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Who has WARWICKS with non-MEC pickups?
- Thread starter bannedwit
- Start date
Custom made - I'm going to need 16mm spacing if I want the strings in the centre of the poles...
...which is amazing, because with the stock MEC with 17mm, they're miles out!!!
There's no difference in price, but it'll mean a fairly long wait.
well joe, if they don't it's not because warwick pickups are inferior. primarily, when it comes to the famous sought after warwick growl, i found mec pups etc superior to my fretless warwick now w/nordstrands & my fretted active warwick thumb now w/barts & my '99 tobias w/soapbar bart & 3 way active equalization. that doesn't mean the other setups aren't overall better sounding but none have the growl that i had had.
wondering what pups you have in your warwick fortress flashback?
you do have a nice collection of basses.
I wouldn't say MEC pickups are bad either. I opted to change out both the pickups and preamp in my Streamer LX5 but I'd be curious to hear the MECs with a different preamp. I have found that I'm not a big fan of the MEC preamp...to my ears it sounds a bit artificial, or very obviously active. I don't find the frequency centers to work in terms of the sound I have in my head.
The new combination of Bartolini 59JCBs and an Aggie OBP-3 preamp gives exactly the sound I wanted from this bass. It's less overtly growly, but in it's place is a much more useable overall sound (for me) with increased difference in tone between the neck and bridge pickups that adds elements of P-Bass bark and J-Bass burp to the Warwick signature tone.
The OBP-3 really works well. I had it wired with the push pull mid shift knob and I'm finding that one setting is perfect when you want to cut mids and the other is perfect for adding them. Boosted highs sound more natural and the low-end from this pre is huge and thick...a little goes a very long way.
Now if I can just get my grounding issues worked out, it'll be perfect
I think it's time to take this one to the local shop...chasing down ground loops is clearly not my forte.
Just chiming in with my experience.
The new combination of Bartolini 59JCBs and an Aggie OBP-3 preamp gives exactly the sound I wanted from this bass. It's less overtly growly, but in it's place is a much more useable overall sound (for me) with increased difference in tone between the neck and bridge pickups that adds elements of P-Bass bark and J-Bass burp to the Warwick signature tone.
The OBP-3 really works well. I had it wired with the push pull mid shift knob and I'm finding that one setting is perfect when you want to cut mids and the other is perfect for adding them. Boosted highs sound more natural and the low-end from this pre is huge and thick...a little goes a very long way.
Now if I can just get my grounding issues worked out, it'll be perfect
I think it's time to take this one to the local shop...chasing down ground loops is clearly not my forte.Just chiming in with my experience.
well joe, if they don't it's not because warwick pickups are inferior. primarily, when it comes to the famous sought after warwick growl, i found mec pups etc superior to my fretless warwick now w/nordstrands & my fretted active warwick thumb now w/barts & my '99 tobias w/soapbar bart & 3 way active equalization. that doesn't mean the other setups aren't overall better sounding but none have the growl that i had had.
wondering what pups you have in your warwick fortress flashback?
you do have a nice collection of basses.
The fortress lipsticks do say MEC on them but I don't know anything other than that... I've already tried to open one unsuccessfully LOL
I think I am going to have a custom pickguard made and drop in 2 pickups from a G&L SB2 for kicks
I just put in a set of stack jazz pickups in my Corvette with an aguilar OBP-3.
The stack takes care of the bubinga's mid-scoop like anything else before + the flexibility of the OBP-3, IT's awesome
It's simply the best combination i've heard yet on a non-mec warwick....
Thanks
Francois
The stack takes care of the bubinga's mid-scoop like anything else before + the flexibility of the OBP-3, IT's awesome
It's simply the best combination i've heard yet on a non-mec warwick....
Thanks
Francois
I recently bought a used '97 Streamer Stage II. It's got EMG's and an Aguilar OBP-1 pre. It sounds absolutely amazing! The EMG's give it more of a hi-fi tone which is clearer IMO than MEC's. But it's still got TONS of Warwick growl!
I'm going to have to put new PU's and a pre in my Thumb 5 BO. It's tone is just pissing me off these days. Too muddy and it seems that MEC pre's just have this really annoying spike around 2-3kHz that is really tough to get around. I'll probably go with EMG's for it but I can't decide between an Aggie OBP-3 or an EMG BQC system. I know the Aggies sound great but I really like the variable mid control on the EMG. I've got one in my Spector. I really think the Thumb could benefit from the variable mid control.
I've also got a Corvette Proline that I know I'm putting EMG's and an OBP-3 in.
I'm going to have to put new PU's and a pre in my Thumb 5 BO. It's tone is just pissing me off these days. Too muddy and it seems that MEC pre's just have this really annoying spike around 2-3kHz that is really tough to get around. I'll probably go with EMG's for it but I can't decide between an Aggie OBP-3 or an EMG BQC system. I know the Aggies sound great but I really like the variable mid control on the EMG. I've got one in my Spector. I really think the Thumb could benefit from the variable mid control.
I've also got a Corvette Proline that I know I'm putting EMG's and an OBP-3 in.
I'm looking at putting single coils into my LX5. Does anyone have any thoughts / experience with the Nordstrand NJ5 or Lindy Fralin singles in their Warwicks?
Thanks,
J.
Thanks,
J.
hey Justyn,
I put Aero Type1 5 string pups in my LX5 with the OBP3 preamp.
previously I had Bartolini 59Js and they sounded too midscooped to me (I thought the midscooped sound would tone down the brightness of the maple body but it only took all charecter away).
the Aeros are great, it sounds like a Jazz bass but with more mid response.
I also have NJ4s in my CIJ Geddy Jazz and they sound great, a bit more low focused than the Aeros.
if that sounds ok to you you'll be very happy with this configuration.
I put Aero Type1 5 string pups in my LX5 with the OBP3 preamp.
previously I had Bartolini 59Js and they sounded too midscooped to me (I thought the midscooped sound would tone down the brightness of the maple body but it only took all charecter away).
the Aeros are great, it sounds like a Jazz bass but with more mid response.
I also have NJ4s in my CIJ Geddy Jazz and they sound great, a bit more low focused than the Aeros.
if that sounds ok to you you'll be very happy with this configuration.
funkybassplayer
Commercial User
My 88' Thumb NT has the stock EMG's in it. they are punchy and have a great low end presence. It only has the older two band pre in it but i love it. I have to agree with some of the other guys the posted about barts. i love them and had them in a couple other basses i had. I just don't really think the Bart's tone would be all the conducive to the thumb. I would definatly recomend trying the EMG's.
funkybassplayer
Commercial User
Early 90s Streamer Stage I Six String with original Bartolini soaps and original stock Bartolini two band 9 volt active/passive preamp. Good passive sound... sort of warm six string J-Bass voice. The active sound is nice and growly, but the treble gets a little bit hissy if rolled all the way up and played at high volume.
hi
this is my 94 streamer 5 bolt on fretless with bartolini pickups and Aguilar obp3 preamp.
the sound is amazing since i put the obp3 few months ago. the bass sounds now like top of the line bass.
lot of options to dial - from jaco like sound to full round upright like sound. the obp3 is good match to the bartolini's. lot better than the MEC pre i had for years that made the sound to much soft and dark.
the flat nylon string are big help to.
this is my 94 streamer 5 bolt on fretless with bartolini pickups and Aguilar obp3 preamp.
the sound is amazing since i put the obp3 few months ago. the bass sounds now like top of the line bass.
lot of options to dial - from jaco like sound to full round upright like sound. the obp3 is good match to the bartolini's. lot better than the MEC pre i had for years that made the sound to much soft and dark.
the flat nylon string are big help to.
- May 28, 2007
- 277
- 0
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Optima Strings
Steve Bailey basslines in my 6 string fretless corvette. Less growl and a bit darker sounding but much cleaner tone.
the graph tech piezo saddles are in, along with the fishman buffer and alembic pups/pre (i favor these over the q-tuners, and there was no room for the acguitars pre, though that will go back into the fortress ). the switch is a battery kill. i was afraid of having too many holes, but they seem to balance. not sure of the knobs though...
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). the switch is a battery kill. i was afraid of having too many holes, but they seem to balance. not sure of the knobs though...[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Thanks for the recommendation. I'm kind of at my wit's end with this bass in terms of trying to get it closer to the sound I want...definitely past the point at which I would normally sell an instrument and try something different, but for personal reasons I can't sell this one. Aeros might be the last step before I put it in a gig bag and forget about it for a while, with Villex being the other possible avenue.The maple body / bolt-on neck is just incredibly bright and focused and while that gives a really consistent even sound across all five strings, it has this kind of natural compression that I know I can only mitigate so much.
Time to take some measurements and send an email to the folks at Aero.
I also might change the preamp. I've liked the OBP-3 in other basses, but I'm not sure it's voiced right to work with this one's natural resonance.
Eh...we'll see.
Thanks for the recommendation.
J.
Last month I had the electronics overhauled on my Warwick ('97 Corvette Standard). I had the MEC active pickups and 2-band preamp replaced with Duncan Basslines STK-J2 hot stacked humbucking J pickups and a passive setup (vol, vol, tone.)
This is truly Jazz bass on steroids tone. The neck pickup offers up volcanic lows and the bridge pickup is burpier than an Oktoberfest beer-guzzling contest. The growl on the bass sounds more natural and organic.
I love the tone I'm getting. The neck pickup maxxed out, the bridge pickup rolled off a tad, and the treble completely rolled off on the tone knob, I get thick, bootylicious lows to thicken up the mix while the bubinga and wenge offer enough natural compressed highs for a gutpunching slap sound and growling mids for presence.
This is truly Jazz bass on steroids tone. The neck pickup offers up volcanic lows and the bridge pickup is burpier than an Oktoberfest beer-guzzling contest. The growl on the bass sounds more natural and organic.
I love the tone I'm getting. The neck pickup maxxed out, the bridge pickup rolled off a tad, and the treble completely rolled off on the tone knob, I get thick, bootylicious lows to thicken up the mix while the bubinga and wenge offer enough natural compressed highs for a gutpunching slap sound and growling mids for presence.
You were absolutely right! I picked up a used set of Aeros (maybe even the same pair you owned? the string spacing matches uncannily well) and installed them last night. I'd already swapped the OBP-3 for a U-Retro Deluxe I got an amazing deal on when Steve Barr was blowing them out and the combination is deadly. Like you said, it's like a J-bass with more mid-response and the mid-sweep on the U-Retro gives me complete control over those same mids.
I'm still a big Bartolini fan, but I don't think they were the right match for this bass for the sound I wanted. The Aeros really did the trick. With a fresh set of strings this might go back to being my main bass, but even if it doesn't the labor of love has been worth it
J.
As a follow up to my own question, I ended up putting in an STC3a from Seymour Duncan. All I can say is WOW! So much more musical sounding than the MEC preamp from before. Tons of aggressive mids, tons of growl. The high end is no longer brittle either. I have no problem getting great tone with everything flat.
For the record, i also put in the AJB5 pickups.
I can pretty much nail the incubus and 311 tone in my sleep.
I have an OBP-3 in my Thumb 5 and an OBP-2 in my Bleached Blonde Thumb. I kept all of my stock MEC pickups. I love the tone, cleaned up everything really nicely. I'm thinkin of doing the same to my Streamer Stage II, because now it doesn't sound as articulate as the other ones. I actually put my Thumb 5 pre-amp into my Dirty Blonde, and it thickened it up a lot. So anyways, another OBP-3 is in the works for my SSII5...
