Bart NTBT-918 and EMG DC45 will they work together?

[Nomad98]

I have an Bartolini NTBT-918 and a EMG DC 45 that I want to use together...

I don't know how to wire them together or if it is possible since the schematics I find are for bart pickups, and EMGs have more wires to deal with?

Also the Bart NTBT is for two pickups with a bass/treble/vol/blend and I want to use it as a bass/treble/vol since it's for one pickup!


Is this possible or should I just use the Bart Pre on another bass with two pickups

Thanks for any opinions/help!

Phil (Nomad98)

[badboy1984]

I think is possible to do it but i no expert on soldering or wiring etc.

But all i know is you need a different value volume pot to make those EMG work perfectly. You need a 25k volume pot otherwise you input will be so high that it may kill the amp or speaker.

[JMDT]

Originally Posted by badboy1984

I think is possible to do it but i no expert on soldering or wiring etc.

But all i know is you need a different value volume pot to make those EMG work perfectly. You need a 25k volume pot otherwise you input will be so high that it may kill the amp or speaker.

Short answer yes.

However it may require some modification to work 100%.

[Nomad98]

I love the short answer but I am really looking for the LONG answer!?

I am hoping someone can give me a schematic and/or details on pots and wiring...

Thanks.

[maurilio]

eliminate the blend, get a A25k vol pot and solder the Hot from the pup to the vol. Connect the black to ground and the red from the pup to the +9. If you have hum or noise problem, disconnect the bridge ground.

M

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by badboy1984

But all i know is you need a different value volume pot to make those EMG work perfectly. You need a 25k volume pot otherwise you input will be so high that it may kill the amp or speaker.

No, not at all, the wrong value volume pot will not hurt your amp or speaker. Using a 250k with an EMG will work fine except all your usable volume control will be in just a tiny portion of the knobs turn.

To use a Bart pre with Active EMG's you only need to change a pot that's between the pickups and the pre. Any pot only connected to the pre or between the pre and jack can stay unchanged.

[Nomad98]

Originally Posted by BobXboB

No, not at all, the wrong value volume pot will not hurt your amp or speaker. Using a 250k with an EMG will work fine except all your usable volume control will be in just a tiny portion of the knobs turn.

To use a Bart pre with Active EMG's you only need to change a pot that's between the pickups and the pre. Any pot only connected to the pre or between the pre and jack can stay unchanged.

Does this mean the only way this will work is to use a 250K POT?

Of course I am beyond the point of looking/sounding ignorant... So, is anyone up for a connect the wires/filling in the pot values, challenge? The winner of this challenge will receive a hearty "Job well done!" Oh, and I will be forever indebted to you!

Thanks,
Phil (Nomad98)

[maurilio]

http://bartolini.net/instructions/el...tbt/ntbt_2.gif

[badboy1984]

I still think if you use EMG pickup you better use 25k volume pot. their is a reason why EMG come with 25k volume. You can use 250k volume but i think the result won't be too good. Since you don't need blend pot so thats not too much problem. The bass and treble pots is ok since they won't effect much. Just buy a 25k volume pot if the preamp doesn't come with that value.

[maurilio]

that's interesting... is there someone who has looked up the link I posted?
Just hook up the Hot (white) from the pup with the yellow wire of the pre...

M

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by Nomad98

Does this mean the only way this will work is to use a 250K POT?

Of course I am beyond the point of looking/sounding ignorant... So, is anyone up for a connect the wires/filling in the pot values, challenge? The winner of this challenge will receive a hearty "Job well done!" Oh, and I will be forever indebted to you!

Thanks,
Phil (Nomad98)

If you look at the diagram Maurillio posted you'll see that they already use a 25k pot for the volume. This is because the volume is in line after the preamps buffer. The drawing is confusing because of the ground wires but the signal runs from the pickups into the pre before the volume pot. So just use the values in the diagram and you'll be fine.

In the Bart drawing the wire leaving the blend on the right is just a ground wire. That it runs to the volume pot is misleading as it can go to any ground point. (and no, ground loops are not caused by looping ground wires no matter how many internet experts tell you that).

Your EMG's hot wire goes to the yellow Bart wire, the EMG ground goes to ground anywhere and the red battery lead connects to hot from the 9 volt but it should connect after the jack switches the power on so it won't be left on when you pull the jack from the bass.

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by badboy1984

I think is possible to do it but i no expert on soldering or wiring etc.

Originally Posted by badboy1984

The bass and treble pots is ok since they won't effect much.

I think the first quote should be posted before any declaration of these electrical "facts".

[Nomad98]

I think this is starting to make some sense. Thanks for all the help so far... I will post my results after I wire this.

Phil (Nomad98)

[badboy1984]

Should be fine and will sound good. Good luck and enjoy the outcome of the bass. Great pickup and preamp, its gonna be very loud pickup haha

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by BobXboB

Your EMG's hot wire goes to the yellow Bart wire, the EMG ground goes to ground anywhere and the red battery lead connects to hot from the 9 volt but it should connect after the jack switches the power on so it won't be left on when you pull the jack from the bass.

I looked at the drawing again and the ground of the 9 volt is switched (all very normal) so you can just hook the hot for the EMG to the red wire on the 9 volt. I made it too complex

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by badboy1984

its gonna be very loud pickup haha

Another fact? Why would it be very loud?

[badboy1984]

Originally Posted by BobXboB

Another fact? Why would it be very loud?

Is EMG pickup and they are active. They gonna be 30-40% louder than passive pickups.

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by badboy1984

Is EMG pickup and they are active. They gonna be 30-40% louder than passive pickups.

Complete and utter hogwash! Where do you get all these crazy myths?

[badboy1984]

Originally Posted by BobXboB

Complete and utter hogwash! Where do you get all these crazy myths?

Is just a approx estimate really, but you got to admit the active EMG will be loud compare to passive pickup etc. I only say that because my warwick with EMG + Bartolini preamp increase the volume alot.

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by badboy1984

Is just a approx estimate really, but you got to admit the active EMG will be loud compare to passive pickup etc. I only say that because my warwick with EMG + Bartolini preamp increase the volume alot.

If the EMG is loud then it's not loud because of the addition of the preamp. The Bart preamp adds no volume unless you use the boost features. Many passive pickups are louder than EMG's. Volume is not decided by having a battery or not. However you can use a preamp + booster to set the gain to ridiculous levels you can also set a preamp to be much quieter than passive.

Anyways active or passive tells you nothing about the output of a pickup. A preamp does not mean the signal is boosted as in it's basic configuration it gives unity gain which means no gain. I've been using EMG's for over 20 years and have not found them to be louder than other brands. Actually I haven't found any quality to be specific to a pickup brand name as they all make a wide range of products.

And now to contradict myself adding a unity gain preamp to a passive pickup can decrease the amount of highs lost in a cable making a bass brighter and louder in the high end.