Onboard Pre-amps...have you installed one?

ZenG

ZenG

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Dec 13, 2013
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#1
Onboard preamp with 3 EQ....treble.mid, bass..

Difficult to install?

Ok...needs battery compartment ..but other than that:- have to drill out places for more knobs and dials?

I see some of these come with "push/pull" knobs. That would cut down on the number of knobs/pots needed, right?

I imagine basses where the pickguard has the knobs in it would be easier than a bass that has no pickguard of that type because then you have to go through the wood..

Read a few posts where hum became an issue after installation...is that typical?

The best basses I've ever played tonewise all had the 3 setting EQ on them plus bass-boost etc.

Feel free to post pic of your mod if you did one...
 
#3
I used to be a passive-only guy, but then discovered the flexibility and muscular tone of an onboard pre. Now most of my basses have one, usually with a push/pull passive option as a failsafe (that never gets used unless a battery dies, which never happens, except for one bass that I wired wrong and had a short, but that was totally my fault). Aguilar is nice, but lately I've become spoiled by the screw connectors on the John East stuff. I hate soldering!

Push/pull saves a hole, as do concentric (stacked) knobs. Drilling is no big deal. I hate pickguards. Hum is rarely an issue, and if it is, it's typically not the preamp's fault.

Don't buy cheap preamps. Stick with the reputable brands, of which there are plenty. Entry-level in my book would be an EMG BTC or BTS two-band; their three-band version is the BQC or BQS, which features sweepable mids at a great price.
 
#4
I have a cheap Ibanez Ergodyne 5-string, and didn't care for Ibby's "Phat II" preamp, basically a mid-scoop tone control for slap playing. So I replaced it with a 3-band EMG preamp. The bass was already active so I didn't need to make a space for the battery. The installation went pretty easily, my unit came with EMGs solderless connectors, I ended up clipping one of the solderless jumpers to make a 'pig tail' to solder to my bass' passive pickups. I was worried the preamp might not fill in the shallow control cavity, but there was no problem.

The job wasn't too difficult for me, but I have some experience with electronics and instrument wiring. I didn't have any hum issue before or after the EMG preamp install, I'm sure my bass has humbucking pickups though. Immediately after I installed the preamp, I had some crackling and volume loss, so I removed and re-seated all the solderless connectors and that fixed the problem. It's been trouble-free ever since.
 
#5
I hardwired/soldered a EMG BTC preamp to my old EMG PJ pickups. Don't think it would be to difficult to add a preamp as long as you have the space, can solder, and can follow instructions.

I prefer preamp in pedal form. Easier to change if it's not what your looking for and it's still close enough that you don't have to go to the amp and change things.
 
#6
I have the Sadowsky in my 73 Jazz. Luv it!. I did have to route the back for the battery, but Stew Mac has all the router templates you'll ever need..Plus the cover plates hide most of your mistakes. I also copper lined every cavity and soldered ground to it. My 6 has the Nordstrom preamp, that thing has almost unlimited sound capability.
 
#7
I have done a few. My 72 Jazz went from EMGs to Barts with an East J Retro, which dropped right in, by design. The battery slot was already routed out under the pickguard, so it was pretty easy.
I have also had great luck with the various EMG preamps, I go with as many concentrics as possible to save holes.
I have also had great luck with the Duncan Blackouts pre. It's a stacked Bass/Treble that replaces the master tone control. It's great and easy to install as well, just requiring a battery location.
 
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#8
I just bought a bass with an Audere 3-eq preamp in it; I'm pulling it out and getting rid of it, but not because it's a bad product. I just prefer passive.

It requires no modification, though it's the j-bass model. Comes pre-installed on its own control plate, solderless connectors, no separate battery compartment needed; it really seems designed so that even the proverbial caveman can install it. Stacked pots.

Changing the battery requires removing the control plate, but that's only three screws. It's really a well-designed product, though I've got no experience with any other kind of preamp.
 
#9
ZenG said:
Onboard preamp with 3 EQ....treble.mid, bass..

Difficult to install?

Ok...needs battery compartment ..but other than that:- have to drill out places for more knobs and dials?

I see some of these come with "push/pull" knobs. That would cut down on the number of knobs/pots needed, right?
Click to expand...

You might also want to look at using stacked pots rather than drilling new holes. Bass and mids on one stacked pot is a pretty common setup, for instance.
 
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