The Hobbit brought me back...

[Basvarken]

But can it clear up a mudbucker?

No, but fortunately a Les Paul Bass does not have a Mudbucker.

[ilan]

I wasn't really asking about the Hobbit, but you already knew that...

I'm thinking about putting the mudbucker back in my EB-0L and rewiring the tone control to a high pass filter. 

[patman]

Re:Passive tone controls...every bass I have ever played in my 55 or so years of playing has been played with the passive tone controls wide open. It's always been a struggle to get more mids and highs.

Never have grasped the need for less punch or clarity.

[Basvarken]

Re:Passive tone controls...every bass I have ever played in my 55 or so years of playing has been played with the passive tone controls wide open. It's always been a struggle to get more mids and highs.

Never have grasped the need for less punch or clarity.

Have you ever tried a no-load pot? Certainly helps to get the maximum clarity. It basically just bypasses the entire pot when it's dialed to full open.

[patman]

I will check into this...I always assumed with the volume and tone wide open, that they were essentially bypassed...

[hieronymous]

Sounds great my friend! I'm really impressed by this bass.

https://www.trickfishamps.com/shop/signal-filter/

Never heard of this one before. Can it clean up a mudbucker?

Hey Ilan, I might be able to experiment with an EB-O - a guitarist I have worked with before has one, we are going to play tomorrow night, I might be able to borrow his. Will get back to you, it might be a fun video to make.

[gearHed289]

Mudbucker - A high pass filter is a good idea IMO. There are some filter pedals out there, so you don't have to mod the bass.

Passive tone - I've always kept mine rolled off 2 or 3 notches and adjusted the signal path accordingly. This way, if my strings start going dead or I'm having trouble hearing myself, I can open it up for more clarity. YMMV

[ilan]

Hey Ilan, I might be able to experiment with an EB-O - a guitarist I have worked with before has one, we are going to play tomorrow night, I might be able to borrow his. Will get back to you, it might be a fun video to make.

Are the results in yet?

[hieronymous]

Are the results in yet?

Not yet - they didn't bring it last week, maybe this week? They come up to Oakland once a week, for work and for music - kind of being chill about asking again. Will update in a couple of days.

[gearHed289]

Sorry about my redundant comment that filter pedals are available. I somehow missed Ilan's link to the Trickfish one. Looks like a good contender!

[ilan]

I would rather mod the tone control. I have no use for it as a treble-cut anyway.

[hieronymous]

Are the results in yet?

The process has begun!

[ilan]

 

[hieronymous]

So initial report is: I'm not sure this is representative of a typical mudbucker. Or maybe it is! I was kind of surprised to realize it's a long scale (EB-3L) - and maybe not so surprised to realize that the string-to-string balance is pretty terrible - especially the low E string. It's not my bass so I really hesitate to try and put it right.

My biggest realization was that it is nothing like the two mudbucker-only equipped basses that I have played - 1968 EB-2 and 1968 Melody Maker. Those are/were just insane with the low end from the E A & D strings! This one, not so much, which makes sense, with both the positioning closer to the bridge and the wiring with the bridge pickup (though not sure scientifically how that works).

I did some recording - let me know if you want me to continue! Otherwise, I would say to work on the passive circuit a la the Les Paul Triumph. I do appreciate my hi-pass/lo-pass filter pedal though!

[ilan]

I'd love a short recording. A quick iPhone demo is okay. Mudbucker solo'ed and tone wide open, then gradually turn the high-pass filter. Thanks!