Is it possible to remove the preamp?

[Webtroll]

I'm having trouble with the preamp I got from a Thumb bass. I like the sound of my Streamer LX basses with the EQ set flat, so I was wondering if the active MEC pickups could be wired for passive controls (like EMGs can). Are there wiring diagrams for this and what value pots would be used? Also have people had much luck using these pickups with 3rd party preamps? I wouldn't mind a clean preamp that didn't have a lot of EQ options. I know some people like to tweak their EQs to get "that tone" but I prefer to use the amp and cabinets to acheive that level of tone control; everything else is fingers and wood.

 

[bassbooty]

I have 2 Streamer Stage II basses which both have the Aguilar OBP-1 preamp in them & it is a really clean sounding preamp that sounds excellent when set flat. It is a really simple design with master volume, pickup blend, and separate bass & treble controls for boost only. The bass/treble controls are flat when turned all the way down. I get a great tone by just bumping the bass control up 1/8 of a turn & leaving the blend control in the middle & treble set flat.

I actually have one of these for sale prewired for active pickups (like MECs) with controls as stated above. If you're interested, send me a Private Message.

 

[Grgzilla]

I'm having trouble with the preamp I got from a Thumb bass. I like the sound of my Streamer LX basses with the EQ set flat, so I was wondering if the active MEC pickups could be wired for passive controls (like EMGs can). Are there wiring diagrams for this and what value pots would be used? Also have people had much luck using these pickups with 3rd party preamps? I wouldn't mind a clean preamp that didn't have a lot of EQ options. I know some people like to tweak their EQs to get "that tone" but I prefer to use the amp and cabinets to acheive that level of tone control; everything else is fingers and wood.

I dont think it's possible to do this with your active pickups.What sort of trouble is the preamp giving you?

 

[Florin]

Greg, it is possible, why not? Just he needs the right pots. My CS white streamer is active, with passive controls.
On the other hand, Webtroll, the best sound usually is with the controls opened, so you can just pull the vol knob, and the eq is bypassesd, and you have the sound similar to a bass with passive controls, full opened.

Cheers mate!

 

[naetog]

I had a bass with the active EMG's and passive tone controls. should wire up like the diagram here for a VVT config

 

[Eberbachl]

Yes - if you like the sound of the pickups, active pickups can certainly be run without a preamp.

Of course you still need a battery to run the active pups, but you can certainly wire them with passive controls.

Just be sure to use the appropriate value pickups.

 

[Webtroll]

I figured this might be the case. Do you think 25k pots would be good for this? Finding a 25k blend pot is going to be an adventure I think.

edit- nm allparts has them, just need to confirm the value

 

[bassbooty]

I figured this might be the case. Do you think 25k pots would be good for this? Finding a 25k blend pot is going to be an adventure I think.

edit- nm allparts has them, just need to confirm the value

25k Blend pots are also available from EMG. I have them in 2 of my basses along with EMG pickups and Aguilar OBP-1 preamp.

 

[Grgzilla]

Greg, it is possible, why not? Just he needs the right pots. My CS white streamer is active, with passive controls.
On the other hand, Webtroll, the best sound usually is with the controls opened, so you can just pull the vol knob, and the eq is bypassesd, and you have the sound similar to a bass with passive controls, full opened.

Cheers mate!

I wasnt sure,but now I know. :wink:

 

[Webtroll]

I received 2 25k pots and a 25 blend pot. I'll update once I have it wired up.

 

[Webtroll]

Removing the preamp worked better than I'd expected. I used a passive Vol/Bal/Tone configuration with 25k pots and a 1k capacitor, followed the EMG recommended battery hookup process. Currently it needs a serious setup (possibly a fret dressing) and the pickups are too low, so I have a little ways to go before it's finished, but the electronics work.