Warwick Jack Bruce PS and John East preamp

Diddywah

Diddywah

Supporting Member
Sep 26, 2014
594
1,293
5,096
Norway
#1
I just got my hands on a 2013 Warwick Jack Bruce PS bass and have a set of TI flats coming my way so I can do a proper set-up.
Bass came with some worn out (probably the original) Warwick strings....so I strung it with some Labella Deep Talkin Flats I had lying around (My emergency flats, but I don´t like them, they´re too high tension and stiff for me)
It plays nice, and is a looker, but the preamp is noisy, treble hiss... hate that
So I ordered a John East Uni Pre3 preamp to sort out that hiss and give me some midrange control.
Anyone here have any thoughts/experience on the Warwick Jack Bruce or the John East?
I will share my findings :) as they emerge.
 
#2
I've got a Warwick Jack Bruce fretless Rockbass... I waited almost a year to get it after purchase, music store said dockworkers were on strike or something so apparently it sat on the boat for a long time. Strings were awful and had to do some adjustment to the truss rod to get it near playable. Nut was also too high even with just-a-nut all the way down. Recently I discovered I could just pull out the shim in between the nut and the neck, now it plays super nice!.... I like the pickups a lot but yeah it does have a little noise going on in there. It's a beautiful bass, I am enjoying it now as much as my Tony Franklin....
 
  • Like
Reactions: bebi
#3
bassvi said:
I've got a Warwick Jack Bruce fretless Rockbass... I waited almost a year to get it after purchase, music store said dockworkers were on strike or something so apparently it sat on the boat for a long time. Strings were awful and had to do some adjustment to the truss rod to get it near playable. Nut was also too high even with just-a-nut all the way down. Recently I discovered I could just pull out the shim in between the nut and the neck, now it plays super nice!.... I like the pickups a lot but yeah it does have a little noise going on in there. It's a beautiful bass, I am enjoying it now as much as my Tony Franklin....
Click to expand...
I would love to have a fretless JB too! But I have four fretless basses now, so I bought the JB because I needed a bass with frets too (at least that was my excuse for getting it). Do you find the Rockbass (china) series on par with the Proseries (korea)?
 
#4
I swapped the ICs to kill the hiss of a Streamer 3-band preamp.
It was just an exercise, hiss is gone but the preamp still sounds lackluster.

I've played basses with an East in them, you should record it bc I don't think I've seen anyone with the SG looking JB irl.

Aren't those J's under a cover or??
 
  • Like
Reactions: bebi
#5
somebrains said:
I swapped the ICs to kill the hiss of a Streamer 3-band preamp.
It was just an exercise, hiss is gone but the preamp still sounds lackluster.

I've played basses with an East in them, you should record it bc I don't think I've seen anyone with the SG looking JB irl.

Aren't those J's under a cover or??
Click to expand...
Interesting! Yeah, those PU´s are singel coils. Same PU´s I had in a pro series Star Bass and also in a MIG Starbass I used to have. (MEC KX 60113 R/C) but those basses were passive.
The JB is set up nice and low now with a set of TI flats and the neck has settled inn too. So I hope I get that East preamp right over Easter. Hiss is annoying and I miss some control over the midrange.
 
#6
bebi said:
Interesting! Yeah, those PU´s are singel coils. Same PU´s I had in a pro series Star Bass and also in a MIG Starbass I used to have. (MEC KX 60113 R/C) but those basses were passive.
The JB is set up nice and low now with a set of TI flats and the neck has settled inn too. So I hope I get that East preamp right over Easter. Hiss is annoying and I miss some control over the midrange.
Click to expand...

I play my Warwick $$ with Big Mans basically split down to a pair of Big Singles.
I've got a parts Jazz 5 with stupid hot 10% overwound Fralin singles.

I basically have to switch amps depending on the bass.
The Jazz basically can make a Mesa tube head sound like an SVT or older Aguilar when you lean on the OD.

Singles are better to play with 3-band or 4-band preamps.
Some of what humbuckers cancel out is a bit of the tweakable tones, so the baby can be thrown out with the bathwater when you are chasing hum.

Give your amp(s) a run thru with the Audere but keep an open mind.
Hit your local well stocked stores and take everything for a spin.

I found the $$ can make everything sound good.
The Jazz makes everything sound the same, like you poured Heinz ketchup on every amp.
It's nice to have a "dependable sound", but it's good to see what you've got and make changes as appropriate.

The journey can be very fun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bebi
#7
My East preamp arrived! Easy install, just had to resolder the jack. First test at home on my AER basscube 2 is very promising. Great sound, absolutely no hiss and a new window opened to the midrange control.
Playing around with it I could dial in some very nice sounds. Can´t wait to give it a go with the band next week, and then it will be through my Mesa Walkabout!
Here is the original MEC preamp before removal:

P1020721.JPG

Trying out the position on the East:
P1020723.JPG

Finished install:
P1020724.JPG

And it looks good too :)
P1020726.JPG
 
#8
Update; I have had some time with this preamp now, and I am really happy with it! My main amp is a Mesa Walkabout 15 with an extra 15 cab. Bass sounds great on that for sure; I leave everything flat on the amp, or sometimes just drop a little of the lowest on the parametric if there is anything boomy going on. Then I can adjust the tone of the bass for different songs on the preamp. Very convenient! I love how the volume is a "proper" volume; I can back it off some, and have that extra boost if I need it without losing any of the tonal qualities in the preamp. I also played a Trace Elliot 350 rig and a Ampeg SVT with the same approach. Amp flat; shaping on the preamp. Bass sound was cracking! Even people in the audience commented my good sound. That makes a bassplayer happy for sure :)
 
#10
somebrains said:
Did you get some copper tape under the control cavity lug?
Is the control cavity cover copper taped?
Click to expand...
The control cavity is painted with that black sheilding paint. And I checked it with a multimeter, it was ok. But John East recommended to put a proper copper sheild, so I did that too. The black frame for the cover you see in the picture was removed before I lined the cavity. There is no sheilding on the back of the cover. But it would be easy to do....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back