Bartolini Gain Adjustment..

[LightGroove]

Hey fellow heads...

Just curious where you all have the gain adjustments set on your basses.

I leave mine around 1 oclock but finding it may be a tad too much at times. Anyone have a preference or find a "sweet spot"

Thanks

[Droot]

I have the gain on my 5 string headless set at about 12:30-12:45. I would guess that this mid point setting is just in the design of the preamp.
DRoot

[Darkstrike]

I'd like to leave it full up, as IMO, it sounds best that way, but they're so much more powerful than my other basses with the gain up, it takes a dramatic change of my amps settings when I swap to them, even with the active pad on.

So I have it set about half up.

[JOME77]

Yep. I typically ended up setting all that I've owned around 1/2.

Personally, I'd rather err on slightly too little gain than too much gain.

[LightGroove]

So would 1/2 way be considered 12 oclock or so?

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by LightGroove

So would 1/2 way be considered 12 oclock or so?

Each bass is different, the minipot might not be installed in the same angle on yours, as it is in mine, its not the same between my LG & SKB.

Just pop the cover and see, if you need to know.

[DGbass70]

I've been wondering about this subject as well.....

[Big Mother]

Have both of mine at 12:00, never thought to monkey with it, hmmmmm

[VroomVroom]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Each bass is different, the minipot might not be installed in the same angle on yours, as it is in mine, its not the same between my LG & SKB.

Just pop the cover and see, if you need to know.

Agreed, so I think the "o'clock" measurement can be a bit misleading. Eyeball it from 'zero' to 'ten' by flipping the screwdriver from the 'min' to 'max' setting. I have both of mine as close to 'six' (out of ten) as possible.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Agreed, so I think the "o'clock" measurement can be a bit misleading. Eyeball it from 'zero' to 'ten' by flipping the screwdriver from the 'min' to 'max' setting. I have both of mine as close to 'six' (out of ten) as possible.

Indeed that's why I avoided the "o'clock's" too.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Agreed, so I think the "o'clock" measurement can be a bit misleading. Eyeball it from 'zero' to 'ten' by flipping the screwdriver from the 'min' to 'max' setting. I have both of mine as close to 'six' (out of ten) as possible.

This is precisely how Keith sets them when doing the final setup on the bass.

[LightGroove]

Popped the back cover off and I can see where there may be some misunderstanding as far o clock. I turned the knob all the way left as far as it would go and tweaked back. I set mine straight up and down so in essence it looks like 12:30. I'll give it a test drive this Thurs. with a new little head "light" which is on order.

[JetJazz]

So is the 12/12:30 setting considered "flat". I don't fully understand the function of this adjustment. Thank for any advice!

Jerry
LG3006

[LightGroove]

I think this is purely a "gain" and affects volume/distortion points similar to the gain on an amp. More gain = hotter signal but eventually becomes too hot and can clip or distort the signal...The flat/boost/cut comes into play moreso with the knobs and the respective adjustments youve made.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by LightGroove

I think this is purely a "gain" and affects volume/distortion points similar to the gain on an amp. More gain = hotter signal but eventually becomes too hot and can clip or distort the signal...The flat/boost/cut comes into play moreso with the knobs and the respective adjustments youve made.

Yup, there is no "flat", just how much output do you need. It helps deal with amps or recording desks that have very sensitive input levels or matching output levels of different basses going into the same amp/recording desk.

[JetJazz]

Thanks guys!
I've been recording direct to Apple Logic through an Apogee Duet and getting some over boost so I think I'll back off on the gain!

Thanks for the tips!

[LightGroove]

Yep Jet...as others have said (and why I posted) better to error on the low side of things. I get serious clipping any time I make a moderate boost (mids or lows) . Actually did a test run at the current 12:30 setting and found that to clip a bit with marginal boost. Granted Im running direct into a Roland br600 which I know nothing about ..So looks like I'll be backing off and perhaps making my tone adjustments on the head itself.

[JetJazz]

Thanks Lightgroove!
That really helps a lot! I was getting some clipping during recording when all my levels seemed to be okay.

[AverageWhiteBassist]

I was thinking about adjusting mine for about 3 weeks now and a funny thing happened. There was no adjustment. As it turns out, when I got the back cover off, to my surprise the preamp slapped me in the face with "Aguilar". The story behind this bass gets even more interesting but for this topic it's posted on 2 websites one says Bart preamp and pickups, the other says Aguilar preamp with Bart pickups. I had to rethink my approach to using the controls, though it never sounded bad I found some other tone tricks. Everyday I'm surprised by something new.

[RocketMusic]

Originally Posted by DaveProulx

I was thinking about adjusting mine for about 3 weeks now and a funny thing happened. There was no adjustment. As it turns out, when I got the back cover off, to my surprise the preamp slapped me in the face with "Aguilar". The story behind this bass gets even more interesting but for this topic it's posted on 2 websites one says Bart preamp and pickups, the other says Aguilar preamp with Bart pickups. I had to rethink my approach to using the controls, though it never sounded bad I found some other tone tricks. Everyday I'm surprised by something new.

Hah! I read your post and, of course, assumed that I had messed up on the details. But no, my site says Aggie!! Yeah!!