howdenspur Posted February 4, 2022 Share Posted February 4, 2022 3 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: Took it to rehearsal. Well, it was a limited editions Epiphone Custom Shop one - not sure what was different aside from the tug bar. Looks absolutely glorious, but weighs a tone and still has some neck dive (I could cope if I really liked it). The mudbucker was just too dark and thumpy for me. Afraid I swapped back to my Embassy which is a lot lighter, better balanced and sounded way better. The band agreed the EB3 looked incredible, but the neck pickup just didn't sound right. Might be OK for a Cream tribute. 😞 Is that a short scale jobby? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted February 4, 2022 Share Posted February 4, 2022 If it has the tug bar and dot inlays should be the short scale EB3 epiphone i have the same version custom shop epiphone i put an Artec in mine and i kinda like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share Posted February 5, 2022 19 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: Took it to rehearsal. Well, it was a limited editions Epiphone Custom Shop one - not sure what was different aside from the tug bar. Looks absolutely glorious, but weighs a tone and still has some neck dive (I could cope if I really liked it). The mudbucker was just too dark and thumpy for me. Afraid I swapped back to my Embassy which is a lot lighter, better balanced and sounded way better. The band agreed the EB3 looked incredible, but the neck pickup just didn't sound right. Might be OK for a Cream tribute. 😞 They're definitely a bit of an acquired taste, I suppose. I could not imagine having one of those as my only bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 On 04/02/2022 at 20:30, howdenspur said: Is that a short scale jobby? No, LS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 On 04/02/2022 at 21:49, stu_g said: If it has the tug bar and dot inlays should be the short scale EB3 epiphone i have the same version custom shop epiphone i put an Artec in mine and i kinda like it. I'm sure it's long scale, but tug bar and dots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 I don't have the Artec pickup but I've got eveything else that I wanted to play with. 1) Replaced tuners with a set of ultralites, and chose the smaller clover tuners which I think look better in a short scale bass, and removes a bit more weight. 2) Replaced bridge with a Hipshot. 3) D'Addario black nylon tapewounds. The bass balances pretty well now, no neck dive. The Hipshot bridge allows you to widen the spacing between strings a little bit. Not as much as I would have liked, as there's still space on the fretboard, but that little bit makes it a little nicer to play for my liking. It was nice to lose the original very thin roundwounds, the black nylons suit this bass very well. I had to widen the nut slots a tiny bit, a few minutes and a bit of care with a nut file and that was it. I kept the electronics original so far, as I want to wait until I get the new pickup... but simply putting on a set of tapes improved the sound significantly. Anyway, no soundclips but here are a couple of pictures. It'd look a bit better if the pickup cover were black but hey... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 hour ago, mcnach said: I don't have the Artec pickup but I've got eveything else that I wanted to play with. 1) Replaced tuners with a set of ultralites, and chose the smaller clover tuners which I think look better in a short scale bass, and removes a bit more weight. 2) Replaced bridge with a Hipshot. 3) D'Addario black nylon tapewounds. The bass balances pretty well now, no neck dive. The Hipshot bridge allows you to widen the spacing between strings a little bit. Not as much as I would have liked, as there's still space on the fretboard, but that little bit makes it a little nicer to play for my liking. It was nice to lose the original very thin roundwounds, the black nylons suit this bass very well. I had to widen the nut slots a tiny bit, a few minutes and a bit of care with a nut file and that was it. I kept the electronics original so far, as I want to wait until I get the new pickup... but simply putting on a set of tapes improved the sound significantly. Anyway, no soundclips but here are a couple of pictures. It'd look a bit better if the pickup cover were black but hey... Once the Artec arrives try it and if its a keeper then check if the Epiphone pickup cover fits it so that you have a spare if needed and if it does then maybe spray paint the Epiphone pickup cover, if it looks crap then you still have a spare cover anyway, if it looks good then great 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingdownslow Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) 12 hours ago, shoulderpet said: Once the Artec arrives try it and if its a keeper then check if the Epiphone pickup cover fits it so that you have a spare if needed and if it does then maybe spray paint the Epiphone pickup cover, if it looks crap then you still have a spare cover anyway, if it looks good then great Epi cover on an Artec pickup... Edit to add - the bar with the pole-pieces can easily be swapped over. I painted a spare Epi cover black for my Elitist EB3.... Edited February 12, 2022 by goingdownslow 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 I had some matt black vinyl that is suitable for wrapping... so I thought I'd have a go wrapping the pickup cover. It's not perfect, but it only took a few minutes and I learnt a few things in the process, so I'll do the same to the Artec and it'll look a bit better. But even my first attempt is passable (I think!) 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 Got a wee recording session later today (just a demo of a song we're writing) and I am going to use this bass for it. Even without a 'proper' mudbucker [*] this bass sounds pretty nice and deep with the nylon tapewounds. I don't love it at volume, but it doesn't sound bad while recording. It does a reasonable old school reggae noise. [*] This is what the stock pickup looks like. It's the right kind of design, just nowhere near as hotly wound as a proper mudbucker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 Artec pickup arrived! It has two bar magnets, I thought there were four? At least they seem to be mounted in the correct orientation. The stock pickup sounded alright on Sunday. We recorded a couple of demo tracks. It was not exactly the sound I expect from a 'mudbucker', but having never owned one I am not sure how far my expectations are from reality. It sounded nice. The nylon tapes really suit this bass. I'll give the Artec pickup a go at the weekend. After I vinyl wrap the cover too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 1 hour ago, mcnach said: Artec pickup arrived! It has two bar magnets, I thought there were four? At least they seem to be mounted in the correct orientation. The stock pickup sounded alright on Sunday. We recorded a couple of demo tracks. It was not exactly the sound I expect from a 'mudbucker', but having never owned one I am not sure how far my expectations are from reality. It sounded nice. The nylon tapes really suit this bass. I'll give the Artec pickup a go at the weekend. After I vinyl wrap the cover too. As long as they are able to magnetise the pole pieces it should not make any difference, the most important thing is the wind, I would test the dc resistance with a multimeter and as long as it is in the 30k range or close you should be all good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 Not happy. My multimeter had ran out of batteries, and I only just managed to get today the MN21 type it requires. I checked the pickup and it's 1.2 KOhm, not 29-30 as advertised. To cut the story short, I received exactly the same pickup it's already on the Epiphone: - slightly narrower polepiece spacing than the Artec should be, and identical to the stock one down to the marks on the magnets. - 2 magnets rather than 4 (it may not make much difference, but it's evidence of it not being the pickup advertised - 2 wires rather than 4 (I don't really care as I will only use series, but... again it looks like the stock pickup) - no sticker with the model number, which the Artecs have It's going back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 (edited) Following with interest. I was looking at acquiring an Epi EB3 and giving it the full Novak pickups/Gibson style electronics/bridge upgrades. When I added it all up it was a fair old amount of dosh so ended up looking out for a preloved Gibson SG and if it was one without the Babicz bridge (Gibson added these as std in 2015 for a short time) changing that when I found a preloved one. Bass sorted recently bridge on its way to me. This may be on interest to folks thinking about doing some or all of this. https://www.guitar-mod.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=65bac5aa40e44a979170c093070ec132&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RG_EB3 Edited February 23, 2022 by ead 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 23 hours ago, mcnach said: Not happy. My multimeter had ran out of batteries, and I only just managed to get today the MN21 type it requires. I checked the pickup and it's 1.2 KOhm, not 29-30 as advertised. To cut the story short, I received exactly the same pickup it's already on the Epiphone: - slightly narrower polepiece spacing than the Artec should be, and identical to the stock one down to the marks on the magnets. - 2 magnets rather than 4 (it may not make much difference, but it's evidence of it not being the pickup advertised - 2 wires rather than 4 (I don't really care as I will only use series, but... again it looks like the stock pickup) - no sticker with the model number, which the Artecs have It's going back. That's a real shame, sounds like they sent you the wrong pickup, from the above or doesn't sound at all like it is the Artec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 23 hours ago, mcnach said: Not happy. My multimeter had ran out of batteries, and I only just managed to get today the MN21 type it requires. I checked the pickup and it's 1.2 KOhm, not 29-30 as advertised. To cut the story short, I received exactly the same pickup it's already on the Epiphone: - slightly narrower polepiece spacing than the Artec should be, and identical to the stock one down to the marks on the magnets. - 2 magnets rather than 4 (it may not make much difference, but it's evidence of it not being the pickup advertised - 2 wires rather than 4 (I don't really care as I will only use series, but... again it looks like the stock pickup) - no sticker with the model number, which the Artecs have It's going back. That's a real shame, sounds like they sent you the wrong pickup, from the above or doesn't sound at all like it is the Artec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 23, 2022 Author Share Posted February 23, 2022 18 hours ago, shoulderpet said: That's a real shame, sounds like they sent you the wrong pickup, from the above or doesn't sound at all like it is the Artec It definitely isn't. Now that I've seen the stock pickup in my bass I can confirm it's the same pickup that they sent me. I guess the seller just bought a few to sell on and copied the description based on what he thought he had. He didn't contest, I just printed the return label and will be posted tomorrow. Meanwhile I ordered another Artec from a different place, but it's going to take 3-4 weeks. I have to say that since I put a set of nylon tapewounds it sounds a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 On 23/02/2022 at 16:44, mcnach said: It definitely isn't. Now that I've seen the stock pickup in my bass I can confirm it's the same pickup that they sent me. I guess the seller just bought a few to sell on and copied the description based on what he thought he had. He didn't contest, I just printed the return label and will be posted tomorrow. Meanwhile I ordered another Artec from a different place, but it's going to take 3-4 weeks. I have to say that since I put a set of nylon tapewounds it sounds a lot better. Its a good thing you had a multi-meter to test it with otherwise you might not have known, personally I was not a fan of the stock Epiphone EB0 pickup as the low dc resistance makes it sound kind of weak, I found that tapes and flats made it sound a tonne better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 On 25/02/2022 at 10:36, shoulderpet said: Its a good thing you had a multi-meter to test it with otherwise you might not have known, personally I was not a fan of the stock Epiphone EB0 pickup as the low dc resistance makes it sound kind of weak, I found that tapes and flats made it sound a tonne better Yeah, I would have been very confused "but, but... it sounds just like it did before!" The pickup I returned arrived with the seller on Saturday. Today I got a notification from eBay: it looks like the seller has re-advertised it, still advertised as 30 kOhm and showing pictures with 4 conductors etc, definitely not looking like the pickup I was sent :shrug: If you want an Artec mudbucker... probably best if you don't buy from 'eastensound2018' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted March 11, 2022 Author Share Posted March 11, 2022 I give up. New "Artec" pickup arrived from a different source (no Artec model labels or anything). It looks slightly different from the previous pickup, but it's still a 1.2 KOhm one. I won't try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 17 minutes ago, mcnach said: I give up. New "Artec" pickup arrived from a different source (no Artec model labels or anything). It looks slightly different from the previous pickup, but it's still a 1.2 KOhm one. I won't try again. OMG Again!!!! Man I am whizzed for you, I would try Retrovibe https://retrovibe.co.uk/product/artec-ebc4-cr-mudbucker-30k-for-eb3-eb0-project-bass-pickup/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted March 11, 2022 Author Share Posted March 11, 2022 13 minutes ago, shoulderpet said: OMG Again!!!! Man I am whizzed for you, I would try Retrovibe https://retrovibe.co.uk/product/artec-ebc4-cr-mudbucker-30k-for-eb3-eb0-project-bass-pickup/ I've gone off the idea, to be honest. Everybody seems to advertise something but then it isn't. I am considering an alternative evil plan, but no mudbuckers, the universe says no. :shrug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, mcnach said: I've gone off the idea, to be honest. Everybody seems to advertise something but then it isn't. I am considering an alternative evil plan, but no mudbuckers, the universe says no. :shrug: How much work are you considering putting into this? On the Gibson Les paul tribute short scale under the pickup cover they have wired 2 single coil P pickups (like the 51 p bass) together in series, might be a cool idea if you can find a couple of single coils that will fit under the pickup cover https://youtu.be/qkp0unbtYsE?t=550 Edited March 11, 2022 by shoulderpet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrycreed Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 @mcnach thread revival! Do you remember the model name of your tuners? I have an EB0 with a Retrovibe pickup and a brass nut. Thinking of getting a push pull installed or something, or possibly a diMarzio. It definitely needs new tuners to stop the neck dive. An extremely comfortable bass guitar to play. I prefer the bolt on neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitsto Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 (edited) So pleased to see EB0s and EB3s being talked about (though late to the party). I really like the Jack Bruce look but in my experience the modern versions seem quite seriously underpowered. I had a Gibson SG bass (one of their anniversary issue from a few years back). It was beautiful in matt brushed cherry. But I had to move it on because it had no power or oomph at all. OK, it's passive. So you could say that's an issue with the amplification. But I was so disappointed. In the end I bought an ESP Viper which has an EB style body twisted a smidgeon to give it a 'contemporary' feel. Now that has loads of clout. Edited June 11, 2023 by Kitsto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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