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Replace the PUPs or the preamp?

Replace the Pick ups or the preamp

  • Change the Pick ups

    Votes: 45 64.3%

  • Change the Pre amp

    Votes: 12 17.1%

  • Other options

    Votes: 13 18.6%
  • Total voters
    70
RadioactiveGuy4

RadioactiveGuy4

Feb 24, 2011
857
1,202
New Orleans
#1
Hey guys

I picked up a TBC Jazz Bass a few months back and im kind of unhappy with the sound im getting from it.

I like my bass to be warm with no highs, maybe just a touch of mids, and a lot of lows. The TBC seems to have crazy amounts of highs and mids and even with the pre amp im having trouble getting rid of them.

At first i thought it was just because i put new strings on but now that they have been broken in the bass is still to bright. So should i try a new set of pick ups or a new preamp?
 
#9
Stealth said:
Passive gives you exactly what you need - noticeably less highs and slightly boosted mids because of the high impedance, something active preamps eliminate as their output is low impedance.
Click to expand...

That's right, but it's actually because of the pre's high impedance input buffering the pickups, not because of the low impedance output. Tat brighter tone is the true sound of the pickups without the loading caused by your cable and electronics.

I think a new preamp is needed, since he gets the tone he wants from the other active basses. Most good preamps will let you get a thick dub tone easily. Just boost some lows and cut the highs. :) Now if you can be heard over the band with that tone is another matter. ;)
 
#10
+1 on running passive.

I run a set of Bartolini jazz p'ups passive in my bass and I love 'em. I thought about getting a Bart pre for them, but I would probably run 'em passive all the time anyways. Lots o bottom with a nice kick in the lower mid section. They don't have a lot of highs comin thru even when run wide open, so not a slappers delight, but I like em.
 
#13
Yank the preamp first. If you like it passive, you just fixed your tone without spending any $. Well, maybe a couple bucks in the hole this way from adding a passive tone control, but nothing significant.

In general you'll get a greater change in tone from a preamp swap than by changing the pickups. The more you futz with the knobs, the more difference you'll notice when swapping preamps.
 

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