Audere Preamp with Bartolini Classics in Roscoe LG

CrashClint · #1 05-06-2008, 08:30 AM

In the never ending persuit of the tone I want, I have finally found it. I love the Demeter preamp, but since the used Demeter well is dry I decided to give the Audere another try. I picked up a 3ZB with Volume, Volume, Treble/High Mid, Bass/Low Mid. I installed this into my LG3005 and started tweaking a little. The highs and lows were not quite where I wanted them at it still sounded a little compressed so I gave the Gardfather a call and he sent me a set of the Bartolini Classics.

I installed the Classics and noticed to me that it had more open and clear highs, the mids seemed a little softer and the lows a little more defined. The most important factor, I did not lose that Roscoe Sound, I just have a little more highs and defined lows available without the compressed sound.

I have the Hi-Z tweaked just about where I want it, I am setting it up to give me a more slap type tone.

The Low-Z gain is a little hot and I will work on tweaking it.

Yeah, it is a little more involved to set up this preamp, but it seems to be pretty responsive so far.

Oh, one other thing, while I had the pickups and electronics out, I grabbed the shielding paint and shielded the pickup cavities and added a little more to the main control cavity. I then put a copper strip in each pickup cavity and soldered a wire from the pickup cavities to the main control ground. The Bart Classics are Epoxy filled which helps with noise as well. So far plugged into my home electricity it seems to be pretty quiet. I will be very happy if it operates this quiet in stage settings.

As I tweak some more this week, I will let you know the final results and try to get some sound clips.

Basso Gruvitas · #2 05-06-2008, 09:23 AM

Good review Clint. Yet another Roscoe-related experiment on the electronics....

I have the Audere and the stock Barts in my fretted SKB-5. It has a sweet quality to it. All frequencies are accounted for but it's a bit compressed and "sweet" (but not as compressed as the Bart/Bart setup).
This would be a good studio bass (if I was EVER invited into a studio

).

It ain't a grindy, raunchy, glass-slappy sound. It's refined and yet versatile. Great for jazz, fusion, studio, Latin, smaller settings, etc.

CrashClint · #3 05-06-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basso Gruvitas

I have the Audere and the stock Barts in my fretted SKB-5. It has a sweet quality to it. All frequencies are accounted for but it's a bit compressed and "sweet" (but not as compressed as the Bart/Bart setup).

My LG has a Redwood top, an Ash body, a Birdseye Maple Fingerboard and the Bart/Bart. I was amazed how much the tone opened up when I added the Audere and just had to know what it would sound like with the classics. My experimenting with this bass is pretty much over... well, if someone had a set of DCs for an LG they would let me borrow I might try them out for purely scientific purposes only.

Shiveringbass · #4 05-06-2008, 03:11 PM

Great review Clint.

Even if my Glock pre don't work in active, it works in passive so I can here what my new pickups (Delano) bring.

And the go in the same direction than what you've experienced : more open and not only in the high region. It seems that there is a new lowend extension that was not there with the Bart or hide by the low mid bump.

In the end I would say that Delano are more linear in the all spectrum.

And yes, a Roscoe stays a Roscoe even with those kind of change.

Basso Gruvitas · #5 05-06-2008, 04:29 PM

Hi Shivering - I noticed that the bass on the Bart preamp has an exponential curve or something. It distorts and gets fat in a bad way (to my ears). Contrast that with the Audere which stays transparent and usable when you boost it.

I like the idea of being able to go passive with the Roscoe. My batteries on my Audere DIED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SET, IN THE MIDDLE OF A SONG!

There I was on stage with my back to the audience as I swapped batteries. Poor planning on my part.

groov'ster · #6 05-06-2008, 06:40 PM

Ok guys help me with this.....I have asked this question in a couple of other threads with no answers.

How do I know what Barts I have in my 3006?

You are not the first ones to describe the same, I dont want to say problem, but sound tone issue.

I have the Audere bart setup and really like it, but the highs are not really what I expected. I would like more.

Any answer here?

Basso Gruvitas · #7 05-06-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groov'ster

Ok guys help me with this.....I have asked this question in a couple of other threads with no answers.

How do I know what Barts I have in my 3006?

You are not the first ones to describe the same, I dont want to say problem, but sound tone issue.

I have the Audere bart setup and really like it, but the highs are not really what I expected. I would like more.

Any answer here?

Well Gard can answer more definitively on this, but you can probably count on two hands the number of Roscoes with the Bart CB pickups as opposed to the stock pickups. If the high end is a bit "shelved" then it's probably the stock....especially if it's more than a year or two old.

groov'ster · #8 05-06-2008, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Mine is a 2007 model and yes the highs are somewhat subdued, compressed.

If I understand correctly this can be corrected by installing the Bart BC pickups?

jzbass6 · #9 05-06-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

My experimenting with this bass is pretty much over... well, if someone had a set of DCs for an LG they would let me borrow I might try them out for purely scientific purposes only.

Hey Crash I thought that there was an issue DC's lining up with the strings on the LG's

CrashClint · #10 05-06-2008, 07:52 PM

I thought Nord made a set just for Roscoe that would fit?

Gard · #11 05-07-2008, 08:17 AM

groov'ster, you almost without question have our stock pickups, not CB's. I'd bet everything in my bank account on it.

On the question of Nord DC's in LG's, no, unless the pickup rout is "straight" they won't work. You can get the Big Splits/Big Singles/Fat Stacks to work in them however.

CrashClint · #12 05-07-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

On the question of Nord DC's in LG's, no, unless the pickup rout is "straight" they won't work. You can get the Big Splits/Big Singles/Fat Stacks to work in them however.

Gard, have your heard the tonal difference between the three pickups you have mentioned? If so, can you describe the what they would sound like in a Roscoe?

Gard · #13 05-07-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

Gard, have your heard the tonal difference between the three pickups you have mentioned? If so, can you describe the what they would sound like in a Roscoe?

Can't comment on the Big Singles or Big Splits, but the Fat Stacks are great. If you wanna hear 'em, just remind me the next time you're coming to the shop and I'll bring my fretted 6 in, it has them.

That said, I'd still probably just go with CB's on that bass next time...but since the FS's are there, well, it ain't broke, I ain't fixin' it.

groov'ster · #14 05-07-2008, 10:29 PM

How much $$ are the bart bc's?

And with that question is anybody interested in a set of the stock barts?

lsu921 · #15 05-08-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Can't comment on the Big Singles or Big Splits, but the Fat Stacks are great. If you wanna hear 'em, just remind me the next time you're coming to the shop and I'll bring my fretted 6 in, it has them.

That said, I'd still probably just go with CB's on that bass next time...but since the FS's are there, well, it ain't broke, I ain't fixin' it.

Fat Stacks smoke!

youngs · #16 05-08-2008, 11:39 PM

Can you post some sound clip of it? I am also interested in those Audere pre , but not sure that's what I am looking for.

groov'ster · #17 05-08-2008, 11:55 PM

This is the only sound clip I am aware of here:

http://bassplayer.tv/index.html?req=...tv_gear_audere