Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

[brass_screen]

Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my cheapo OLP Stingray bass with a Seymour Duncan SMB-4a Alnico pickup. I know the "real" MusicMan basses have an active preamp, but my copy is completely passive and doesn't have any preamp.

Will the SMB-4a Alnico MusicMan pickup work correctly if installed in with passive electronics? I think I prefer the sound of a passive bass pickup anyhow, and I don't want to put too much money into this bass (I'm mostly a guitar player--I only play bass on my home recordings.)

Thanks for any advice! :smoker:

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

Hey Brass Screen. Thanks for the post.

Yes, you can use the passive SMB-4a pickup with passive electronics. No problem.

Keep this in mind -- the original StingRay pickups were wired in parallel. That's going to give you the old school sound. But if you want a loud-a$$ rock 'n roll sound, wire it in parallel.

Either way, it'll be a great upgrade to your OLP.

 

[Artie]

Re: Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

. . . the original StingRay pickups were wired in parallel.

But if you want a loud-a$$ rock 'n roll sound, wire it in parallel.

Heh - I assume one of these should be "series".

 

[jeremy]

Re: Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

yeah evan meant series on the second part ( loud a$$ rock and roll baby!! )

i put a 5 string alnico pup in my olp with no preamp and its great, huge improvement. i also put a series/split /parallel switch in for extra versitility. the 4 string pup is killer!!! ive used it in some basses ive made.

 

[brass_screen]

Re: Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

Hey guys,

Wasn't able to get to a computer yesterday.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

yeah evan meant series on the second part ( loud a$$ rock and roll baby!! )

i put a 5 string alnico pup in my olp with no preamp and its great, huge improvement. i also put a series/split /parallel switch in for extra versitility. the 4 string pup is killer!!! ive used it in some basses ive made.

Something to consider also, you , brass screen, or whoever may be interested may want to cruise over to G&L's site, and look up the schematic for the L-5000 bass(I think that's the number) it's the one with the active stuff, and what you mentioned above. They do some intersting things to the tone witha an extra capacitor or two in the series mode, as well as there bass cut control.

 

[kswart]

Re: Can the SMB-4a MusicMan bass pup be installed without an active preamp?

Hey Brass Screen. Thanks for the post.

Yes, you can use the passive SMB-4a pickup with passive electronics. No problem.

Keep this in mind -- the original StingRay pickups were wired in parallel. That's going to give you the old school sound. But if you want a loud-a$$ rock 'n roll sound, wire it in parallel.

Either way, it'll be a great upgrade to your OLP.

Evan, yesterday i replaced my old pickup for the SMB-4a on my pasive OLP.
after i cut the 2 wires of the old pickup (each gray wire contains a blank wire wraped around a white one) I connected red and black (pickup) to the 2 whites (olp) and the green, white, and blank (pickup) to the 2 blanks (olp).
Is this the correct way to have a parallel wiring? I also tried the series-schama this way but didn't hear much difference.
The sound is btw very good!