leftyhook Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) I really like my cheap Warwick rockbass freltess. nice feel and lovely tone.......... but.. a bit.... quite Are the EMC pick ups inferior compared to those fitted on more expensive Warwicks (duh!) ? Should I look at changing them? Or is a preamp a good option? Perhaps a pedal booster? I need to swap between my active Wal to the passive Warwick. Suggestions? Edited January 30, 2013 by leftyhook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 [quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1359581730' post='1957126'] I really like my cheap Warwick rockbass freltess. nice feel and lovely tone.......... but.. a bit.... quite Suggestions? [/quote] ditto, I am wondering what to do with my Rockbass streamer, great tone, light, well put together, plays well... lacks volume (compared to G&L and Kramer) Suggestions please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 if you like the sound, I wouldn't change the pickups. You can add the outboard preamp, or even a pedal like Boss Bass EQ for example, to gain some volume. What model is it? The pickups should be the same as in German Warwicks, although the soapbars from the cheapest Rockbass Streamers weren't used in Warwicks too often... If they are the P and/or J pickups, silver logo indicates the passive "Dynamic Correction" pickups. Gold logo is on the active pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 If it's a Rockbass Streamer, then the pickups are not the same as those used in the "proper" Warwicks (except the Streamer Standards that are identical to the RBs, but produced in Germany for about one year only, as a forerunner to the RB brand). And, as far as I know, there are no replacement pickups with the same footprint. So an offboard solution is really the only way forward, without major woodwork. But a simple boost pedal ought to sort out the volume if that's the only issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Warwick Streamer Standard wasn't entirely identical - it had the typical German Warwicks' ovangkol neck with wenge fretboard and bell brass frets. But that's not the point here... There are some Bartolinis that use the same footprint and can be used as an replacement. I don't know which model exactly, but I'm positive I recollect at least a couple of people doing that operation at Warwick forums. Mind you, it's not the output that was the issue with them, it was the tone - they wanted something brighter and more biting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) Similar problem here with RB Corvette 5 fretless with lovely, bright D'Addario Chromes. I now use a compressor, which for my home-practice-only work (I don't gig) sounds fine both in headphones and on my practice amp. I have two other Rockbasses with active pickups, and they don't need a compressor, although they still sound good if I do use one with them. Edited January 31, 2013 by bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) If you like how it sounds, then don't change the bass. Just get an A/B box or something that has adjustable levels and set it up for your two basses. Or just turn the amp up when you change bass! Seriously, if you like the sound don't faff about with new pickups or preamps or any of that stuff. You don't need to. Something like this might work: [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/radial-engineering-bigshot-i-o-selector-switch"]http://www.musicians...selector-switch[/url] or http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/morley-twin-mix-aby-switcher-splitter-combiner Edited January 31, 2013 by uncle psychosis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 my 5 string R/B Streamer has the MEC `Vintage Humbucker` pups and ive never had any problem with output, its been my main recording bass for the last year and the engineer we use has always been very complimentary on the sound quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 yes I think an A/Bswitch could be the simple answer. [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1359631985' post='1957795'] If you like how it sounds, then don't change the bass. Just get an A/B box or something that has adjustable levels and set it up for your two basses. Or just turn the amp up when you change bass! Seriously, if you like the sound don't faff about with new pickups or preamps or any of that stuff. You don't need to. Something like this might work: [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/radial-engineering-bigshot-i-o-selector-switch"]http://www.musicians...selector-switch[/url] or [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/morley-twin-mix-aby-switcher-splitter-combiner"]http://www.musicians...litter-combiner[/url] [/quote] Wise words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Adjust the pickups a little bit closer to the strings and crank the amp pre-gain a notch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 can't get the pups any nearer the strings. Already nearly touching. I have found a graphic pedal using the volume does the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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