The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[Barticus]

I too am not a fan of the Y tuners either (except on the 2x2 or 2x3 Joker or Frog style headstocks). I opted for the Lolipop Hipshot tuners On my Elwood L shorty because they are about the same size as the mini clovers. I've always liked the Lolipop tuner style though.

View attachment 4348400

View attachment 4348401

I agree with you, not crazy about the Ys either.. I also like an option to swap for wooden tuners.

Hmm, no Y tuners here

 

[Mr_O'B]

I too am not a fan of the Y tuners either (except on the 2x2 or 2x3 Joker or Frog style headstocks). I opted for the Lolipop Hipshot tuners On my Elwood L shorty because they are about the same size as the mini clovers. I've always liked the Lolipop tuner style though.

View attachment 4348400

View attachment 4348401

That's a beautiful bass!

 

[TK4261]

That's a beautiful bass!

Thank you! I should have it in my hands in a few days

 

[Ian774]

Alright boys, question for y'all…
See this video:



A big chunk of it is played in passive mode. See how muted and dark the bass sounds?
It kinda worries me because I'm thinking of getting an Elwood L with Delano SBC pickups in passive, no preamp.
Every other Maruszczyk videos of the Delano SBC sound much better, they don't sound dark at all, although most of them are played in active.
Now, my current Maruszczyk has a Delano Sonar 2 preamp, and I know that going passive on it removed a tiny bit of treble to the sound. But I really hope those pickups don't sound as dull as on this video in passive….

It almost sounds like the passive tone is rolled off….

thoughts?

 

[BlueTalon]

It almost sounds like the passive tone is rolled off….

thoughts?

You should ask him.

 

[Ian774]

I did, we'll see.

 

[Ian774]

He said that the tone isn't rolled off in the video, but he said that every bass is different and pickups aren't the only thing influencing sound. Fair point.

What is you guys's experience with SBC pickups in passive mode? Are they that dark sounding?

 

[fast slapper]

In parallel or single coil they are anything but dark. I easily get "active" tones out of them. My bass is passive.

You should be able to get all the highs you want as long as your external preamp of choice has a good input impedance and low capacitance.

 

[Ian774]

Thanks! My preamp is a SansAmp BDDI V2.

to be fair on this video they don't sound dark…. Yes it's a 30" scale bass but it's passive too.

 

[BassmanM]

Alright boys, question for y'all…
See this video:



A big chunk of it is played in passive mode. See how muted and dark the bass sounds?
It kinda worries me because I'm thinking of getting an Elwood L with Delano SBC pickups in passive, no preamp.
Every other Maruszczyk videos of the Delano SBC sound much better, they don't sound dark at all, although most of them are played in active.
Now, my current Maruszczyk has a Delano Sonar 2 preamp, and I know that going passive on it removed a tiny bit of treble to the sound. But I really hope those pickups don't sound as dull as on this video in passive….

It almost sounds like the passive tone is rolled off….

thoughts?

I don't have any experience wirh these particular pickups. However, I strongly recommend not to rely on YouTube videos to judge the sound of a pickup. While you might obtain a first impression of it, the pickup will sound slightly different depending on the specific bass, amplification and last but not least your own ears.

 

[Ian774]

I know, but it gives you a global idea of what to expect. What I found unsettling there was how dark they sounded on that one video, which is not the case on other ones.

 

[BassmanM]

I know, but it gives you a global idea of what to expect. What I found unsettling there was how dark they sounded on that one video, which is not the case on other ones.

I just re-watched the video. Strangely, the pickups sound particularly dark in series mode in passive.... Totally different sound when switched to active.

 

[Ian774]

To me it sounds like the tone has been rolled-off. Adrian says it was fully opened. But would he remember for sure though?

 

[BassmanM]

To me it sounds like the tone has been rolled-off. Adrian says it was fully opened. But would he remember for sure though?

Maybe not.... The guy who edited the video could have made a mistake too.

 

[Ian774]

Well, look (and listen) at 01:05 and then at 03:50.

First is Bridge pup, passive. Second is Bridge pup, passive + tone off.

Both sound the same to me. Or am I deaf?

Most likely an editing error?!

 

[BassmanM]

Well, look (and listen) at 01:05 and then at 03:50.

First is Bridge pup, passive. Second is Bridge pup, passive + tone off.

Both sound the same to me. Or am I deaf?

Most likely an editing error?!

They sound pretty much the same to me too. If at all, the difference is very subtle....

 

[fast slapper]

That's the only SBC equipped bass that sounds that dark in passive. Sounds like the tone was turned down or highs were bleeding to ground....or combined pot value was too low.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

Woohoo - my official couch pic is in! (pickup screws are being changed to black). I can't wait!

 

[Bartrinsic]

I know, but it gives you a global idea of what to expect. What I found unsettling there was how dark they sounded on that one video, which is not the case on other ones.

Chambered swamp ash and maple board vs alder and ebony (?). . .something to ponder. SBC pickups are not the brightest or the darkest--they do have a 'split' sound that I associate with a warm, burpy timbre from the neck pup--that sound never goes away. Delano FE models are definitely brighter and the jazz bars might be also. Nordy big singles are a lot brighter; big splits maybe a hair brighter but more similar on average. MEC or Barts I tend to think of a mellower/darker that the Delano SBCs. Nordy big blades or zen blades might also be 'clearer' options. You could just ask Adrian what pickup they offer with the most open top end for the bass model you want--maybe avoid ziricote and ebony, be careful with alder and rosewood--wenge, maple, pau ferro and and ash body with maple top will be much brighter, guaranteed.

 

[Ian774]

I'm not looking for a bright sound. Just a balanced one. What I meant is that on that very video, the sound was too dark to my taste but I'm convinced that it's an editing issue as there are two parts in the video where the bass sounds like that and one is supposedly with tone closed when one is with tone open, yet it sounds the same.

All the other videos of the SBC's I've seen, I like. They seem to have the versatility I'm looking for.