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Warrior Club Part 2

#462
Coreythebassman said:
Hey guys, I just bought this guy here on TB. Could someone let me know which model it is, and also could I grab a number too. Thanks! I know it was made in 2010 but that is all. IMG_1010 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
6839998889_90ac59157e.jpg
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Looks like a Dran Michael 5 bolt-on to me.
 
#464
Coreythebassman said:
Thanks, Vic! Also, what does the sparkle circuit do to your sound? I see alot of people hating on it but I haven't heard it yet. Can't wait to get her!
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IMHO, it makes the high end too brittle, and it takes some of the life out of the upper mids and low treble region especially. It just seems like the sound really opens up and becomes more generally full and clear overall without it. I would never tolerate it in any Warrior I would keep long term.
 
#466
So I had posted before my thoughts about some of the short falls in general of my two Warriors as far as imbalance in pickups output my not so good thoughts about the crystal circuit etc... I was contemplating the Pope Flexcore. Well instead I went with a John East U Retro Deluxe 01 with black furniture.

U Retro Bass Preamp by E Pro (John East)

I had encountered some ground problems when installing it but it wasn’t the preamp it was the wires off the MM pickups not properly striped before splitting and heat shrink. This was shipped this way but it took me forever to track down the problem. I will say I emailed John East directly this past Sunday morning at 3 AM eastern time USA. John had responded with suggestions on how to test to see if it was the preamp by 11 AM. His customer service is awesome. I also copper shielded the pickup cavities to eliminate any possible introduction of noise and copper shielded the bottom of the main control cavity as suggested by John. Pretty simple to install but I did have to drill one more hole for a switch which was a little nerve racking drilling a hole in a bass I paid almost 5K for. Job went well after issue fixed and went smooth otherwise.

Now for the review of before and after. Sorry I did not record any before sound clips and will soon record how it is now. But in words let me say….As far as low output from the stacked jazz by the bridge this was eliminated with the new preamp. There is actually a separate gain control for each pickup but I actually have both down as far as it can go on the preamp and it is still incredibly loud. Both pickups now as even at center detent and give huge output. The Jazz now has a ton of low end and before it sounded wimpy at best like an AM radio. Not now both pickups sound crystal clear with deep fat thick tone and are both as much authority as each other. They could stand alone for playing and in my opinion couldn’t before at least the jazz couldn’t. The passive tone control is so great works in passive and in active mode and is the cream on top as far as overall control. It’s now as if you were only ever hearing 60%-70% of what the pickups are actually relaying to the preamp. There is so much more tone and depth and control it’s amazing. I have had many basses with a three way selector switch and then knob especially Bartolini systems. The stacked high mid and low mid I feel is way more useful because you can adjust more than one band at a time. This preamp simply is the best preamp I have ever installed in a bass and made a world of difference and worth all the money. It addressed every issue I had with the previous set up and actually is way more in terms of control and tone.

If there would be anything of concern I would say the treble if cranked to 10 can introduce a little small amount of white noise not so much a hiss but like loud air. But you won’t want it run pedal to the floor actually at center it sounds great. There is a bright push pull on the treble knob but it’s like going past 11 to like 24. I would never engage it its way too much. Also if you like the somewhat thick slightly dark compressed tone of typical Bartolini configs you might not like how you will lose some of that. This is a way wide open sound like completely opened up but yet it also can sound so Fender like. I have dialed in jazz sounds all barky and burpy and P bass tones as well and even was the closest thing to my old Wal I ever heard. It can do anything now. I am in love but also I’m in the honeymoon. I will check in later to let you guys know how it is on the open road and try to find time to record a bit to. Thanks!

My overall opinion is it was so worth it in every way and glad I did it. Might just attack another bass I have after I give this one a couple weeks to see in a live band setting.:hyper:
 
#467
Means2nEnd said:
So I had posted before my thoughts about some of the short falls in general of my two Warriors as far as imbalance in pickups output my not so good thoughts about the crystal circuit etc...
Click to expand...
I believe it's actually called the "Sparkle" circuit, if I recall correctly, though he doesn't officially document it.

I was contemplating the Pope Flexcore. Well instead I went with a John East U Retro Deluxe 01 with black furniture...
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I understand your being anxious to just get the new preamp in, but your description of how the sound opened up and deepened for you was similar (at least to a degree, since I can't A/B yours to mine) to my experiences by simply removing that Sparkle circuit... it was like removing a "tone choke". It'd have been VERY interesting if you'd had a chance to try it with the Bart and no Sparkle, and then move to the East (though again, I understand just wanting to be done with it).

Side note; I happen to be a big fan of John and his products. I have his SPM preamp in one bass of mine, and have used several custom preamps which are largely based on the model you bought, and I loved them all. Nice choice. :)
 
#469
jscottmsc said:
I see that there seem to be two different Bartolini Jazz pickups used on recent Warrior Basses...

I am familiar with the "X5" version
Jazz-X5Pickup.jpg


the other seems to be a "Vintage" jazz version
Jazz-VintagePickup.jpg


Can anyone comment on the differences in
tone
noise/hum
etc?
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The X5 is not a single coil. I think a lot of people confuse them for singles, because of the shape. They sound a lot like singles and have little to no hum.

The Bart 59's are true single coils, so you'll get some hum when either is solo'd. I have not had a Warrior with the 59's, but I've had plenty of Zon's that use them (or a very similar model) and they sound great.
 
#470
lsu921 said:
The X5 is not a single coil. I think a lot of people confuse them for singles, because of the shape. They sound a lot like singles and have little to no hum.

The Bart 59's are true single coils, so you'll get some hum when either is solo'd. I have not had a Warrior with the 59's, but I've had plenty of Zon's that use them (or a very similar model) and they sound great.
Click to expand...
Careful... this is not correct. This has been discussed in this thread before. It depends on WHICH X5(5) you're talking about. See below from their web site... the CB models are offered in BOTH a true single coil as well as a split coil hum cancelling design (they call them in-line dual coils), and the non-CB is ONLY offered as a true single coil...

  • X55CBJS pair - X5 narrow Soapbar shape available in low noise neck (B) and bridge (T) single coils
  • X55CBJD pair - available in neck (B) and bridge (T) in-line hum canceling dual coils
  • X55J1-pair-single coil deep tone w/strong lows and low mids
 
#471
Vic said:
Careful... this is not correct. This has been discussed in this thread before. It depends on WHICH X5(5) you're talking about. See below from their web site... the CB models are offered in BOTH a true single coil as well as a split coil hum cancelling design (they call them in-line dual coils), and the non-CB is ONLY offered as a true single coil...

  • X55CBJS pair - X5 narrow Soapbar shape available in low noise neck (B) and bridge (T) single coils
  • X55CBJD pair - available in neck (B) and bridge (T) in-line hum canceling dual coils
  • X55J1-pair-single coil deep tone w/strong lows and low mids
Click to expand...

Yes, the X5's do come in SC's, but JD told me he's NEVER used the SC's. He started using the 59's to give players the SC option.
 
#472
Is it possible for a warrior to not have a serial number on the back of the headstock. If not, is there anywhere else that the Serial number could be? Just bought one, I really hope its not fake and i don't think it is....The picture of it is posted a few posts up.
 
#474
Coreythebassman said:
Is it possible for a warrior to not have a serial number on the back of the headstock. If not, is there anywhere else that the Serial number could be? Just bought one, I really hope its not fake and i don't think it is....The picture of it is posted a few posts up.
Click to expand...

They have never been consistent with serial numbers or the location of serial numbers. Mine is on the back of the headstock but is not very readable. I have seen them on the end of the fretboard. I have seen them on the fretboard between frets. Some of the NAMM ones were just labelled NAMM and a number. It's confusing. :rollno:

I would look it over very well. Maybe even check the cavity. I would HIGHLY doubt it is a fake.
 

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