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Please Help with Jazz Pre-amp Decision

Rev. Cornelius

Rev. Cornelius

Jan 30, 2007
1,037
1,637
Boston, MA
#1
So with changes in my band's direction, the time has come that I would like to install an onboard preamp. The bass is a older MIM Fender Jazz with Duncan Antiquity's. The current style has been proggy rock mostly played with a pick. Effects include a comp, B3K, SA Orbital Mod, Micro POG, SA Nemesis delay (Helix engine particually) and maybe a SA BEF Pro. My amp is a Demeter HBP-1>QSC PLX 1602>Fearless F212. We are slowly bringing in more electronica/trance grooves and sounds, however the need to continue to play the same material with the same sound remains important.

In a perfect world I would buy another bass but that's not going to happen soon. If my bass had a side mount jack I may have jumped at an East J-Retro Deluxe due to the sweepable mids and a passive tone control.

So, I have been looking at both the Audere Pro VZ3 in 3 or 4 band, the East J-Retro and the East J-Tone. All have their pros and cons and the price difference is not enough to rule any of them out. There are plenty videos and other reviews to doccument the differences between the Audere and the J-Retro. The J-Tone not so much as it is newer to the market.

My Pros and Cons

Audere 3/4 band VZ3:
Pros: 4 bands Z system (I am actually neutral in this)
Cons: No Passive mode or passive tone control.

East J-Retro:
Pros: 3 band with sweepable mid
Cons: No tone control for passive mode

East J-Tone:
Pros: Push Pull Active/Passive with Tone control, Tone control works in both active/passive.
Cons: No Mids, Bass and Treble only


So I am leaning towards the J-Tone for it's active/passive use. The question is "Does having the Active/Passive functionality outweigh the lack of the 3rd (or 4th) band of EQ?"

Opinions most welcome,

Thanks
 
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#4
I understand that many people are not handy with tools, or don't feel comfortable drilling into things. If that's you, then ignore me. But if you're at all mechanically inclined, it's literally a ten-minute job. I'd hate to see anybody charge more than $20 to do that for you.
 
#5
Todd:

Alright. I suppose there is no excuse for not putting a side jack in the bass. I have built a few ;) things so that is what I should do. I'll start looking for the tools like a long 1/4" bit and the correct diameter spade bit.

Recent things built:

20170217_203113.jpgIMG_4852.JPG20170510_164109_HDR.jpg
 
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#7
Rev. Cornelius said:
So with changes in my band's direction, the time has come that I would like to install an onboard preamp. The bass is a older MIM Fender Jazz with Duncan Antiquity's. The current style has been proggy rock mostly played with a pick. Effects include a comp, B3K, SA Orbital Mod, Micro POG, SA Nemesis delay (Helix engine particually) and maybe a SA BEF Pro. My amp is a Demeter HBP-1>QSC PLX 1602>Fearless F212. We are slowly bringing in more electronica/trance grooves and sounds, however the need to continue to play the same material with the same sound remains important.

In a perfect world I would buy another bass but that's not going to happen soon. If my bass had a side mount jack I may have jumped at an East J-Retro Deluxe due to the sweepable mids and a passive tone control.

So, I have been looking at both the Audere Pro VZ3 in 3 or 4 band, the East J-Retro and the East J-Tone. All have their pros and cons and the price difference is not enough to rule any of them out. There are plenty videos and other reviews to doccument the differences between the Audere and the J-Retro. The J-Tone not so much as it is newer to the market.

My Pros and Cons

Audere 3/4 band VZ3:
Pros: 4 bands Z system (I am actually neutral in this)
Cons: No Passive mode or passive tone control.

East J-Retro:
Pros: 3 band with sweepable mid
Cons: No tone control for passive mode

East J-Tone:
Pros: Push Pull Active/Passive with Tone control, Tone control works in both active/passive.
Cons: No Mids, Bass and Treble only


So I am leaning towards the J-Tone for it's active/passive use. The question is "Does having the Active/Passive functionality outweigh the lack of the 3rd (or 4th) band of EQ?"

Opinions most welcome,

Thanks
Click to expand...

Something else to consider...the ZMode on the Audere Pro J preamps gives a LOT of tonal variety. In addition to what you can do with the EQ, Z mode let's me go from thumpy round to copping a pretty convincing Rickenbacker tone (with lots in between) with a turn of the Z Mode switch.

I have the 4-band Pro Z in two Jazz basses and love 'em.

Good luck in your quest!
 
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#8
Rev. Cornelius said:
So with changes in my band's direction, the time has come that I would like to install an onboard preamp. The bass is a older MIM Fender Jazz with Duncan Antiquity's. The current style has been proggy rock mostly played with a pick. Effects include a comp, B3K, SA Orbital Mod, Micro POG, SA Nemesis delay (Helix engine particually) and maybe a SA BEF Pro. My amp is a Demeter HBP-1>QSC PLX 1602>Fearless F212. We are slowly bringing in more electronica/trance grooves and sounds, however the need to continue to play the same material with the same sound remains important.

In a perfect world I would buy another bass but that's not going to happen soon. If my bass had a side mount jack I may have jumped at an East J-Retro Deluxe due to the sweepable mids and a passive tone control.

So, I have been looking at both the Audere Pro VZ3 in 3 or 4 band, the East J-Retro and the East J-Tone. All have their pros and cons and the price difference is not enough to rule any of them out. There are plenty videos and other reviews to doccument the differences between the Audere and the J-Retro. The J-Tone not so much as it is newer to the market.

My Pros and Cons

Audere 3/4 band VZ3:
Pros: 4 bands Z system (I am actually neutral in this)
Cons: No Passive mode or passive tone control.

East J-Retro:
Pros: 3 band with sweepable mid
Cons: No tone control for passive mode

East J-Tone:
Pros: Push Pull Active/Passive with Tone control, Tone control works in both active/passive.
Cons: No Mids, Bass and Treble only


So I am leaning towards the J-Tone for it's active/passive use. The question is "Does having the Active/Passive functionality outweigh the lack of the 3rd (or 4th) band of EQ?"

Opinions most welcome,

Thanks
Click to expand...
Maybe go with the Audere without the Z, I have had both systems, installed them both on 6 string basses. The Z mode is cool, but to get it dialed in, for me, it was too much fiddling around with the tiny tiny screw adjustments on the preamp itself. My understanding of the Z if it has not changed, is it changes the impedance of the pups. Me, I don't need it. Perhaps you do. I like the 4 band classic. Nice and smooth, not "artificial" sounding.

If you want to do it on the cheap, try a Duncan Tone Circuit. $59. Will give a ton of high bite, nice with picking. But not anything that can craft a tone. Good luck to you!
 
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#9
I don't miss an active/passive switch with the Audere. Passive sound comes through with the EQ in neutral position. The treble EQ (3 band) comes close to what the treble does on a passive Jazz.
 
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#10
Rev. Cornelius said:
So with changes in my band's direction, the time has come that I would like to install an onboard preamp. The bass is a older MIM Fender Jazz with Duncan Antiquity's. The current style has been proggy rock mostly played with a pick. Effects include a comp, B3K, SA Orbital Mod, Micro POG, SA Nemesis delay (Helix engine particually) and maybe a SA BEF Pro. My amp is a Demeter HBP-1>QSC PLX 1602>Fearless F212. We are slowly bringing in more electronica/trance grooves and sounds, however the need to continue to play the same material with the same sound remains important.

In a perfect world I would buy another bass but that's not going to happen soon. If my bass had a side mount jack I may have jumped at an East J-Retro Deluxe due to the sweepable mids and a passive tone control.

So, I have been looking at both the Audere Pro VZ3 in 3 or 4 band, the East J-Retro and the East J-Tone. All have their pros and cons and the price difference is not enough to rule any of them out. There are plenty videos and other reviews to doccument the differences between the Audere and the J-Retro. The J-Tone not so much as it is newer to the market.

My Pros and Cons

Audere 3/4 band VZ3:
Pros: 4 bands Z system (I am actually neutral in this)
Cons: No Passive mode or passive tone control.

East J-Retro:
Pros: 3 band with sweepable mid
Cons: No tone control for passive mode

East J-Tone:
Pros: Push Pull Active/Passive with Tone control, Tone control works in both active/passive.
Cons: No Mids, Bass and Treble only


So I am leaning towards the J-Tone for it's active/passive use. The question is "Does having the Active/Passive functionality outweigh the lack of the 3rd (or 4th) band of EQ?"

Opinions most welcome,

Thanks
Click to expand...

I have never heard any aftermarket preamp that sounds as good as what John East does. They're all I use now. Get an East.
 
#12
First, i've got a Fender J Plus that came with a Kubicki preamp in it and it's only two band (bass,treble) and has a passive mode. I've never been stumped for a tone with that bass, but i've also never heard another brand of pre deliver as broad a range of tones as it does.

Second, don't drill your standard MIM bass, get you an MIM Deluxe body. There are slight differences in the thickness of the body where the side jack is, there is a lot more room under the control plate and guard, it has a battery compartment, and your existing guard, control plate, pickups, bridge, and neck will bolt right up. I've got a couple, and would consider a trade for your standard body if it's routed for long and short pickups. Message me if you are interested.
 
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#13
Rev. Cornelius said:
So I am leaning towards the J-Tone for it's active/passive use. The question is "Does having the Active/Passive functionality outweigh the lack of the 3rd (or 4th) band of EQ?"
Click to expand...

A couple years ago I started playing Sadowsky vintage J models, and they have two-band EQ (boost only, even) with a passive tone control and preamp defeat (to turn it off). I'm completely satisfied, and find I use the passive tone control more than the EQ for mid-show tone shaping.

I've had active basses with more elaborate EQ in years past, and didn't find there was any big advantage. To me, the key thing is that during a show you won't have the time to get all fiddly with the EQ--so whatever changes you make need to be quick. So I fiddle with amp settings at sound check, and then just make quick tweaks as needed mid-set with a simple EQ and the passive tone control.

So... IME/IMHO, the answer to your bolded question is yes.

And the way you "boost" mids with just a treble/bass two-band EQ is to turn those bands down and compensate on the master volume. You know how you "cut" mids (scoop, IOW) by boosting treble and bass? Do the opposite.
 
#14
IMHO, having an active passive switch is almost useless. Every bass I owned with a preamp w/active passive switching......I never used it in passive mode. And in passive, the tone was severely lacking so I don't go for those types of preamps anymore. Are you stuck on just those preamps mentioned above?

I've had several Audere's. All very nice. I've used Bartolini. They had the A/P switching. I don't trust their pres anymore. I've had 2 fail on me. I love EMG. Perfect amount of boost and cut. Clean and clear. My current basses have EMG, Nordstrand and Aguilar pres. Neither have A/P and I don't care. Just change batteries regularly.
 
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