I just got my bass back & wanted to share my thoughts about the new electronics.
Background: I have three other basses, a 2005 G&L L2500, a 1978 PBass, and a 2010 G&L JB. They are great. But whenever I took the Pedulla Thunderbass to a gig - I felt like I fought it whenever I played it. It was too mellow. It sounded great by itself, but when played live in a band, it just lacked something. (my rig is an Acoustic Image Clarus II through a Schroeder 1210L), so I never played it. I know tone is difficult to describe in words, but it sounded overly compressed, and "choked". I tried different strings, futzing with the controls - I just couldn't get a sound with an edge. I know my Fender-type instruments are different, so I was never expecting my Pedulla to be exact (woods, construction / setup, electronics, etc.). I wanted a more aggressive sound - not that I play aggressive music, but if anyone ones a G&L L2500 (or L2000), I'd say I wanted 50% G&L aggression, if that makes sense. My G&L L2500 sounds perfect, in every situation I've had it in, but the Pedulla is more comfortable to play (thinner neck for starters). What to do? If I couldn't make it usable (for myself), that would be the end - I'd rather just have a second L2500.
I recently had it in for some modifications, to see if there was any possibility of improving the sound.
Phase I - installing a single / dual coil switch. I like the clarity of a Jazz bass, so maybe that would help. There were issues with the "Thunderguts" switch & we could not be sure that installing a coil switch would not interfere with the electronics.
Phase II - I decided to go with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp, using the stock pickups. Controls would be volume, blend, push/pull mids (two frequencies), stacked treble / bass, and a coil switch. And so the problems started. Based on input from this thread, there was indication that the pickups were active, but it wasn't until the Bartolini rep mentioned how proprietary they were - there were designed to work with the Pedulla preamp ONLY.
Phase III - Aguilar preamp + replacement pickups. The pickups are Bartolini "BC" shape (for the 5 string soapbars), which eliminates Nordstrand dual coils (with awesome wood covers) (without routing), and only leaves the Bartolini BC. I selected the 72BC5 pickups, as the screws were the same configuration as the legacy pickups (2:1). There were no holes needed, so I could replace it to the stock conditions if desired.
I knew there was a significant difference as soon as I picked up the bass. It had "balls" and a clear, aggressive sound. The single/dual coil switch opened up a clarity I've never heard from this bass while allowing a massive increase in power with the dual coil option (I ended up liking the single coil version much better). A slight boost of the mids (in the lower position) was perfect. After about an hour of trying different configurations, I took it to rehearsal (with my L2500 as backup).
Wow. I was able to play the entire time without a single adjustment (other than pickup blend). Every note sounded great (played through an old amp in my bandleader's basement, through a 2x15 cabinet). Yes, I know there is a difference between that amp & my own rig. I play through my amp for gigs & at home, and through this other one at every rehearsal. All of my basses are played through it - with the controls exactly the same (call it laziness on my part - I just flip it on & it is ready to go). Even when I was messing around with the onboard controls - a quick flip of a switch, or knob turn - I had a whole new bass in my hands, and none of it was the previous sound I was disappointed in! Of course, one test is no test, so I am planning on using it on a few more rehearsals and two gigs this month. I did order a stacked Bubinga knob from THG knobs - I'll post a photo when it arrives.
Now I need to play a couple of gigs in August to pay for these mods...
