Excellent systems can be designed in either 9 volt or 18 volt configurations. The most important consideration for bass electronics is the matching of the pickup output level to the minimum gain of the preamp/tone control electronics.
Some pickups have high output levels and can overdrive the input stages of preamps designed for pickups with low output levels. The description of these pickups in the catalog includes advice on the choice of preamps.
Most pickups with medium output levels (near that of the Fender J-Bass*) work very well with most of our preamps and tone controls.They do not exceed the dynamic range of the tone controls even when played hard with maximum bass and treble boost.
Some combinations of pickups and electronics yield better tone quality and more dynamic range in 18 volt configurations.
The total signal - the pickup output level plus the unboosted gain of the tone control preamp plus the maximum bass and treble boost - must be below the clipping level of the preamp or distortion will occur.
The clipping level of 9 volt electronics is approximately 2 volts r.m.s. (6 volts peak-to-peak). The clipping level of 18 volt electronics is approximately 4 volts r.m.s. (12 volts peak-to-peak).
Most outboard preamplifiers and amplifier heads will accept signal levels near 1 volt r.m.s. (3 volts peak-to-peak). Clipping distortion may occur for higher input levels.
