Converting different acitve pre-amp settings...

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TomCat

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Hello Warwick massive, got a question.

I have a FNA Jazzman and she is a beauty! (I'll have to post some pics up soon).

The Active Seymor Duncan Pre-amp allows me the extra slap contour EQ when I push the volume knob up, however I don't actully feel the need for this and would benefit alot more for having an Active/passive pull instead.

So my question is, is it possible to change my slap contour knob to a active/passive knob just by amending the active pre-amp electronics?
 
What you would need to do would be to buy the MEC 3-band pre-amp and install it on your bass. You can contact the Warwick distributor in your country to see how you can get a hold of the system.
 
Just for those who would like to know why Seymour Duncan Basslines doesn't have that active/passive option...

(taken from the Basslines website)
"It's not necessary (to have a passive option) with our system. Most bass players want to be able to switch to passive because they're afraid that their battery might die in the middle of their solo. This is a valid concern with a lot of preamps on the market. However, ours offers 1,250 hours of continuous usage with one 9 volt battery. Plus, when the battery starts to go bad (and you hear distortion), you still have 50 - 100 hours left. There's no way it's going to die in the middle of a solo, or even in the middle of a gig, and probably not in the middle of a tour. Tonally, if you set all the EQ controls on the center detents, the tone is the same as passive. So there's really no reason for such a switch. Instead, we put in the slap switch."

Uhm well that's what they said. But if you're good with electronics, you can re-wire the DPDT push-pull switch and change it to perform active/passive switching duty instead (plus hardwiring the original wires that were on the switch that gives you an option for normal/slap contour to either setting that you prefer).

But if you have to ask HOW, I'm afraid I'll have to tell you to go with odominguez's advice ;) Or maybe someone in your area can help you figure the re-wiring out...
 
blackbass said:
...(taken from the Basslines website)
"It's not necessary (to have a passive option) with our system. Most bass players want to be able to switch to passive because they're afraid that their battery might die in the middle of their solo. This is a valid concern with a lot of preamps on the market. However, ours offers 1,250 hours of continuous usage with one 9 volt battery. Plus, when the battery starts to go bad (and you hear distortion), you still have 50 - 100 hours left. There's no way it's going to die in the middle of a solo, or even in the middle of a gig, and probably not in the middle of a tour. Tonally, if you set all the EQ controls on the center detents, the tone is the same as passive. So there's really no reason for such a switch. Instead, we put in the slap switch."
...
Click to expand...

With the great majority of electronics available, the sound with all controls set flat isn't the same as when yiu deactivate it.
The question is that electronics aren't true bypass.

For example, on my lovely 1989 Thumb (with EMG) I always tought that the weakest point is the 2 way MEC Electronics.
My Thumb has the bypass, and I always play with electronics deactivated.
This is because just activating the circuit, the sound changes (and worsten) even with controls set flat.

So I totally disagree with Basslines, and I think that a bypass is always desiderable
 
TomCat said:
...So my question is, is it possible to change my slap contour knob to a active/passive knob just by amending the active pre-amp electronics?
Click to expand...

I think that just rewiring the pots would allow you to do so.
 
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