You've quickly become my favorite guitar/bass channel. Awesome content. You're always sharing the "hard to find" information on guitar/bass modifications.
I liked that you used sunglasses to let us know visually when you were changing up. Great subtle add for your video. Nice job thinking of how to make this even better for your audience.
Now this is totally informative and enjoyable! Wonder why Seymour Duncan and other brands never get a guy like you to present their stuff... so cool ;)
Its quite cool that initially he made this 3 pickup bass (passive) to be versatile but with the preamp it opened to more possibilities. The preamp made the musicman pickup sound exactly like a musicman stingray that bite in the pickup.
I like that you actually took a more serious tone with your videos. Are you actually gonna keep this in your bass? I feel like the active sounded best for all styles with all pickups.
+Cranmore hopefully not too serious...I hate perfectly serious "professional" videos. Boring. Anyway, I will be installing this one in that bass for sure. I do think it improved the tone, and more importantly, because of the concentric pot, it saves space on the pickguard, which is more important for this bass because of the 3 volume pots.
@@GunsandGuitars Yes, I love concentric pots, my Strat is about to be a super guitar, doing testing currentl(last two weekends. Got successful independent volumes for all 3 mini humbuckers (no interactions), last problem on the last portion, finally got the high cut and low cut tone knobs great by wiring them in reverse to change the audio taper to strong at first and less resistance at end with additional 20k resistor to ground, now both of them have usable tone change all the way rather than the last portion of the pot(80% to 10% with huge drop off). The last problem is the volume lowers as either tone knob turns down. 3 concentric knobs and 8 mini toggle switches, independent knobs for volume, bass cut and trebble cut, master volume if can't get volume decrease for tones resolved/variable partial coil split if I do get the tone/volume issue resolved. The rest is easy, series/parallel switch for each single pickup(3) then coil split toggle for neck and 1 for bridge. 1 toggle for cap change for bass cut and 1 toggle for for cap change for high cut, going to get a new pickguard and remove 5-way switch(I don't play in front of people, I need just the ability to wildly shape my tone with abundance of options). The perfect way for me to test all of this is I mounted it all to a shoe box coated with packaging tape for a little extra stability, extended pickup wires, body ground(connects to Jack internally) and hot jack about 6 inches outside of knob holes, then ran into shoe box where the circuit is. Has the hum on and off of course but allows me to test a lot of things without constantly undoing strings and taking Pickguard off. When I completed it, being so much wire length and so much wire in circuitry (soldered short wires to components and wire nuts to wire them into circuit) that I feared the guitar just wouldn't have any sound, thought it was the case when I plugged I. And heard no sound, almost gave up but realized the power button I installed wasn't pushed in(in is on, up is off). Power button disconnects jack hot and ground so I can work on circuit without unplugging. It's already great sounding and very shapable tone, the tone/volume drop issue is the only issue left then instalation comes, even if I have to route more space with Dremel tool.
I love how informational your channel is. It is also great to find that you are so focused on the bass. I have just returned to playing after a 30 year hiatus, and am woefully out of touch on what different pickups sound like. Thanks for the tutorials!
Impressive! A highly effective and extremely cost effective mod with profound improvements to the playability. I can't think of a better way to make your bass sound better for such a low cost!
Great review. I’ve had this preamp in my bass for 10 years and never understood what I had. I installed it with the new pickups so only heard one tone version. I’m glad the preamp does a great job
Finally, my bass all setup, with a STC 3P Seymour Duncan preamp with 3 bands, and a pair of BARTOLINI humbuckers M45, and it turned to life.... It is absolutely Awesome....
Your channel is FIRE! Keep up with the great content! You're really turning me on to a lot of stuff I never knew to look at, and it's stuff I always wondered about for these kits, but never had reliable information on.
Hi Dan, first of all congratulate you and your channel, and tell you that I am a "do it yourself" learning from your channel, and recently upgraded my Ibanez 205sm (5 strings), with pair of humbuckers Bartolini classic Bass series, M4 soapbar dual coil with and active Seymour Duncan STC-3P 3 band time for pasive pickups, my brigde pickup still for connection (will do it tomorrow when it is supposed to arrive), the neck pickup sounds awesome, let's see how improve one's the bridge's takes place....
I'm sure Dan already knows all of this, but for those who go perusing through the comments I've got a bit more technical info to add about what he said about the frequencies the amp boosts and where the shelf "begins": What's actually going on is the amplifier has a pair of filters: one low-pass filter for bass frequencies and one high-pass filter for... well... high frequencies. However, these filters don't just flatly block frequencies that are above/below their "cutoff" point, respectively. Instead, they smoothly "roll off" at the critical frequency into a more or less linear slope of attenuation. That critical frequency (also called the "cutoff" frequency) is where the filter introduces a -3dB attenuation, which just means that the perceived volume is cut in half. Past that cutoff frequency, the perceived volume of frequencies in the stopband is so low that they basically just cease to exist as far as anything past the filter is concerned. For a high-pass filter, anything above that cutoff frequency is neither amplified nor attenuated. It is simply passed. Whereas anything below the cutoff frequency--the stopband--is attenuated at a rate of decibels per "decade" (that is, per every x10 Hz; so from 100Hz to 1000Hz to 10,000Hz, etc.) depending upon the design of the filter. Hence, high-pass filter. Linky link to a not very good visual representation off what Dan and I have both described: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/75_Hz_HPF_on_Smaart.jpg For a low-pass filter, the opposite is true. Anything BELOW the cutoff frequency is neither amplified nor attenuated. It is simply passed. Whereas anything ABOVE the cutoff frequency is attenuated at a rate of dB/decade also dependent upon the design of the filter. Hence, low-pass. Linky link to a useful graphic on the wikipedia article about 'em to show what I'm describing: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Butterworth_response.svg/1280px-Butterworth_response.svg.png There's also two more types of filters that combine the properties of high-pass and low-pass filters, which are especially handy when designing equalizers (something that I'm certain Dan DEFINITELY knows about): band-pass and band-stop filters. Band-pass filters, as their name implies, pass a narrow band of frequencies. Anything outside of this band is attenuated and essentially blocked by the filter. And band-stop filters do the complement: they block a narrow band of frequencies. Band-pass and band-stop filters mix and match low-pass and high-pass filters together, and as such have *two* cutoff frequencies that define the end points of the band. Here's a visual aid that shows a band-pass filter, but if you invert it so that it dips at each cutoff frequency around the stopped frequency in the center, you'll have a band-stop filter: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Bandwidth_2.svg/1280px-Bandwidth_2.svg.png At some point I should probably try my hand at designing some basic filters and figure out how to pass a range of frequencies through them so I can demonstrate their properties, and then make a video about it to put up on my own channel...
+Calyo Delphi wow great info here! I understand how it works but building circuits of my own that do this is way out of my pay grade...for now. I'm constantly reading up on low voltage electronics, I'm fascinated by the stuff. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to build in a crossover between the neck and bridge pickup of a guitar or bass. I think it'd be cool to take low frequencies from the neck and mid-high frequencies from the bridge without any phase cancelation.
Hmm, that one's actually a bit beyond what I know, personally. Would be interesting to find out how that can work! If you find out before I do, I look forward to seeing a video about it. You're already inspiring me to want to build my own custom bass for a first guitar, and I don't even know how to play bass yet! ;) Most of what I know is from a bit of research I did for a few months straight a couple years back when I wanted to try to design and build my own hi-fi audio receiver from scratch, with a multi-input mixer/switch, EQ, and power amp with line-level outputs for headphones and the like. To build a proper EQ, you need bandpass filters so that you can adjust each frequency band all on its own (mostly) independently from the others. High pass and low pass filters also tend to go into amplifier design as well, largely to act as stops for extremely high frequency and low frequency noise, though depending on your selection of operational amplifier chips they may already have good high-frequency noise rejection built right in. (That HF noise is the staticky hiss you'll hear off a microphone's output if you use pure software boost on that raw signal.) Learning that one myself for real by building a super basic preamp for my condenser mic using just jellybean parts available for cents apiece; I can only imagine how much better higher-priced application-specific op amps will sound!
Really interesting useful review. The one negative was that it left me wondering what the other solo pickups sound like with the A/B choice for the preamp (especially the P bass pickup). Good stuff!
Great video. the info on the high-end range boost is helpful. Never gave that much thought with active preamp. What do you think about full range treble mid and bass preamp?
+Acronis it really depends on the mid frequency, there are some that use good frequencies, and some that use bad frequencies for the mid. Most that I've played I end up leaving the mid alone because it doesn't seem to improve tone either boosting or cutting. I have heard Nordstrand preamps that have switchable mid frequencies that sound pretty killer though. Also, there are a couple preamps that have a parametric mid (meaning you can sweep back and forth to hone in on whatever frequency you wish) and I'd really like to give those a shot. I plan to purchase one for review in the future.
Got one to put into a Warwick RB Streamer standard, bass sounds awesome, but it lacks high end/overall focus, just going to attach battery via Velcro inside the cavity. And yeah, I have two basses with 3 band EQ- never needed to boost treble as all you hear his buzz and finger noise.
+Tom Tobin thanks for the tip! Personally I don’t feel like the price to benefit ratio is really worth it. It doesn’t make as much of a difference as people say. At least that’s my opinion.
+Tom Tobin well I’m gonna test the theory again soon. Got a mod bass kit from the fretwire (it’s a rickenbacker clone) but it comes with a music man style bridge, I bought a hipshot rickenbacker high mass bridge to replace it. We will find out I guess!
I'm thinking of getting my first electric guitar.... I have a cheapo epiphone acoustic and a martin dreadnought and play mostly country music with the occasional everything else. I should probably add in that I'm poor, so off brand works for me :) What would you suggest? I trust you... you know your stuff dude.
+Hailey Clark I think if you're gonna buy a complete guitar, squiers are a good place to start. Especially anything with "vintage modified" in the title is a quality instrument for a cheap price. If you want to build one, check out my video on how to build a high end guitar out of a cheap eBay kit. You'll get a great instrument for even less if you go that route.
Sound you push of that bass is gettin better and better!) If i were u, i wouldnt use it with rick or split pup, they are ok by themselves, no need in active curcuit for them. Great vids, thx!
+Роман Соколов I agree, the ric and p bass tones are passive by nature, where the mm tone relies on a preamp. But when using the pickups for blending new combinations of tones, I say the preamp is still useful. Either way, I'll install that bypass switch in the bass as well to keep the flexibility
When is the wiring video coming? I have the 2pot blackouts. I want to replace the standard pot with a push pull and use that to switch between active and passive. Can you white board that in the next vid so we can screen shot it??
+Jason Strickland this video is coming. Sorry I've been working on building my new website and workshop. Workshop is almost done so I should be cranking out more build vids soon! I'll put in a section on the active passive switch just for you!
I just got a Squier Deluxe Active Dimension bass but highs n mids sound gross lol! I love the build of the bass and might keep it. Would replacing the preamp improve the sound or would I have to replace the pickups also? Ive seen no replacement pickups for the Squier Deluxe Dimension bass
Bro...what do you think about putting the preamp in a cheap startocaster? Would the results be that stunning and share the same things that are cool about adding it to the bass?
Dan...Great video, The kids see my basses and ask how much they cost so i pull out my alembic 16k and they say wow thats nice but i also bring out my plank bass made of 2 2x4's of maple and 4 strings and plug in it blow there minds how 2x4's can sound so good. We talk about what makes the bass sound and how to do it for less. Your video proves to them that i am telling the truth.Thank you so much....keep up the good work.....psk
DAN i have a Question for you :O i'm thinking on doing the DIY project but i feel like using 2 MM style pickups, in middle and bridg position, you think its going to work ? i mean... using the exact same model of pickup for mid and bridge position, will i have a diference in sound between the 2 pickups? or should just install the stock pickup and the musicman, or only the musicman style pickup? i know nothing about electronics inside bass guitars that's y i'm asking you
+Ag Herbert dude, two musicman pickups would sound awesome! Check out the Warwick double buck ($$). Having two of the same pickup works fine because the tone changes based on its location (neck or bridge). I say go for it, and send me a pic on Facebook when it's done!
Of course i will mate, you know the dimensions on the MM pickup (musiclily) to install it where the stock pickups are suposed to be? i hope its arround the same size and i dont need a new cover :s
In terms of sound, is the same using a preamp pedal? I know that the onboard option is more easy to have the controls in the bass, but the pedal you can use it with all the basses you have and you can change it. The question is, in terms of sound is the same?
hello, I am wanting to install this in my PJ bass build and have watched your guide on how to install a bypass switch for active preamps and I was wondering if that mod would also work with this specific preamp? I am also wanting to install a 3 way toggle as my pickup selector. so the signal path would probably be pickups into volume knob into preamp knob then into bypass mini toggle switch and lastly 3 way toggle out into the jack.
The ideal would be to have a switch that lets you choose between passive, active 2 batteries in parallel (9 volts double life) or active 2 batteries in series (18 volts). That would be great.
To be honest, I actually really like things to be high-frequency, glassy, rattly, etc. I enjoy the metallic sound. But I completely understand what you mean by getting the notes to cut through. I just ordered it and I do intend to keep it on 3.5. But I actually liked the 6k for different reasons besides playing with a band or recording. Still thanks, your vids have helped me A LOT on my bass. It is almost finished.
Question about this preamp. I ordered the separate one, & being there’s no volume pot. Now is it ok to use my old volume knob that’s passive? It’s still 250k.
Guns and Guitars Even though the volume pot is passive? Before the pre amp meaning volume pot, and then the two preamp knobs? Meaning the order that they go?
My guess would be you're going to make a two-battery compartment with some kind of DPDT; this would make the battery consumption more or less even between the two. By the way, I'm really curious if you will make something with the concentric knob so as to fit the instrument's aesthetic :)
you are correct about the compartment, it'll be large enough to fit two batteries. I'm going to use a switch though, no need to switch between 9v and 18v on the fly, but I'll be making it easy to run on one 9v in the case that you only have 1 good battery to use
By the way, Dan, have you considered desoldering the treble band switch and wiring it to an external one? The 6k setting was amazing with slapping to my ear.
Wow, this kit really brought that bass sound alive. The shitty thing is that while over in the USA this kit costs an affordable $60 while here in the UK it costs £100 which is the same as $131.
So this would be good for my Sterling sub Bass, it's got the music man pick up but it's lacking and I like the lows that gave your music man pick up. Is it pretty easy to install I can install tone pots and rewire pickups so that's not a problem I've just never done a preamp, also my sub bass is already active
+rosembergh mendoza it would definitely work, as in function, whether or not it would improve your tone I have no idea. Depends on what you’re going for. EB-0 basses are really muddy to begin with.
It is possible to wire a pj bass with 2 volume pots, this eq and no tone? I have a Samick Artist Series bass with a tone/active booster push pull pot that i want to change cause' the passive mode doesn't works :( I can play only with the push pull pot up. Awesome videos Dan+
Guns and Guitars I hear you, and you are hearing it directly from your gear. Coming through my sound bar and head phones 📱 that 6KH tone would fit my playing style perfectly. By the way what are you using for the demo? The external selectable switch is a must for the preamp!! Excellent suggestion.
Wholy shit I wasn't expecting that much of a difference. Could you do the same thing but with a way cheaper preamp (if there even is one). Keep out the good shit, quality content
I have the same preamp but I use it in 6k for almost the same reason that you don't use it haha... and yes, I tried it in 3.5k but I liked it more in 6k
+Leandro Ruben Schwarz Júnior I agree, nasal is a good word. I can see it being useful in a slap solo setting, that's about it, and even then I'd probably still prefer the 3.5k setting
To be honest, for metal, tgat 6k boost would be perfect. It's like a mid scoop or when you double track with a sub track and high track. It's kind of cool. With a little grit, that'd be a sick metal tone.
+HoshiHearts RetroGaming haha you're not stupid. Instead of wiring the preamp to the hot and ground connections of my pickups, I wired it to the hot and ground of an instrument cable. Then plugged that instrument cable into my bass. Then plugged a different instrument cable into the output of the preamp into my recording interface. Basically I used it more like a pedal than an onboard preamp
You mentioned the preamp can be noisy. I usually run an overdrive on my bass. Can I assume this would amplifiy that noise and make the preamp less desirable?
If you really wanted to, you could make that dip switch external. All you would probably need is a SPDT toggle switch, some wire and a soldering iron. :)
+AngelarmSpartan777 it looked like a dpdt switch, and I’m sure someone could, but soldering on microchips is above my pay grade I think. I might experiment on one if it was cheap enough, but id be sad if I burnt out that board and ruined the preamp.
wow, how do you know all about that frequencies on bass guitar? I wanna know that stuff! any book to read? I only have passive basses buy your vid made me curious about this kind of stuff
I don’t know of any particular book, but I learned a lot about it from doing home recordings and playing with the software. I also took some recording classes in college. Most of what I learned was from hands on experience, and asking questions to every audio engineer I met along the way, as well as reading lots of blogs and forums. The info is out there, just google it!
+Christopher Woods honestly they are the exact same. In fact, I'm thinking of doing a video on how to install an onboard preamp in a pedal so you can use one preamp for all your basses. What do you think?
What I am getting at is that isn't something like an MXR 10 band EQ pedal the ultimate?... What do so many basses have onboard eq when most people just set it and forget it. why deal with batteries and all that in the bass when you could have more versatility in a stomp box? But yeah, I enjoy your channel so keep em coming.
Why would Duncan have a selection at 6 kHz? I’m not an Audio Engineer...just a guitarist and bassist with almost 4 decades making music and I can’t envision any reason to have a set it and forget it frequency that high for bass either. Dan, any ideas as to what team Duncan had in mind for that 6 kHz setting?
Love all your bass build videos. I wish there were acoustic bass kits available. I’d love to see how to build a mini acoustic bass like the new Taylor GS Mini. The GS Mini sounds great when it’s not buzzing. Unfortunately, more often than not, there’s fret buzz. You’re also locked down to the custom strings they designed for it. On top of all that it’s $650-$700. Meh...I’ll pass. Binge watching all your bass builds... LOL
Here's the truth on the 3.5k vs 6k switch. On the lower setting you're still boosting 6k, but you're also boosting everything else above 1.5j to some extent. On the high setting you're boosting nothing below 4.5k, and boosting 6k no more and no less than before. For those playing a "scooped-mids" sound the higher setting is for them. That's why the switch is a good thing, and would be better if it were external. Even better would be a peak freq knob instead of a switch for finer control, and even a Q control for slope angle.
+Carl Jenkins I agree completely, there are some high end preamps that have a sweepable mid frequency, but I haven’t seen any with a Q control. That would be really epic. But only us audio engineers would know how to use it haha!
Or Sandberg like. I love their designs, but I don't like the electronics. The 3k boost sounds more like Music Man Stingray, which was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks Dan for making this video!
+Joao Jesus it looks possible, but that micro switch is tiny and so is the circuit board, I think desoldering that thing and wiring up an external switch might be above my pay grade.
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You've quickly become my favorite guitar/bass channel. Awesome content. You're always sharing the "hard to find" information on guitar/bass modifications.
+16GHunter thanks! That's exactly my goal for this channel. As well as being entertaining and silly
16GHunter same here!
I liked that you used sunglasses to let us know visually when you were changing up. Great subtle add for your video. Nice job thinking of how to make this even better for your audience.
Now this is totally informative and enjoyable!
Wonder why Seymour Duncan and other brands never get a guy like you to present their stuff... so cool ;)
+Viktor Kralovic probably because I'm not afraid to tell people the bad as well as the good
Its quite cool that initially he made this 3 pickup bass (passive) to be versatile but with the preamp it opened to more possibilities. The preamp made the musicman pickup sound exactly like a musicman stingray that bite in the pickup.
neck and bridge active made so much low end, brought me significant joy. thank you.
I think the MM passive with your fingers sounds really good by itself.
I like that you actually took a more serious tone with your videos.
Are you actually gonna keep this in your bass? I feel like the active sounded best for all styles with all pickups.
+Cranmore hopefully not too serious...I hate perfectly serious "professional" videos. Boring. Anyway, I will be installing this one in that bass for sure. I do think it improved the tone, and more importantly, because of the concentric pot, it saves space on the pickguard, which is more important for this bass because of the 3 volume pots.
@@GunsandGuitars Yes, I love concentric pots, my Strat is about to be a super guitar, doing testing currentl(last two weekends. Got successful independent volumes for all 3 mini humbuckers (no interactions), last problem on the last portion, finally got the high cut and low cut tone knobs great by wiring them in reverse to change the audio taper to strong at first and less resistance at end with additional 20k resistor to ground, now both of them have usable tone change all the way rather than the last portion of the pot(80% to 10% with huge drop off). The last problem is the volume lowers as either tone knob turns down. 3 concentric knobs and 8 mini toggle switches, independent knobs for volume, bass cut and trebble cut, master volume if can't get volume decrease for tones resolved/variable partial coil split if I do get the tone/volume issue resolved. The rest is easy, series/parallel switch for each single pickup(3) then coil split toggle for neck and 1 for bridge. 1 toggle for cap change for bass cut and 1 toggle for for cap change for high cut, going to get a new pickguard and remove 5-way switch(I don't play in front of people, I need just the ability to wildly shape my tone with abundance of options). The perfect way for me to test all of this is I mounted it all to a shoe box coated with packaging tape for a little extra stability, extended pickup wires, body ground(connects to Jack internally) and hot jack about 6 inches outside of knob holes, then ran into shoe box where the circuit is. Has the hum on and off of course but allows me to test a lot of things without constantly undoing strings and taking Pickguard off. When I completed it, being so much wire length and so much wire in circuitry (soldered short wires to components and wire nuts to wire them into circuit) that I feared the guitar just wouldn't have any sound, thought it was the case when I plugged I. And heard no sound, almost gave up but realized the power button I installed wasn't pushed in(in is on, up is off). Power button disconnects jack hot and ground so I can work on circuit without unplugging. It's already great sounding and very shapable tone, the tone/volume drop issue is the only issue left then instalation comes, even if I have to route more space with Dremel tool.
Hot damn those slap tones are amazing...
I love how informational your channel is. It is also great to find that you are so focused on the bass. I have just returned to playing after a 30 year hiatus, and am woefully out of touch on what different pickups sound like. Thanks for the tutorials!
Impressive! A highly effective and extremely cost effective mod with profound improvements to the playability. I can't think of a better way to make your bass sound better for such a low cost!
Agreed!
I love when he demos sounds he actually demos all the sounds
Great review. I’ve had this preamp in my bass for 10 years and never understood what I had. I installed it with the new pickups so only heard one tone version. I’m glad the preamp does a great job
Finally, my bass all setup, with a STC 3P Seymour Duncan preamp with 3 bands, and a pair of BARTOLINI humbuckers M45, and it turned to life.... It is absolutely Awesome....
Just came across your channel today and I have to say you do excellent work on both your gun builds and the guitars Dan.
Thanks so much!
It's cool how it makes so much difference for the bridge pickup.
+Pavel Novozhilov yeah the preamp plays a big part in the standard music man tone
Your channel is FIRE! Keep up with the great content! You're really turning me on to a lot of stuff I never knew to look at, and it's stuff I always wondered about for these kits, but never had reliable information on.
awesome! I make vids about stuff I wish I knew about a long time ago haha
Hi Dan, first of all congratulate you and your channel, and tell you that I am a "do it yourself" learning from your channel, and recently upgraded my Ibanez 205sm (5 strings), with pair of humbuckers Bartolini classic Bass series, M4 soapbar dual coil with and active Seymour Duncan STC-3P 3 band time for pasive pickups, my brigde pickup still for connection (will do it tomorrow when it is supposed to arrive), the neck pickup sounds awesome, let's see how improve one's the bridge's takes place....
You outdid yourself on that Bass. Best cheap kit build I've seen on youtube.
Update: I passed out after like.. an hour so I’m continuing my quest this morning. Thanks for the responses btw!! You’re awesome man!
I'm sure Dan already knows all of this, but for those who go perusing through the comments I've got a bit more technical info to add about what he said about the frequencies the amp boosts and where the shelf "begins":
What's actually going on is the amplifier has a pair of filters: one low-pass filter for bass frequencies and one high-pass filter for... well... high frequencies. However, these filters don't just flatly block frequencies that are above/below their "cutoff" point, respectively. Instead, they smoothly "roll off" at the critical frequency into a more or less linear slope of attenuation. That critical frequency (also called the "cutoff" frequency) is where the filter introduces a -3dB attenuation, which just means that the perceived volume is cut in half. Past that cutoff frequency, the perceived volume of frequencies in the stopband is so low that they basically just cease to exist as far as anything past the filter is concerned.
For a high-pass filter, anything above that cutoff frequency is neither amplified nor attenuated. It is simply passed. Whereas anything below the cutoff frequency--the stopband--is attenuated at a rate of decibels per "decade" (that is, per every x10 Hz; so from 100Hz to 1000Hz to 10,000Hz, etc.) depending upon the design of the filter. Hence, high-pass filter. Linky link to a not very good visual representation off what Dan and I have both described: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/75_Hz_HPF_on_Smaart.jpg
For a low-pass filter, the opposite is true. Anything BELOW the cutoff frequency is neither amplified nor attenuated. It is simply passed. Whereas anything ABOVE the cutoff frequency is attenuated at a rate of dB/decade also dependent upon the design of the filter. Hence, low-pass. Linky link to a useful graphic on the wikipedia article about 'em to show what I'm describing: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Butterworth_response.svg/1280px-Butterworth_response.svg.png
There's also two more types of filters that combine the properties of high-pass and low-pass filters, which are especially handy when designing equalizers (something that I'm certain Dan DEFINITELY knows about): band-pass and band-stop filters. Band-pass filters, as their name implies, pass a narrow band of frequencies. Anything outside of this band is attenuated and essentially blocked by the filter. And band-stop filters do the complement: they block a narrow band of frequencies. Band-pass and band-stop filters mix and match low-pass and high-pass filters together, and as such have *two* cutoff frequencies that define the end points of the band. Here's a visual aid that shows a band-pass filter, but if you invert it so that it dips at each cutoff frequency around the stopped frequency in the center, you'll have a band-stop filter: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Bandwidth_2.svg/1280px-Bandwidth_2.svg.png
At some point I should probably try my hand at designing some basic filters and figure out how to pass a range of frequencies through them so I can demonstrate their properties, and then make a video about it to put up on my own channel...
+Calyo Delphi wow great info here! I understand how it works but building circuits of my own that do this is way out of my pay grade...for now. I'm constantly reading up on low voltage electronics, I'm fascinated by the stuff. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to build in a crossover between the neck and bridge pickup of a guitar or bass. I think it'd be cool to take low frequencies from the neck and mid-high frequencies from the bridge without any phase cancelation.
Hmm, that one's actually a bit beyond what I know, personally. Would be interesting to find out how that can work! If you find out before I do, I look forward to seeing a video about it. You're already inspiring me to want to build my own custom bass for a first guitar, and I don't even know how to play bass yet! ;)
Most of what I know is from a bit of research I did for a few months straight a couple years back when I wanted to try to design and build my own hi-fi audio receiver from scratch, with a multi-input mixer/switch, EQ, and power amp with line-level outputs for headphones and the like. To build a proper EQ, you need bandpass filters so that you can adjust each frequency band all on its own (mostly) independently from the others.
High pass and low pass filters also tend to go into amplifier design as well, largely to act as stops for extremely high frequency and low frequency noise, though depending on your selection of operational amplifier chips they may already have good high-frequency noise rejection built right in. (That HF noise is the staticky hiss you'll hear off a microphone's output if you use pure software boost on that raw signal.) Learning that one myself for real by building a super basic preamp for my condenser mic using just jellybean parts available for cents apiece; I can only imagine how much better higher-priced application-specific op amps will sound!
Really interesting useful review. The one negative was that it left me wondering what the other solo pickups sound like with the A/B choice for the preamp (especially the P bass pickup). Good stuff!
Hey Dan! I'm building this exact bass because of you. I wanted to know what's the difference of running this 9v and running it at 18v. Thanks brother.
Great video. the info on the high-end range boost is helpful. Never gave that much thought with active preamp. What do you think about full range treble mid and bass preamp?
+Acronis it really depends on the mid frequency, there are some that use good frequencies, and some that use bad frequencies for the mid. Most that I've played I end up leaving the mid alone because it doesn't seem to improve tone either boosting or cutting. I have heard Nordstrand preamps that have switchable mid frequencies that sound pretty killer though. Also, there are a couple preamps that have a parametric mid (meaning you can sweep back and forth to hone in on whatever frequency you wish) and I'd really like to give those a shot. I plan to purchase one for review in the future.
Guns and Guitars status graphite makes those iirc... quite expensive though
Great content, cool video, looking forward to the next! :)
Keep it on!
Got one to put into a Warwick RB Streamer standard, bass sounds awesome, but it lacks high end/overall focus, just going to attach battery via Velcro inside the cavity.
And yeah, I have two basses with 3 band EQ- never needed to boost treble as all you hear his buzz and finger noise.
Awesome stuff bro keep It going
The only thing I would do to that bass (before you sell it) is to put a high or heavy mass bridge on it.
+Tom Tobin thanks for the tip! Personally I don’t feel like the price to benefit ratio is really worth it. It doesn’t make as much of a difference as people say. At least that’s my opinion.
I changed mine on my Fender Jazz bass and it sounded exponentially better.
+Tom Tobin well I’m gonna test the theory again soon. Got a mod bass kit from the fretwire (it’s a rickenbacker clone) but it comes with a music man style bridge, I bought a hipshot rickenbacker high mass bridge to replace it. We will find out I guess!
@@GunsandGuitars - Aunt Lee rules!
I'm thinking of getting my first electric guitar.... I have a cheapo epiphone acoustic and a martin dreadnought and play mostly country music with the occasional everything else. I should probably add in that I'm poor, so off brand works for me :) What would you suggest? I trust you... you know your stuff dude.
+Hailey Clark I think if you're gonna buy a complete guitar, squiers are a good place to start. Especially anything with "vintage modified" in the title is a quality instrument for a cheap price. If you want to build one, check out my video on how to build a high end guitar out of a cheap eBay kit. You'll get a great instrument for even less if you go that route.
Awesome! Thanks so much! That guitar was amazing that you built :)
I bought a used squire, and it is seriously better than any knock off
Sound you push of that bass is gettin better and better!) If i were u, i wouldnt use it with rick or split pup, they are ok by themselves, no need in active curcuit for them. Great vids, thx!
+Роман Соколов I agree, the ric and p bass tones are passive by nature, where the mm tone relies on a preamp. But when using the pickups for blending new combinations of tones, I say the preamp is still useful. Either way, I'll install that bypass switch in the bass as well to keep the flexibility
great video man !!! , does it work with active or passive pickups ? or both ??
+bass forlife passive pickups only
thanks man !! you just saved me 59.99
You’re awesome! Love your videos! All around excellent presentation! Top knotch stuff!
You should do a video on how to wire a guitar for different pickup configurations
+Samuel Larkin I've started a video series on wiring hacks, not sure about basic guitar wiring, there is already a lot of info out there on the basics
Awesome! Now how about a pan/blend pot for the bridge and neck pickups to combine them either way around the middle pickup and with each other?
+Martin Heath that’s an interesting idea I’ll look into this
Think I could/should stuff one of these in my Rickenbacker?
+Catt it would certainly fit, and probably ad some low end. Though some rickenbacker purist would think you're insane, I think you should experiment!
My 'Ric' is certainly not for the purists, anyways.
in that case, I'd love to see it! send me a pic on Facebook
When is the wiring video coming? I have the 2pot blackouts. I want to replace the standard pot with a push pull and use that to switch between active and passive. Can you white board that in the next vid so we can screen shot it??
+Jason Strickland this video is coming. Sorry I've been working on building my new website and workshop. Workshop is almost done so I should be cranking out more build vids soon! I'll put in a section on the active passive switch just for you!
I just got a Squier Deluxe Active Dimension bass but highs n mids sound gross lol! I love the build of the bass and might keep it. Would replacing the preamp improve the sound or would I have to replace the pickups also? Ive seen no replacement pickups for the Squier Deluxe Dimension bass
Bro...what do you think about putting the preamp in a cheap startocaster? Would the results be that stunning and share the same things that are cool about adding it to the bass?
Even on my iPhone speakers I can hear the difference, damn
Dan...Great video, The kids see my basses and ask how much they cost so i pull out my alembic 16k and they say wow thats nice but i also bring out my plank bass made of 2 2x4's of maple and 4 strings and plug in it blow there minds how 2x4's can sound so good. We talk about what makes the bass sound and how to do it for less. Your video proves to them that i am telling the truth.Thank you so much....keep up the good work.....psk
+Professor Sherman Klump thanks for your encouragement!
DAN i have a Question for you :O i'm thinking on doing the DIY project but i feel like using 2 MM style pickups, in middle and bridg position, you think its going to work ? i mean... using the exact same model of pickup for mid and bridge position, will i have a diference in sound between the 2 pickups? or should just install the stock pickup and the musicman, or only the musicman style pickup? i know nothing about electronics inside bass guitars that's y i'm asking you
+Ag Herbert dude, two musicman pickups would sound awesome! Check out the Warwick double buck ($$). Having two of the same pickup works fine because the tone changes based on its location (neck or bridge). I say go for it, and send me a pic on Facebook when it's done!
Of course i will mate, you know the dimensions on the MM pickup (musiclily) to install it where the stock pickups are suposed to be? i hope its arround the same size and i dont need a new cover :s
Excellent video!!
+Patrick Hale thanks!
Man, that thing makes all the difference with the slap!
In terms of sound, is the same using a preamp pedal? I know that the onboard option is more easy to have the controls in the bass, but the pedal you can use it with all the basses you have and you can change it. The question is, in terms of sound is the same?
hello, I am wanting to install this in my PJ bass build and have watched your guide on how to install a bypass switch for active preamps and I was wondering if that mod would also work with this specific preamp? I am also wanting to install a 3 way toggle as my pickup selector. so the signal path would probably be pickups into volume knob into preamp knob then into bypass mini toggle switch and lastly 3 way toggle out into the jack.
The ideal would be to have a switch that lets you choose between passive, active 2 batteries in parallel (9 volts double life) or active 2 batteries in series (18 volts). That would be great.
Hi do you think you could show us how you wired in that bypass switch thanks
Sure can, when I do the instal video I'll add a part about the bypass switch. Stay tuned!
To be honest, I actually really like things to be high-frequency, glassy, rattly, etc. I enjoy the metallic sound. But I completely understand what you mean by getting the notes to cut through. I just ordered it and I do intend to keep it on 3.5. But I actually liked the 6k for different reasons besides playing with a band or recording. Still thanks, your vids have helped me A LOT on my bass. It is almost finished.
That’s awesome man! Congrats on the new bass!
Question about this preamp. I ordered the separate one, & being there’s no volume pot. Now is it ok to use my old volume knob that’s passive? It’s still 250k.
Yes just put the volume pot before the preamp and you’re fine
Guns and Guitars
Even though the volume pot is passive? Before the pre amp meaning volume pot, and then the two preamp knobs? Meaning the order that they go?
My guess would be you're going to make a two-battery compartment with some kind of DPDT; this would make the battery consumption more or less even between the two.
By the way, I'm really curious if you will make something with the concentric knob so as to fit the instrument's aesthetic :)
you are correct about the compartment, it'll be large enough to fit two batteries. I'm going to use a switch though, no need to switch between 9v and 18v on the fly, but I'll be making it easy to run on one 9v in the case that you only have 1 good battery to use
By the way, Dan, have you considered desoldering the treble band switch and wiring it to an external one?
The 6k setting was amazing with slapping to my ear.
Wow, this kit really brought that bass sound alive. The shitty thing is that while over in the USA this kit costs an affordable $60 while here in the UK it costs £100 which is the same as $131.
+James Lewis dang that sucks!
So this would be good for my Sterling sub Bass, it's got the music man pick up but it's lacking and I like the lows that gave your music man pick up. Is it pretty easy to install I can install tone pots and rewire pickups so that's not a problem I've just never done a preamp, also my sub bass is already active
Nice demo:-D. Do you think it would work with a lame epiphone EB O bass?
+rosembergh mendoza it would definitely work, as in function, whether or not it would improve your tone I have no idea. Depends on what you’re going for. EB-0 basses are really muddy to begin with.
Guns and Guitars thanks man, do you know any other way to improve a cheap bass like that?. Yo
Aunt Lee is AWESOME!
It is possible to wire a pj bass with 2 volume pots, this eq and no tone? I have a Samick Artist Series bass with a tone/active booster push pull pot that i want to change cause' the passive mode doesn't works :( I can play only with the push pull pot up. Awesome videos Dan+
Yes you can wire your bass that way. Just follow a jazz bass wiring diagram and replace the tone pot with this preamp.
I love the 6kh sound 🔊 over the 3kh sound 🔊
I can see it being useful for slap, but for finger and picking it sounded like cheese in my opinion
Guns and Guitars I hear you, and you are hearing it directly from your gear. Coming through my sound bar and head phones 📱 that 6KH tone would fit my playing style perfectly.
By the way what are you using for the demo? The external selectable switch is a must for the preamp!! Excellent suggestion.
Wholy shit I wasn't expecting that much of a difference. Could you do the same thing but with a way cheaper preamp (if there even is one). Keep out the good shit, quality content
+Lups I'm gonna do some reviews with cheaper ones in the future for sure
Guns and Guitars looking forward to that
Guns and Guitars whoop whoop! Go AliExpress and eBay!
How did you use a 1/4" jack to bypass installing the preamp ? I don't understand. Thanks Dan.
I have the same preamp but I use it in 6k for almost the same reason that you don't use it haha... and yes, I tried it in 3.5k but I liked it more in 6k
+alan corcico to each their own! If you like it that's all that matters
Maybe the 6k gets that Steve Harris clicky attack fret noise?
Josh Starkey That’s easier to get by really lowering your sting action and playing with flats
I don't know if the expression is right, but the 6K seems 'nasal'... Is that make any sense?
+Leandro Ruben Schwarz Júnior I agree, nasal is a good word. I can see it being useful in a slap solo setting, that's about it, and even then I'd probably still prefer the 3.5k setting
You're mom says you're "Officially awesome since you have more than 10,000 subs."
To be honest, for metal, tgat 6k boost would be perfect. It's like a mid scoop or when you double track with a sub track and high track. It's kind of cool. With a little grit, that'd be a sick metal tone.
+Patrick Losiniecki I could see that
Hi, I installed a preamp on my Squier bass and having a lot of noise. What could it be? Thank you.
I'd like to see a comparison of all bass circuit preamps including the big brands...
Maybe you can still replace the frequency switch with a bit of soldering
+Zantrop64 I’m sure someone could, it looks like a micro dpdt switch. But that circuit board is tiny! I was afraid to attempt it.
Love it!!!!
What about their blackouts system for electric guitars?
i must be stupid because i really dont understand how you connected your pass signal to the preamp in this demo!
+HoshiHearts RetroGaming haha you're not stupid. Instead of wiring the preamp to the hot and ground connections of my pickups, I wired it to the hot and ground of an instrument cable. Then plugged that instrument cable into my bass. Then plugged a different instrument cable into the output of the preamp into my recording interface. Basically I used it more like a pedal than an onboard preamp
You mentioned the preamp can be noisy. I usually run an overdrive on my bass. Can I assume this would amplifiy that noise and make the preamp less desirable?
Totally going to do an MM/P mod to a squire in the future. Thanks for the encouragement. Your channel is rad. Love the energy and positive vibes.
+Brandon Lamm it's only noisy if you crank the highs up all the way, if you don't dime it then it sounds fine
If you really wanted to, you could make that dip switch external. All you would probably need is a SPDT toggle switch, some wire and a soldering iron. :)
+AngelarmSpartan777 it looked like a dpdt switch, and I’m sure someone could, but soldering on microchips is above my pay grade I think. I might experiment on one if it was cheap enough, but id be sad if I burnt out that board and ruined the preamp.
wow, how do you know all about that frequencies on bass guitar? I wanna know that stuff! any book to read? I only have passive basses buy your vid made me curious about this kind of stuff
I don’t know of any particular book, but I learned a lot about it from doing home recordings and playing with the software. I also took some recording classes in college. Most of what I learned was from hands on experience, and asking questions to every audio engineer I met along the way, as well as reading lots of blogs and forums. The info is out there, just google it!
You played the 'I Want You Back' bassline slightly wrong, unless you wanted to play it differently. Great vid as usual btw.
+Pratyaksh Gautam yeah I changed it slightly. Don't want to deal copyright (not that I'd really have to, just covering myself just in case)
I wonder why they made the Treble frequency so high where it doesn't do much for the bass tone??
How about some pro's and con's between onboard preamp vs pedal preamp on the floor
+Christopher Woods honestly they are the exact same. In fact, I'm thinking of doing a video on how to install an onboard preamp in a pedal so you can use one preamp for all your basses. What do you think?
What I am getting at is that isn't something like an MXR 10 band EQ pedal the ultimate?... What do so many basses have onboard eq when most people just set it and forget it. why deal with batteries and all that in the bass when you could have more versatility in a stomp box? But yeah, I enjoy your channel so keep em coming.
I've been wondering the same thing
Why would Duncan have a selection at 6 kHz? I’m not an Audio Engineer...just a guitarist and bassist with almost 4 decades making music and I can’t envision any reason to have a set it and forget it frequency that high for bass either. Dan, any ideas as to what team Duncan had in mind for that 6 kHz setting?
Why dont you remove the dip switch, replace with wire leads and add a dpdt switch? Hint, hint..... ;)
About to put one of these pre-amps into an old Ibanez CT bass I ran across. Great playing bass, but noisy pre-amp.
Could we get a wiring diagram for this?
+Motan exactly what wiring diagram are you wanting? Message me on Facebook and I'll sketch one up for you
where did you get the kit to start building your bass I would love to try it
That kit I got on eBay for $65
Love all your bass build videos. I wish there were acoustic bass kits available. I’d love to see how to build a mini acoustic bass like the new Taylor GS Mini.
The GS Mini sounds great when it’s not buzzing. Unfortunately, more often than not, there’s fret buzz. You’re also locked down to the custom strings they designed for it. On top of all that it’s $650-$700. Meh...I’ll pass.
Binge watching all your bass builds... LOL
Here's the truth on the 3.5k vs 6k switch. On the lower setting you're still boosting 6k, but you're also boosting everything else above 1.5j to some extent. On the high setting you're boosting nothing below 4.5k, and boosting 6k no more and no less than before. For those playing a "scooped-mids" sound the higher setting is for them. That's why the switch is a good thing, and would be better if it were external.
Even better would be a peak freq knob instead of a switch for finer control, and even a Q control for slope angle.
+Carl Jenkins I agree completely, there are some high end preamps that have a sweepable mid frequency, but I haven’t seen any with a Q control. That would be really epic. But only us audio engineers would know how to use it haha!
How do you wire a humbucker pick up?
promising product
+Network Unplugged yeah pretty good for $59 right?
The preamp makes it much more pingy. It colors the tone but in good way.
is there any way to take out that mild hiss though?
As always sir, great content. Nice shout out to your aunt too lol.
It sounds way better with the pre-amp.
The 6k almost sounds a bit warwickish
yeah I can see what you're saying
Or Sandberg like. I love their designs, but I don't like the electronics.
The 3k boost sounds more like Music Man Stingray, which was exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks Dan for making this video!
Well, this is mighty entertaining and silly. I'm wanting to see the same example with a guitar being I don't play nor desire to play a bass.
Reminds me of my little black and yellow di-BASS peddle that was borrowed and NEVER RETURNED....SIGH..THING WAS SOOOO RAD!.
links please fo parts used
That was nice and I don't even play bass
Still waiting for that install tutorial.
I'll have it up by tomorrow night! thanks for checking in
3.5k = Music Man style
6k = Sandberg, Delano, Warwick and other modern sounding bass style
dude how much for you to make one for me
All 3 pickups passive best for all styles
Man you need to adapt an external switch to that 3.5, 6kHz :D
+Joao Jesus it looks possible, but that micro switch is tiny and so is the circuit board, I think desoldering that thing and wiring up an external switch might be above my pay grade.
yeeeee
Eeeeew that 6k on slap sounded squirty.... It seemed like it didn't change anything until you started slapping...
+CK's channel. Yeah it really just increases fretboard noise, not so much the tone
Wish you would have level matched.
Okay, what the hell is a preamp honestly? Like what is it meant to do