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Delano or Nordstrand for a Warwick Streamer LX5


Catalin
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Hello people

I need your help please. I have a Warwick Streamer LX5 and i want to change the pickups because i find they sound a little cold and sterile.
I play metal with a pick and I want the new pickups to sound more vintage (not modern hi-fi) with alot of lo-mid and hi-mids and not so much treble and bass.
I want to buy :
- Delano JMVC 5 FE
[url="http://www.delano.de/products.html?&..._smtdelano_pi1"]http://www.delano.de/products.html?&..._smtdelano_pi1[/url][cat]=1&tx_smtdelano_pi1[series]=5&tx_smtdelano_pi1[strings]=6&tx_smtdelano_pi1[system]=39
or
- Nordstrand NJ5S
[url="http://www.nordstrandpickups.com/bas...aditional.html"]http://www.nordstrandpickups.com/bas...aditional.html[/url]
Which one you recommend me?
I think mabe single coils will cut-through better but i'm afraid of hum - i have an all tube amp Trace elliot V-Type
If you have other ideeas please tell me
Thank you !

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2 quick questions / assumptions;

* Your LX5 has 2 Jazz-style pick-ups. Aren't they single coils? Are you suffering from noise issues at the moment?
* It currently has MEC pick-ups AND electrics

I own an LX6, and due to the fact that (in 1997) there weren't any Js long enough to cover 6 strings-worth of spacing, it came with Seymour Duncan Soapbars as standard, yet retained the MEC 2 band EQ. It sounds better than MEC equipped LXs as a result, but it's only half way there..
My main complaint would be the lack of obvious headroom in the EQ. As a secondary issue, I don't like the EQ frequency set points much either.

If your LX5 is Maple bodied (weren't they all?) and Wenge necked, there's a killer tone in there somewhere, believe me!

My 2pence;

Yes, change the pick-ups. I love the aesthetic of the JMCV 5FE, but don't rule out the single coil JC 5AL.
(The Nordy link won't work)
Do have a look at EMG, Bartolini and DiMarzio. Older High-spec Warwicks came with Barts and EMGs in the past.
EMGs may be a bit sterile, though.

However, I'd be inclined to ditch the MEC EQ. They just sound too "squashed" in some applications.
Warwicks have plenty of space in the control cavity for EQ upgrades.
Maybe get a 3-band EQ with a sweepable mid frequency. Even better if you can get something with trim pots to adjust the Bass and Treble frequencies as well...
Check out Aguilar, East, Sadowsky, Duncan, Bartolini and so on. See what options are available.
MECs aren't all bad. The ones in my Infinity work really well with that bass and Elixir strings. There's some real synergy going on there.
But string choice is another matter altogether. Have you tried Warwick Yellow Labels? They're Nickels and less Hifi sounding than Blacks or EMPs.

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Hi Lfalex ! Tnks for your reply. I will answer to you questions:
1. Yes i have 2 MEC jazz pickups but they are active and i think they are a split coil hum cancelling design not a single coil.
2. I play with the EQ by-passed.
Here is the link to Nordstrand
[url="http://www.nordstrandpickups.com/bass-pickups/traditional/traditional.html"]http://www.nordstrandpickups.com/bass-pick...raditional.html[/url]

Edited by Catalin
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Thanks for the extra information!

It does look like a choice between the Nordstrand NJ5S and Delano JMCV 5FE if the darker hum-cancelling sound is what you want.
Do you think you will ever use the active EQ?
If the pick-ups are powerful enough, you could convert it to a passive instrument, and use the 4 holes for;

Volume
Blend
Neck tone (passive)
Bridge tone (passive)

That might be good, and not so expensive!

If not, you could consider replacing the EQ...

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If it's not being disloyal, you could have a look at the Warwick forum

[url="http://www.warwick.de/forum"]Warwick Forum[/url]

The Bartolinis certainly get a big "thumbs up" as passive pickups for Warwick basses, but I know what you mean about the Delanos - I'm gassing for a set for my Corvette. :brow:

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