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Rockbass Streamer very low output

Jul 25, 2018
78
31
Hi, I just got used rockbass streamer made in 2005. It has great feel, lightweight, good low action but very low output. Strings arent too old and its roundwound ernie balls. I read some threads about how low output some mec pickups have but, will output increase if I change just electronics? Cause I'm on very tight budget :D
 
I assume this is the streamer standard with the two passive soapbar pickups? Changing the pickups can increase the output (provided you get stronger replacements). You could add a preamp, EMG has small preamps like this one:

EMG-BQS Control | Music Solutions LLC

(I have no affiliation with the seller)

Or you could get a boost/preamp pedal, which is the easiest way to go. I'd go with a pedal unless the pickups have a lot of noise/hum, a preamp (pedal or otherwise) would just jack the noise level and in that case new pickups are about the only option.

(You did check to see if it needs a battery right?)
 
I assume this is the streamer standard with the two passive soapbar pickups? Changing the pickups can increase the output (provided you get stronger replacements). You could add a preamp, EMG has small preamps like this one:

EMG-BQS Control | Music Solutions LLC

(I have no affiliation with the seller)

Or you could get a boost/preamp pedal, which is the easiest way to go. I'd go with a pedal unless the pickups have a lot of noise/hum, a preamp (pedal or otherwise) would just jack the noise level and in that case new pickups are about the only option.

(You did check to see if it needs a battery right?)
Yeah, it has 2 passive humbackers. And it electronics are also passive so it doesn't require any battery. I have behringer bddi21 and hope it will help.
 
So I took my bass to the master. He checked out electronics and said that potentiometers are too weak, and that's why it has so low signal. They were 25k ohms and must be about 250k-500k. Higher ohms, better tone but more hum going on, so I want to replace it with 250k, cause it's standart for a jazz bass.
 
So I'm waiting my potentiometers to come to my country, but we did some experiments also. When I get there, we compared its signal to very old fender jazz bass and rockbass was waay to weak with signal. Wiring was also wrong, he changed that and put jack on that correct wiring to hear what comes from that humbackers. Now signal was much better and even higher then j bass. So i just need to wait for my new potentiometers and it will be ready for play instrument ^_^
 
20190313_194017.jpg

Its so beautiful and it has great tone now :3
 
thanks you very much for sharing your experience till the (happy) ending :)

otherwise... your story (the beginning of it) would only have added to "don't buy this, cause its PUPs have very low output"...
...
but now, problem solved! myth is dissolved! :)
thanks, really...