Streamer Stage 2 pickup/preamp change...what a difference!

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elpelotero

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I put in Seymour Duncan STC3a preamp and AJB5 pickups into my SS2 this week and played a ridiculous show with it last night....

WOW!! I was crapping my pants! The tone is so freaking good! Not to diss MEC, but man, those SD electronics simply SLAY like no other! The bass is so growly, punchy and clear that it's ridiculous. Not to mention the huge boost in volume I am getting!

I highly recommend these in a SS2!!
 
i put AJB5s into my corvette std 5 too and i'm happy with it. now to add a aguilar or equivalent preamp heh
 
I'm thinking of installing a set of AJB5's aswell, plus edding a STC-3a but...

The wiring diagram isn't an exactly clear to me, how did you do yours(or are there sites with instructions)
 
When you buy the preamp, everything is pre-wired. You only need to put the pickups, batteries, ground, and input jack on.

I used this:

I also spoke with some tech guys on the phone.

Buyer beware though: the AJB's are very difficult to get even output across all strings. It took me lots of time of fiddling back and forth with a screwdriver to get things right. The B and G strings will have weak output at first. Also, be sure to use the screws provided by MEC. Do not use the big black screws SD gives you. They simply do not fit and will destroy the inner housings for the screws.
 
I had AJB and STC-3 on my Thumb 5 NT, I thought was good at first, it bring softer tone to match my Hard Thumb 5 NT, but.........the B & G string sound wrong, I am wonder if it is a 4 sting AJB but after read topic there, there is position problem with the strings, I replace it back to EMG J-set and it go right....

After that I found I am still "wrong", the active SD pickup is 100K, also the STC preamp, it should not fit EMG (25K), so I gonna replace the preamp again.

I don't like SD J-set now, because it is the only pickup I had use on my Thumb 5 which I didn't miss it.....Bartolini, EMG, MEC had give me different feeling.

I have EMG PUs & BEC-3 on my SSII 4, it is powerful and funky!

BTW, I like STC preamp, wide range and very cool slapping switch ! it is shame it is 100K in active.....
 
Hi, after reading the topic...

I just put SD AJB-5 back to the Thumb bass....I find that B & G string still a little quieter than other strings but I thought they are designed to be that way...

The tone is not awesome but fine, I still think MEC, EMG Bartolini bring more personality.

I will keep the Bassline AJB-5 on my Thumb NT for a while until next gig, the live performs will tell it all.
 
The B and G will sound wrong at first unless you have the uncanny luck of getting the setup right the first time.

It took me several tries before I found the perfect setting. Both strings are now very loud and growly. The G is easier to setup, so I'll leave that one to you.

My B string is setup as follows:
3mm on bridge pickup, 3.5-4mm on neck pickup, 2mm 24 fret, 1mm 1st fret. The string heights on the bridge saddle and nut are as low as possible
 
I have SSII too, the bass is easy to be loud, mine is EMG PUs + MEC-3 bands, it sounds awesome!!　I mean the bass is really loud, it growl easily! I will not touch the PUs and circuit of my SSII, it already has the best sound!

I will try to reset my Thumb 5 NT to get the better sound, I still think that AJB is not good on the Thumb bass, maybe sounds good on SSII....
 
I like my AJB-5's with STC-3A preamp :) Didn't have any problems with uneven string output. Sure, it does sound different than Warwick's PU's an preamp, if you have the chance try before you buy. But I think you can send it back if you're not satisfied, at least the pickups...
 
I'm in a love/hate relationship w/ my SSII set up per above. Some gig's it blows my mind, others it's just an "meh" bass.

I really feel string life has a whole lot to do with it. Brand new strings sing and cut, but literally ten hours of playing later...it's not THAT pentacle tone any more. Still searching for that perfect string.

I also found by lowering my action (lower than thought I wanted) the slight rattle/buzz/clicky fret noise really helped...and lets face it, most of us with this set up are after that old school P-nut / Dirk Lance tone.

The contour switch on the pre is awesome tho. I use it as a "second channel" for what I like to call hip-hop mode. I really helps to drop a bomb.

If anyone has any other suggestions/comments on the search for tone w/ this setup I'd love to hear them.
 
Up ! :lol:

Who has ever tried EMG pickups & preamp in a Streamer Stage II compared to the MEC ?
 
Funky Stuff said:
Up ! :lol:

Who has ever tried EMG pickups & preamp in a Streamer Stage II compared to the MEC ?
Click to expand...

you don't need to....EMG preamp have less range than any preamp...MEC preamp is better, the EMG pus is like MECs but MEC have stronger mid, and EMG is more bright...
 
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