MFD pickup and Seymour Duncan active EQ

[jglunt2112]

I might have inquired about this before, but if I did, I guess I never received an answer, so maybe nobody knows. You all are always very helpful, so anyway, here goes: Among other G&Ls, I have a Tribute LB-100 that's pretty darned good. I installed a Seymour Duncan STC-2C-BO concentric active EQ in it, which I really like. I'm always looking for ways to improve my basses, so I'm considering dropping an MFD split coil into it in place of the alnico it has. (I do love those MFDs!) I still want to use the SD active EQ with the MFD. (1) Do you think the MFD will overdrive the active EQ? It doesn't in the L series, but the M-series pickups are different, at least in part to keep them from overdriving the preamp in that bass. Or so I've heard. (2) If it does overdrive it, can you think of any possible solutions to that? (3) Do you think I should just leave it alone and kick back and watch Looney Tunes cartoons on TV all day? Suppositions and wild guesses are OK. Thanks in advance!

[Ken Baker]

I might have inquired about this before, but if I did, I guess I never received an answer, so maybe nobody knows. You all are always very helpful, so anyway, here goes: Among other G&Ls, I have a Tribute LB-100 that's pretty darned good. I installed a Seymour Duncan STC-2C-BO concentric active EQ in it, which I really like. I'm always looking for ways to improve my basses, so I'm considering dropping an MFD split coil into it in place of the alnico it has. (I do love those MFDs!)

That should be, pretty much, a drop-in deal. Maybe a little light sanding on the pickguard. You'll end up with an SB-1!

I still want to use the SD active EQ with the MFD. (1) Do you think the MFD will overdrive the active EQ? It doesn't in the L series, but the M-series pickups are different, at least in part to keep them from overdriving the preamp in that bass. Or so I've heard.

It might over-drive the preamp if the volume is dimed. Should be okay, though you'll probably have some adjusting to do at the amp.

(2) If it does overdrive it, can you think of any possible solutions to that?

Uh, turn it down? Seriously, just back off the volume.

(3) Do you think I should just leave it alone and kick back and watch Looney Tunes cartoons on TV all day?

Looney Tunes are always an option, especially if it's all the old stuff from the 40s.

Suppositions and wild guesses are OK. Thanks in advance!

Our specialty!

Ken...

[jglunt2112]

Here's a final update on using an active EQ in a bass with an MFD pickup. I pulled the split coil MFD out of my SB-2 and dropped it into my Tribute LB-100. Last summer, I had installed a Seymour Duncan STC-2C-BO active EQ into that bass. It has boost and cut on both treble and bass with a concentric pot, so this would be a good test. The pickguard took 5 minutes of sanding for a good fit. After that, the MFD bolted right up. I was worried the MFD might overdrive the EQ in the LB-100, but it didn't. And that amount of control makes it an LB-100 with superpowers. I've ordered a new MFD split coil for my SB-2.

[bigtone23]

Glad it worked out. I really like that particular Duncan EQ circuit. It's such a quick, easy and inexpensive way to expand a bass's tonality. 3 times I have replaced tone controls on passive basses with that concentric version. With the treble center frequency set to the lower setting (around 3K), it acts more or less like a passive tone control from the center detent to full cut.