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The Soundgear Club
- Thread starter THE DANiMAL
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It's very prominent hissing, much moreso than on my 700RB, which leads me to believe something is wrong with my 400RB. While playing through the more powerful 700RB, the hissing is there, but nowhere near as obvious. I can hear the hissing over open notes on my 400RB. That sounds like a problem to me!
Well, yes. Nobody will know your basses and your amps better than yourself.
Anyway, we have an issue with a bass, and an issue with an amp. I don't think there's a chance of attacking both with a single stroke.
I would try the bass as passive first, as it may take a problem out, and also provide a useful input when looking for a new preamp.
About the Amp.... no ideas
Anyway, we have an issue with a bass, and an issue with an amp. I don't think there's a chance of attacking both with a single stroke.
I would try the bass as passive first, as it may take a problem out, and also provide a useful input when looking for a new preamp.
About the Amp.... no ideas
Thanks for the help! I'm gonna go amp first, only because the hissing is hardly noticeable and very manageable on my other amps. The 400, however, is ridiculous!
Well, since I'll eventually need to fix the bass and amp, I'm looking into preamps for my 2004 SR505. I actually quite liked the tone with the MK1 preamp, so if I can get that but better, I'd be all for it!
Speaking of which, does anyone know the center frequency of the mid knob? It's the only EQ knob I mess with on my bass. That and a bit of blend. So if one of these has a very different mid frequency, that's would be a no-go for me.
Style-wise, I play heavy metal with plenty of distortion, though I also love having a clean signal that cuts. For reference, I love my clean tone with the current pre set as follows: flat bass/treble, mids about 1/3 of the way up, blend slightly to bridge. I use that tone for everything, including driving the pedals that give me the dirt I like.
My two main options right now are the Aguilar OBP-3 and the Bartolini NTMB. Both get good reviews, but I hear about the Aguilar more. What are everyone's thoughts? I'm leaning towards Bartolini because the MK1 pickups in my bass are Bartolini-designed and I love the tone from the current setup when it's not hissing. It's also about half the price! But it's worth it if it's objectively better.
So, what do you guys think? Is one better than the other for my goals? Thanks!
Edit: If I'm using the existing pots, all I need is the preamp module itself, right? I'm not adding any push/pull or anything.
Speaking of which, does anyone know the center frequency of the mid knob? It's the only EQ knob I mess with on my bass. That and a bit of blend. So if one of these has a very different mid frequency, that's would be a no-go for me.
Style-wise, I play heavy metal with plenty of distortion, though I also love having a clean signal that cuts. For reference, I love my clean tone with the current pre set as follows: flat bass/treble, mids about 1/3 of the way up, blend slightly to bridge. I use that tone for everything, including driving the pedals that give me the dirt I like.
My two main options right now are the Aguilar OBP-3 and the Bartolini NTMB. Both get good reviews, but I hear about the Aguilar more. What are everyone's thoughts? I'm leaning towards Bartolini because the MK1 pickups in my bass are Bartolini-designed and I love the tone from the current setup when it's not hissing. It's also about half the price! But it's worth it if it's objectively better.
So, what do you guys think? Is one better than the other for my goals? Thanks!
Edit: If I'm using the existing pots, all I need is the preamp module itself, right? I'm not adding any push/pull or anything.
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Thank you. The Bart's mid frequency is "tunable" so I'd like it to be right where my old one was if possible.
that's great.
You may even want to try using a boost somewhere in the 700 / 800 Hz, as it does wonders for an aggressive / in your face fingerstyle.
Usually the preamps that have a switchable mid center frequency have that option.
Mine has 250 / 500 / 750 I think. I like it a lot
You may even want to try using a boost somewhere in the 700 / 800 Hz, as it does wonders for an aggressive / in your face fingerstyle.
Usually the preamps that have a switchable mid center frequency have that option.
Mine has 250 / 500 / 750 I think. I like it a lot
That's what my amp's hi-mid knob is for! Thanks, though. I may see if there's a way for my tech to wire in a switch somehow without adding a hole in the body.
Do you happen to know the low frequency center as well? Looks like the Barts are at 30, the Aggies at 40, and I don't know the MK-1. Thanks for all the help!
Well... according to this website, Talkbass... here's a chart (I think it was downloaded from the Ibanez webpage)
Bartolini MK1 Preamp Frequency Centers
I would take it with a grain of salt. Those guys at Talkbass are full of it...
Bartolini MK1 Preamp Frequency Centers
I would take it with a grain of salt. Those guys at Talkbass are full of it...
Since you are leaning towards Bartolini's NTMB, you might as well get it in one of his preconfigured sets. I say the HR-5.2AP/918 prewired set would be a good choice for your bass. It has all the required parts and all came in prewired, so it will ease the installation process. It has the right number of pots so you won't have to drill another holes nor there will be any pot holes left unused.
The HR-5.2AP/918 prewired set will give you 2 selections of center mid frequencies in form of push-pull mid pot and also an active-passive switch in form of push-pull master vol pot, so you can continue using your bass when the battery dies in the middle of use or even without any battery at all.
That's also like $200 or so...
I can get the module alone for $85, and use existing pots etc., right? I've got a tech here with great rates, so that's not a concern for me. And I'd still have to wire the pickups and change out the output jack.
As long as the module is all I need, I'd rather save the money. The tech will be working on my bass and amp regardless, since I want to make sure they are both figured out. Might as well have him do it all.
Again, this assumes all I need is the module and can use current pots etc.. Someone please tell me if that's not the case!
Just recently got a srsc805 which has been AWESOME. It's my first Ibanez so I'm getting familiar with the options/possibilities setup-wise. I've noticed the neck pickup can only be raised as close to the strings as 16/64 or 4.5mm or so. Is this normal? Bartolini MK1's I believe. Any tips from you Ibanez folk?
That's not normal, you should be able to adjust the pickups so high that they stick to the strings with the string pressed down at the last fret.
Take it out & add some padding or put new, thicker padding in there.
Take it out & add some padding or put new, thicker padding in there.
You are absolutely right, Bart's prewired sets aren't cheap, although his aren't exactly the most expensive preamp sets out there. Still worth it for those who really value and play their instruments. Don't forget you can always take it off and move it to another bass when you are done with the bass it is installed in.
Probably you could use your current pots, although they might not have the same pot values that Bart had intended. But, if you'd like to get all features of the prewired sets (selections of center mid frequencies and active-passive switching), definitely you cannot just use the current pots.
I do not want ALL the options! I really loved the tone of this bass stock, so I don't see a huge reason to deviate from it. I always keep a spare battery in my emergency kit (which has never been necessary) and I don't like the higher mid switches on newer Ibanez models when I've tried them. I have thought of adding a switch inside the cavity for this, just in case I change my mind, but I don't want to alter the bass permanently unless I have to. Thanks for looking out for my long-term options, though. I'm simply not interested in those things.
Does anyone use a ramp on their premium SR? Where did you get it? I don't have the time, tools, or space to make one and am trying to find one
