After market preamp???

**RaginRog** · 09-05-2009, 09:33 PM

So I was surfin' the net and noticed an auction on ebay with someone selling an SR HH 4 that had a John East BTB MMSR 3 band preamp, with a sweepable mid knob.

Anyone ever heard of these? Does BP know they are being made? What do you guys think of 'em? I don't see what they could possibly add to the sound of my SRs? They claim to make your SR sound more like a vintage SR.

My apologies if this is something I shouldn't have posted on the site, but was curious as to what some of the EB MM faithful had to say.

-Rog

**bovinehost** · 09-05-2009, 10:01 PM

I have nothing but respect for John East.

They claim to make your SR sound more like a vintage SR.

My Stingrays do sound like Stingrays. I realize there's a cult thing going (and some of you are here, I see you waving at me) with "vintage" being ever so fashionable and desirable. I think that's fine. If you believe it sounds better, then it does. Let's not argue about that, thanks so very much in advance.

But a good (passive) Jazz bass, built in a factory somewhere in Mexico or California or wherever....sounds like a good passive Jazz bass that was mysteriously assembled by elves with magic powers in 1964. (Not 1965, of course. We all know the process lost its magic in 1965.)

And guess what? A good Stingray - whether it was built in 1977 or 1997, well, it sounds like a good Stingray, doesn't it? Sure, sure, I know (I see you waving at me, I see you), the older ones have some kind of magic crap baked into them somehow....ahem. I have a two-band active SUB that sounds just as good (if not better) than any of the pre-EB Stingrays I've owned, and I've owned a 'few', as they say.

John East will undoubtedly sell a few of these preamps to people who firmly believe that vintage is somehow better. Good for him, I say - good for him.

Against my better judgment, I'll leave this open unless or until BP comes along and has a problem with it. It's happened before.

Personally, I don't know why you'd buy an instrument and think "Well, if I just yank all the noise-making/noise-processing bits out and replace it with NEW STUFF THAT PROMISES TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE OLD STUFF, it will be an excellent bass!" But apparently, this sort of thing happens.

Choice is good, as BP says. But you can make bad choices, too.

Jack

**scottbass71** · 09-05-2009, 11:04 PM

But a good (passive) Jazz bass, built in a factory somewhere in Mexico or California or wherever....sounds like a good passive Jazz bass that was mysteriously assembled by elves with magic powers in 1964. (Not 1965, of course. We all know the process lost its magic in 1965.)

Yeah I heard the basses made before 1965 where made with wood from leos actual house and the pickups where wax potted in leos earwax.

I am with you on the 'vintage smintage' market jack, but in saying that my 77 ray keeps going up in value so I now take back those comments!!!!

**Aussie Mark** · 09-06-2009, 12:37 AM

My Buttercream SR4 has one of those East preamps, installed by the previous owner, who was silly enough to let the shop who did the install keep the original preamp. It sounds good, but no better or worse than the standard SR4 preamp. I don't think the East preamp sounds more like the two pre-EB SR4s I've owned than the current 3 band SR4s. The different is negligible to my old ears.

**Big Poppa** · 09-06-2009, 06:17 AM

voodoo schmoodoo doo doo

I m sure these are fine....I thinkn its funny that people designing basic circuitry and boutique pickup makers create a voodoo around what they do... its electronics 101 maybe 102.....Nasa guys are electronic geniuses...some wire some bobbins and some magnets and the pick up guy becomes a tonal guru with magic powers....

**scottbass71** · 09-06-2009, 07:40 PM

As person who has repaired a few pickups in the last few years I think BP has nailed it on the head with his description, but don't forget the few other gem words
Vintage
NOS (new old stock)

I am surprised when musicians find out I repair/ can make pick ups, that they want me to make pickups that will make them sound like their favourite player (and of coarse the player still don't sound like their hero) - instead of spending $300- on pick ups spend the money on lessons ( I always think that but I never say it can't afford to lose a customer)

**shakinbacon** · 09-06-2009, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Big Poppa

voodoo schmoodoo doo doo

I m sure these are fine....I thinkn its funny that people designing basic circuitry and boutique pickup makers create a voodoo around what they do... its electronics 101 maybe 102.....Nasa guys are electronic geniuses...some wire some bobbins and some magnets and the pick up guy becomes a tonal guru with magic powers....

semi diety alert!

<Captain Kirk voice> Can't... resist... the... urge... to... question. May... get... flamed...

This begs the question, why doesn't Musicman sell pickups and preamps?

**bovinehost** · 09-06-2009, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by shakinbacon

This begs the question, why doesn't Musicman sell pickups and preamps?

If you want a Fender-esque thing, go buy a body from Warmoth, a neck from Mighty Mite, a bridge from Leo Quan, some pickups from Duncan, a pickguard from Pickguardian and - so on.

If you want a Music Man, guess what?

**scottbass71** · 09-06-2009, 08:58 PM

some pickups from Duncan

or pickups from scottbass71!!!!

**Big Poppa** · 09-06-2009, 09:04 PM

that scottbass is a monster guru

**scottbass71** · 09-06-2009, 09:07 PM

Thanks pops the cheque and berocca are in the mail!!!

Also I use vintage magnet wire that came from thomas edisons design lab in my pickups

**RaginRog** · 09-07-2009, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by bovinehost

I have nothing but respect for John East.

My Stingrays do sound like Stingrays. I realize there's a cult thing going (and some of you are here, I see you waving at me) with "vintage" being ever so fashionable and desirable. I think that's fine. If you believe it sounds better, then it does. Let's not argue about that, thanks so very much in advance.

But a good (passive) Jazz bass, built in a factory somewhere in Mexico or California or wherever....sounds like a good passive Jazz bass that was mysteriously assembled by elves with magic powers in 1964. (Not 1965, of course. We all know the process lost its magic in 1965.)

And guess what? A good Stingray - whether it was built in 1977 or 1997, well, it sounds like a good Stingray, doesn't it? Sure, sure, I know (I see you waving at me, I see you), the older ones have some kind of magic crap baked into them somehow....ahem. I have a two-band active SUB that sounds just as good (if not better) than any of the pre-EB Stingrays I've owned, and I've owned a 'few', as they say.

John East will undoubtedly sell a few of these preamps to people who firmly believe that vintage is somehow better. Good for him, I say - good for him.

Against my better judgment, I'll leave this open unless or until BP comes along and has a problem with it. It's happened before.

Personally, I don't know why you'd buy an instrument and think "Well, if I just yank all the noise-making/noise-processing bits out and replace it with NEW STUFF THAT PROMISES TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE OLD STUFF, it will be an excellent bass!" But apparently, this sort of thing happens.

Choice is good, as BP says. But you can make bad choices, too.

Jack

Thanks Jack.

I wasn't and still am not interested in changing my preamp, I was interested as I happen to be a bit of a gear-head. The seemed nice, but don't seem to do much to justify spending $230. If I happened to own a SUB bass, I would consider one of his preamps because I prefer 3 band EQs and most SUBs have 2 band eqs.

-Rog

**RaginRog** · 09-07-2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Aussie Mark

My Buttercream SR4 has one of those East preamps, installed by the previous owner, who was silly enough to let the shop who did the install keep the original preamp. It sounds good, but no better or worse than the standard SR4 preamp. I don't think the East preamp sounds more like the two pre-EB SR4s I've owned than the current 3 band SR4s. The different is negligible to my old ears.

It's one of those things some Gear Heads do- they must have the newest contraptions available. It's like computer junkie's who buy the fastest computer chip every 6 months, instead of leaving their computer alone.

Car aficionados are the same way; always buying contraptions to give them an extra 5-10 HP....like they're going to be able to drive 150 MPH on the beltway! lol

**RaginRog** · 09-07-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Big Poppa

voodoo schmoodoo doo doo

I m sure these are fine....I thinkn its funny that people designing basic circuitry and boutique pickup makers create a voodoo around what they do... its electronics 101 maybe 102.....Nasa guys are electronic geniuses...some wire some bobbins and some magnets and the pick up guy becomes a tonal guru with magic powers....

Thanks BP!
I wasn't trying to rock the boat- an honest curiosity was all it was.

This is what I wrote to Aussie Mark....it just goes with what you were saying:

It's one of those things some Gear Heads do- they must have the newest contraptions available. It's like computer junkie's who buy the fastest computer chip every 6 months, instead of leaving their computer alone.

Car aficionados are the same way; always buying contraptions to give them an extra 5-10 HP....like they're going to be able to drive 150 MPH on the beltway! lol