I think this only applies to Kilian and Machines but...

[lemoley]

...are your guys BB's pickups really powerful?

Just that when I play my Fender Jazz with Dimarzios its much quieter than my Yammy :confused:

Anyone else can answer obviously but its just I only think these guys might know what I'm talking about.

Cheers, Mike

[edgebass5]

First off: Different pickups have different output voltages. My Jazz bass equipped with DiMarzio Model J's is supposed to have between 150 and 250mV (milivolts), but when I metered the output it was actually ranging between 300mv and on one massive transient spike it just barely cleared 400mV!!!! :amaze: Play a G&L L-2000 and you can come close to 500mV at times.

The other thing to consider: Are both basses active? Is one passive and the other active?

[lemoley]

Both basses are pasive...

But what you said about different outputs could be true, it just annoys me that i paid 100GBP for my Dimarzios and there still quiter than my stock pups on the yammy

[edgebass5]

Pickup output varies drastically across the board. Just because something has a very hot output voltage doesn't mean its any better than another pickup. You have to adjust your input gain a little bit.... no big deal. That's why the knob's there in the first place ;)

EDIT: Just for reference, even though my DiMarzio equipped Jazz bass is so hot, I have to run the input gain on my Avalon U5 at 5-6 for it, but only 3-4 for my 83 Peavey Foundation with the original pickups.

[lemoley]

Yeah I guess your right, thanks man.

:thumb:

[Machines]

It's general consensus that the BB414 has a high output for a passive bass. You just have to read reviews such as these at harmony central - http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Yamaha/BB414/10/1 .

That said - even the active one is pretty loud, but i'd say its more to do with the preamp that the pickups in this case. At the same amp settings the BB will be 'louder' than my RBX (which I thought was powerful as it is !).

[kilian]

And besides.. what kind of strings are you using?

[Jaded]

Dude, I know you think strings make a big difference, but they don't. Especially not with volume.

[kilian]

They don't?

I'm sorry to say, but I bet you've never played two sets at the same venue on the same night and switched strings in between the sets? I switched from D'Addario's to DR's and that was quite a big change in tone and volume.

[Jaded]

BS. Unless you are talking Nickle versus Stainless steel or some other kind of wind, I seriously doubt there will be a noticeable difference in volume.

Are we talking different gauges?

[edgebass5]

BS. Unless you are talking Nickle versus Stainless steel or some other kind of wind, I seriously doubt there will be a noticeable difference in volume.

Are we talking different gauges?

I've done a direct A/B comparison on the same bass within the span of an hour between a set of D'Addario XL's (100-80-65-45) and a set of DR Hi-Beams (100-80-65-45). Keep in mind these are both nickel wrapped steel strings, in the same gage, and they both have a round core. Just about as "apples to apples" as you can get.

The result? The DR strings were noticeably louder on the same amp/bass settings than the D'Addario, although not as bright.

Strings make a HUGE difference. Play a set of rounds, then put on a set of flats and tell me the volume is the same. I realize they're very different string types, but to be fair, they're both strings.

[Jaded]

Fine fine whatever

Oh, and I'm not stupid. I know flats are not going to be as loud as rounds.

[edgebass5]

Oh, and I'm not stupid. I know flats are not going to be as loud as rounds.

I didn't mean to imply that you were stupid at all. If I did I apologize. :chug:

[kilian]

Neither did I :smoke:

[lemoley]

I have put some Warwick Reds on it, if anyone still cares