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Who has WARWICKS with non-MEC pickups?

#201
My uncle/teacher has an old thumb 5 with bubinga body and wenge neck.

He has played quite a bit with its pickups and electronics. He said he didn't really like the Mec stuff mostly saying that he didnt like the high end.

The first mod version was with duncans(active, don't remember which model it was but it was old) and a duncan preamp. This setup sounded fuller to me and had the potential to cut through anything.

He then switched to EMGs keeping the duncan preamp. This gave it a flatter response but I still liked it a lot.

Then he took the preamp out and made installed a simpler v/t v/t because he realised he didn't want to play with the preamp anymore and kept the EMGs in it. This sounded a little nicer(and slightly more aggresive) than with the duncan preamp.

So yeah if i'd get one I would also prefer some different electronics and probably EMG actives would be my first choice. Maybe that new x series.
 
#202
Yeah for me the problem with the thumb is that it doesn't seem to have enough deep low end (below 80hz) for me, and unfortunately the MEC preamp is centered at 100hz so I can't boost the frequencies i want without boosting the frequencies I don't want...

I don't have access to any aguilar or exotic preamps being in SA so Seymour and EMG are probably my only easily available options. If anyone has any experience, What are the tone differences between the two?
 
#203
Shoewreck said:
There is no brass block on modern Warwicks, just a frame:
3323080123_7ab1225731.jpg
Click to expand...

Fantastic pic of the Warwick bridge assembly sir! Thanks!

Although the block isn't solid these days, I'm sure it still makes a difference versus nothing at all under there.

Cheers!
 
#204
I've got a Warwick $$ SE zebrano.

188849_10150469094745057_819860056_17731996_8294869_n.jpg
post-7527-1258211864.jpg

I haven't swapped out the pickups yet...but I have changed the preamp to a Nordstrand 2B preamp. IMHO the MEC stuff does not do most of these instruments justice. The "treble" on the MEC was set at 2K, which is high mid! Turning it up made the bass sound harsh and frankly, awful. The bass was also muddy and overpowering when turned up. The Nordy on the other hand....makes a HUGE difference. the treble, which is selectable between high and super high (glassy M.Miller style) sounds very sweet and never harsh however high you crank it. The bass frequency knob now sounds smooth and musical, while still powerful.

Next on my list is Delano pickup replacements, which Im hoping will be another big improvement, opening up the highs even more and giving a nice warmer bottom end. The MECs I think are OK..ish, but not up to the rest of the instrument. They are definitely compressed and a little brittle sounding. Acoustically this bass sounds amazing (and visually, playability wise, aesthetically great), so I think getting the full sound out of it is worth the money.
 
#205
Can you retain the stock nobs on the warwicks with any of these other preamps and not have to drill or add switches? Does that have something to do with the 2 way and 3 way preamps that are options for these upgrades? I'm not too savvy on the electronics just yet... I have a Thumb BO 4 string with MEC's and I was thinking of going with EMG or Barts.
 
#211
I have a 2004 Thumb NT 6 string with Delano dual-coil pickups. It absolutely kills. I have a coil tap switch where I can switch between series (burpy and warmer tone) to single coil (original Thumb goodness and sharper sound). I don't think I will look back to MECs on this bass after using Delanos.
 
#212
bongostealth said:
I have a 2004 Thumb NT 6 string with Delano dual-coil pickups. It absolutely kills. I have a coil tap switch where I can switch between series (burpy and warmer tone) to single coil (original Thumb goodness and sharper sound). I don't think I will look back to MECs on this bass after using Delanos.
Click to expand...

Did you add miniswitches for the coil taps? I thinking about nordy big singles for my 5string vette standard but I'm a li
ttle gun shy about cutting into it.
 
#213
Hey, zombie thread ressurrection!!

But, I'm in the process of putting Lace Sensors in my Streamer Jazzman. It's had a Bart pre for a while now which made a huge difference. I've had a few different pickup sets in it as well but none really made a huge difference. These Lace Sensors are also not a HUGE difference but I like them better and I got a good deal on them. They do deliver some depth and clarity that the stock MEC's lack so that to me is worth keeping them in.
 
#214
tdogg said:
Did you add miniswitches for the coil taps? I thinking about nordy big singles for my 5string vette standard but I'm a li
ttle gun shy about cutting into it.
Click to expand...

Yes I did. And I did drill into the body. But of course that's because I don't have any plans on selling the bass. But if you're afraid to do so, you can always install the switches but keep them tucked into the preamp cavity. Fortunately, Warwick preamp cavities are easily accessible via their screw-free lids. Therefore, whenever you want to coil tap, you don't have to unscrew the lid just to use the switches.
 
#215
Just finished reading this whole thread, really interesting topic btw. This thread may be old but I'm wanting to know if you guys can help a bassist out?

I have a Corvette Standard 4 with Bubinga body. I have been slowly upgrading it: brass just-a-nut, solid brass bridge, and had it set up by my tech. Reading all of these responses to pickups and preamps- I am considering changing my pups out and adding a preamp. Or adding a preamp and leaving the stock passive mecs in...anyway, I love the rich bass tones of awesomeness from Incubus and 311. What will help me to get closer to that type of sound? The mec pups are aiight but like many I am not satisfied. I realize that if I get active pups they REQUIRE a battery to operate. I kind of thought it would be cool to switch between preamp and passive mode via push/pull knob. I have a 3 knob configuration and I am not going to drill any holes in this bass.

I am leaning towards: Seymour Duncan pickups, and SD preamp or Aguilar Pre OBP-3 or Bartolini ntmb 3. Or perhaps the Aggie with the stock pu's? I need help guys....

(Looking for P Nut and/or Dirk Lance sound)

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
 
#217
I play an active Vette standard with MEC golds. I swapped a set of demarzios into it for laughs and absolutely hated it. The low frequencies were poor and the highs almost piercing and clacky. This was also wired to the stock preamp.

I've switched back to the active MEC's and realized I still love them but won't rule out changing the electronics completely down the road...

Leftcoast. I guess I understand the sound you're going for but I don't know how to attain it using what you have. I have a push pull volume knob that bypasses my preamp and makes it a passive sound and I really don't think you're getting the capability and versatility in sound out of the passive pups/lack of preamp. I'm pretty sure you could get somewhat close to your desired sound if you had a preamp with more of an onboard EQ and hotter pick ups. The passive Vettes I've played seemed "restricted" in tonal variety to what I've been playing for a while
 
#218
Yeah, I just feel like it could do with some upgrades as far as tonal control goes. I think I may look for a nice preamp and a pair of mec golds or sd actives. Thanks for the help! :)



Daedraziel said:
I play an active Vette standard with MEC golds. I swapped a set of demarzios into it for laughs and absolutely hated it. The low frequencies were poor and the highs almost piercing and clacky. This was also wired to the stock preamp.

I've switched back to the active MEC's and realized I still love them but won't rule out changing the electronics completely down the road...

Leftcoast. I guess I understand the sound you're going for but I don't know how to attain it using what you have. I have a push pull volume knob that bypasses my preamp and makes it a passive sound and I really don't think you're getting the capability and versatility in sound out of the passive pups/lack of preamp. I'm pretty sure you could get somewhat close to your desired sound if you had a preamp with more of an onboard EQ and hotter pick ups. The passive Vettes I've played seemed "restricted" in tonal variety to what I've been playing for a while
Click to expand...
 
#219
LeftCoast said:
Just finished reading this whole thread, really interesting topic btw. This thread may be old but I'm wanting to know if you guys can help a bassist out?

I have a Corvette Standard 4 with Bubinga body. I have been slowly upgrading it: brass just-a-nut, solid brass bridge, and had it set up by my tech. Reading all of these responses to pickups and preamps- I am considering changing my pups out and adding a preamp. Or adding a preamp and leaving the stock passive mecs in...anyway, I love the rich bass tones of awesomeness from Incubus and 311. What will help me to get closer to that type of sound? The mec pups are aiight but like many I am not satisfied. I realize that if I get active pups they REQUIRE a battery to operate. I kind of thought it would be cool to switch between preamp and passive mode via push/pull knob. I have a 3 knob configuration and I am not going to drill any holes in this bass.

I am leaning towards: Seymour Duncan pickups, and SD preamp or Aguilar Pre OBP-3 or Bartolini ntmb 3. Or perhaps the Aggie with the stock pu's? I need help guys....

(Looking for P Nut and/or Dirk Lance sound)

THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Click to expand...

Honestly, the passive MEC pickups in your bass pale in comparison to the active MEC Gold pickups. I have previously owned several Corvette Standard 4's and 5's and some originally came with the passive MECs but I always ended up swapping them out. The battery lasts a pretty long time with active MEC or EMG pickups as long as you always unplug your bass when you're done playing.

I really like 311 and the older Incubus albums (when Alex was still in the band) a lot. When P-Nut was still using his Warwick Streamer Stage II basses (before his Signature model Warwicks existed) with the jazz pickup setup like your Corvette has, he had the Seymour Duncan Basslines active pickups with the stock onboard MEC preamp. Alex Katunich from Incubus had the same pickups in his Streamer Stage II basses, but I'm not sure if he used the MEC preamp or the SD Basslines preamp. The active SD Basslines pickups have a somewhat scooped midrange, which isn't my bag because I love mids. Midrange is what helps you cut through in a live band situation.

Personally with the jazz pickup configuration as in your Corvette, I prefer EMG pickups. They have more high mids and clarity than either the SD Basslines or the MEC pickups. I have EMG jazz pickups in both of my Streamer Stage II basses with Aguilar OBP-1 preamps in them. The Aguilar preamps warm up the clarity of the EMG pickups in a nice musical way and you have the capability to add a ton of beef with the powerful bass control. In my SSII basses I have tried SD Basslines, Bartolini, Lane Poor, & MEC pickups and ended up liking the EMG pickup/Aguilar preamp setup the best. My 2nd choice would be the MEC Golds. The MEC Gold pickups actually are a good match with the MEC preamp. To my ears, they seem to have a somewhat built in low midrange bump which helps cut through in a live band situation as well, but they do have less high mids than the EMGs. Hope this helps...
 
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