Improving slight/low output from Streamer standard passive

[AsturHero]

Hey guys

I have found a very genial solution for the low output from the MEC vintage Humbucker.

Now my beloved STreamer has the "Balls" i wished to

As some folks knows, due to my private circumstances i can't affort so much money for my hobbie and for High Quality equipment.
So i have only an 40 Watts Warwick Amp and since 2 weeks my first Rockbass Streamer.

The Bass is wonderful and great, but as Florin mentioned, it has a very low output and with only 40 Watts it isn't really "Bassy" enough.

My ideas to improve:
new powerful Amp ---> no chance with my financial situation, my wife and neighbours
new Pickups ---> too expensive for me
changing electronics to active --->good electronics starts about 95 € plus, a little too expensive for me and 2. risk, if i dont like the sound or the output, after soldering it in the bass, no chance to unsoldering and get Money Back option

so what to do ?
i was googleing the last days around, watching Youtube Videos, reading reviews etc. and i have found this:

Behringer Tube Preamp Ultragain MIC 100




it costs only 29,- € including an power supply (the lack of an on/off switch can be avoid with that for 2,- €)


after reading some reviews, i have choosen to buy a additional vacuum tube for 8,90 €:



Finally it'S arrived today and i'am tottaly blown away ! now the sound is punchy, crispy, loud, warm, rich, powerful etc. etc.....

now i have so much GAIN and HEadroom with my Streamer as i will and wish...

it's unbelievable such a small cheapo box can upgrade the sound so much...
normally the box is made for microphones, but it can be used for any instruments, but i have read so much good for use with Bass-Guitar and as a DI-Box..and their have no told lies....

even out of the box you can softly change/saturate the sound with the tube

from totally clean, but warmer, a lot louder than stock MEC-PUs
to little saturation/crunch
as to slightly distortion...

the Tube in it is a chinese one, it is good enough, it only begins to hum and microphonize at 3/4 Gain.

I have exchanged it with the JJ ECC83S (12AX7) from slovakian production.
This tube is better in noiseless and warmer tones.

Now i can crank up the Gain at the Preamp up to 10/11 from 12 without hum/noise and due to the different construction from the tube i can rest the Preamp on top of my Amp without microphoning the Bassrumble.

So total costs was:
39,90 €

its stunning and unbelievable.....ok those from you that have Hellborgs or x-hundred $ Preamps will laugh of me and the Preamp, but give it it try..it's more than worth for low output Basses

 

[Hardy]

Lies!!!

...until you prove it with a vid!

 

[AsturHero]

i lov you Hardy

 

[Florin]

After the fall of the Roman Empire, our Great Forum fell back on a Germanic system that presumed guilt. The accused could prove his innocence by having, for example, twelve registered users swear that he could not have done what he was accused of. Or post a picture/ video. This tended to favor the older members over the newbies.

 

[Hardy]

And if He doesn´t proof, twelf choosen members of the forum will collect ugly Warwick bass copies to make a great fire. Divine intervention will decide if their body wood is still not dry enough to make a fire with them. But if they burn, the preamp has to be sacrificed to the fire. So Astur, you really should do this vid!!! :lol:

 

[Nachobassman]

Gotta love this thread.

BTW, nice solution, Astur, I´m tempted to try that pre out too.