Replacement for EMG DC35 sized pickups

Drew_TNBD

My bass has EMG DC35's in it. I'm thinking about replacing the pickups with some passives, and just totally gutting the electronics. I'm after a less compressed and less constricted sounding set of pickups.

Any recommendations? They have to be 3.5inch/89mm sized pickups, as that's what my bass is routed for.

fretmeister

Nordstrands. You order direct in the size you need.

Big Singles are brilliant.

Drew_TNBD

fretmeister said:

Nordstrands. You order direct in the size you need.

Big Singles are brilliant.

Hmmm.. the only ones I can see on their website that offer the size I want are the Dual Coils:
http://nordstrandpickups.com/products/dual-coils/

Bit pricey aint they though!!?

fretmeister

They'll make any size - you just have to email them.

They will shortly be making me some narrow spaced singles for my Ray5

fretmeister

Or you could try different EMG models.

The CS and TW versions are very different. 

What preamp is in the bass?

Drew_TNBD

Oh wait, I'm an idiot. They've got a whole bunch of pickups at that size. Should've looked harder!

The bass has "active MEC-2-band electronics" - I don't really know anything more than that tbh.

Drew_TNBD

mmmmmm big singles do sound cool...

fretmeister

For a start chuck out the MEC circuit. It's shite. It will be that causing the compression.

EMG's just don't work properly without their own kit - so either bin the circuit completely and just have volume, pan. tone, or get a BQS System if you actually want an onboard EQ system.

I happen to like EMGs just with vol and tone. That's your cheapest option to try first.

Drew_TNBD

fretmeister said:

For a start chuck out the MEC circuit. It's shite. It will be that causing the compression.

EMG's just don't work properly without their own kit - so either bin the circuit completely and just have volume, pan. tone, or get a BQS System if you actually want an onboard EQ system.

I happen to like EMGs just with vol and tone. That's your cheapest option to try first.

Interesting. I was completely unaware of this. This is the first active bass I've ever owned. I'll look into that first then, because I might be unfairly blaming the pickups when it isn't their fault.

fretmeister

If you are going to try the EMGs just with Vol and Tone first - make sure you get the right value pots!

Much suckage will happen otherwise!

EMG DC40 just with Vol and tone:

(The amount of butthurt that vid caused on Talk Bass and the EBMM forum was massive. YOU CAN'T MOD A STINGRAY THAT'S WORSE THAN HITLER!!!)

Drew_TNBD

He has a pretty sick tone.

I'm starting to wish I'd got a Stingray. Bah.

fretmeister

Bass Direct just got a very nice lefty Sterling in stock (Proper USA Sterling. Not the Sterling by EBMM nonsense)