Upgrading MM4 w/ Sadowsky Preamp

[stinkyfingers]

Hey. I recently bought a Marcus Miiler 4 (cij) and am unimpressed with the active sound.
I've heard good things about Sadowsky pre's and was wondering if I should have an on board installed or just buy the Preamp/DI Pedal.

It sucks to just not use the active controls but I like the passive sound better. But, I would like to have the option of switching the bass to active and having a new sound when I want to.

I also heard that the MM4 is not true bypass and it sounds a lot better when it is.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Lorenzini]

Here are my thoughts.

First, I don't like the MM pre either.

So if you don't like the pre, take it out, go passive but only if you have other basses that can benefit from the outboard Sadowsky pre/di! Or if you don't have a DI and would like to have a super super quality DI to bring around for sessions and gigs where the backline is provided etc etc etc...

Otherwise I'd just load it with the onboard version

 

[DavePlaysBass]

There is difference between onboard and outboard. An onboard preamp buffers yours pickups from line capacitance which has a significant impact on the upper end frequency response. An outboard preamp is no different than the preamp in your bass head.

 

[58super]

I put a Sadowsky on board preamp in my MM4 and was very pleased with the results.
The stock tuners on the bass rattled so they got replaced as well.
To me these two things were the weakest points of an otherwise fine bass.