P-Retro, did anyone see this yet???

[John East]

I didn't get it at first either, but now it makes sense. A P bass is all about the mids and we like the passive tone. So on control one you have volume and tone. The unit is passive until you pull up on the front knob to put it into active mode. You get a bit of a boost in signal, but flat tone response. Perfect for driving pedals. The back stack lets you boost both treble and bass when you turn it one way - scoop sound, or boost the mids when you turn it the other way. The mid frequency that you boost is selected by the outer control. The outer control is something that you probably don't want to change once you've set it, so it has clicks to stop it from freely spinning. If you want a bass boost, pull up on the center knob of the rear stack.

So without an actual hand on, it seems perfect for a p-bass. Want to play some metal or slap? Boost the lows and highs with one knob. Want to play some dub? Pull up on the rear knob and cut highs with the passive tone control. Need to punch through in the mix? Boost the mids that help you cut through.

Since a P-bass is more of a pain to remove the pickguard to change a battery than with a J-bass where you just have to pull off the control plate, the battery is built-in and rechargeable. So you don't have to alter your bass to add a battery box and if the internal battery drains, it falls back to passive mode.

Really, really cool IMHO.

Your explanation is absolutely bang-on, with exactly the viewpoint I had in mind, regards practical use of sound variations.

An addition which was not in the orignal details, now in the PDF download on the website, is that the passive tone cap plugs in, with 0.1uF & 0.047uF included.

 

[bassguppy]

John, any idea what the price is here in the USA? Or do we just convert the British Pounds price to US Dollars?

 

[MiniMoose234]

Im really liking this, really want to hear some clips of it. Looks perfect for my Highway one vintage looks/modern sound P

 

[koobie]

A lot of thought obviously went into this, definitely not another me-too product.

 

[John East]

John, any idea what the price is here in the USA? Or do we just convert the British Pounds price to US Dollars?

Just working on the USD price and should be sorted today or tomorrow.

In general the UK GBP to USD conversion will give a good indication, as prices are set in order to keep the business local. In other words, equivalent prices within 5-10% max variation means no point in trying to buy out of your own country, and helps keep business with local dealers.

As an aside, unfortunately the UK is certainly one of the more expensive places to produce products. Price would likely be the GBP number in USD if made in the USA.

 

[Stinsok]

I just want to make sure I understand correctly. With this preamp, can I keep my passive P-bass tone?

 

[Papazita]

Wow!
I think this may have just made up my mind on that Duck Dunn Lakland P I've been eyeing...

 

[joshmickelson]

This is insanely cool. I am very interested in trying one of these out. I know it's a clean signal in passive mode, but I still wonder if it changes the tone at all when active is not engaged (versus the stock set up)

 

[John East]

I just want to make sure I understand correctly. With this preamp, can I keep my passive P-bass tone?

Most certainly!

Absolutely vital, and no point in doing without the original pure P tone.

The passive tone works at all times BTW, and when in the bass/treble boost mode, it's useful in contouring the high end.

 

[chris lykins]

Now available at Best Bass gear. Im thinking about putting it in my Lakland DPLE2 but it sounds great already.

 

[nsh50a]

I just bought one of his music man 3 band pre's from best bass gear and it is FANTASTIC. I am now a huge fan of East's products and am thinking about getting this to go into an old P i have laying around.

 

[pasta4lnch]

very cool idea!

 

[Stinsok]

Most certainly!

Absolutely vital, and no point in doing without the original pure P tone.

The passive tone works at all times BTW, and when in the bass/treble boost mode, it's useful in contouring the high end.

Thanks for clearing that up!

 

[MarkusBass]

I just bought one of his music man 3 band pre's from best bass gear and it is FANTASTIC. I am now a huge fan of East's products and am thinking about getting this to go into an old P i have laying around.

Any sound clips?

 

[John East]

Any sound clips?

Sorry, not yet, something I must get together very soon!

 

[MarkusBass]

Cool! Can't wait to hear them John!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

As an Electrical Engineer (analog circuit designer), I think the John East products are easily among the absolutely best thought-out and implemented on-board preamps I've ever encountered.

Nearly every feature that I've come up with on my own has already been done by Mr. East... He would certainly make a formidable foe.

FWIW - I have no relation to John East, nor do I actually own any of his products (I'm 90% passive, or do my own). I'm just thoroughly impressed with the East/Retro stuff I've seen.

 

[Lorenzini]

I hope I understand how this preamp works in the first place.

But, my understanding is that it's only possible to either:
A) Boost the bass & treble / not the mids
or
B) Boost the mids / not the bass & treble

Both selections allow for variable frequency selection so you can dial in which mid/deep you want to affect. Correct or incorrect?

My only concern is the inability to boost all three if desired. Like what if I want to boost the mids and the bass and the treble? Or boost just the mids and the treble? This is possible, or it isn't?

Lastly, does the passive tone control work at all in active mode? Or, in active mode, only the volume works?

Of course I really appreciate products like this and am considering it in my next P purchase.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

How do you recharge the battery? I didn't see that discussed anywhere. If it requires taking the pickguard off, it seems kind of pointless to even make the battery re-chargeable.

 

[John East]

I hope I understand how this preamp works in the first place.

But, my understanding is that it's only possible to either:
A) Boost the bass & treble / not the mids
or
B) Boost the mids / not the bass & treble

Both selections allow for variable frequency selection so you can dial in which mid/deep you want to affect. Correct or incorrect?

My only concern is the inability to boost all three if desired. Like what if I want to boost the mids and the bass and the treble? Or boost just the mids and the treble? This is possible, or it isn't?

Lastly, does the passive tone control work at all in active mode? Or, in active mode, only the volume works?

Of course I really appreciate products like this and am considering it in my next P purchase.

You are correct but there are a couple of additional functions you haven't mentioned, and the passive tone does work at all times.

It's the basic P passive volume and tone always in circuit, and the active section is switched in, via a relay, after the volume and tone.

I've made a drop-in system that requires no changes to the instrument so all we have practically, is two stack knobs, both with pull switches. One stack retains the original functions at all times, and its pull switch allows the active stack to be switched in. The two modes, your A) & B), are surprisingly flexible with the use of the variable frequency sweep, in that you can obtain quite a variety of sounds and tonal variation. Perhaps more than might be appreciated at first without trying it.

Additionally there is:

* Pull for a preset deep, with 4 frequencies, 40, 60, 80 & 100Hz, with a trim pot allowing the deep boost to be set between 2 & 12dBs.
- So this allows user preset bass boost with mid boost.

* A preset bright function which is switched on in active.
- So this does allow some preset treble boost with mid boost.

The passive tone is useful in contouring any active treble boost BTW.