chese336 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Hi everyone has anybody out there fitted or tried a John East P bass preamp? I would like to hear opinions on the sound and flexibility and if its worth the money Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Yes. That is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1322246838' post='1448657'] Yes. That is all. [/quote] +100 See previous threads on the issue. There is no better Xmas present for your Precision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 I have heard a very well respected luthier say that he was less than impressed with the East P-Bass circuit (he thought that it was too 'fiddly')! However, I have a East j-retro deluxe in a jazz, which is just awesome..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1322250823' post='1448712'] I have heard a very well respected luthier say that he was less than impressed with the East P-Bass circuit (he thought that it was too 'fiddly')! However, I have a East j-retro deluxe in a jazz, which is just awesome..... [/quote] It's a very elegant solution to a complex problem, and therefore required an innovative approach to the controls when compared with circuits for basses that have more space/control options. Once you get used to it, the P-Retro is however an intuitive and versatile preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 I have a J..its brilliant, get your P one...DO IT! And John is just the nicest guy, makes good coffee too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1322250823' post='1448712'] I have heard a very well respected luthier say that he was less than impressed with the East P-Bass circuit (he thought that it was too 'fiddly')! [/quote] Interesting comment - for me the selling point of the P-Retro is its simplicity. Just two knobs (boost/cut and sweep) and you're never more than half a second away from a useable tone. Perhaps your luthier was referring to the wiring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Like a swan, perhaps - all the action is below the water. I have a P-Retro fitted to a pimped Westone Thunder Jet that has Kent Armstrong pups and it changed a fairly ordinary plinky sounding bass into a tone monster. And where I think it scores heavily is the built in rechargable battery. Genius - no routing. I had this originally fitted by a luthier mate and he commented on what a quality piece of kit it was. He particularly liked the soldering, he said. I also have a custom J-retro that Nigel (silddx) had made for his Squire-a-like machine but then moved on. I fitted it into a Fender Precision Lyte and it is hard to describe what an improvement it has made - just totally expands and articulates the sounds available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1322300265' post='1448991'] Interesting comment - for me the selling point of the P-Retro is its simplicity. Just two knobs (boost/cut and sweep) and you're never more than half a second away from a useable tone. Perhaps your luthier was referring to the wiring? [/quote] No, he was referring to the whole unit - he had done some work on a P bass with one fitted and wasn't impressed. As I understand it (from from the JE demo video - I've never come across one) the knobs are not quite that simple to use Just one man's opinion, albeit one who really knows his stuff! As I said, I am really impressed by the East curcuit on my jazz...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 It's a Precision. It doesn't need anyone's pre-amp. John's a nice, helpful guy who does great electronics though, no doubt about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I have one in my dinger ABZ.. Easy fit, keeps the passive option (although I rarely use it these days) and offers a much wider tonal range .. Great value, and John East is a gentleman... Nuff said.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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