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washburn xb125 replacement pups

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by g04t, Dec 19, 2004.

  1. Dec 19, 2004 #1
    g04t

    g04t

    Aug 16, 2004
    Sunnyvale, CA
    So,

    Before saving for a Zon, I've decided to swap the pups in my 5 string. It already has a fairly dark sound, with standard washburn soaps. I am going to swap the pups/pre/and pots, but know nothing at all about them. Except that washburn electronics almost blow more than Anthony Keidis. :bag:

    I need something versatile.
    My finger/thumb slap sound is something around Billy Gould on The Morning After. Just a generalization, but I figure you get a better idea than if i say warm like a park bench on a sunny summer day.

    The main problem with the pups right now is that every string but A sounds like ass.(and there's a deep groove rooted into the neck pup by the e string((drunken soundscape))) The low end is muuud.

    So what brand would be best to keep the slap sound but get some decent low end clarity? I'm looking at soaps again, but cant decide between the brands. Seymour D, Barts, or EMGs.


    Body Alder
    Fingerboard Rosewood
    Hardware Chrome
    Machine Heads Schaller type die-cast
    Neck Joint Bolt On
    Neck Material Maple
    Pickups Two Active Soapbar
    Body Style Double Cutaway
    Body Style Mahogany
    Neck Type Maple


    thanks in advance
     
  2. Dec 19, 2004 #2
    luknfur

    luknfur

    Jan 14, 2004
    DIXIE
    FWIW:

    Don't know squat about these basses but know Bart makes Washburn replacements. Hopefully you will get somethng useful here but you might do a google search for "Washburn whatever the bass si reveiws" and see if any of those guys have swapped out cuase probably a few of them have. If there's many reviews and nobody's swapped pups or is complaining about the tone you might look to see if you can pickup other variables that may be making the difference (ie, if you're amp sucks and there's doesn't - crappy amps produce crappy sounds).

    I haven't seen the Washburn style pup replacements come up often on ebay so you're probably going to be looking at retail price. Preamps show frequently so you can save about half there.

    You might also try jerking the preamp first and wiring the bass passive. There are some really good sounding cheap pups out there and the existing preamp may be sucking the tone out of the pups you have.
     
  3. Dec 20, 2004 #3
    g04t

    g04t

    Aug 16, 2004
    Sunnyvale, CA
    actually i just made this post so you would respond with "FWIW" so i could ask you what it stands for. :D

    yeah I've checked out reviews, hopefully someone on here has done something similar to this because the reviews aren't very helpful.

    I am playing through a 400+ w/ a mesa 215, so I think my amp/cab is fine.

    Thanks for the tips, might just have to go with the bart replacement soaps.

    Might as well get a bart pre while i'm at it :)
     
  4. Dec 20, 2004 #4
    luknfur

    luknfur

    Jan 14, 2004
    DIXIE
    FWIW (for what it's worth) - frequently, not much.

    I haven't had the Washburn Barts but have a had the 4BBC and M34C's and those are EXTREMELY dark pups. I would call Bart and ask for a rec before ordering if they come in different tones. But they weren't muddy so that shouldn't be an issue.

    But somebody must have liked those Washburns if there's a groove worn in them.


    -----------------

    Don't go buy'n anyone's answer if your question was for free. (GooseCreek Symphony).
     
  5. Dec 23, 2004 #5
    g04t

    g04t

    Aug 16, 2004
    Sunnyvale, CA
    Well I was previously playing a Crate bx110, for about..oh...8 years :bag:

    This washburn is about 2 years old, and sounded as good as that crate is going to get. But now that I have the new setup it's time for better electronics.

    Considering the high knob has never worked correctly and is generally full of static, it's time to just swap everything.

    Other than that it's a damn good bass for 300 bucks.

    FWIW
    Thanks for the info, and all your posts.
     
  6. Dec 23, 2004 #6
    luknfur

    luknfur

    Jan 14, 2004
    DIXIE
    Never had a Washburn or even played one that I can recall but I have the general impression they're decent instruments.

    By the way, that should have been Bart BB4C's.
     
  7. Dec 23, 2004 #7
    Ívar Þórólfsson

    Ívar Þórólfsson Mmmmmm...

    Apr 9, 2001
    Kopavogur, Iceland
    Well, I can´t offer you advice on pickups for your Washburn, I myself own a Washburn XB500 from 1995.

    When I wanted a better sound, I saved up and bought a new bass. I advise you to do the same in this case...

    But that of course are just my 0.02$ To swap the pre, pups and the pots will run you quite a bit of $$$ and quite frankly I don´t think you will get exactly what you want out of it. Such a big part of the sound comes from the woods and construction etc.

    I hope I didn´t bring you down but this is just my opinion.

    As luknfur said, the Washburns are decent instruments, tight string spacing and a very playable bass, I´m just not that keen on the sound and I suspect that the combination of woods, construction etc. plays the biggest part in this case.

    For what it´s worth, I do own a MIA Fender Jazz which I have replaced the stock pups with Barts and I love the outcome. I´m just not that confident that you´ll be that happy with the results from your project.
     
  8. Dec 27, 2004 #8
    g04t

    g04t

    Aug 16, 2004
    Sunnyvale, CA
    I got the opportunity to speak with a few other washburn owners when I was home this last weekend.

    They basically all said the same thing.
    So it looks liek it's time to power save for a Zon :bassist: