artisan Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 (edited) I have an Esh Various 4 which i was thinking of selling,mainly because I'm not keen on the electronics but have been thinking that as I may be better getting my bass modded as I love the rest of it to bits. I has 2 EMG active J pickups & a Schaller 2000 piezo bridge,both of which I am very happy with. the other controls are - volume,tone,pickup selector & Eshtronic control -(mag pup bypassing everything/mag pups only/mag & piezo/piezo only) I'm not to keen on this setup really so am thinking of having it altered to suit me better,what I would like is - volume/mag pickup blend/3 band active e'q' & a blend for the piezo's too. I would also like to be able to run just the piezo's as they give a lovely deep mellow tone when used alone. I know bugger all about bass electronics so have no idea what to use or who can do this for me plus I don't want any extra holes drilled in my beautiful woodwork. any suggestions guys ? here's a pick of my bass for reference- [url="http://s88.photobucket.com/user/artisan1967/media/P1000266_zpsb29df05f.jpg.html"][/url] Edited September 7, 2013 by artisan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Sorry I've been a little slow in responding. I've been thinking about it.. How about... Concentric magnetic volume/pan Concentric bass/treble Concentric mid/mid frequency sweep Piezo volume. 7 controls in 4 holes. No drilling required, and as versatile a set-up as I can conceive. It allows you to totally exclude the EMGs and just run the piezo, too. Possible catches? Does the piezo currently run through the pre-amp controls? A buffer circuit may be needed because of high impedance. Certainly not a job which is beyond a good luthier or competent tech. There may even be someone on here local to you that could help or even do it. Add for systems, check out EMG, Bartolini, East, and Audere for starters, depending upon what's already in the instrument. Cost (and it's a liberal guess) about £350 fitted. Maximum. You might get in much cheaper, but I reckon it'll be about £200 in parts and a couple of hours' labour. Hope that provides a starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 If I were you I would be emailing John East and seeing what custom lovelyness he could make for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 (edited) Keep us posted. As an Esh owner I'm interested to se how you get on. Note: I want your guitar Edited September 9, 2013 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1378690051' post='2203307'] Sorry I've been a little slow in responding. I've been thinking about it.. How about... Concentric magnetic volume/pan Concentric bass/treble Concentric mid/mid frequency sweep Piezo volume. 7 controls in 4 holes. No drilling required, and as versatile a set-up as I can conceive. It allows you to totally exclude the EMGs and just run the piezo, too. Possible catches? Does the piezo currently run through the pre-amp controls? A buffer circuit may be needed because of high impedance. Certainly not a job which is beyond a good luthier or competent tech. There may even be someone on here local to you that could help or even do it. Add for systems, check out EMG, Bartolini, East, and Audere for starters, depending upon what's already in the instrument. Cost (and it's a liberal guess) about £350 fitted. Maximum. You might get in much cheaper, but I reckon it'll be about £200 in parts and a couple of hours' labour. Hope that provides a starting point. [/quote] awesome reply,many thanks your suggested setup sounds just what i'm wanting & would make my bass perfect. the bass has a seperate piezo for each string,but i have no idea how they are wired up,i just play it & know nowt about electrics Jim Fleeting is not too far away from me so i'll give him a shout. many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 [quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1378708937' post='2203343'] Keep us posted. As an Esh owner I'm interested to se how you get on. Note: I want your guitar [/quote] pretty isn't it Just not keen on the controls,i find them very limiting,what possesed them to fit a pickup selector instead of a blend for instance. It has been up for sale for a while but as i really like the bass i though why not just alter it to suit me rather than sell it & buy something else. LukeFRC thans for suggesting John East i will contact him & see what he suggests cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 John East is the man for sure,i contacted him & he immediately came up with a perfect setup for my bass which i will be ordering shortly. Just need to decide who to get to fit it & my bass will sound just as good as it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Great glad you have found a solution. I'll PM you for more specific information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 well i've not ordered anything as yet as i'm having other thoughts now,do i mod this bass or sell it on & buy something else that mmmm,decisions decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) That's a tricky one that only you can decide. Are you sure you can't get used to the existing system? The tones as well as looks must have won you over in the first place so they must be in there. From memory I have only really use 2 of the Eshtronic settings and its then simple to find my way from there. There is nothing worse than fiddling around so I see exactly where your coming from Edited September 16, 2013 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 Well i had a play through my Fishman pro platinum preamp earlier tonight with both my Esh & my old passive Aria & decided that i am maybee a passive bass bloke. After much messing around i realised that i was basically trying to make my active Esh sound like a passive bass which is not going to happen,so i think its time to move the Esh on & get a passive bass instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRISDABASS Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Neil, i will happily install an east pre for you if you like? We use his preamps exclusively in our basses so you could give one of those a try to see if you like the sound? Just an idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRISDABASS Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Ahhh just read the above! Haha silly me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 [quote name='CHRISDABASS' timestamp='1379363637' post='2211878'] Ahhh just read the above! Haha silly me! [/quote] lol,hi Chris thanks for the offer,you never know with me i may stil do it but i will get over to see you when i can as i would love to have a look around & try one of your bssses they look really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1379363060' post='2211866'] Well i had a play through my Fishman pro platinum preamp earlier tonight with both my Esh & my old passive Aria & decided that i am maybee a passive bass bloke. After much messing around i realised that i was basically trying to make my active Esh sound like a passive bass which is not going to happen,so i think its time to move the Esh on & get a passive bass instead. [/quote] I was going to say it could be the pups more than the preamp. My warwick used to have active MEC pups (supposedly Warwick's copy of EMG) and I couldn't stand them. But if you love the passive tone you'll possibly not be happy till you get a passive bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Why don't you just get a pre-amp with a passive option? Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1379402544' post='2212114'] Why don't you just get a pre-amp with a passive option? Lol [/quote] the bass does according to the op s sale thread. - just the pups are active too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 Still in a quandry over this,i'm sat here playing the bass through my cube 30 practice amp & with a little amp control tweeking i have a really nice tone from it. Mmmmmm might still do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 of course because its a nice bass [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1379527254' post='2213769'] Still in a quandry over this,i'm sat here playing the bass through my cube 30 practice amp & with a little amp control tweeking i have a really nice tone from it. Mmmmmm might still do it [/quote] No surprise, its a quality instrument and a nice bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 [quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1379527532' post='2213776'] of course because its a nice bass No surprise, its a quality instrument and a nice bass. [/quote] why thank you I've just ordered my custom pre from John East which is getting fitted by Alpher instruments,cool can't wait to hear it. I'm really pleased my bass didn't sell as it is bloody lovely but quite what possessed Esh to fit their wierd preamp system is beyond me. But alas i will soon have a bass where the quality of the electrics matches the quality of the bass,just as it should have been all along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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