bubinga5 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) As some may know I have just put some Bartolini 59j pups in my Elwood 5 string Jazz . I have got to say these pickups are smokin.!! I had a set in the Sei Jazz bass years ago but that was a very different bass. Sounded amazing, in other jazz basses I've had Dmarzio, Sadowsky, Lindy,s, Lane,s. The myth is that Bart original jazz bass (not the classic bass series) pickups have big lows and prominant low mid's, but not alot of high end. I'm not a fan of super bright pickups, so the reasoning behind these. It just isn't true. They do everything incredibly well. I'm totally blown away by them. Going straight into an Aguilar AG500 and an Aguilar 212, . The thing is they have there high end but the high end is super class. No brittleness, which I hate. They are super smooth. I was debating whether to change out the Delano 2 band but now I'm not sure I need to feed the pickups anything else. I can understand why so many high end bass Luthier use Bartolini. A few pics of my install. The only way I can explain these pickups is. Lindy Fralins dipped in the world's most expensive cream.The Delano single coils are great by the way. They will be on sale. Edited July 24, 2016 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Cool looking bass right there! Glad you like the new pups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Sounds great. That bass has such a nice grain I'd be inclined to leave the pickguard off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I never subscribed to the Bartilini = dark logic. One of those internet trends spoken by people that have no experience probably. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I'm looking to replace some fenders.... was looking for some ideas/feedback. hmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I've a Bart PJ set in my streamer - its a fairly bright bass with a sharp attack - where the original MEC sounded like a machine gun the Barts just sound lush. My pink stingray-a-like bitsa has a bart MM going into my clone of a pre EB preamp - again sound amazing. Great pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1469387095' post='3097929'] I'm looking to replace some fenders.... was looking for some ideas/feedback. hmm [/quote] slightly different sound to your trad fender sound. Bubinga5 is right - take your fender pickups, replace them with the best fender-a-like pickups out there and then add very expensive cream... Barts and Nordstands are my fave pup makers i've tired - v. different from one another though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1469386851' post='3097926'] I never subscribed to the Bartilini = dark logic. One of those internet trends spoken by people that have no experience probably. [/quote]I'm not sure where it came from. Also I hear that Bartolinis have low output. Not true. These pickups are huge.imo the best pickups in the world. Everyone has different ears of course. I have the full Delano preamp and pickups package for sale by the way. He he. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1469387725' post='3097937'] I'm not sure where it came from. Also I hear that Bartolinis have low output. Not true. These pickups are huge.imo the best pickups in the world. Everyone has different ears of course. I have the full Delano preamp and pickups package for sale by the way. He he. [/quote] That 'brittleness' you talked about the Barts not having? That is probably where it came from. Most modern high end pickups are full range and if not eq'd correctly can sound very hifi in the high end. The Barts sound darker as they don't have the glistening high end naturally. This was my experience with the two Roscoe's and a Warwick I have owned, certainly darker sounding than the likes of Nordstrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1469387447' post='3097934'] slightly different sound to your trad fender sound. Bubinga5 is right - take your fender pickups, replace them with the best fender-a-like pickups out there and then add very expensive cream... Barts and Nordstands are my fave pup makers i've tired - v. different from one another though. [/quote] I use Barts elsewhere... and I just am looking for a pickup to complement a Glock pre amp. Something transparent---ish ( i dislike that term as it implies 'true' which not not be the case at all..) but I don't want a huge lot of influence on the sound. In that respect I have always thought some stock pickups rob you of nuance.. as they are too forced. But the real driver behind the propsed pickup swap is balance... I'll only really know how 'poor' they are with a brand new set of strings..I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1469388990' post='3097949'] I use Barts elsewhere... and I just am looking for a pickup to complement a Glock pre amp. Something transparent---ish ( i dislike that term as it implies 'true' which not not be the case at all..) but I don't want a huge lot of influence on the sound. In that respect I have always thought some stock pickups rob you of nuance.. as they are too forced. But the real driver behind the propsed pickup swap is balance... I'll only really know how 'poor' they are with a brand new set of strings..I think. [/quote] I tried glock 2 band with a Bart Pj set in the streamer- wasn't a good mix. I had a treble control above anything that made a difference and a bass control that was either overpowering sub bass, flat or no borrow end. Possibly it was the sound of the bass rather than the pups that didn't fit - and maybe in a fender style bass they would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Funnily, after getting back from a rehearsal tonight using a bass with new pickups and electronics in, I think I've found a great pairing for my Glock 3-band. A set of EMG PJ's - now my bass doesn't have the standard PJ positions to my eye so that may make a difference too. I had a Miller slap with a bit of Wimbish, but roll it back and I slipped in to Nate Watts territory. Very pleased! Pounding bass, not at all subby. Would like to give Barts a go again at some point but not really found a pairing I've really liked. 9J's sound great though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I put Barts in my P bass in 92 and my 97 Lakland came with Barts and an NTMB-L 3 band EQ. Fantastic sounding pickups IMO. At one point Bartolini seemed to have cornered the boutique bass market. You don't do that unless you make great products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Got Barts in my MIM Jazz, they're perfect. From glassy clean to dirty and funky, there isn't much they can't do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 [quote name='M@23' timestamp='1469385073' post='3097901'] Sounds great. That bass has such a nice grain I'd be inclined to leave the pickguard off! [/quote]+1 to that, it's very pretty, don't hide it. Perhaps a clear p/g? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I have had two pedullas. All maple basses. Both with Bart pre and pickups and sounded awful, dark, low powered and polite. There is some credence to the idea they are dark and low output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1469398492' post='3098045'] I tried glock 2 band with a Bart Pj set in the streamer- wasn't a good mix. I had a treble control above anything that made a difference and a bass control that was either overpowering sub bass, flat or no borrow end. Possibly it was the sound of the bass rather than the pups that didn't fit - and maybe in a fender style bass they would work. [/quote] I do think the bass construction plays a mighty part in the sound and am happy with the Glock ( it is 3 band) but I just like where they centre or bias the tones controls. I'm thinking Nords or Fralins but I need to bed in the Pre, swap out the bridge and get that working and see where I am after that. Too many changes too close together could mean I lose sight of what made any difference. Could I live with the bass as it... yes, but I also think I can improve it as nothing on a Fender resonates quality or best-out-there to me. They build to a pricepoint--which is on the cheap side--- and trust the name on the headstock carries it. The bass is a block of wood-compared to some-- but I think the core tone is there so it is just a question of amplifying that up with sympathetic/compatible elecs. Why did I buy the f**** thing..? It works on some level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Always liked the sound of Barts - for me they have a more modern tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Love Barts, haven't had a bass with them in for years now though! Hmmm..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SisterAbdullahX Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1469535547' post='3099059'] I have had two pedullas. All maple basses. Both with Bart pre and pickups and sounded awful, dark, low powered and polite. There is some credence to the idea they are dark and low output. [/quote] Having bought one of those Pedullas off you I would have to disagree! I thought those Barts (soapbars) were anything but "awful" and their output seemed fine to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 I wonder if they changed the windings at some point.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivansc Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Played one of the very first buzz basses back in the eighties and the clarity an punch from a fretless just blew me away. Never have played a fretted Pedulla but the fretless versions I have played were anything but dark. Even though I have little or no real escuse for buying a fretless nowadays, if an old Pedulla Buzz showed up at a price I could afford without guilt..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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