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Who has WARWICKS with non-MEC pickups?

#102
I just installed the Seymour Duncan AJJ-1 actives into Pete Charell's (TRAPT) Warwick thumb bass and it sounds amazing...but if you are going for passive any of the SD pickups will fit and definitely add some tone and character otherwise lacking in the stock setup.:bassist:
 
#103
After reading through all these posts, I'd like to ask for your collective input on replacement pickups and preamp for my Streamer LX5. It's a `94 with a maple body and bolt-on five-piece neck with a wenge fingerboard. The overall tone is very bright and focused - naturally compressed, with an incredibly even response.

What I'd like is to see if I can do is open up the sound a bit and add more depth to the low mids and bottom end. Based on what I've read here it seems like maybe EMGs would be a good choice. I've used both their preamps and pickups and I like their sound.

Then again...I think maybe a Bartolini pickup and Aguilar preamp combo might really kill. My only limitations are that I don't want to add any holes or routing, so as far as pots go, I'm sticking to four.

What say you, learned folks of Warwick pickup and preamp replacement?

Thanks,
J.
 
#104
Justyn said:
...Then again...I think maybe a Bartolini pickup and Aguilar preamp combo might really kill...
Click to expand...

+1 :you will get a full warm round tone, yet have some nice top and mid. i'm playing around with a few different things atm. my acguitars pre has shipped (thank you alan!!!), so i'll be back to barts (or...?), as they really are a great cure for the "mec anemia" (running the villex set atm, but would have some issues using them in an active setting, and i can't wait to get the acguitars pre installed :hyper: )
 
#105
well, the acguitars pre came in, and is now installed...WOW! it transformed my barts so much so that i now feel that i have a completely different, much more versatile set of pups to play with :bassist: :hyper: i wonder what this would sound like with some of those delano pups with the big pole pieces...
 
#106
seymourduncan said:
I just installed the Seymour Duncan AJJ-1 actives into Pete Charell's (TRAPT) Warwick thumb bass and it sounds amazing...but if you are going for passive any of the SD pickups will fit and definitely add some tone and character otherwise lacking in the stock setup.:bassist:
Click to expand...

so are the active seymours also a direct swap into a thumb bass?
 
#108
Justyn said:
I was wondering that as well...I measured both pickups on my Streamer LX5 last night and they're both 3 11/16". There are some SDs for sale in the classifieds right now, but I don't think they'll fit.
Click to expand...

I'm just talking about the Active jazz type pickups (single coil style) I think the soapbars on the LX are mor likely to fit, or do you have the P/J config?
 
#111
Finally swapped the MEC's out for Bart pickups and the Agi OBP-3 in my mid 90's 4 string Thumb NT.

This was the type of sound that I was looking for. Definitely cleaner, warmer, and the highs come through so much better. Boosting the bass gives you a huge warm sound that I was after. I have a way more versatile bass now and that nasally sound is long gone as well.

I think if you're looking to keep the growl, maybe go with the duncan setup (?)... or swap out the pre and keep the MEC pickups. But I would personally get rid of the MEC's...

In my band, the bass cuts through way better and guitar sounds better to my ears over the bass.
 
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#119
I recently had the tech at my local Guitar Center install EMG's BQC-Controls in my 2000 Thumb 5 Bolt-on. I was going to have him install MEC's 3-band preamp, but he suggested EMG. His reasons were that the EMG preamp was substantially less expensive, quiet and offers more versatile tone shaping. WAS HE EVER SO ON THE MONEY!!!! THE DIFFERENCE IS BEYOND NIGHT AND DAY!! I HAVEN'T EVEN SCRATCHED THE SURFACE IN FINDING THE NUMBER OF TONES AVAILABLE!! The major features of the BQC-Controls are the variable mid control and the adjustable high frequency cross-over controls. I am still using the MEC pickups. Again, the transformation is beyond words!!

Keep God First!:hyper:

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!:cool:
 
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#120
:help: :confused: :( ,
looking to swap out my mec passives in my corvette fretless w/no other changes. which barts do you like/recommend?
i'm interested in: 9CBJS1-single coil deep tone low noise
or hum cancelling: 9CBJD1-dual inline coils deep tone
or " " 9J1-split coil hum cancelling

any advice? other than lack of 60 cycle hum is there a difference in the sound of the 2 classic bass pickups?
ty, larry
 

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