Detail 01
Onboard preamp
It lives inside the bass and wires between pickups and jack. Not a pedal, not a rack or desktop box.
Product detailSKU #1274115053199
AguilarOBP-3SK/PP Onboard Bass Preamp
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Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Aguilar's OBP-3 onboard preamp, $179.99. For a player converting a passive bass to active, or replacing tired factory electronics, who is comfortable with an install.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Adding active tone control to a passive J or P bass
- Replacing muddy stock electronics without changing pickups
- Players who shape tone at the bass, not the amp
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a plug-in pedal or desk unit
- Players who never touch a soldering iron
- Basses with tight control cavities and no battery room
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Active circuit
Runs on a battery and sends a hot, low-impedance signal. You may need to back off your amp's input gain.
Detail 03
OBP-3 series
The step above Aguilar's OBP-2 in the same onboard line, $20 more here. More tone shaping, more knob or switch real estate needed.
Detail 04
Pickups stay as they are
This changes the electronics, not the voice of your pickups. A dull pickup will still sound dull, just louder and EQ-able.
Detail 05
$179.99 is the preamp
Install labor, battery, and any extra knobs or pots are separate costs on top of this price.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Measure your control cavity first, including room for a battery
- 02Extra knob positions usually mean drilling the body or pickguard
- 03Budget a tech's bench time if you don't solder
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Does this work with passive pickups?
Yes. That's the usual job — it takes the signal from passive pickups and gives you powered boost and cut. Your pickups stay in place.
02Can I use it outside the bass, like a pedal?
No. It's built to mount inside the instrument and wire into the existing pickup and jack circuit.
03Will it fit my bass?
Depends on cavity space. You need room for the circuit plus a battery, and holes for however many controls you plan to run.
04Why is it more than the OBP-2?
It's the higher model in Aguilar's onboard line, with more control over your tone. The OBP-2SK here is $159.99 and the OBP-2TK $149.99.
