Why would I swap out my Preamp and Pickups??? Carvin PB5

[bassicmelodies]

I have a fretted Carvin PB5, (PB5 5-STRING CLASSIC BOLT NECK ELECTRIC BASS | CarvinGuitars.com) with stock Preamp and pickups. The J is a single coil. I’ve been running flatwound strings on the bass. The current preamp is active/passive (with a pull potentiometer to go passive). To be honest, since I’ve had the bass, I haven’t used the active preamp once. I just leave the battery compartments empty to use it as a mute. Originally it was wired as a volume, blend, tone. But I had it rewired to go volume, volume, tone, which I liked much better.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with the tone, but I’m betting it could be enhanced. Bob Stark (a local sound engineer) said that he thought my bass sounded active, despite the fact that it was running passive. It seems to have a pretty hot output stock, which I like.

The J is a single coil, and there is definitely a 60-cycle hum. I’ve seen Audere advertises a preamp to get ride of that. Audere Audio JZ3 Anybody used it?

In my readings I’ve seen that Bartolini’s and the Sadowsky seem to be the recommended combos. But lots of folks are saying that it can be tricky to get a combo set to sound balanced. Overwinding the J pickup by 10% seems to be fairly common to counter that. Other than that, people seem to be saying the best option is to get a set of pickups custom wound. With the sadowsky or nordstrand rig we're already talking $250 before installation. That's not even

Some of this is way over my head. I understand the difference between passive and active, but I didn’t realize that you could have combinations of passive / active pups with passive / active preamps.
My inspirations for tone are Pino Palladino (D'Angelo) Fender pups?, Paul Jackson (Headhunters) Seymour Duncan pups?, Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai) MEC pups, Larry Graham (Sly & The Fam) Seymour Duncan pups, and Tim Lefebvre Nordstrand pups.

Here is an example of the band the bass is being played with: Jarrod Lawson, this kind of Neo-Soul / Latin / Jazz / Funk band.


I guess I’m looking for some guidance in my options in regards to a new preamp, or pick ups. I know that it's a matter of taste, but I guess I'm needed some help developing my taste? I just don't have the resources to try multiple sets of configurations.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Clark Dark]

In my opinion, that bass is sitting well in the mix and if this video is exemplar of that bass' sound I'd say leave it alone and build/buy something else to experiment with.
...what kind of flats are those?

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I don't know how the Audere works with another pre-amp, I don't think it would work with what you have but I could be wrong.

If you enjoy the tone don't start changing things. The only time you should consider changing the pickups or pre-amp is when you are not fully satisfied with your tone.

 

[bassicmelodies]

In my opinion, that bass is sitting well in the mix and if this video is exemplar of that bass' sound I'd say leave it alone and build/buy something else to experiment with.
...what kind of flats are those?

Clark Dark, they are Thomastik-Infields Flatwounds.

 

[bassicmelodies]

Thanks Clark and Diabolus. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[tspallone]

I'd change to rounds and leave it alone. But, again, just my opinion.

 

[Tahoebasscat]

I have a fretted Carvin PB5, (PB5 5-STRING CLASSIC BOLT NECK ELECTRIC BASS | CarvinGuitars.com) with stock Preamp and pickups. The J is a single coil. I’ve been running flatwound strings on the bass. The current preamp is active/passive (with a pull potentiometer to go passive). To be honest, since I’ve had the bass, I haven’t used the active preamp once. I just leave the battery compartments empty to use it as a mute. Originally it was wired as a volume, blend, tone. But I had it rewired to go volume, volume, tone, which I liked much better.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with the tone, but I’m betting it could be enhanced. Bob Stark (a local sound engineer) said that he thought my bass sounded active, despite the fact that it was running passive. It seems to have a pretty hot output stock, which I like.

The J is a single coil, and there is definitely a 60-cycle hum. I’ve seen Audere advertises a preamp to get ride of that. Audere Audio JZ3 Anybody used it?

In my readings I’ve seen that Bartolini’s and the Sadowsky seem to be the recommended combos. But lots of folks are saying that it can be tricky to get a combo set to sound balanced. Overwinding the J pickup by 10% seems to be fairly common to counter that. Other than that, people seem to be saying the best option is to get a set of pickups custom wound. With the sadowsky or nordstrand rig we're already talking $250 before installation. That's not even

Some of this is way over my head. I understand the difference between passive and active, but I didn’t realize that you could have combinations of passive / active pups with passive / active preamps.
My inspirations for tone are Pino Palladino (D'Angelo) Fender pups?, Paul Jackson (Headhunters) Seymour Duncan pups?, Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai) MEC pups, Larry Graham (Sly & The Fam) Seymour Duncan pups, and Tim Lefebvre Nordstrand pups.

Here is an example of the band the bass is being played with: Jarrod Lawson, this kind of Neo-Soul / Latin / Jazz / Funk band.


I guess I’m looking for some guidance in my options in regards to a new preamp, or pick ups. I know that it's a matter of taste, but I guess I'm needed some help developing my taste? I just don't have the resources to try multiple sets of configurations.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Tahoebasscat]

I have a fretted Carvin PB5, (PB5 5-STRING CLASSIC BOLT NECK ELECTRIC BASS | CarvinGuitars.com) with stock Preamp and pickups. The J is a single coil. I’ve been running flatwound strings on the bass. The current preamp is active/passive (with a pull potentiometer to go passive). To be honest, since I’ve had the bass, I haven’t used the active preamp once. I just leave the battery compartments empty to use it as a mute. Originally it was wired as a volume, blend, tone. But I had it rewired to go volume, volume, tone, which I liked much better.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with the tone, but I’m betting it could be enhanced. Bob Stark (a local sound engineer) said that he thought my bass sounded active, despite the fact that it was running passive. It seems to have a pretty hot output stock, which I like.

The J is a single coil, and there is definitely a 60-cycle hum. I’ve seen Audere advertises a preamp to get ride of that. Audere Audio JZ3 Anybody used it?

In my readings I’ve seen that Bartolini’s and the Sadowsky seem to be the recommended combos. But lots of folks are saying that it can be tricky to get a combo set to sound balanced. Overwinding the J pickup by 10% seems to be fairly common to counter that. Other than that, people seem to be saying the best option is to get a set of pickups custom wound. With the sadowsky or nordstrand rig we're already talking $250 before installation. That's not even

Some of this is way over my head. I understand the difference between passive and active, but I didn’t realize that you could have combinations of passive / active pups with passive / active preamps.
My inspirations for tone are Pino Palladino (D'Angelo) Fender pups?, Paul Jackson (Headhunters) Seymour Duncan pups?, Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai) MEC pups, Larry Graham (Sly & The Fam) Seymour Duncan pups, and Tim Lefebvre Nordstrand pups.

Here is an example of the band the bass is being played with: Jarrod Lawson, this kind of Neo-Soul / Latin / Jazz / Funk band.


I guess I’m looking for some guidance in my options in regards to a new preamp, or pick ups. I know that it's a matter of taste, but I guess I'm needed some help developing my taste? I just don't have the resources to try multiple sets of configurations.

Thanks for your time!

I have had a PB 5 with the added J pickup and active option. I kept the original pickups and swapped out the stock preamp for a John East. My bass can be played passive or active. The passive tone works in both modes, which I REALLY like, because I can dial in a nice funky tone, and then mellow it out until I really want it back in whatever degree I choose. I think the stock pickups sound fine. This bass has become one of my favorite work basses, a "go to" bass. Strings can make such a difference with any bass. I got the bass with the original stainless (Lebella) light Carvin set. Next I tried the DR Lowriders, loved them. Currently using the stainless Dunlop Super Bright set, freekin amazing. Keep in mind that I regularly use the passive tone to keep my tone from being overly aggressive, until I want to change it. I have round 20 basses, this one is neck and neck with my other favorite work bass, my G&L L2500. You can see both of these basses on my FB home page.