I played an Ibanez SR500 in Guitar center the other day, and I loved these pickups. I'm looking to buy them for my Carvin. When I google searched them, I always got "Mk1 pickups and preamp"

so my question is: do you have to get the preamp to make the pickups work? (I hope not)

nope, but the pre is probably having a pretty big impact on the sound... unless the SR500 is passive that is.

nah, the Sr is active. So do ya think it'd be best to get the preamp as well (I'd really rather not spend the extra cash)

MK1 stands for "Made in Korea". That was a cheap way for Cort and other manufacturers to get the Bartolini name without paying the price.

They are made by Cort with the Bart name on them. Nothing more, nothing less. Aside from that, they get the job done.;)

Pavel de la Fuente
www.Pavelmi.com

i dont really like them, there okay but nothing special

You could much better than Mk-1's: what about Nordstrand, Barts, Delano, Basslines, etc, etc? My BTB has the MK-1's and I don't think much of them at all. As soon as I can afford a swap, they will be history.

well, what do you suggest? They sounded pretty good to me, so something with similar qualities are wanted.

I have them on my 44-01.They are not bad like cheapo pups.They are Precision coils in hum. placement. I like the neck pup as p.,its not giving a real P bass sound of course. :)
They have an agressive character BTW.

But the mk-1 preamp simply sucks.I'm going to change it ASAP.

If you want the more 'plush' side of an MK-1, put in a set of Bart P2's. If you want a more raucous sound, I would suggest the Nordstrand Fat Stacks.

Check out the MK5's. Perfect replacements for the MK1 and true Bart pickups. Pair them up with an Aguilar OPB3 and you have a really nice set up with lots of tone. Contact Brian at BestBassGear.com. He's very helpful.

If you want the more 'plush' side of an MK-1, put in a set of Bart P2's.

I already pretty much figured on P-2's, jus wanted to make sure there wasn't a cheaper alternative. Which P2's do you suggest?


As for the preamp: I really wasn't planning on switching the current on (Carvin 18-volt) with the MK-1. The Carvin IMO works just fine.

I haven't tried it personally, but I've read a number of threads (here and elsewhere) and have talked to a couple of Lakland owners who kept their MK1 pickups, but swapped the MK1 preamp for the Bart NTMB. I don't recall anyone saying it didn't make a worthwhile improvement--especially in making the tone controls more balanced and usable.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

Bluesy Soul :cool:

Check out the MK5's. Perfect replacements for the MK1 and true Bart pickups. Pair them up with an Aguilar OPB3 and you have a really nice set up with lots of tone. Contact Brian at BestBassGear.com. He's very helpful.

+1 on this post. BestBassGear has both the MK5 and the P2 series.

well, what do you suggest? They sounded pretty good to me, so something with similar qualities are wanted.

If they sound good to you, you should get them.

;)

I had MK-1's in my Cort A4, and thought they sounded very nice actually.

:)

hey, are the only P2's besides the quads the classic series? cuz those are the only two that bestbassgear carry..

I haven't tried it personally, but I've read a number of threads (here and elsewhere) and have talked to a couple of Lakland owners who kept their MK1 pickups, but swapped the MK1 preamp for the Bart NTMB. I don't recall anyone saying it didn't make a worthwhile improvement--especially in making the tone controls more balanced and usable.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

Bluesy Soul :cool:

I did it and it didnt make a worth while improvement.
I got the pre in my 55-01 swapped for a NTMB and although it might be better i cant hear it.
Then again i use the bass more or less flat.

POS pickups, plain and simple, IMO. They are not even remotely Barts. Made in Korea, bunk as*ed bulls**t.

Recently picked up an Ibanez sr900. Nice guitar, but the electronics have ruined it for me. Strings will not volume balance. Huge discrepancy in string to string output. Caveat Emptor.

Sid

But the mk-1 preamp simply sucks.I'm going to change it ASAP.It's crap. Burn it.

What pickups are on the market that are the same size\shape as the mk1's? I'm wanting to swap them out on my Ibanez SR500 in a few months, but am uncertain what will fit.

and sorry for bringing up an old thread, it seemed to me the better choice than make a new one.

I already know the lenght and width, but does anyone know the exact HEIGHT measurement of these pickups??

I have a set sitting here collecting dust in a Nordstrand box. I may be able to sell them to you if you'd like. PM me if you're interested.

I have mk1 pre laying around and collecting dust :)

I have mk1 pre laying around and collecting dust :)


haha! so do i! :smug: