Preamp or Pickups?

FREDDYKBASS

FREDDYKBASS

Feb 4, 2019
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4,551
#1
Hello,
I want to upgrade my MTD Kingston Heir 5 and I'm not sure if I should start with the pre-amp or the pickups.

For reference if it helps:
I was playing on a rock cover band (70's to present material) and I also record jazz/fusion/rock original material so I need a wide variety of sounds and I lean towards quality sound above anything else.

I'm currently looking at Nordstrand p/ups and either Bartolini or Audere pres.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Freddy
 

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#4
It is a very good and coherent stock instrument.
I wouldn't really know where to start modding it.

With fresh strings and a good setup, this bass works wonders. I'd start there before judging it.

If you can't find a single good tone for recording I'm not sure modding it would be a good idea. It may be a lemon or simply not a good fit for you.
 
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#5
Jazz Ad said:
It is a very good and coherent stock instrument.
I wouldn't really know where to start modding it.

With fresh strings and a good setup, this bass works wonders. I'd start there before judging it.

If you can't find a single good tone for recording I'm not sure modding it would be a good idea. It may be a lemon or simply not a good fit for you.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the thought.
 
#6
Pickups will determine the basic tone. A good preamp will fine-tune that basic tone.

If you like the basic tone of the instrument, then keep the pickups and change the preamp. Audere are pretty neutral, and will let the pickups’ basic tone come through. Bartolini too, I think - it’s been a long time since I played through a Bart preamp.

If you don’t like the current tone, look for different pickups. There are lots and lots of choices. Read as many reviews as you can here on TB. Check out YouTube demo videos, if you can find any that aren’t horrible (most are horrible). But ultimately you have to roll the dice and pick some, install them into your instrument and see how they sound to your ears. You may have to try a few different ones before finding what you like!
 
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#8
In these situations, one great way to figure out where to go first is to bypass the preamp and see how the pickups sound on their own. This tells you right away a number of things:
- What kind of tonality the pickups send on their own
- What kind of signal level they send out
- Whether or not the preamp is helping, hindering, or allowing them to just be themselves.

I've personally experimented quite a bit with this and have definitely found a bunch of different outcomes in situations. Sometimes, you find that the preamp was killing all kinds of magic that was coming from a pickup... and other times, you find out that the preamp is the only thing keeping the pickups sounding useful at all.

What I will say from my own preferences, Nordstrand pickups are AWESOME. I can't think of a bass that was made lesser by their installation. From what you describe and the quality of sound you're after, they can make it happen. You can really have them make you what you want (assuming you're shopping for new), it's pretty amazing.
Their preamps are great, as well. Clear, effective, and have a gain boost if you need extra cajones (which I only tend to use if there aren't already Nordy pickups installed).

I'm personally not a huge fan of the Audere because I like the ability to bypass a preamp as an option. But if you don't mind that, the sound that they translate is very much what is coming from the pickups. They are notoriously "uncolored".
And I've never actually liked Bart because it hits my ears the wrong way. Nothing against those that like them, but I'd pick just about any other preamp out there above Bart for my own needs.
 
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#9
ctmullins said:
Pickups will determine the basic tone. A good preamp will fine-tune that basic tone.

If you like the basic tone of the instrument, then keep the pickups and change the preamp. Audere are pretty neutral, and will let the pickups’ basic tone come through. Bartolini too, I think - it’s been a long time since I played through a Bart preamp.


Yes, I've been checking some youtube and reading reviews on p/ups, Thanks!

knight of ni said:
What's your definition of 'a good tone for recording' ? Can you give examples (link to music so we can understand what you've in mind) ?
Click to expand...

For my fusion projects, I like Jeff Berlin, Jaco and
Click to expand...
ctmullins said:
Pickups will determine the basic tone. A good preamp will fine-tune that basic tone.

If you like the basic tone of the instrument, then keep the pickups and change the preamp. Audere are pretty neutral, and will let the pickups’ basic tone come through. Bartolini too, I think - it’s been a long time since I played through a Bart preamp.

If you don’t like the current tone, look for different pickups. There are lots and lots of choices. Read as many reviews as you can here on TB. Check out YouTube demo videos, if you can find any that aren’t horrible (most are horrible). But ultimately you have to roll the dice and pick some, install them into your instrument and see how they sound to your ears. You may have to try a few different ones before finding what you like!
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the info.
 
#12
knight of ni said:
It's not exactly the same tone, but I guess this would fit for fusion :

Is your tone far from the one on this video ?
As said @Jazz Ad I would first look for strings. Some match with a bass, some others don't. Which strings do you use ? Which have you tried ?
Click to expand...



The tone is not too far from it I just think it lacks a bit of definition on my bass. I have Elixir Nanoweb Steel strings. I washed them yesterday and I'm going to test the sound today and see if I need to replace the strings. I may try a different brand.
 
#14
The MM bridge pickup does not help. I’d suggest nickel strings instead of steel, with a darker tone (not my taste so I can’t really help there). If that does not work I’m afraid there´s not much point in changing anything. You will be stuck with the design, like trying to change an apple into an orange.
A safer option would be to swap for a bass you can try and check if it’s the one you need, rather than try pups/preamps which can be hit or miss.
 
#16
Why not start by removing the preamp and see how you like the pickups passive?

You might be happier....Then get a higher end preamp...I love the Sadowsky preamp, but Nordstrand make great preamps too...I have an EMG vari mid that sounds great
 
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#17
knight of ni said:
The MM bridge pickup does not help. I’d suggest nickel strings instead of steel, with a darker tone (not my taste so I can’t really help there). If that does not work I’m afraid there´s not much point in changing anything. You will be stuck with the design, like trying to change an apple into an orange.
A safer option would be to swap for a bass you can try and check if it’s the one you need, rather than try pups/preamps which can be hit or miss.
Click to expand...

Yep, It's something that I'm starting to seriously consider. That in itself is another topic because there are sooo many basses to choose from.
 
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