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Who has WARWICKS with non-MEC pickups?

#181
I got my Streamer stage II 5 string 2nd hand with Seymour Duncan Pickups and pre amp.
It sounded vastly inferior to my SSII Four string with MEC electronics.
I put MEC pickups in the fiver and got a giant improvement in tone and outout.
I would have changed to MEC pre amp also but I didn't want to spend the $$
 
#182
Thumb NT5 - Jow Barden pickups. Thick, even, and a hair darker than the MECs.

DSC00893.jpg
 
#184
MEC pups and Pre sound like crap IMO.
I had a Streamer LX4 that had a P/J config,
I decided to go passive and changed out the pickups to a Quarter Pounder P and a Dimarzio Model J. Fat and punchy. Also tried a NP4 in the P position and that was very nice, really brought out a nice, detailed midrange.

Best sound I've ever got out of it! I've heard that the MEC pickups themselves aren't too shabby but the preamp sucks due to the Bass and treble being centred around frequencies that aren't as useful as others to boost or cut. I never tried a new preamp, but the difference in pickups was definitely a good decision.
 
#185
i had barts on my streamr with OBP3 pre (post #153 here) but i didn't like them. there where to shy and lifeless. so i got used MECs and installed them. now they sound great to my taste with the obp3 but there is one problem - they produce to much output. i need to turn the volume pot down a lot to get reasonable gain. i still considering my way..
 
#186
So, here's the deal:
I have 1990 Streamer Stage I (maple wings, maple/wenge neck) with active EMG's (P/J) and Aguilar OBP-3 electronics. The sound is, hard to put it into words, but, too middy, too growly, dark, but with not much low compared to my jazz bass copy equipped with active EMGs and EMG BTC electronics. I know it's apples and oranges here, but how do I make the sound more clear?

The sound I described works in one of my bands, but I don't see it fitting into any other bands and projects I'm currently involved in. Not remotely versatile as my jazz bass.

Do you have a suggestion for a pickup configuration that would make it more "classic" sounding, like an ordinary P-bass with added jazz pickup? I really dig Nordstrands (I've had NP4, MM4.2 and NJ4s in couple of other basses, but I can't tell how they would work in Warwick)

And I'm open to strings suggestions too. :)

Thanks!
 
#187
I know this may not answer your question exactly, but I thought I'd post here anyway because it's related to the title of your thread.

In the winter of 2009 I acquired a used (abused) Corvette Standard (swamp ash body, ovangkol neck, built 14/06/2002). The stock MEC jazz style active pickups were mangled from what I assume was overzealous pounding on the E string (I'm told this bass was a rental for quite awhile), so it really took away from the cosmetic appeal of the bass. The pickups also suffered from the single coil hum noise from lighting etc. which I couldn't tolerate. I was also curious about how the bass would sound with passive pickups.

So, the first item on the list to fix up this poor old bass was to swap out the pickups. I did a little search on the net and happened upon a company called Delano. They make an amazing Jazz style replacement pickup with a cool look I couldn't resist. It's the JMVC 4 FE/M2 with exposed pole pieces much like a Musicman Stingray pickup. They're also passive split coil humbuckers, so I'd be eliminating that single coil noise and adding a true passive option at the same time.

Installation was straightforward (for me), and the bass looks and sounds awesome now. No more noise, and it still has the characteristic Warwick growl. The pickups are hot enough that they even sound great passively.

The bass still has the stock active EQ circuit in it, and I've been contemplating upgrading it to an ACG filter based circuit, but I'm satisfied for now.

Delano also makes a Precision style replacement pickup with the same exposed pole pieces called PMVC 4 FE/M2. Maybe you can try these in combination with the JMVC 4 FE/M2 in your Streamer Stage I. It depends on your taste though. You might not like the look. (or sound?) Here's a link...

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I hope this helps. Anyway, good luck with any modifications you choose.
 
#188
Thank you for taking the time to reply! Yes, Delanos seem very appealing and I'm strongly considering them. I do like over sized pole pieces on their PMVC pickup, but even if I didn't, sound is what matters the most!

It is really strange - EMGs actually work perfectly in my jazz bass, very natural and lively sound. It is very strange they sound so compressed and dark in this (all maple) Warwick. I see that it might work for someone else.. Or am I just not a Warwick type?
 
#189
goran said:
... It is very strange they sound so compressed and dark in this (all maple) Warwick. I see that it might work for someone else.. Or am I just not a Warwick type?
Click to expand...

I was going to mention in my post that it does seem strange that your Streamer sounds so "dark" when it's made almost entirely of maple, which should make it sound bright. Maybe it's the brass sustain block that's mounted under the bridge that's causing it...? I'm certain that's a major factor in the "Warwick sound". It's not something I would recommend modifying though. At least I've never heard of anyone modifying it. :)
 
#191
I wasn't aware of that brass block! :) But no, I won't change it.
Strings are the first thing I'll change (thinking of steel strings, although I'm a little concerned about the fret wear), then, if it doesn't work I'll try with another pickups...


Thanks!
 
#194
Here...

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"- A key factor in the amazing tone this bridge creates is the brass block. Sitting deep in the bass is a solid brass block. The Bridge then screws to this block. It provides a fat and accurate reproduction of the bass tone. This Brass block is not visible from the outside of the bass."

There ya go! I wasn't bullshitting ya! :P :D
 

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