Anyone have any experience with Bartolini pickups in a fully passive bass? I'm specifically considering one of their soapbar humbuckers -- a BC, M5, or one of the xxxCBC series -- and wondering if they have adequate output (and sound decent) in a completely passive configuration. Any insights greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Hoover, I can't help you out with the soapbars specifically, but my #1 bass for almost 20 years has been a completely passive Pedulla with Bart P/J pickups. There is something about them that sounds "pre-EQ'd and compressed" in a good way, so that I can get "my sound" if I'm running direct to the board or leaving the EQ flat on my preamp. It is a warm, organic, and round sound. Can't say enough good things about them. (The only negative is that the J gets the typical single-coil hum, but I certainly don't blame Bartolini for that; it's a tradeoff to get that bridge J sound.)

My only qualifier is that I've heard Bartolini has a huge product line with a wide range of options, so make sure you do your research and pick the right model for you. Good luck!

you can call bartolini and they will reccomend a pickup for your application. Talk to Bill or Pat

I'm not a fan, IMO, the Barts benefit big-time from a good preamp, moreso than most pickups.

Me neither... I think Barts are made to be used with a preamp, either on/outboard... They just don't put out enought...

I have heard that their J or P pickups work OK on their own...

I would research other options before settling on Barts... You should talk to Brian Ristola at http://www.bestbassgear.com/

Really great guy to deal with... He builds basses, and sells pickups by different manufacturers...

Good luck.

Tim

I have a set of Barts in my MIM Jazz, whereas the output is not tremendous they sound great!!!!!

The output has not been an issue.

I had Bart P4's in my bass with the NTMB pre...

Not happy with the pre, so I took it out...

Ran it passive with coil tap...

Humbucking sounded like mud, coil tap sounded good, but no output...

Switched to Nordstrand Big Singles, and still experimenting... Currently have 500K vol/tone pots... Not sure if I like them yet, and may consider switching to 250K pots... Getting used to the single coil sound...

I've had a bart soapbar on one of my fretlesses in the bridge position for 20 years, totally passive, sounds great to me. I do supplement it with a P in the neck position but I get great articulation and growl from the bart. Definitely no mud.

i play the dean jeff berlin with passive soapbars. sounds great and the output is higher than that of my CIJ precision....

i think, though, that they were constructed for a passive bass according to what jeff wanted so i don´t know if they can be compared to bartolinis other soapbars...

Anyone have any experience with Bartolini pickups in a fully passive bass? I'm specifically considering one of their soapbar humbuckers -- a BC, M5, or one of the xxxCBC series -- and wondering if they have adequate output (and sound decent) in a completely passive configuration. Any insights greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The CBC series, or Classic bass are like his older Hi-A pickups. They work really well passive, and unlike newer Barts, aren't overly dark sounding.

They have a nice wide range tone. I recently put a set in an ESP bass and they sounded great passive, and with an Aguilar.

I'm not a fan, IMO, the Barts benefit big-time from a good preamp, moreso than most pickups.


been many underwound Bart pu`s that were amazing. 59V used often by a few people on this forum, also gary willis at one time usually wired direct to the jack. no pre, no volume pot, no tone control. sound was and is amazing

Barts - depends on what pu you are using. have had great luck passive with many barts on about 40 CD`S and some more with a pre.
imho - fwiw.
;)

I replaced the mk1's in my Ibanez SR500 with the US Barts MK4CBC and at the same time pulled the preamp out and went totally passive. Works great. Did loose some of the tonal control but the output level is fine.