mattyfunk13 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hello Basschat peeps, Can anybody help? I have a Warwick Streamer LX, its an old one made in 97. I recently played a Spector euro and really liked the versatility of the tone range. Is there any value on changing the MEC pups on my Streamer to EMG's with the hope for a similar tone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Not really. A Warwick sounds like a Warwick and a Spector sounds like a Spector - there's a lot more to it than swapping pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hmmm - I might just counter that opinion a wee bit. Yes I do agree that there is a percentage of the instruments tone locked away in the woods and physical hardware, but the pickups and their position themselves govern a large percentage of the overall instrument's amplified tone. So I'd have to say that swapping the pickups out won't make the bass sound exactly 'like the Spector you played', but there will be a marked difference in tone of the Bass. For example, the EMG DC active pickup that Spector uses in a lot of it's basses has a very strong character or 'voice' if you will and you can definitely hear it in different instruments. Whether or not it's an improvement is personal opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I would have thought the preamp would have as big if not bigger influence on the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 [quote name='dood' post='1226925' date='May 10 2011, 11:24 PM']So I'd have to say that swapping the pickups out won't make the bass sound exactly 'like the Spector you played', but there will be a marked difference in tone of the Bass. For example, the EMG DC active pickup that Spector uses in a lot of it's basses has a very strong character or 'voice' if you will and you can definitely hear it in different instruments. Whether or not it's an improvement is personal opinion.[/quote] I think that about covers it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 The change to EMGs will make a difference but more change will be found through also swapping the preamp out for a Spector Tonepump... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 [quote name='LukeFRC' post='1226933' date='May 10 2011, 11:32 PM']I would have thought the preamp would have as big if not bigger influence on the sound.[/quote] Yes and no. Some preamplifiers are designed to not colour the sound at all, but just allow bass, mid, treble boost and cut where as other manufacturers have engineered a 'frequency curve' or 'tone' in to them. Interestingly the EMG preamps are pretty transparent - but the boost and cut is in really sympathetic frequencies for Bass guitar. Pickups will in most cases make the most amount of difference. I guess you'd only have to look at the pickup upgrade market for a P Bass alone to see that the differences are worth the upgrade/crossgrade costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Speaking of preamps - There are a few names that come up often as proved upgrades. My friend and fellow BCer has an Aguilar OBP-3 that is installed in a metal box, a bit like a pedal and it was nice to hear what his jazz bass sounded like with and without it. Very nice with, I can tell you! - I think John East is also making some really good circuits too with tons of options available for different instruments. I have to put a shout out for Jon Shuker too, who has his own line of preamps that are really very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desmondpot Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 (edited) [quote name='mattyfunk13' post='1226631' date='May 10 2011, 07:34 PM']Hello Basschat peeps, Can anybody help? I have a Warwick Streamer LX, its an old one made in 97. I recently played a Spector euro and really liked the versatility of the tone range. Is there any value on changing the MEC pups on my Streamer to EMG's with the hope for a similar tone?[/quote] Buy a Spector! Serously, I don't know how much difference swapping the pups out'll make as some of what you were hearing and feeling in the LX was the wood choice and, in particular, the neck-through construction (which seems to add a certain, what's the technical term.......boink (?) to the tone which is more than a little addictive when slapping). Here's a little vid of a fella doing an A/B with swapped out pups in a Thumb: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cE_vEsnoN4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cE_vEsnoN4[/url] The overall character of the bass remains very much the same. Edited May 11, 2011 by desmondpot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnozzalee Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I like the Warwick sound over the Spector sound, I only notice the dullness of the MECs which makes its more funky for my tastes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I like EMG pickups,but I do think they have a certain character of their own-they sound like EMGs. I find them to have a very 'modern' sound,which I happen to like. If you prefer the sound of the EMGs over the stock MECs then a swap might be worth it,but bear in mind that there will still be similarities in the tone because more of the tone comes from your hands than you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 There's only one way to find out ... [attachment=79582:thumbnail.jpg] [size=1]sorry, someone had to say it[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyfunk13 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 (edited) [quote name='desmondpot' post='1227520' date='May 11 2011, 01:47 PM']Buy a Spector! Serously, I don't know how much difference swapping the pups out'll make as some of what you were hearing and feeling in the LX was the wood choice and, in particular, the neck-through construction (which seems to add a certain, what's the technical term.......boink (?) to the tone which is more than a little addictive when slapping). Here's a little vid of a fella doing an A/B with swapped out pups in a Thumb: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cE_vEsnoN4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cE_vEsnoN4[/url] The overall character of the bass remains very much the same.[/quote] Hey Trev, I'm sure both yourself and destiny are right, I am going to get a Spector!!!! Incidentally, I have been on the thumb for about 2 hours every day!!!!! I cant seem to put it down. I think my Streamer is jealous of all the attention, plus the streamer gives me a dirty look every time I mention the Spector word. Hope you are well Edited May 11, 2011 by mattyfunk13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyfunk13 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Hey Peeps, Thanks for all the advice. I have come to the conclusion to go with the EMG's.......and the Spector that comes with them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I've swapped MEC's and EMG's in and out of the same Warwick Streamer bass and I can categorically state... I didn't notice a gnat's chuff of difference! Now that is hardly scientific because you have to remember that when I played the bass with the swapped (and swapped back) pups, an hour or so had passed and my ears may have been unable to perceive the difference but there in lies the point; I couldn't personally perceive any difference so it's unlikely Joe Public who has never heard me or my bass before would know the difference. Just as an aside, I seem to recall that the whole point of MEC pups in Warwick basses was because there was grief with the licensing between Spector and Warwick and it included the use of EMG pups in the early Warwick basses, added to which the cost of Warwick buying EMGs in rather than fitting their own 'version' of the EMG produced in-house, meant that it made sense for Warwick to purchase a pup manufacturing company (MEC). It would make sense that any pup produced to replace the fitting of EMGs might sound a bit like the pup they were replacing. I do have to confess that having owned both Spectors and Warwicks (thru neck models) there is a definite difference in tone between the basses from the two manufacturers but there again, there is a difference between the Spectors and the Spectors (or the Warwicks and the Warwicks) that I've owned. In summary; I doubt very much whether you could get the Warwick to sound exactly like the Spector or vice-versa, regardless of pup (even preamp) selection/swapping because they are two different instruments made out of wood and that's the point... they are different! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desmondpot Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 [quote name='mattyfunk13' post='1228007' date='May 11 2011, 08:35 PM']Hey Peeps, Thanks for all the advice. I have come to the conclusion to go with the EMG's.......and the Spector that comes with them!![/quote] A wise choice. I'm still chuffed with mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desmondpot Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 [quote name='mattyfunk13' post='1227999' date='May 11 2011, 08:30 PM']Hey Trev, I'm sure both yourself and destiny are right, I am going to get a Spector!!!! Incidentally, I have been on the thumb for about 2 hours every day!!!!! I cant seem to put it down. I think my Streamer is jealous of all the attention, plus the streamer gives me a dirty look every time I mention the Spector word. Hope you are well[/quote] Hey Matt. I'm glad the Thumb worked out. It's a bloody brilliant instrument and I will be after a neck-through at some point. Marcus has shaped up very nicely indeed. I swapped out the bridge for a Schaller and now the action sits about where I had the Thumb. It's a lovely, fast, smooth neck and I'm thouroughly enjoying it. I do miss the Thumb sometimes (although when I do, I just pick up the Euro and I'm sorted ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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