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Question about replacing pickups.

nitrofix

nitrofix

Gold Supporting Member
Jan 15, 2009
1,807
579
Miami Fl
#1
Hey Guys, I have a '92 Ibanez SR800 thats been sitting around in the garage for about the last 15 years. The reason it's been sitting around is back then it starting making noises kinda like a deep wind sound and I just never got around to fixing it.
The bass has active pickups, My first question is does anyone know what that might be ? I know it's hard to tell by me just saying it's making a deep wind sound. My 2nd question is if I replace the pickups with passive pickups do I need to change the pot's ? Sorry for the stupid questions but when it comes to bass electronics I am completely clueless. I really like this bass and would to get it up and running.....Thanks Guys...
 
#4
Yes I did change the battery, no difference. There is a little board on each of the pots except for the blend pot. Could it be that the pickups are passive but has a active EQ ? It is a PJ setup.
 
#5
nitrofix said:
Yes I did change the battery, no difference. There is a little board on each of the pots except for the blend pot. Could it be that the pickups are passive but has a active EQ ? It is a PJ setup.
Click to expand...

This is most likely the case.

Here is a diagram for a Vol/Blend/Tone set up for if you decide to just get rid of the preamp.

Link Removed
 
#7
Thanks guys, Thinking about just gutting the bass and starting over with just a v v t controls. Now I think I need the pickups, 3 pot's (250k or 500k) ?? would CTS pot's be a good choice? a cap for the tone pot( again what cap would be good) ?and change out the jack, don't like enclosed jacks..Would I need anything else ?? Thanks again guys
 
#8
If it's a P/J I'd stick with 250k pots. CTS are good pots, but you should make sure that they'll fit in the bass. I once tried to do something similar, only to find that the CTS pots wouldn't because the holes were drilled too close to the sides of the cavity. Mini pots might be a better option.
 
#9
Oh, and change out the jack, too. With the active preamp you had a stereo jack. You only need a mono jack with a passive setup. You have a lot of options with capacitors. Brand in my opinion doesn't make a huge difference, but some people swear by Orange Drop. The OD should run you like $3, but you can get a no name cheap one for about $.50.
 
#13
Perytion said:
Oh, and change out the jack, too. With the active preamp you had a stereo jack. You only need a mono jack with a passive setup. You have a lot of options with capacitors. Brand in my opinion doesn't make a huge difference, but some people swear by Orange Drop. The OD should run you like $3, but you can get a no name cheap one for about $.50.
Click to expand...

He could still use the stereo jack, he just wouldn't use the sleeve ground. Orange drop caps will work no better than any other cap. I don't know exactly where people got the idea that they are some how superior in the first place.

18 awg wire may be a little large, I usually use 22 awg.
 
#14
^yep, snake oil. I on the other hand, have soviet caps in my basses, cheap so I figured why not? They sound fantastically the same as the stock Mylar caps I took out. My 1962 jazz has the original cheapo ceramic cap and sounds the best of any I have. Grab any .047 cap and you're set.
 
#15
96tbird said:
^yep, snake oil. I on the other hand, have soviet caps in my basses, cheap so I figured why not? They sound fantastically the same as the stock Mylar caps I took out. My 1962 jazz has the original cheapo ceramic cap and sounds the best of any I have. Grab any .047 cap and you're set.
Click to expand...

I will also never understand the admiration some people have for cloth insulated wire. The stuff is a pain to strip, its expensive, its probably twice as thick leaving less room in the control cavity and has no performance benefit.
 
#17
96tbird said:
True but you don't strip the cloth; you just push it back. It's good if you're doing work on an old bass and you want to keep it legit. And it doesn't melt and you can hold it with your fingers while soldering. That's about it.
Click to expand...

I don't like having to deal with pushing it back, If you let it go it slides back to where it was. The biggest problem I have is how thick it is. When dealing with an active Jazz with minimal cavity room, its a major pain. Its no big deal really, on all the vintage voiced pickups that come with them I usually replace the wire with a black and white 22 awg. This way you can twist the wires together, that helps with noise.
 
#20
Well since nobody had a J bassline pickup in stock locally and can't find a blend pot either locally I went ahead and just put a Bassline P pickup in it with new 250k pot's, new jack and let me tell you it sounds awesome so I'm gonna leave it that way, moved the jack from the side to the top covered the J route with a NHRA sticker, now I have my custom Ibanez SR800 NHRA special Edition Bass, looks cool and sounds great what more could you ask for..Thanks for all the advice guys...
 

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