Bartolini or Aguilar inboard preamps?

[jinithith2]

I am looking for a new preamp for my Cort3535. It's a 2 pickup 5 knob 1 switch config

I noticed that aguilar offers a push pull mid boost switch incorporated into the mid pot, so I may use that space to wire a les paul style switch into the two volume pots so I can have a kill switch function.

generally, which brand is considered better?
thanks in advance

[lokolp]

Out of the two i prefer aguilar, but audere is the best.

[cybersnyder]

I like both. My only gripe with the Aguilar is that small twists of the knob results in large tone changes. While you're looking, check out the Glockenklang 3 band.

[jinithith2]

what kind of things should I be looking for in a preamp?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jinithith2

what kind of things should I be looking for in a preamp?

A few things IMO:

1) Will it fit in the control cavity of your bass?. Some pre's require two 9 volt batteries, which take up a lot of space. Some have multiple knobs that might require you to have to drill into your bass.

2) Do you want a mid control or not? I like two band EQ's a little better (bass and treble). The 3 band units usually move the bass shelving point down and the treble up to make room for the mid control frequencies. This typically results in a little more of what many call 'hi fi' tone... sizzly treble and deep bass, versus the tighter tone of many two bands. I prefer two bands... I've rarely heard a mid control on a pre that didn't sound 'peaky' versus adjusting the mids on an amp. However, I do like mid controls that have an option to set the center frequency quite high (800 hz to 1K or so). Thats great to cut a little honk out of the tone for slapping without 'scooping' the mid and lower mids out of your sound)

3) Boost only versus cut and boost... some pre's like the Aguilar OB-1 and Sadowsky are 'boost only'... the treble and bass controls are 'flat' when off. Most others have 'cut and boost' options. I prefer the boost only, since I've rarely cut treble and bass. My favorite is the Sadowsky pre with VTC, which is treble boost and bass boost, but has a passive treble cut that allows you to take the sizzle out of your tone.

4) Transparency.... some preamps really change the voice of the instrument.... The J Retro comes to mind... it's very aggressive and 'active' sounding. Others, like the Glock and the OB-3, are relatively subtle to my ear.

5) Hi Fi versus 'organic'... pre's that are transparent often provide a more hi fi tone to your bass when you engage the controls. The Glock and OB-3 sound this way to me... VERY high treble shelving start point, deep bass, and super clean. Other pre's, like the Sadowsky, seem to add a bit of grit and growl to your tone, which I prefer.

6) Simplicity versus comlicated.... pre's like the Audere and )B-3 have multiple bands of EQ, switches, mid variable controls, etc., etc. I prefer a simple bass/treble circuit that 'feels' more like a passive circuit, and allows you to simply add a little meat or sizzle to your tone when needed.

All the above IMO.

[DavidRavenMoon]

The thing I don't like about the Aguilar is the volume control is before the preamp. I don't get the reasoning there, unless they just wanted it to sound more passive, since you are loading down the pickup that way. The volume should always be after the preamp IMO.

I'm installing a OBP-3 with Barts in a customer's bass right now... I'm taking a break after solder all those wires...

[jinithith2]

do aguilars sound better than bartolinis?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jinithith2

do aguilars sound better than bartolinis?

I'm not as familiar with the Bart pre's. I've used plenty of the OEM models (MTD and the original Lakland circuit), but I assume those are different than the stand-alone you would get for an after market installation.

One thing I can say, is that the three Aguilar pre's are quite different.

The OB-1 is two band boost only. It sounds very good to me... nice fat bass, and a treble that can add some grind and not just sizzle.

The OB-2.. this is two band cut and boost bass and treble, and one of my least favorite pre's. It's really just an OB-3 without the mid control, so the bass is still set at a lower shelving point than the OB-1, and the treble control is way up in the hi fi sizzle range. Not good at all IMO.

The OB-3... three bands of cut and boost.. treble, a switchable mid (I believe 400 and 800hz.. nice) and bass.... wide sounding and quite 'pristine' like the OB-2 due to the deep bass shelving point and super high treble (6K or something), but quite nice, and the mid control is pretty good.

My impression of the standard Bart three band in the Roscoe basses, which I assume is pretty close to the 'off the shelf' model, is that it is more mid punchy than the Aguilars, and has a lower treble shelving point and higher bass shelving point... so more punchy and growly than even the OB-1.

All IMO! Both make total quality circuits.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Well I gotta say the OBP-3 with a set of Bartolini M45CBC's sounded really good in an ESP I finished today.

[CraigG]

Contact Brian at BestBassGear.com. He was really helpful when I was upgrading the electronics in my Cort Curbow 5. I ended up going with an Aguilar OBP3 and Bart MK5CBC-T pickup.