Bartolini experts please advise.

[nuno.ka]

I want a PJ set for my Wick (dieing to replace the stock MECs), so I went to bestbassgear.com and they have 2 types:

P Pickup - 8S + J Pickup - 9J#1

or

Classic Bass Series

are the first ones active and the latter passive?

What's the difference?

BTW, my bass has a maple body and all wenge neck. What tone can I expect from the Barts? I'm looking for FAT low mids and slicing pick tones, I want to cut through (I also considered the dimarzio PJ set but they don't ship to Europe).

[allexcosta]

Many ebay sellers ship to Europe...

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by nuno.ka

I want a PJ set for my Wick (dieing to replace the stock MECs), so I went to bestbassgear.com and they have 2 types:

P Pickup - 8S + J Pickup - 9J#1

or

Classic Bass Series

are the first ones active and the latter passive?

What's the difference?

BTW, my bass has a maple body and all wenge neck. What tone can I expect from the Barts? I'm looking for FAT low mids and slicing pick tones, I want to cut through (I also considered the dimarzio PJ set but they don't ship to Europe).

The CB series is supposed to have more high end, not sure if you'll need it with your wood combo. AFAIK the 8S are also passive. Are you keeping the stock preamp? I personally wouldn't change it until I knew it didn't work with the swapped pickups.

[nuno.ka]

My Fortress One is passive and the MECs don't sound bad... I'd just like to have a "fatter" growl, more low mids or "meat" to the tone without mud of course.

Here's a couple examples of my current tone with the MECs

fingerstyle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIG_mXWgtms

with a pick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO4KXcyxd98

[fullrangebass]

I would not expect to get a big fat low mid body with this wood combination IMHO. I suppose it will cut through though

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by nuno.ka

My Fortress One is passive and the MECs don't sound bad... I'd just like to have a "fatter" growl, more low mids or "meat" to the tone without mud of course.

Here's a couple examples of my current tone with the MECs

fingerstyle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIG_mXWgtms

with a pick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO4KXcyxd98

Sounds pretty good on my laptop's speakers.

You may want to look at how you're EQing, doing it differently could address what you're not satisfied with. For example, if you're boosting highs, don't... turn your amp up instead. That can give you the highs AND give you more mids and lows at the same time. Try it first.

Also, dropping the action a bit and using a slightly heavier gauge string can make a big difference.

[nuno.ka]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Sounds pretty good on my laptop's speakers.

You may want to look at how you're EQing, doing it differently could address what you're not satisfied with. For example, if you're boosting highs, don't... turn your amp up instead. That can give you the highs AND give you more mids and lows at the same time. Try it first.

Also, dropping the action a bit and using a slightly heavier gauge string can make a big difference.

I already changed from .40 to .45 daddario XLs and the action is as low as it will go (smooth as butter) but yeah, maybe I'm just GASing for new pickups when I really don't need them... reading TB makes want to do things...

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by nuno.ka

I already changed from .40 to .45 daddario XLs and the action is as low as it will go (smooth as butter) but yeah, maybe I'm just GASing for new pickups when I really don't need them... reading TB makes want to do things...

I have a friend who spent about $2k experimenting with pickups and preamps on his Warwick... then sold it.

[bassman08]

Bump. I also want to hear more about the specific differences in tone between the original series barts and the CB series.

[billhilly66]

I hope the CB series sound good. I just ordered a set for a Jbass I'm putting together.