Changing internal preamp or pickups? Or both?

[fretmeister]

I have a lovely Marleaux Consat Custom. It has a balanced modern sound that really suits jazz and other mellower styles. The output is quite modest, albeit very well balanced.

I'd like some more clank to get a more aggressive rocky tone. I am aware that even the "neck" pickup is quite far back and that might limit things.



It currently has some Delano pickups (don't know the model) and a Glockenklang 3 band EQ

I am undecided whether I need to just change the pickups or preamp or both.

Ideally any new pickups should be the same size so I can put it back to stock if needed. I'm quite open minded about brands. I like EMG, I like the Nordstand's I've heard. I'm happy to keep the pickups and change the preamp for a Darkglass Tone Capsule or an East or whatever of some description too.

Any advice would be welcome as the options are melting my brain.

[LukeFRC]

Warwick tend to put the pickups in similar positions and they don't have a reputation for being too 'jazz' - I've used that preamp too and it's very clean it doesn't add much tonally.
Stick a more coloured preamp in there and you can add that colour to the existing pickups is where I would start.

Actually new steel strings and raising the pickups as close to the strings as I can would probably help too

[Treb]

If the Glockenklang preamp is anything like their bass amps (like a wire with gain) it may be lacking grit and grunt. Can you run the bass passive into an outboard preamp of some sorts?

[chris_b]

I'd get an outboard pre amp, then you've got both options.

[fretmeister]

I don't want an outboard as my pedal board is too heavy as it is.

I might try the Darkglass and keep the pickups at the moment. The Delano size and shape appear to be unique to them and I want to avoid routing if I can.