The Fender Bass VI BBS

sjones · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Seattle, WA

I've thought for a few years about improving the pick up performance of my '71 Bass VI without installing replacement pick ups. Are there any tips or tricks to increase the output of single coil pick ups?

Ankhanu · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Atlantic Canada

About the only thing you can do is raise the pickup closer to the strings (without letting the strings hit them when they're played), or run into a preamp to boost the signal going into your amp.

sjones · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Seattle, WA

The pick ups are pretty close to the strings (see the picture in the
left hand top corner of the screen). I like the idea of the pre-amp, though that would amplify noise as well.

Ankhanu · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Atlantic Canada

True. Perhaps a boost pedal with a noisegate? That would inherently change tone though... but perhaps not too much.

Ankhanu · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Atlantic Canada

Could try a boost pedal like the Earthquaker Black Eye... though again it won't do anything to reduce noise.

sjones · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Seattle, WA

I think that it is a more fundamental problem with my bass VI that needs to
be addressed before I even consider running it through a preamp or
compressor. 10 years ago I replaced the dried out foam with springs
which allowed for much better adjustment, but that never got me the
volume that even something like my '66 Mustang bass has. Its not
incredibly weak, but it is weak enough that I have to turn up any amp
I run it into significantly higher than my other guitars.

offyourface · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:40 am Post subject:

that's weird... is your strangle switch working right? maybe it's stuck in bass cut mode?

sjones · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Seattle, WA

It could very well be. A tech has suggested that I replace the
two capacitors with .022 orange drops and consider buying two Seymour
Duncan 'quarter pounders' for the Jaguar which can fit in the original
pickup assembly. I'll let you guys know how it goes. I'm not going to
do anything that won't be fully reversible.

Does anyone know how the ceramic capacitor works in the switch box?
While I have a strangle and a non-strangle mode, I wonder if its possible
that the capacitor is the issue.

sjones · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Seattle, WA

Okay, I think I've got something that helps quite a bit. I've replaced both
ceramic capacitors with .022 orange drops. That took down the brightness
quite a bit and seemed to give a warmer tone. It did not increase the
gain/volume in anyway, but I didn't expect that.

On recommendation I bought a Hartke pre-amp which really helps to boost
the signal and shape the tone.

I think I'm happy now without replacing the original pickups.