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The John East preamp club
- Thread starter datsaxguy
- Start date
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,024
- 1
- 31,754
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Hi … I'm restoring my '78 Jazz Bass and am keen to explore using a John East preamp. For pickups I have the option of a DiMarzio Ultra Jazz (which has been on the bass long time) or a Fender Pure Vintage '74 pick up (available but not purchased yet). Original plan was to use the Fender tone control set which comes with a 0.1 mF tone cap.
I just would like to keep the bass as stock sounding as possible but to have an active preamp has its benefits too. Then I need not be tempted to spend more on something like a Sadowsky SBP-1.
Presently, am keen on the J-Tone.
My question is, when in passive mode, does the preamp colour the sound? TQ!
I just would like to keep the bass as stock sounding as possible but to have an active preamp has its benefits too. Then I need not be tempted to spend more on something like a Sadowsky SBP-1.
Presently, am keen on the J-Tone.
My question is, when in passive mode, does the preamp colour the sound? TQ!
If you prefer no colour in passive mode go with the flat response one.
I'm using a J-Tone with a Bartolini b-axis jazz set. With all the settings flat, there is not much tonal difference between active and passive modes, but the active setting is louder. I use the volume/balance version.
Came across an interesting problem last night on a gig. My U retro went out. Sound works in passive but no signal in active mode. Figured it was the battery but wasn't and upon looking into the cavity, it appears one of the wires came off the jack? Not really sure but if so, shouldn't I be able to solder it lightly back on? Just need to know where unfortunately...
Attachments
This one is the negative from the battery. In the jack, the smallest lug is the tip (signal), the biggest lug is the ground, remain the medium lug used for the negative pole of the battery.
Yes, if by mistake you solder it to the ground (big one) it will work but will drain your battrey with the jack cable pluged or not.
That was it. So I happy I could resolve this myself as opposed to paying for it. Thanks for the help! Back to the gig now!
I just snagged a local handmade Jazz with Nordstrands and a J East preamp. Super keen for it to arrive.
- Jan 2, 2006
- 992
- 3,070
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Curt Mangan Strings, & Formerly Wyn Guitars. RIP Randy!!
On my 77 Jazz I'm using a J-tone with original pups & volume/blend version. It sounds original in passive, but on steroids when active is kicked in.. I wanted the ability to roll of high end. If you really want it closest original you may wanna go with the Vol/Vol version. Either way, you have those tone caps to dial in what you like..
Thanks for the input! Is there any difference running VV vs VB? At the moment I'm using VVT with a Fender control set.
- Jan 2, 2006
- 992
- 3,070
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Curt Mangan Strings, & Formerly Wyn Guitars. RIP Randy!!
Vol/vol is like original jazz bass where you can individually turn up/down and hand blend each pickup. Vrs 1 knob for overall volume and 1 for blending toward the neck or bridge like most modern setups. BTW I still have the original passive Jazz pre like your passive VVT..
like this
like this
J tone for a more 'stock/original' tonality.
VB for quick and simple volume adjustments, like turning all the way down in between songs without futzing up your pickup blend. It's also great for more coarse pickup blends, if you tend to solo pickups or run them both equally, it's easier to deal with.
VV does allow some finer finesse with the pickup blends, etc...
Hey all
Last year I picked up a Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass with a J-retro installed. It's a wonderful and pristine 22 year old instrument with one-piece ash body + bartolini dual coil jazz pickups installed.
I am not sure if I have the model nomenclature correct but this particular preamp has vol/blend, treb/bass, mid/freq, passive tone with switches for active/passive and for "locking in" the bridge and neck pickups/vs allowing the blend to work (the switch reverts to both/bridge pickup only when in passive mode - blend is not possible in passive)
My question relates to the built in contour. I find at times it's a bit much for me (and I usually like a bit of bass boost in my sound). Where I notice it most is when switching between instruments as I may have already compensated in pedals or amp settings to get the bass response I want out of the other bass.
The fact that this pre has boost (only) for bass EQ means I have no onboard way of compensating, other than perhaps favoring the bridge pickup or selecting passive. Is there a way to defeat the pre-countour? I would be ok if it was permanent or semi permanent.
I am not sure, but I also suspect that the pickups might be Original Barts vs the Classic Barts, the Originals I believe are known for a bassier sound. I suppose I could replace the pickups with the original Fender samarian cobalt pickups to see if that makes a difference but I thought I'd start with a preamp question. The smooth sound of bartolini otherwise seems to complement the instrument.
Last year I picked up a Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass with a J-retro installed. It's a wonderful and pristine 22 year old instrument with one-piece ash body + bartolini dual coil jazz pickups installed.
I am not sure if I have the model nomenclature correct but this particular preamp has vol/blend, treb/bass, mid/freq, passive tone with switches for active/passive and for "locking in" the bridge and neck pickups/vs allowing the blend to work (the switch reverts to both/bridge pickup only when in passive mode - blend is not possible in passive)
My question relates to the built in contour. I find at times it's a bit much for me (and I usually like a bit of bass boost in my sound). Where I notice it most is when switching between instruments as I may have already compensated in pedals or amp settings to get the bass response I want out of the other bass.
The fact that this pre has boost (only) for bass EQ means I have no onboard way of compensating, other than perhaps favoring the bridge pickup or selecting passive. Is there a way to defeat the pre-countour? I would be ok if it was permanent or semi permanent.
I am not sure, but I also suspect that the pickups might be Original Barts vs the Classic Barts, the Originals I believe are known for a bassier sound. I suppose I could replace the pickups with the original Fender samarian cobalt pickups to see if that makes a difference but I thought I'd start with a preamp question. The smooth sound of bartolini otherwise seems to complement the instrument.
You've got a J-Retro Deluxe and I don't think there is any way to disable the baked in "contour" as that is the way the preamp is designed. I've got three East pres and I used to have that exact preamp in a Standard Jazz. I did all my on board eq-ing by keeping the bass off, treble rolled back a hair and doing a lot of tweaking to the mid level and freq. You can coax a LOT of out that preamp, not to mention the passive mode.
I have a Jazz with Bart Classics and the J Retro. I set mine pretty much the same to sort of offset the contour: bass off, sometimes a little cut to the treble (though the Barts are smooth up top), maybe a small boost to mids.
