Warwick FNA tone: is this the natural tone of the bass of the pre and pickup?

I posted this in the main bass guitar section a couple of weeks ago but thought I'd try it here as well.


I have a 1998 FNA 5-strng with a single basslines humbucker. It was given to me a few years back and I have always liked it but the tone is very aggressive with more growl than I want/need ( I wonder if its the freq presets on the pre). Is this the nature of the model? Of Warwick? Or is the pickup with such large pole pieces the cause? I've also heard MEC preamps can be harsh( it's like I can't get the highs out without drastic external eq-ing) though I'm not sure if its MEC or Duncan. It does have MEC pots though with the push/pull vol. mod for slap. I like the growl of this bass but would like to be able to dial it up than down all the time and give me some variety it. Right now this bass has one sound, though good when needed, I want more options. Thanks for any replies!

 

Thinking back after looking at some pics I think this is the Duncan pre. I had thought about going all Bartolini w/ active-passive switch because i have a tone hammer di and would like to hear it on that circuit alone as well. Has anyone ever noticed it being compressed sounding almost, like its peaking out all the time?

 

This may be the answer I was looking for. Thanks!