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S.U.B. Club

#1,641
Chrome Dome said:
Had few of these SUB's in the past. Just got this 2004 US Music Man SUB body without pickup,and decided to get EMG,plug and play pickup,with pots,and just connect the harness with all the components. Place where I ordered them wanted to confirm the pickup dimensions.Trying find a neck for it also.Don't have the bass body,in possession yet. Might should have waited to order pickup,after I got the bass body. Any comments? ThanksView attachment 3797602
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Is there an original preamp with the body? Not sure that will play nice with EMG's.

Best aftermarket pickup I've tried was the Nordstrand MM4.2. which nails the Pre-EB sound.
As they say on their site: (not sure who writes their copy but it's pretty entertaining!)
"History: As is the case with all our other historically inspired replacement pickups, the development of the MM4.2 was instigated upon our diligent craftsmen's desire to puncture the sonic space-time continuum, reach through the time warp, and pull that classic 70s tone through to the other side. Carefully reproduced and meticulously refined with history in mind, the MM4.2 stands as proof of our shop's ability to transcend the timeline of frequencies the muse's tonal prospects have come to develop throughout the decades. "
 
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#1,642
shrigg said:
Is there an original preamp with the body? Not sure that will play nice with EMG's.

Best aftermarket pickup I've tried was the Nordstrand MM4.2. which nails the Pre-EB sound As they say on their site:
"History: As is the case with all our other historically inspired replacement pickups, the development of the MM4.2 was instigated upon our diligent craftsmen's desire to puncture the sonic space-time continuum, reach through the time warp, and pull that classic 70s tone through to the other side. Carefully reproduced and meticulously refined with history in mind, the MM4.2 stands as proof of our shop's ability to transcend the timeline of frequencies the muse's tonal prospects have come to develop throughout the decades. "
Click to expand...
Thanks,I saw the Nordstrand MM4.2. Decided to go with the one,that no soldering needed. Not sure,but this is the passive model. If I understand right,passive bass don't need preamp?
 
#1,643
Chrome Dome said:
Thanks,I saw the Nordstrand MM4.2. Decided to go with the one,that no soldering needed. Not sure,but this is the passive model. If I understand right,passive bass don't need preamp?
Click to expand...

Did you buy passive EMG's? Most EMG's need a battery and the passive SUBS do not have a battery compartment... Here's the only passive Music Man EMG pickup: Invalid Link Removed
 
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#1,644
I've read more than once (maybe on TB) that the EMG's in the MM sized casing sound like an EMG soapbar pickup and not like a Musicman pickup.
I've also read good things about the Seymour Duncan MM style pickups.
 
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#1,650
Isn't the passive SUB a passive treble/bass control set? If so, any diagram of a G&L type PTB will get you there.
Here's one.
381891-08e58099b9407e827555e86ce85cd7e1.jpg


FWIW, a couple suggestions...
--If you go the PTB route... A guy on BassesByLeo message board did some experiments and found that a 250K linear taper works great (in my opinion--better) for the bass cut pot. He has diagrams showing it's response vs the 1M reverse audio taper pot (the stock G&L pot). Fully cut, the 250K pot is cutting as much bass as the 1M pot would be on about 4. That is more than enough range for bass cut, especially on a bass guitar. Here's that thread BassesByLeo.com, est. 2009 • View topic - Bass Pot Replacememnt: 250K Linear vs 1Meg Reverse Audio

TBH, I rarely turn my bass cut on my G&L El Toro below 10, and when I do, it goes to about 8. Any lower and it gets too thin sounding, even on the soloed neck pickup or when both pickups in series. For a Stingray type bass, that punchy pickup location kinda needs all the low end it can muster. Plus, it's also much easier to find a B250K linear pot vs those C1M pots.

--Something somewhat different, but infinitely more usable (IME)... I would suggest a Wilde Bass Q filter to be your 2nd tone shaping knob, along with a passive tone control. As I mentioned before, bass cut doesn't make much sense on a Stingray, but midrange/low mid cuts are much more useful. I installed one of these Bass Q Filters on a T45 type bass and tuned it as close to 425Hz as I could. A small cut makes the instrument have an active-like clarity, deep cuts gives a big, scooped, dubby thump. The way I see it, a bass cut control barely gets used, if at all. A mid cut is used sparingly, but certainly sees more action and tonally is much more rewarding. For a passive Stingray, being able to get a bigger, dubby tone from the instrument is pretty cool.
 
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#1,651
Just got the 2004 body,no pickup,but not good at soldering,got the EMGMMHZ passive pickup,and it only has volume and tone pots. So had to let the middle knob be phantom pot. Had the original pick guard,but decided to go with a tort guard,may try to find a Pearloid one later.
IMG_0278.jpg
Ordered Status Graphite neck,from Status in England. Might be 5 weeks delivery time. Neck suppose be direct replacement,for Music Man. Got it already to go,all the controls hooked up,and getting sound when I tapped the pickup. Will give an update,when the neck gets here! Can't wait!
 
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#1,652
Chrome Dome said:
Just got the 2004 body,no pickup,but not good at soldering,got the EMGMMHZ passive pickup,and it only has volume and tone pots. So had to let the middle knob be phantom pot. Had the original pick guard,but decided to go with a tort guard,may try to find a Pearloid one later.View attachment 3807689 Ordered Status Graphite neck,from Status in England. Might be 5 weeks delivery time. Neck suppose be direct replacement,for Music Man. Got it already to go,all the controls hooked up,and getting sound when I tapped the pickup. Will give an update,when the neck gets here! Can't wait!
Click to expand...

Whoa, a Status neck is gonna be wicked cool!
 
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#1,656
I've always loved Sting's Dakota red/maple fretless board precision and always wanted one...but I'm a total Stingray guy.
Screenshot_20200329-112028.png

Then it occurred to me that I could put together a Stingray with the same aesthetic as Gordon's Fender, I just needed to source the parts and a build platform. Enter this U.S.A. SUB purchased from Reverb: (photos from the ad)
Screenshot_20200501-074054.png
Screenshot_20200501-074025.png


I found a '78 mute bridge, had that added and the body refined in Dakota red:
IMG_20200329_121424.jpg


Took the neck to my luthier, had him strip it and put a clean maple fretless slab on:
Screenshot_20200426-090525.png
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Screenshot_20200427-114419.png
Screenshot_20200501-072354.png
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Screenshot_20200501-072446.png
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Now I'm just waiting for the nut to be slotted. I'll post pics of the finished bass when I get it back. This is going to be a KILLER SUB!
 
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#1,657
maxschrek said:
I've always loved Sting's Dakota red/maple fretless board precision and always wanted one...but I'm a total Stingray guy.
View attachment 3810732
Then it occurred to me that I could put together a Stingray with the same aesthetic as Gordon's Fender, I just needed to source the parts and a build platform. Enter this U.S.A. SUB purchased from Reverb: (photos from the ad)
View attachment 3810704 View attachment 3810705

I found a '78 mute bridge, had that added and the body refined in Dakota red:
View attachment 3810712

Took the neck to my luthier, had him strip it and put a clean maple fretless slab on:
View attachment 3810718 View attachment 3810719 View attachment 3810720 View attachment 3810721 View attachment 3810722 View attachment 3810723 View attachment 3810724 View attachment 3810725 View attachment 3810726

Now I'm just waiting for the nut to be slotted. I'll post pics of the finished bass when I get it back. This is going to be a KILLER SUB!
Click to expand...
Why didn't you keep the SUB logo?
 
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#1,658
odarellmc said:
Why didn't you keep the SUB logo?
Click to expand...
That's seriously the first thing that comes to mind after looking at my project? Gee, thanks.:D
Mainly, I guess, is because I didn't want to leave the face of the headstock black. That would spoil the entire look and point to the build. Same reason I didn't keep the stock bridge, knobs and battery box.
 
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#1,659
saltydude said:
Yes that factoid pertaining to the year of manufacture has been addressed already thank you. Do you even SUB forum chum?
I just gave my opinion on the bridge and inquired about replacement. Yes it does work but it also lookes like something that was mass produced for $11.
Again yes I am talking about a real USA MM that I already stated I've had for years and barely ever touch the thing. I'm glad your such a fanboi of this clumsy overbuilt back breaker of a bass. I personally overall am not.
Click to expand...

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

not sure why this message came up in my 'activity', I guess someone must have responded or something... whatever, it made me laugh, again :D So, so, so very salty...
 
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