The John East preamp club

[Geri O]

A UNI-PRE won't fit in a Jazz because the circuit boards are too long, causing the EQ to overlap the mid circuit, for example. The end of the EQ circuit will sit beyond the outline of the plate, unfortunately.

Hi, John, a couple of things, if I may.

Will the East MMSR 3-band 4-knob w/ no plate before available anytime soon? And are black knobs available?

Also, I seem to have damaged one of the little output trim pots on my J Retro Deluxe. It still works, but the little knubs on one of the controls has broken off, making adjustments rather difficult. I'm good with a soldering iron, but is it practical to replace those little trim pots? I hope I won't need to make anymore adjustments, but one never knows….

Thanx!

 

[Joyscoop]

Hi all,

I wanted a preamp with precise EQ controls and I've found out that the John East Uni-pre preamp is the best in this regard, globally. Having a collection of basses though and only playing at home, I had this idea to make an external "stomp-box" style preamp unit using John's system, in order to allow all of my basses to benefint from it. So I did it, and I thought about sharing some pics:



It works like a treat. The metal box acts as excellent shielding too and the pots tied against it make sure that the grounding necessity is taken care of by itself.

Please note that the way I implemented this is such that I didn't have to cut a single wire from the preamp unit - if/whenever I want, I can remove it from the box and install this as an internal unit to any off my basses without any problems.

I've got to say that the preamp is really excellent. It's not just the "tone" which is clear but also the dynamics that are top-notch. Attack and articulation are retained very well, in contrast to many preamps out there. Overall it's an expensive unit but you get back every penny of it in tone sculpting capability and dynamics retention.

Please excuse the stickers (I just couldn't bear seeing the bare metal and was too lazy to sand & paint it) and the power cables - the holes were intended as options in routing them but only too late did I realize that only one wire could go through each hole. So I had to use both.

 

[Nuage420]

Hi all,

I wanted a preamp with precise EQ controls and I've found out that the John East Uni-pre preamp is the best in this regard, globally. Having a collection of basses though and only playing at home, I had this idea to make an external "stomp-box" style preamp unit using John's system, in order to allow all of my basses to benefint from it. So I did it, and I thought about sharing some pics:

View attachment 4326516 View attachment 4326522 View attachment 4326523

It works like a treat. The metal box acts as excellent shielding too and the pots tied against it make sure that the grounding necessity is taken care of by itself.

Please note that the way I implemented this is such that I didn't have to cut a single wire from the preamp unit - if/whenever I want, I can remove it from the box and install this as an internal unit to any off my basses without any problems.

I've got to say that the preamp is really excellent. It's not just the "tone" which is clear but also the dynamics that are top-notch. Attack and articulation are retained very well, in contrast to many preamps out there. Overall it's an expensive unit but you get back every penny of it in tone sculpting capability and dynamics retention.

Please excuse the stickers (I just couldn't bear seeing the bare metal and was too lazy to sand & paint it) and the power cables - the holes were intended as options in routing them but only too late did I realize that only one wire could go through each hole. So I had to use both.

Great work! Rodney McG talks about doing this a lot.

 

[tombowlus]

Hi all,

I wanted a preamp with precise EQ controls and I've found out that the John East Uni-pre preamp is the best in this regard, globally. Having a collection of basses though and only playing at home, I had this idea to make an external "stomp-box" style preamp unit using John's system, in order to allow all of my basses to benefint from it. So I did it, and I thought about sharing some pics:

View attachment 4326516 View attachment 4326522 View attachment 4326523

It works like a treat. The metal box acts as excellent shielding too and the pots tied against it make sure that the grounding necessity is taken care of by itself.

Please note that the way I implemented this is such that I didn't have to cut a single wire from the preamp unit - if/whenever I want, I can remove it from the box and install this as an internal unit to any off my basses without any problems.

I've got to say that the preamp is really excellent. It's not just the "tone" which is clear but also the dynamics that are top-notch. Attack and articulation are retained very well, in contrast to many preamps out there. Overall it's an expensive unit but you get back every penny of it in tone sculpting capability and dynamics retention.

Please excuse the stickers (I just couldn't bear seeing the bare metal and was too lazy to sand & paint it) and the power cables - the holes were intended as options in routing them but only too late did I realize that only one wire could go through each hole. So I had to use both.

Great idea!

 

[Shiveringbass]

A UNI-PRE won't fit in a Jazz because the circuit boards are too long, causing the EQ to overlap the mid circuit, for example. The end of the EQ circuit will sit beyond the outline of the plate, unfortunately.

Hello John,

 

[Shiveringbass]

the reply.
So even for a deluxe jazz bass the only possibility is the J-retro ?

A J-tone in a 4 knobs config with separated jack would be a great alternative.

 

[Joyscoop]

Great work! Rodney McG talks about doing this a lot.

Nice to see that other people also want to do this - maybe this will allow them to see that it is indeed doable. To whoever is really interested in doing this, please keep in mind that power supply must be of good quality. John had warned me about this, and true to his word, the plain 9V supply of my guitar EHX Big Muff supply did introduce annoying hiss into the sound. I got myself another supply, (also from EHX - cost about 18$, model YXDC-41-1004) and the noise went away.

 

[walter jones]

Well, you might think this is silly but I think these preamps are so good they deserve to have a club.

I think there should be a J Retro in every jazz bass and a U retro in everything else. (I'm kidding,.........well, maybe not)

If you love your John East pre chime in. No numbers. Just put a pic of your bass w/ the pre and tell us about your John East preamp pup set up.

Hello,
I'll upload pic soon as I can. Just a question for now. I have the U Retro Deluxe, I've had it for some years now. Can it operate on 18 volts? I know 9 volts is fine. I'm not sure about 18. I would appreciate any help on this matter.
Thank You!@!
Walter Jones

 

[Geri O]

Hello,
I'll upload pic soon as I can. Just a question for now. I have the U Retro Deluxe, I've had it for some years now. Can it operate on 18 volts? I know 9 volts is fine. I'm not sure about 18. I would appreciate any help on this matter.
Thank You!@!
Walter Jones

Yes, I operate my J Retro on 18V. It comes as a drop-in preamp with a holder for a single battery, which is fine. I already had a battery compartment for 2 batteries when I installed the J Retro.

 

[bassnyc1]

Here's a question that I hope someone can answer: I have a bass with a preamp and battery box. I want to replace it with J deluxe (I think I got the name wrong, sorry!)
How can I use the existing battery box without soldering?

 

[Geri O]

Here's a question that I hope someone can answer: I have a bass with a preamp and battery box. I want to replace it with J deluxe (I think I got the name wrong, sorry!)
How can I use the existing battery box without soldering?

You can't. You'll need to disconnect the battery wires from the J Retro Deluxe's onboard battery holder and solder them to the wires going to the existing battery box. And use small heatshrink over the solder connections.

If you are handy with soldering, this is an easy task. If you aren't, then it's an easy task for your local guitar repair guy.

Alternatively, you can just use the battery holder built onto the preamp and forego the use of the bass's existing battery box altogether.

 

[bassnyc1]

Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, I don't know how to solder at all but I think I'm able to install the preamp as per the solderless instructions. At least I'll be able to use the preamp until I then have the battery box properly soldered.

BTW: the preamp I am interested in is the J Retro Deluxe.

 

[Funky40]

Hello,
i modified my bass with a East uni-pre 3.
The bass has nords Big blades pups which have a VERY strong output,
and i think i want to change over to a 18V setup. ( now 9V).
Whats the needed wiring for this ?


VERY happy with my East Pre !
sounds very clear.

 

[Geri O]

Hello,
i modified my bass with a East uni-pre 3.
The bass has nords Big blades pups which have a VERY strong output,
and i think i want to change over to a 18V setup. ( now 9V).
Whats the needed wiring for this ?


VERY happy with my East Pre !
sounds very clear.

You would wire the batteries as shown in the diagram. And you'll need to make accommodations for the extra battery.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

Hello,
I'll upload pic soon as I can. Just a question for now. I have the U Retro Deluxe, I've had it for some years now. Can it operate on 18 volts? I know 9 volts is fine. I'm not sure about 18. I would appreciate any help on this matter.
Thank You!@!
Walter Jones

I'm running mine at 24 volts with no issues

 

[Geri O]

I'm running mine at 24 volts with no issues

Eeek! The East documents say to not run more than 18V, but you can obvious do it.

What batteries and combination are you using to get 24v? 18v is fine for me, just curious.

Thanx.

 

[Funky40]

You would wire the batteries as shown in the diagram. And you'll need to make accommodations for the extra battery.

Thanks Geri !

yeah, i have to build a new cover for the electronic cavern to have place for a second batterie
(now, i just mis-wrote it as: "betterie",.....i´ll see if the second one is just that, haha )



vs. my setup with the East Pre/EQ:
i got a Uni-pre 3 + mid-sweep one, prewired by John as a 4 Band setup,
installed in a Ibanez ehb1005sms ( short- multi-scale, 5 string / running different string setups, from common BEADG, to EADGB, A1-E3 and B1-G3).
The Bass was allready modded by me with Nordstrand Big Blade pickups.
The cavern is very dense, but it was working out. Love the East pre, and dig it that i have it as a 4band setup, since i dig to experiment around with knobs.
It gives me some slightly more options. I checked vs. just using it as a 3 band EQ.
But its all quite fresh ! not played to much with the new pre.

But strangely enough have i just recognised *right now*, -going over the photos-, that i broke something.......halfways. Its working fine, but i´m now a bit alarmed.
( see picture one, the connector for the first pickup, while its ok on the other photo / the one far left of the three green connectors)


what sprang to mind at first is how clear it sounds !
i run my Bass mostoften thru a SPL Tube Vitalizer mkII,
and the effect is there even bigger. The win what the vitalizer can do for me is enhanced.
Yet it sounds different than the original Ibanez 3 band EQ and i can´t replace all sounds, in that sense. But the og EQ felt a bit more fiddly to get to the top sounds, while i can dial in my sounds a bit easier with the East EQ, despite the fact that it is a 4 band EQ.

if somebody likes to tweak knobs, and to change sounds all the time, is it shurely a interesting option to opt for such a 4 band setup

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

Eeek! The East documents say to not run more than 18V, but you can obvious do it.

What batteries and combination are you using to get 24v? 18v is fine for me, just curious.

Thanx.

The 24 volt mods use a pair of A23 batteries on a pre made harness they are slightly smaller then a single 9 volt battery and clip in to a standard 9 volt harness. I spoke to John east before testing it and he said they didn't recommend running it above 18 as they hadn't tested it enough to ensure it wouldn't have any issues. I looked over the specs and didn't spot any components that looked at risk for damage and I tried it out. I've been running two basses with east pres in 24 volt for about 6 months and no issues so far.

 

[Geri O]

The 24 volt mods use a pair of A23 batteries on a pre made harness they are slightly smaller then a single 9 volt battery and clip in to a standard 9 volt harness. I spoke to John east before testing it and he said they didn't recommend running it above 18 as they hadn't tested it enough to ensure it wouldn't have any issues. I looked over the specs and didn't spot any components that looked at risk for damage and I tried it out. I've been running two basses with east pres in 24 volt for about 6 months and no issues so far.

Excellent!

That's a good idea. If I wasn't already set up with a dual battery box, I'd consider that idea.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

Excellent!

That's a good idea. If I wasn't already set up with a dual battery box, I'd consider that idea.

It's awesome saves alot of room in the cavity if you don't have a battery box or if only have it routed for a single 9 volt and the batteries last a long time and are fairly cheap I get a 50 pack of energizer a23 batteries for about $25 and a pair of them last me about a year.