Westone Thunder 1-A 1985

[Tarnell Custom]

Hi all

I am currently rebuilding a westone thunder 1-A that has been altered from being a passive/active to just a simple passive 

 

I need to fit the precision pickups but need  a set that will match the original to allow the bass to run as passive/active 

 

So my question is what are the best replacements pickups that will work

 

The black version is the poor paint job the previous owner had subjected the bass to, and now how it looks stripped and treated 

 

Thanks in advance 

Gaz

[dannybuoy]

Any Precision pickup will do, including the stock one!

[Tarnell Custom]

Thanks Dannybouy 

I didnt think standard precision pickups were able to be used with in an active circuit! 

Will give it a go though 

Thanks for the response 

[dannybuoy]

Any passive pickup can be paired with an active preamp. It's not much different to plugging a passive bass into an EQ pedal really. There are active pickups which are a bit different, but they are pretty rare.

[Bassassin]

The Thunder  came in passive & active versions & both basses used the same pickup - the spec refers to it as an HF600B. A lot of the pickups in older MIJ guitars were made by Maxon or Gotoh.

http://www.westone.info/cats/82/12.html

[Bassalarky]

I have fond memories of gigging with a fretless version in the 80's. Good luck with the refurb!

[rmorris]

On 3/25/2018 at 13:14, dannybuoy said:

Any passive pickup can be paired with an active preamp. It's not much different to plugging a passive bass into an EQ pedal really. There are active pickups which are a bit different, but they are pretty rare.

+1

All that's being done really is putting a buffer / preamp inside the bass and not on the end of a cable.

The pickup remains a 'standard Hi-Z' pickup.

There are some lower Z pickups which benefit from a preamp and pots designed for them (lower Z typically means lower output but lower noise) eg 'proper' EMGs.

But the Thunders have standard type pickups.