Two very different sounding pickups. If you want tone with depth and warmth, go with Aguilar. If you want tone with brightness to cut through the mix, go with the MEC. Great demo BTW, thanks for posting.
What’s interesting is I have a Warwick standard corvette with MEC J pickups and those Aguilars sound exactly like my setup. I was a little surprised by that. The MEC soap bars sounded very thin and a lot of high end. But my J pickups have a lot of punchy low end to give the bass quality body and enough high end for presence.
Awesome playing, you made me forget I was watching a pickup comparison... I prefer the MECs, I like to have more high end and clarity, easier to tame than try to boost it. The Aguilars are more vintage-voiced and sound great too, but they are not my favorites. Greetings !
Aguilars for me. My Spector Legend 5 Neck-Thru has them in with the OPB-2 preamp and they are brilliant. More mid range & growl than the MECs which have more treble. I find the Aguilars give nice rich open-note kind of clarity. It's all preference though, all depends on taste.
In the end it's a matter of preference, but the Aguilar pickups and preamps are much better balanced than the MEC ones, and in the end you can get your bass cutting through the mix easier with Aguilar than with stock Warwick electronics.
I’m just in time for a upgrade on my pre Gibson tobias and I was leaning towards bartolini , but maybe Aguilar is also a solid option. Great video, very helpful 🤘🏻
That front Aguilar DCB could fool anyone not looking that you have some kind of P bass there.. good demo! it seems a LOT of the Warwick sound comes from the MEC + preamp. Not so much the sound of wood =P
hey luis great vid mate, Aguilar all day long, ive got seymours on my streamer lx custom shop but they seam different size to the Aguilar. youve got a new subscriber... rob
I wouldn’t pick either for my own personal Basses - 4 of my 5 Custom Spector Euro Bolt-On 4/5 DLX FM & EXs and my modified Legend Custom 6 have Nordstrand Big Singles and Aguilar OBP-3SK//PPs preamps, one 5-string has EMG 40P5 & 40DC to get close to the sound of the old ‘95-‘08 “Fender American Deluxe Precision P/DCs (the only Precision Bass I was a fan of, likely due to the Dual Coil bridge pickup that boosted the Mids)... although I’m likely going to switch to 40P5X & 40DCXs to get closer to a more “natural” and less “Compressed EMG” tone. However, between the two I’d go with the Aguilar DCBs. I’m not typically a fan of Dual Coil Pickups as to my ears they souls too “large” and overwhelming, but the MECs sound the opposite... too thin and hollow, especially like a Precision Bass’ mids.
Thanks for this video, it's exactly what I was looking for. The MEC electronics is the weakest spot on Warwick bass, in my opinion. Aguilar has a lot of meat & punch for each note, that helps the bass to sit more comfortably in the mix
Don't like either of them, but I guess the Aguilar ones aren't as bad as the MECs. For soapbars I guess Bartolini or Nordstrand is the way to go, wish there were more options though.
Note, you should probably disregard this video unless you have a bass with similar pickup spacing (i.e. Warwicks or Spectors). The position of the pickups makes a massive difference in tone, just look at how close that bridge pickup is to the bridge, then compare to typical bass (~2" from the bridge). I agree, both pickups sound bad in this particular bass (at least for fingerstyle) but the DCBs sound way better in most other basses. Check out the playlist on my channel.
Both PU are soapbar isn't it? I compare it because i can't find any of these comparison on the WW Basses. So i decided to just bought it and recorded it. BTW, Thanks for the comment.
Luis Sethakorn some soapbar pickups are single coil or a split single. the MEC do sound like single coils except not as weak. I still prefer the aguilar even though I think most people wouldn't
The dcb sound dark...with this pickups in warwick with dark tone woods say goodbye to bright cut the mix slap tone.... For this combo of woods prefer mec p reverse split coil soapbars...
The aguilars are the best replacement for warwick. Idk who did it but someone put in an emg set with a emg active eq and it sounded like a p bass. The worst bass ever made
do you have the back photos of your MEC soapbars? if they say BL-5 they are def active - shop.warwick.de/en/Parts+for+Instruments/Warwick+Spare+Parts/Pickups+and+Spare+Parts/MEC+Active+Bass+Soapbar+Humbucker+Pickup,+5-String+-+Black
Two very different sounding pickups. If you want tone with depth and warmth, go with Aguilar. If you want tone with brightness to cut through the mix, go with the MEC. Great demo BTW, thanks for posting.
Well said!
Aguilars for sure. Unless you are playing something that needs to cut through everyone else in the band
like a saw.
NO TALKING LOVE THIS! Incredible playing and side by side review. ALSO GREAT VIDEOGRAPHY SUPER
What’s interesting is I have a Warwick standard corvette with MEC J pickups and those Aguilars sound exactly like my setup. I was a little surprised by that. The MEC soap bars sounded very thin and a lot of high end. But my J pickups have a lot of punchy low end to give the bass quality body and enough high end for presence.
Awesome playing, you made me forget I was watching a pickup comparison... I prefer the MECs, I like to have more high end and clarity, easier to tame than try to boost it. The Aguilars are more vintage-voiced and sound great too, but they are not my favorites. Greetings !
William Lafrance Thank you so much man.
Great comparison! Wow, the aguilar are much smoother and even sounding. Great upgrade!
Aguilars for me. My Spector Legend 5 Neck-Thru has them in with the OPB-2 preamp and they are brilliant. More mid range & growl than the MECs which have more treble. I find the Aguilars give nice rich open-note kind of clarity. It's all preference though, all depends on taste.
In the end it's a matter of preference, but the Aguilar pickups and preamps are much better balanced than the MEC ones, and in the end you can get your bass cutting through the mix easier with Aguilar than with stock Warwick electronics.
I have the same Spector and it's a glorious instrument.
Great video... I Think these Aguilar pickups are now on the new warwick streamer limited edition 2018....
Those Aguilar sound like Ken Smith slapping, awesome!
I’m just in time for a upgrade on my pre Gibson tobias and I was leaning towards bartolini , but maybe Aguilar is also a solid option. Great video, very helpful 🤘🏻
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MEC for the win, they sound warm with crispy high frequencies, overall quite balanced and round sound.
That front Aguilar DCB could fool anyone not looking that you have some kind of P bass there.. good demo! it seems a LOT of the Warwick sound comes from the MEC + preamp. Not so much the sound of wood =P
hey luis great vid mate, Aguilar all day long, ive got seymours on my streamer lx custom shop but they seam different size to the Aguilar. youve got a new subscriber... rob
Thank you Rob.
Never liked the MEC pickup, that's why I hate most Warwick basses, but this one of yours with Aguilar DCB sounds great! well done!
I wouldn’t pick either for my own personal Basses - 4 of my 5 Custom Spector Euro Bolt-On 4/5 DLX FM & EXs and my modified Legend Custom 6 have Nordstrand Big Singles and Aguilar OBP-3SK//PPs preamps, one 5-string has EMG 40P5 & 40DC to get close to the sound of the old ‘95-‘08 “Fender American Deluxe Precision P/DCs (the only Precision Bass I was a fan of, likely due to the Dual Coil bridge pickup that boosted the Mids)... although I’m likely going to switch to 40P5X & 40DCXs to get closer to a more “natural” and less “Compressed EMG” tone.
However, between the two I’d go with the Aguilar DCBs. I’m not typically a fan of Dual Coil Pickups as to my ears they souls too “large” and overwhelming, but the MECs sound the opposite... too thin and hollow, especially like a Precision Bass’ mids.
MEC neck and Aguilar bridge would be best combination for me !
You are genius bro!!!!!
Aguilar for sure! The MEC are very cold, thin for me as always....But for me Nordstrand the best!
l Prefer the Aguilar by far !!!!! Great Video
Nice looking bass!
Great Vid ! Thanks for making it ! Which preamp did you use ? The stock MEC or did you switch out to an Aguilar OBD ?
The sound in the vdo is PASSIVE. No Preamp at all.
Thank you.
Awesome test mate! thanks
Hi Luis great video! Does your Warwick Streamer LX have a normal or broad neck? And what DCB are you using? The D2?
Cyril Yabroudi Hello Cyril. Thanks for watching! My bass is normal Streamer LX. And the DCBs are D2. Cheers!!
Thanks for this video, it's exactly what I was looking for. The MEC electronics is the weakest spot on Warwick bass, in my opinion. Aguilar has a lot of meat & punch for each note, that helps the bass to sit more comfortably in the mix
The MEC pickups sound very colored, perhaps a uni-tasker application.
Great comparison! I definitely prefer the Aguilars. What amp are you playing through?
i just play it directly through the soundcard.
Aguilars for me. The MECs sound too thin and treblish.
Aquilar DCB Humbuckers vs Nordstrand Big Singles for metal? Basicaly BTB with DCB vs BTB vs ND Big Singles.....
In harmonics test Aguilars are crazy noisy, MECs are not. And in low B test Aguilars are very foamy...and still hiss in the pauses
Don't like either of them, but I guess the Aguilar ones aren't as bad as the MECs. For soapbars I guess Bartolini or Nordstrand is the way to go, wish there were more options though.
Note, you should probably disregard this video unless you have a bass with similar pickup spacing (i.e. Warwicks or Spectors). The position of the pickups makes a massive difference in tone, just look at how close that bridge pickup is to the bridge, then compare to typical bass (~2" from the bridge). I agree, both pickups sound bad in this particular bass (at least for fingerstyle) but the DCBs sound way better in most other basses. Check out the playlist on my channel.
MEC. Way more definition.
Was the preamp upgraded as well or was this strictly a pickup swap?
only pick up swap.
I don't understand MEC pickups.
I won't say they suck, but I just don't get it.
Aguilar was great!
Slam dunk!!!!! DCB
Aguilar all the way !!!!!
I love the Aguilars but I also think that the MECs have a bad rep for no reason.
preamp onboard?
Giovanni Bellosi In this vdo. All sounds are bypass mode.
Luis Sethakorn sorry, what kind of electronics the sound of pickups pass through?
Both pick ups are recorded directly through the Roland HS-5. Cheers man.
Ok thanks 👍🏼
The Aguilar DCB pickups won this one.
MEC sound much better. You can always roll off the highs if needed
I don't know why you comparing singles with humbuckers ... but anyway I think MEC is much better.
Both PU are soapbar isn't it? I compare it because i can't find any of these comparison on the WW Basses. So i decided to just bought it and recorded it.
BTW, Thanks for the comment.
Luis Sethakorn some soapbar pickups are single coil or a split single. the MEC do sound like single coils except not as weak. I still prefer the aguilar even though I think most people wouldn't
Wow ... Big new knowledge for me about MEC. Thank you so much for the information and your comment.
ps. I prefer the aguilar too ... ^^
The dcb sound dark...with this pickups in warwick with dark tone woods say goodbye to bright cut the mix slap tone.... For this combo of woods prefer mec p reverse split coil soapbars...
The aguilars are the best replacement for warwick. Idk who did it but someone put in an emg set with a emg active eq and it sounded like a p bass. The worst bass ever made
ARENT THOSE MEC soapbars active???? (yes they fucking are) hence the brightness in the tone so many people associate with warwick
do you have the back photos of your MEC soapbars? if they say BL-5 they are def active - shop.warwick.de/en/Parts+for+Instruments/Warwick+Spare+Parts/Pickups+and+Spare+Parts/MEC+Active+Bass+Soapbar+Humbucker+Pickup,+5-String+-+Black
Single coil vs dual coil.....MEC is thin and crispy high, DCB is vintage sound, MEC lose obviously!
mejor los mec...
N
In other words..... aguilar much better... fatter sound..
We all need timecodes :(