preamp

[gary mitchell]

I have a Mitchell FB700 bass with MIM type pickups, I love the bass itself but I am not crazy about the sound I am getting. I was wondering would you change pickups are the preamp. The pickups are Alnico 5s and the pickups won't make a sound without the battery . And if you would change the preamp is there any decent cheap one out there. I has a 3 band eq.

 

[gary mitchell]

I tried to take a peek of the preamp and what I saw was it said CB tone master are Master tone, its square and stuck to the plastic cover covering the pots and stuff.

 

[dwizum]

Assuming the pickups are passive (and it's just the preamp that's powered by the battery), it would be pretty easy to hard wire the pickups to the output jack just to see what they sound like on their own. I'd do that before making any decisions, since it'll let you separate the pickups from the preamp in terms of determining what it is you don't like about the current tone.

 

[Reedt2000]

Assuming the pickups are passive (and it's just the preamp that's powered by the battery), it would be pretty easy to hard wire the pickups to the output jack just to see what they sound like on their own. I'd do that before making any decisions, since it'll let you separate the pickups from the preamp in terms of determining what it is you don't like about the current tone.

This ^

There are tons of preamp options, but one: you may not need/want one, and two: if the pickups sound bad on their own you may want to start by changing them and possibly keep the existing preamp.

 

[gary mitchell]

Assuming the pickups are passive (and it's just the preamp that's powered by the battery), it would be pretty easy to hard wire the pickups to the output jack just to see what they sound like on their own. I'd do that before making any decisions, since it'll let you separate the pickups from the preamp in terms of determining what it is you don't like about the current tone.

Its hard to find the words, its got a hollow type sound . The bass can get loud but I think and it might sound crazy maybe a little to much mids know matter how you set it. Maybe I should just use a bass EQ pedal.

 

[Reedt2000]

Its hard to find the words, its got a hollow type sound . The bass can get loud but I think and it might sound crazy maybe a little to much mids know matter how you set it. Maybe I should just use a bass EQ pedal.

Most preamps don't do a lot of shaping unless you turn the controls up. There are usually middle indents on the knobs (you should feel a little click in the middle of the knob's sweep) that indicates the zero point. Turn up from there and you boost that frequency (bass, middle, or treble), turn down and you cut it. They aren't really designed to have all the knobs cranked. I'd suggest starting at zero, figuring out which knob is which, and slightly turning them up or down to find the right sound for you, before you go taking things apart (unless you've already done that, then I refer to the posts above )

 

[gary mitchell]

Most preamps don't do a lot of shaping unless you turn them controls up. There are usually middle indents on the knobs (you should feel a little click in the middle of the knob's sweep) that indicates the zero point. Turn up from there and you boost that frequency (bass, middle, or treble), turn down and you cut it. They aren't really designed to have all the knobs cranked. I'd suggest starting at zero, figuring out which knob is which, and slightly turning them up or down to find the right sound for you, before you go taking things apart (unless you've already done that, then I refer to the posts above )

Nope Have not taken it apart yet, the only active pickups I ever put in were EMGs and they are easy. But with this bass I wouldn't take a part until I got a lot of info and advice and know for sure what I was doing, I don't have that kind of money to make a mistake I live on retirement. Also I am going to try all the advice you guys give me before taking anything apart . I use this Bass at Church and usually I set all the knobs in the middle, and use both pickups. I have not used an active bass in a long time. My other 2 basses are a Lakland 3TBS with passive humbuckers and my put together out of parts and a new neck has Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders in it, which has become my favorite bass. I got the body free I believe its a Squire body with a neck from I don't remember $60.00 dollars for it awesome neck stainless steel frets. I have maybe a Hundred dollars in it. Sorry back to the Mitchell bass I have time to try all the options you guys give me and I am very thankful to you guys.

 

[gary mitchell]

I think I found the problem has this ever happen to any of you. Put my bass on my work bench and turn my bright light on it to see better. And notice a dark place on 3 strings about the 4 and 5th frets. It was the E,A,D strings it look like those places at one time were super heated, black with blue in the middle of the black. I never played it with the strings it had on it. I like flat wounds , I put on a set don't remember brand but they were not my usual. I use mostly Fender Flats on my basses, they sound good to me and have a decent sound. I can't believe I didn't notice putting them on.