EMG 45HZ with BQS Preamp?

[kvn_]

I got a little ambitious and purchased a new preamp to replace in my bass. I’m realizing I may have jumped the gun before really knowing what I’m doing.

I have a Schecter Stiletto Studio 6 with the stock EMG 45HZ pickups (2007 model, not sure if that matters, they have 5 pins). My preamp was on the fritz so I decided to buy the EMG BQS preamp to replace it. My bass is a soldered system, but I bought a solder-less replacement (only 3 pin connection for the pickups).

Do I have to buy more modern EMG pickups to work with this preamp, or do I need to do some hybrid Frankenstein configuration?

I have searched for tutorials or videos specific to using the HZs with the BQS solder-less preamp, but I have not found anything that is clear enough for me to understand how I should be combining/connecting these two things.

I would appreciate any help, or even just pointing me to an existing tutorials if there is one. Thanks.

 

[Joblivion]

I am looking to do exactly the same thing. Did you check the diagram they provide? Everything you need should be inside the BQS system except for perhaps replacement cables if the ones attatched to your pickups were previously soldered.

 

[Joblivion]

I got a little ambitious and purchased a new preamp to replace in my bass. I’m realizing I may have jumped the gun before really knowing what I’m doing.

I have a Schecter Stiletto Studio 6 with the stock EMG 45HZ pickups (2007 model, not sure if that matters, they have 5 pins). My preamp was on the fritz so I decided to buy the EMG BQS preamp to replace it. My bass is a soldered system, but I bought a solder-less replacement (only 3 pin connection for the pickups).

Do I have to buy more modern EMG pickups to work with this preamp, or do I need to do some hybrid Frankenstein configuration?

I have searched for tutorials or videos specific to using the HZs with the BQS solder-less preamp, but I have not found anything that is clear enough for me to understand how I should be combining/connecting these two things.

I would appreciate any help, or even just pointing me to an existing tutorials if there is one. Thanks.

Basically you can order these cables or just re solder the ones you already have. The cables connect to the system via 3 pin but via the pickup 5 pin.

 

[kvn_]

View attachment 5211556

Basically you can order these cables or just re solder the ones you already have. The cables connect to the system via 3 pin but via the pickup 5 pin.

Yeah, I looked at the diagram provided with the BQS preamp, it just wasn’t clear to me how to adapt my existing pickups. I couldn’t tell if the 5 pin was compatible. I may just get some of those 5 pin to 3 pin cables to keep it all as solderless as possible. I also need to get another 9V connector, I didn’t realize it only comes with one. I guess I could also just solder the ones I have, but again, the less I have to solder probably the better since this isn’t something I’m extremely familiar with.

 

[kvn_]

Actually, looking at the BQS diagram again, the pick up cables split the 3 pins… 2 directly to the control board and 1 through the power bus. So I don’t know if/how that 5 pin to 3 pin cable would work. Really the entire diagram makes sense, it’s just getting the 3 pin cable connect to my pickups that’s confusing me.

 

[Joblivion]

Actually, looking at the BQS diagram again, the pick up cables split the 3 pins… 2 directly to the control board and 1 through the power bus. So I don’t know if/how that 5 pin to 3 pin cable would work. Really the entire diagram makes sense, it’s just getting the 3 pin cable connect to my pickups that’s confusing me.

Can you post a pic of the diagram you're looking at?

 

[Joblivion]

Actually, looking at the BQS diagram again, the pick up cables split the 3 pins… 2 directly to the control board and 1 through the power bus. So I don’t know if/how that 5 pin to 3 pin cable would work. Really the entire diagram makes sense, it’s just getting the 3 pin cable connect to my pickups that’s confusing me.

is this it?

 

[kvn_]

View attachment 5211946

is this it?

Oh, I see… I was looking at the wrong diagram the whole time. That makes more sense. Thank you. Going to get a couple of this cables and give it a shot.

 

[Joblivion]

Np. If you run into any trouble EMG is pretty good to respond if you contact them too. I set up my active LTD with the regular bqs control so I've done it once before sort of lol. If you want to maintain 18 volt, you're right. You have to solder the quick connect ends to the battery wires. You can run it in 9v but it run's a little better on 18v. Especially if you dig in or slap. Best of luck

 

[kvn_]

Np. If you run into any trouble EMG is pretty good to respond if you contact them too. I set up my active LTD with the regular bqs control so I've done it once before sort of lol. If you want to maintain 18 volt, you're right. You have to solder the quick connect ends to the battery wires. You can run it in 9v but it run's a little better on 18v. Especially if you dig in or slap. Best of luck

One more question, if you know… with soldering, I’ve seen videos showing how various cables are grounded to the back of pots and to the shielding around the preamp cavity… I am unsure what if any grounding I need to do with this solderless preamp. I don’t see anything on the diagram referencing that… so you know if there’s a guide or something that covers grounding with this?

I just got the rest of my cables in and I want to make sure I don’t fry something for not grounding it properly.

 

[Joblivion]

One more question, if you know… with soldering, I’ve seen videos showing how various cables are grounded to the back of pots and to the shielding around the preamp cavity… I am unsure what if any grounding I need to do with this solderless preamp. I don’t see anything on the diagram referencing that… so you know if there’s a guide or something that covers grounding with this?

I just got the rest of my cables in and I want to make sure I don’t fry something for not grounding it properly.

Based off the sound my bass mskes I don't think the cavity is shielded so I wouldn't worry about grounding the cavity.

Essentially, you have to attach a wire from your neck volume/master to the wire already soldered to your bridge.

I'll admit I have yet to attemt on my schecter lol. For my LTD I went active but all the grounding wires I left attatched together and covered the ends with electrical tape because I didn't want to fish them out lol. The claim for the BQS by EMG is you shouldn't it but I'd just leave it in there as is once finished. Soldering to any pot should do.

 

[kvn_]

Here’s the finished preamp install, all solderless. The EMG bridge ground connector came with two button connectors, so I used the second one to join the 9V cables rather than soldering it. Everything works and sounds great on initial test, just need some final tweaking on pickup height and should be good to go. Thank for the help!