarket will work fine. The point you're making about pots really has to do with the configuration of the preamp. If the preamp uses volume and/or blend pot(s) on the input side - between the pickups and the preamp - then the pot values need to be appropriate for the pickups. i.e. typically you'd use small value pots like 25k or 50k for active pickups, and large value pots - 250k or 500k - for passive pickups.

If, however, the preamp has it's volume pot on the output side - between the preamp and the jack - then nothing needs to be changed.

And no matter the configuration, the rest of the pots (i.e. the EQ related pots) are not going to be any different.

When in doubt ask your vendor, they should be able to get you the right volume pot(s) if anything needs to be different. But this doesn't really impact which pickups or which preamp you can use together.

 

[pepj]

I don't know for sure, but I know I don't particularly care for the stock sound, so I do know from past experience that changing electronics usually does more for these basses than changing pickups. I am willing do change pickups, too, but I figure I'll start with preamp then go from there, if necessary.

What is specifically wrong with the core sound that you dont like?

My thinking is that OB pres have a lot of scope and the good and bad guy here can be the mids.
IME, get them right and the bass opens right up, get it wrong and you are in a world of pain.

 

[GTHintz]

I've actually found that echoing what pepj says is true. Mids can really change things and sometimes a pre is just getting in the way especially when you eq your bass head or whatever you run through. Sweepable mids would really give you options and allow you to set frequency and you'll find a sweet spot on any rig. Or you can go passive and rely on a preamp pedal which I find is easier to find tones I want. I'd research plenty of different preamps and see what fits your needs. Best of luck to you!