Bassman68 Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Greetings one & all, I’m looking for recommendations The preamp on my 25yr old Warwick Thumb 5NT is starting to hum & buzz. As the woods have settled over the years, I’m getting less impressed by the 3 band MEC preamp. The bass is rather woolly & I find the treble frequency too high & unworkable. Has anyone replaced their preamp & what with? I quite like the aguilar 3 band with the switchable mids but a luthier friend of mine has also mentioned a Noll preamp. Your views please are appreciated.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 What pickups does this one have and how many holes does the preamp have ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 MEC pick-ups & stacked treble & bass with separate mid control. Volume & pick-up pan on a stacked knob with pull switch for active/passive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I guess it's not the active Mec pickups... So it's a 3 holes or knobs configuration. I would recommend a Glockenklang or even the most transparent preamp to date, the Richter BassXX. The problem is the 3 holes/knobs configuration as, very often, the blend is on a separate pot... You can check Best Bass Gear to see what's available and see if you can get it in the U.K. : https://www.bestbassgear.com/bass-preamps.htm?dir=asc&limit=all&order=price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I have a Noll pre fitted (2 band EQ) in a different Warwick bass (Infinette) and if anything I'd say it has a slightly brighter top end than the MEC. Any of the good quality makers will make a good pre; EMG is the original to the MEC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Big Glockenklang fan here, I've got 4 of them, but pretty sure 3 "holes" limits you to a 2 band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookPassBabtridge Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 The only 3-band preamp with 3 pots that I've managed to find is a Bartolini, which I put in my Thumb bass and am very happy with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 I'm sure Aguilar would work too. I have an Ellio Martina bass that used to be passive (VBT) but had an OBP-3 built in later in its life. It is wired with MEC pots, and configured with: stacked volume (reverse log because lefty) / balance with push-pull for active/passive; stacked mid / treble with push-pull for mid frequency; bass Very happy with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 I’m hoping I can keep the pick-ups & wiring to the stacked volume pot. My bass also has side l.e.d’s so I don’t want to go ripping everything out? Hopefully I can keep the preamp 18v, along with the 3 extra 9v’s for the l.e.d’s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.