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best pick up configuration and pre-amp for fretless?


zawinul
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Ok experts im looking to order a custom bass. Looking for advice please.

I want a.fretless that is punchy, trebely, not dull woody and sounding like an upright.

What kind of pickups should I get? Single coil or dual coil?

I want active so which pickups and pre-amps for aggressive punch?

Cheers

Z

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Could you stretch to a Wal?

Can't beat the fretless tone IMO... Open, rich and clear whilst still retaining a thunderous low end.

Some great examples in the used market. Fretless models tend to be a touch cheaper and unless your after a specific wood top it will be identical to one you would order.

If you are anywhere near London you are welcome to pop round and try mine :)

Edited by CamdenRob
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Hi Camden Rob I used to have a Wal, back in the day sold it for peanuts. Facepalm.

no cant stretch to what they cost now!!

I've been recommended acg by a lot of people!

It's really trying to get the right pickups for a glassy raspy sound, hard to achieve on fretless but I will get there!!

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[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1441179779' post='2856610']
Hi Camden Rob I used to have a Wal, back in the day sold it for peanuts. Facepalm.
[/quote]

I think a lot of people did that... Someone on here (I forget who) had an original JG with the leather scratchplate and sold it... It's difficult to pridict what will happen. I've sold a few fenders for peanuts that I may well be regretting in twenty years time :blink:

[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1441179779' post='2856610']
I've been recommended acg by a lot of people!
[/quote]

I've not owned an ACG, but I did have the pleasure of trying a couple at the London Bass show a couple of years back. I also follow the build thread on here with interest. Alan puts out some cracking looking instruments with an impressive spec (lots of in house made parts as opposed to other manufacturers pickups, pre amps etc.) I reckon a passive fretless with one of his multicoil pickups near the bridge would be quite something....

Edited by CamdenRob
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[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1441173395' post='2856568']
Ok experts im looking to order a custom bass. Looking for advice please.

I want a.fretless that is punchy, trebely, not dull woody and sounding like an upright.

What kind of pickups should I get? Single coil or dual coil?

I want active so which pickups and pre-amps for aggressive punch?

Cheers

Z
[/quote]

ACG, Wal or if you are feeling radical Lightwave.

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[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1441745821' post='2861507']
Wow would love to, I fear you live far away from me in Bournemouth!!
[/quote]

That's a shame.

Well FWIW I would suggest that if you do go down the ACG path take a good look at the filter pre amp. It does take longer to get you hear around but the experimentation is worth it; they seem to really click with fretless basses.

As for pickups, I have one with two of the FB humbuckers and another with SB single coils. I thnk it's really more about personal preference, but I think the FBs are cool and can sound a lot like single coils so the best of both worlds.

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1441751713' post='2861563']
You can always put coil taps on humbuckers.
[/quote]
Indeed, good point. ACG have some mighty fine RFB p/ups that with a suitable switch can give you series/parallel/single coil so a gazillion options.

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