Warwick F.N.A. with MM pickup -> passive?

[Aloe]

MEC pickups also tend to be a little scooped, with a brittle high end.

that might be the case for their active J (especially when used in a pair), but not the passive MM mentioned. again, IME (and I've had it only in one bass, so your experience might vary). in my bass they were very warm and normally I needed a treble boost. two MEC MM pickups and three 500k pots

I also checked the leads from the pickup. There is only "hot" and ground, so I have no idea of if it's wired in series or parallel.

that's also pretty weird to me, as a MEC MM pickup does have an extra pair of wires for seriel/parallel/single-coil. I'm not sure if it had it since first days, but the modern one surely does. are you sure, that's a MEC pickup (despite lacking of marking on the top, it should be also labeled at the bottom)?

 

[Makten]

that's also pretty weird to me, as a MEC MM pickup does have an extra pair of wires for seriel/parallel/single-coil. I'm not sure if it had it since first days, but the modern one surely does. are you sure, that's a MEC pickup (despite lacking of marking on the top, it should be also labeled at the bottom)?

I haven't actually taken the pickup out, but it would be kind of strange to have four leads and only run two of them to the control cavity. Not sure about the manufacturer of the pickup either since there is no logo on the front. Will have to remove it and check.

I think the bass is from 1999, so pretty old. Warwicks own database says MEC pickup and SD preamp...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

The frequency centers on the Warwick spec pre are nearly useless, the high MIDS are what is lacking, along with the Bass frequency “boost” is too high (100 IIRC) to bring depth that you seek.

For now, the output can be adjusted by one of the trim pots on the circuit board, the other adjusts the mid scoop for the slap contour.

The 2 wire output indicates it’s likely in parallel in order to cop the music man vibe.

I’m not sure of the availability where you are, of Aguilar, or Audere preamps both of those are worth a look.
The Darkglass pre may be available more readily for you, as would Delano.

Pickups from Aguilar, and Delano would serve you well.

Or you could go EMG, full system a very good choice also, and less challenging to install.

This would be a good choice, so that you could go passive/active with a preamp of your choice.

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There is a myriad of options Aguilar DC pickup series is worth a look along with their Preamps are VERY good.


Hope you find what you seek.

I have owned Many Warwicks.
Corvette,FNA, Katana, streamers, and a Dolphin.

 

[Xopher]

Nope. Problem is that I'm in Europe. Ordering stuff from the US takes ages (always gets stuck in customs) and end up very expensive with added taxes and crap.

Off topic a bit,, bit...We need some back channels to get any good Warwick parts gear etc in the US. Sounds like it'd be good to figure out an unofficial back channel for opening the European/Warwick US Bass, parts market and lift the near Embargo they seem to have between US and Europe when it comes to some basses, parts and Warwicks which makes even minor restorations so expensive it borders the cost of just buying a new bass. I know it isn't warwick's fault but the US distribution site is usually expensive and very limited.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Off topic a bit,, bit...We need some back channels to get any good Warwick parts gear etc in the US. Sounds like it'd be good to figure out an unofficial back channel for opening the European/Warwick US Bass, parts market and lift the near Embargo they seem to have between US and Europe when it comes to some basses, parts and Warwicks which makes even minor restorations so expensive it borders the cost of just buying a new bass. I know it isn't warwick's fault but the US distribution site is usually expensive and very limited.

They figure we want the basses under the Sadowsky banner. That was the purpose of the acquisition

 

[Makten]

Off topic a bit,, bit...We need some back channels to get any good Warwick parts gear etc in the US. Sounds like it'd be good to figure out an unofficial back channel for opening the European/Warwick US Bass, parts market and lift the near Embargo they seem to have between US and Europe when it comes to some basses, parts and Warwicks which makes even minor restorations so expensive it borders the cost of just buying a new bass. I know it isn't warwick's fault but the US distribution site is usually expensive and very limited.

Maybe you could try thomann.de? They have a lot of Warwick parts, but I don't know if they ship to the US.
I see that they have country specific sites for all larger EU contries, and also the UK. Which is outside of EU, so...

Edit: I have the same but opposite problem with finding a pickup for my Fender Musicmaster. Virtually all available pickups are made in the US and no one imports them to Europe. And with tax and customs fee, it will be too expensive.

 

[Stefan Verbeeck]

... However, it's also lacking top end. It's like all of the treble is so high up in the range that it's barely audible (with the rest of my signal chain, amp and cab).
...

I own the five string version of that bass and had the same issue.
Most of the problems stem from that weak preamp. It's voiced to have the treble way too high.
Frequency curves are on their website. Does not sound like a musicman preamp at all, and I guess wasn't designed to be that way.

I replaced mine with a noll 3 band preamp.
Can be had on bassparts.de NOLL TCM 3 active 3-band bass electronics

Works out to be the most affordable real 3-band preamp if you are in the EU.


I also replaced the pickup. Mine made a nasty noise whenever you touched the polepieces, and lacked dynamics.
Also, I prefer to have the string spacing very tight; which the bridge allows but then you get volume imbalance issues since some strings no longer go over the magnets.

I tried am emg-tw; then a bartolini classic bass.

In the end; I took apart the original pickup and installed an emg-ja, diagonal inside the housing.
Gives me a clear, open sound. Not too far off a Warwick Thumb.
No string balance issues. I'm happy with it now.

Also made some mods to take the weight down; New tuners, new knobs and I removed the bottom part of the bridge that sits inside the cavity (weighs 100g on its own!).

 

[Makten]

I own the five string version of that bass and had the same issue.
Most of the problems stem from that weak preamp. It's voiced to have the treble way too high.
Frequency curves are on their website. Does not sound like a musicman preamp at all, and I guess wasn't designed to be that way.

I replaced mine with a noll 3 band preamp.
Can be had on bassparts.de NOLL TCM 3 active 3-band bass electronics

Works out to be the most affordable real 3-band preamp if you are in the EU.


I also replaced the pickup. Mine made a nasty noise whenever you touched the polepieces, and lacked dynamics.
Also, I prefer to have the string spacing very tight; which the bridge allows but then you get volume imbalance issues since some strings no longer go over the magnets.

I tried am emg-tw; then a bartolini classic bass.

In the end; I took apart the original pickup and installed an emg-ja, diagonal inside the housing.
Gives me a clear, open sound. Not too far off a Warwick Thumb.
No string balance issues. I'm happy with it now.

Also made some mods to take the weight down; New tuners, new knobs and I removed the bottom part of the bridge that sits inside the cavity (weighs 100g on its own!).

Interesting! Did you try the new preamp with the original pickup, or did you change both at the same time?

I'm thinking of just getting rid of the preamp and pickup all together and install something passive and old-ish sounding. Playing the bass unplugged gives a completely different experience than when it's plugged in. I think it has a very nice character that would come through with a more traditional pickup.

 

[Stefan Verbeeck]

@Makten
I don't think I had the noll preamp paired to the original pickup. At some point, a bartoloni 2band was in it and I do remember it brought some brightness back of that stock pickup.
Lack of dynamics remained.

If anything, just try wiring it passive and see what that sounds like with a short cable into an eq pedal. Should give an idea on what having another preamp in it would sound like.

But I agree fully going passive might be a nice option.
Take bright flatwounds + passive mm for some vulfpeck basslines

 

[Makten]

Oooookay, so I connected the pickup directly to the output jack, and the result is a bit surprising. Because the signal strength is almost the same as with the preamp! However, now it's extremely mid focused and has even less bottom end, but nicer upper mids actually. This could work with some EQ tweaking on the amp, but only if it was my only bass. Which it isn't. Too extreme difference to the other basses.

But, it shows that you absolutely don't need a preamp to get decent volume. This particular pickup isn't very nice as it is though. Might pop it out and see if the coils are wired in series or parallel.

 

[Aloe]

However, now it's extremely mid focused and has even less bottom end, but nicer upper mids actually.

a 2-band boost-only pre might be something that would complement it nicely.
or a bartolini tct.

 

[Stefan Verbeeck]

Oooookay, so I connected the pickup directly to the output jack, and the result is a bit surprising. Because the signal strength is almost the same as with the preamp! However, now it's extremely mid focused and has even less bottom end, but nicer upper mids actually. This could work with some EQ tweaking on the amp, but only if it was my only bass. Which it isn't. Too extreme difference to the other basses.

But, it shows that you absolutely don't need a preamp to get decent volume. This particular pickup isn't very nice as it is though. Might pop it out and see if the coils are wired in series or parallel.

Hi, curious what you ended up doing with that bass
Installed another pickup in the end?

 

[Makten]

Hi, curious what you ended up doing with that bass
Installed another pickup in the end?

I haven't done anything or even played the bass, actually. Will probably install some other pickup that is made to be used passively, since I don't really see the point in an on-board preamp. All of my other basses are passive and I like the sound of them better than anything active I've ever played.

 

[Tyndur]

I haven't done anything or even played the bass, actually. Will probably install some other pickup that is made to be used passively, since I don't really see the point in an on-board preamp. All of my other basses are passive and I like the sound of them better than anything active I've ever played.

Any update?
Im having the same experience love play mine but sounds bad, want to go the passive route