[sami]

I recently bought a Brice 5 string (Alder w/fm top). I'm finding this bass to be pretty weak so I'm thinking of getting new pickups next.. They're active too and fresh battery doesn't make a difference.

So I first scoured musiciansfriend, some local store sites and googling. There doesn't seem to be many options for a 5 string bassist, or am I not finding the right place yet?

 

[Josh]

What are the dimensions of the pickups? Do they match the EMG 5-string soapbars?

The EMG-HZ passive soapbars and basic EMG 2-band EQ in my Schecter C-4 Elite sound absolutely fantastic for all styles of music.

Bartolinis are a little warmer, but you can get them in a similar form factor, and Duncan Basslines makes 5-string soapbars IIRC, as well as Blackout bass pickups.

My personal vote would be for the EMG-HZs with a 2-band EQ (the bass HZs rock, surprisingly.)

 

[Stitch]

Well, first of all, have you adjusted pickup heights? That may be a super-duper cheap fix

 

[eleven59]

EMG, Seymour Duncan, Bartolini, Nordstrand, all get great reviews, and there's a few others that are slipping my mind right now.

Some you may have to route for, though, as there's really no "standard" for bass pickups once you get above 4-strings.

 

[Josh]

Good point Stitch!

What is "weak" about it? Not enough bass? Lacking punch? Lacking mid "cut"? If the EQ and pickups are at all decent, you should be able to get a workable tone out of them by playing with pickup position and the EQ.

 

[eleven59]

I know my Douglas sounded "ok", but not great, but definitely sounded better with the pickups raised a bit. But still not great. But try the pickup height first, for sure :yesway:

 

[sami]

They're soapbar 4"x1.5"

For some reason I thought that bass pups weren't adjustable.... :tomato:

I'll see if these are because that would definitely make a helluva difference.

But yeah, I looked up EMG, SD, and Bartolini and they have soapbars, but it's only one. My bass has two soapbars so I'm looking for a matched set.

 

[Josh]

Most bass pickup tonality differences come from the pickup's position along the strings rather than different windings, although EMG does make a few different active 5-string soapbars. There was a P and J active pair in soapbar casings in my Schecter Cali Custom 5.

 

[Jason]

Are you using the stock strings? Try elixirs first.

 

[eleven59]

Are you using the stock strings? Try elixirs first.

Yeah, if it's the strings Rondo ships them with, they're flat-out terrible :lol: Elixers are great (though pricey), as are most of the stainless steel types (D'addario Pro Steels, SIT Power Steels, etc.) for a nice punchy tone.

 

[Xan]

Q-tuners. :shrug:

 

[F1Filter]

If you're looking for punchy bass. Look at SD' Blackouts for bass. They make a 5 string version that I guess is their answer to EMG's 40DC. Which has been the active standard for quite some time. I tried one out recently and was very impressed. Although I wish I could've spent more time with it.

Or, if you want a passive soapbar, SD does now offer the pickup that were exclusively available on Fedora basses. They're called the "Phase II NYC Soapbar". AWESOME pickup.

Drop in their STC-2 circuit, especially if you're going with their NYC's. And that bass will be able to pillage small villages.

 

[sami]

Are you using the stock strings? Try elixirs first.

Naw, they've got Ken Smith strings currently.

They make bass blackouts? Weird! lol. Yeah, I'd like to stick with actives since I switch tunings and my other one is a strong active.

 

[Blankplank]

Wirelessly posted (Thy Brick of House: Opera/9.80 (S60; SymbOS; Opera Mobi/448; U; en-GB) Presto/2.4.18 Version/10.00)

I have exactly the same problem with my Dean Sledgehammer 5 string

 

[sami]

So I adjusted the pickups on it. I'm not sure if I need to put a stronger spring under them or if these are not supposed to be adjustable on this bass, but it sure made a helluva difference! Didn't think that was needed for an active bass.