The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Sushi Box FX]

Every "which pickup is best" thread just turns into "this is my favorite". I haven't tried a lot of pickups that I've completely disliked, some are just more appropriate for certain tonal goals than others.

It took me a while to realize that this is generally the case with gear, period. Which preamp should you get? Well this is the one that sounds best to my ears, but your ears are different than my ears, so I have no idea.

Which reminds me, on a more pedal-related note, I verified my 12AU7 buffer last night and it is excellent. Definitely on the subtle side, but adds lovely tube warmth post-fx.

 

[NKBassman]

It took me a while to realize that this is generally the case with gear, period. Which preamp should you get? Well this is the one that sounds best to my ears, but your ears are different than my ears, so I have no idea.

Which reminds me, on a more pedal-related note, I verified my 12AU7 buffer last night and it is excellent. Definitely on the subtle side, but adds lovely tube warmth post-fx.

View attachment 4169676

Not only do we have different ears, but probably also different taste in music. Different influences. Different strings. Different amps and cabs. Different basses made from different trees. Different right hand technique. Also I bet we all play in different bands and situations.

So is there a gain stage with the vampire slayer, or just a tube buffer?

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Not only do we have different ears, but probably also different taste in music. Also I bet we all play in different bands and situations.

So is there a gain stage with the vampire slayer, or just a tube buffer?

Just a tube buffer. It's based on the Effectrode Glass A, but backwards from the usual I took their mini-tube design and implemented it with a full-size tube

 

[FenderP]

I like the Mojotone ones wound to be like stock 70s P pickups. I think you need to just hone in on which P sound you want. Like Ampeg, it's all similar 'til it's not

 

[letsgethandsome]

Stoopid question of the day....

With a pedal like the Space Heater- Could that be used just as a tube overdrive effect and not a 'preamp?' Assuming that what makes a preamp a preamp is the ability to drive a power amp, if one were to put it inline with other effects, turn the gain up and the volume down to around unity/small boost -- Would it work well as a tube overdrive? Or is there something inherently preamp-y about the circuit that would make it not well suited for this?

I know these are not out in the wild yet... Just something else for me to waste my time thinking about

 

[1983L2000]

Just a tube buffer. It's based on the Effectrode Glass A, but backwards from the usual I took their mini-tube design and implemented it with a full-size tube

Real nice - how about adding a boost/cut volume knob to that buffer

 

[johnk_10]

as far as pickups go, (and i've tried a ziliion of them), IMO, Fralins have a bit too harsh of mids for me. Nordstrands are a bit too polite (i.e. scooped).

for the p bass pickup, my first choice is the the duncan SPB-1 (vintage p bass) or the fender vintage reissue, (very close second) with the duncan being my favorite. for a hum cancelling jazz bass bridge pickup, the dimarzio model J, or the duncan apollo (very close second).

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Stoopid question of the day....

With a pedal like the Space Heater- Could that be used just as a tube overdrive effect and not a 'preamp?' Assuming that what makes a preamp a preamp is the ability to drive a power amp, if one were to put it inline with other effects, turn the gain up and the volume down to around unity/small boost -- Would it work well as a tube overdrive? Or is there something inherently preamp-y about the circuit that would make it not well suited for this?

I know these are not out in the wild yet... Just something else for me to waste my time thinking about

One of my math professors once said "The only stupid question is the one you already know the answer to."

Any of my preamps can absolutely be used as an overdrive. When I test pedals I run them into the front end of my amp, so I basically treat them like an overdrive/boost. Space Heater isn't a hi-gain djent machine, but I think it makes an excellent mid-gain overdrive.

 

[NKBassman]

as far as pickups go, (and i've tried a ziliion of them), IMO, Fralins have a bit too harsh of mids for me. Nordstrands are a bit too polite (i.e. scooped).

for the p bass pickup, my first choice is the the duncan SPB-1 (vintage p bass) or the fender vintage reissue, (very close second) with the duncan being my favorite. for a hum cancelling jazz bass bridge pickup, the dimarzio model J, or the duncan apollo (very close second).

Which Nordy pickups have you tried John? I’ve used the NP4a and Power Blade and didn’t find either of them polite or particularly scooped. I’d describe them as a “refined modern” sound, but the 4a I personally found to be a bit extra in the mids VS “vintage” wind.

For their Jazz pickups I’m a big fan of the Jazz Blades in my Geddy, but those are single coil which will hum in a PJ setup. For hum cancelling J pickups I think I’ve only ever used the Dimarzio Model J and Ultra Jazz. Both good, but very different from each other, depending on what you want.

 

[BunchyMutt]

It took me a while to realize that this is generally the case with gear, period. Which preamp should you get? Well this is the one that sounds best to my ears, but your ears are different than my ears, so I have no idea.

Which reminds me, on a more pedal-related note, I verified my 12AU7 buffer last night and it is excellent. Definitely on the subtle side, but adds lovely tube warmth post-fx.

View attachment 4169676

Nice

 

[mikeGJ]

I haven't ordered anything yet so I'm still open to suggestions, but I was leaning toward the Fralin P-J set. I've heard good things about them and I like the hum-free bit. My current bass has Bartolini mk 1 so I figured it would be good to have a passive bass around for diversity.

Ive used Fralin Jazz pickups (vintage - "stock wind"), Lollar P (vintage and overwound) pickups, and Nordstrand (just about everything). Can't go wrong with any of the three companies.

+1 on the Fralin choice.

 

[tombowlus]

Which Nordy pickups have you tried John? I’ve used the NP4a and Power Blade and didn’t find either of them polite or particularly scooped. I’d describe them as a “refined modern” sound, but the 4a I personally found to be a bit extra in the mids VS “vintage” wind.

For their Jazz pickups I’m a big fan of the Jazz Blades in my Geddy, but those are single coil which will hum in a PJ setup. For hum cancelling J pickups I think I’ve only ever used the Dimarzio Model J and Ultra Jazz. Both good, but very different from each other, depending on what you want.

+1 Nordstrand offers a pretty wide range of pickups, some are smooth/polite, some are much more mid-forward, some are more balanced, etc.

 

[NKBassman]

Hmmm maybe I want a Space Heater.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Hmmm maybe I want a Space Heater.

I know a guy that may be able to help.

 

[letsgethandsome]

Hmmm maybe I want a Space Heater.

That’s what I was thinking! Just need to have Nathan throw a tone knob on that sucker and…

 

[Sushi Box FX]

That’s what I was thinking! Just need to have Nathan throw a tone knob on that sucker and…

So what you're saying is you want a PA with a simple tone stack?

 

[letsgethandsome]

So what you're saying is you want a PA with a simple tone stack?

really just a bad attempt at a bad joke… There’s a certain tube overdrive pedal with three knobs that people seem willing to trade their loved ones for around here. Another bad joke, man I’m on a roll...

 

[sunbeast]

So this isn't really a pedal thing, but I just got an email from the guy that's building my bass body, and I wanted to let you all know that future demos will be featuring this beautiful thing:

View attachment 4169268

Is that from an EBay seller? I’ve had my eyes on a similar body sold by a woodworker on EBay for a reasonable price.

I can confirm that the stock Fralin PJ set is a killer choice for a vintage-vibed tone. The Fralin P is my favorite traditional P pickup all-around (I’ve tried many of them!) and the J is a good match for it. The Fralin P is fatter on the bottom than many other options with an extended high-end (some people call it brittle or harsh, but I love it for articulation with flatwounds and there’s always the Tone knob- I even use mine with 500K pots for extended top). There is a cool harmonic saturation to the Fralin when you dig in that I don’t hear from many other alnico pickups. Roll down the Tone and the Fralin is really fat and bloomy. Love it!
The Nordstrand and Lollar are tighter down low and more mid-focused. I found the Nordstrand NP4 a little boring for me vs the Fralin and Lollar I was AB’ong against. I think the stock-wind Lollar is one of the most mid-aggressive P pickups I’ve tried- it really grinds, and is quite tight (not the best choice for fat tones).

 

[Btbp]

as far as pickups go, (and i've tried a ziliion of them), IMO, Fralins have a bit too harsh of mids for me. Nordstrands are a bit too polite (i.e. scooped).

for the p bass pickup, my first choice is the the duncan SPB-1 (vintage p bass) or the fender vintage reissue, (very close second) with the duncan being my favorite. for a hum cancelling jazz bass bridge pickup, the dimarzio model J, or the duncan apollo (very close second).

Timely post as I'm looking to do this too with a P Bass that came with SD Quarter Pounders, which are not bad, but I want more vintage.

Any idea how the https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Pure-Vintage-Precision-Pickup/dp/B00I3XGD16/ compares with the Fender Vintage Reissue?

 

[johnk_10]

Which Nordy pickups have you tried John? I’ve used the NP4a and Power Blade and didn’t find either of them polite or particularly scooped. I’d describe them as a “refined modern” sound, but the 4a I personally found to be a bit extra in the mids VS “vintage” wind.

For their Jazz pickups I’m a big fan of the Jazz Blades in my Geddy, but those are single coil which will hum in a PJ setup. For hum cancelling J pickups I think I’ve only ever used the Dimarzio Model J and Ultra Jazz. Both good, but very different from each other, depending on what you want.

i've tried several nordstrand P, J, mustang bass and musicman bass pickups. i like his mustang bass pickup a lot (and have one in my JMJ mustang), but the others were too 'modern' sounding for my taste. i guess that i'm just a 'vintage' type of guy.