• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Replacing Schecter stock's

Veldar

Veldar

Mar 20, 2012
1,303
515
28
kurri kurri, NSW, Australia
#1
I was wondering if i replaced my schecter stock pickups with EMG's if it would make my bass sound better.
I'm a pick up noob and have never tried changing pickups before I was hopping to get them for a Djenty mid sound from them.

My bass model is here Invalid Link Removed

Cheers, Sam
 
#5
Its seems like a lot of Schecters with Schecter pickups in them are still trying to have an EMG-like sound.

If you really like that sound, then yeah, some American EMGs will probably give you more of what you like/want. But maybe not.

See if you can find a bass in a store that already has american EMGs in them, and try it out. It will give you a good idea of what your schecter would sound like. Ibanez SRT are pretty common in stores and have American EMGs in them.
 
#6
Toptube said:
Its seems like a lot of Schecters with Schecter pickups in them are still trying to have an EMG-like sound.

If you really like that sound, then yeah, some American EMGs will probably give you more of what you like/want. But maybe not.

See if you can find a bass in a store that already has american EMGs in them, and try it out. It will give you a good idea of what your schecter would sound like. Ibanez SRT are pretty common in stores and have American EMGs in them.
Click to expand...

Would it make a big difference in the sound? and would it be worth it?
 
#8
Veldar said:
Would it make a big difference in the sound? and would it be worth it?
Click to expand...

The answer to both is "not necessarily". There may be improvements, but they may be subtle. If you read around about your specific model of bass and see a lot of posts saying the stock electronics suck, then swapping is a good gamble. Otherwise you might be gambling too much.

Generally if a bass doesn't sound good, the first thing I would suspect is the amp and cab are inadequate. Next, I'd try different strings and get the bass professionally set up (fine-tuning the alignment of all parts and the intonation). An EQ pedal may help you dial in the middy sound you want if the EQ controls you have are too limited.
 
#9
Veldar said:
Can anyone explain how to change a preamp and pickups or link me a thread?
Click to expand...

The pickups are attached to the bass with ordinary screws. The knobs of the preamp are attached to the face of the bass with nuts, you undo with a crescent wrench. The output jack is also attached with a nut, usually. Internally, attaching the pickups, preamp, and pots, it's all about soldering. Google "soldering tutorial", there are tons of sites and videos.
 
#10
Veldar said:
I was wondering if i replaced my schecter stock pickups with EMG's if it would make my bass sound better.
I'm a pick up noob and have never tried changing pickups before I was hopping to get them for a Djenty mid sound from them.

My bass model is here Invalid Link Removed

Cheers, Sam
Click to expand...

Pop off the back control plate and have a look at the preamp in there. The couple of schecters that I owned had a set of micro switches on the board that changes the EQ curve of the active preamp which if I remember right is made by EMG for Schecter . A lot of different tones available by adjusting those switches. The switch is very small and easily overlooked. Usually it's white and looks like a small square
On the edge of the circuit board. The freq's and settings are on EMG's site but I don't have the link handy.
 
#11
60bass said:
Pop off the back control plate and have a look at the preamp in there. The couple of schecters that I owned had a set of micro switches on the board that changes the EQ curve of the active preamp which if I remember right is made by EMG for Schecter . A lot of different tones available by adjusting those switches. The switch is very small and easily overlooked. Usually it's white and looks like a small square
On the edge of the circuit board. The freq's and settings are on EMG's site but I don't have the link handy.
Click to expand...

I used to have a Schecter Riot 5er with those small switches on the pre and I found they werent much use at all. Plus they're a PITA because you cannot adjust them on the fly. You have to pull the back control plate, play a note or 2 to get the current sound, then play around with these little dinky switches and see if you can tweak the sound much. I found VERY little change in the sound so I put them back to the factory default positions and left them alone after that. Utterly useless IME.

Then when you factor in the EMG HZ's (the most lifeless pickups on the planet IMHO) that were original equipment on the bass, it was hard to get a really good sound out of an otherwise well-built instrument. I ended up trading it and the guy I sent it to put in a pair of regular EMG DC 40s and he said it now sounds amazing.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back