Bartolini J pickups vs. Soapbars?

-=DanAtkinson=- · #1 02-08-2011, 08:29 AM

I have very little experience with Barts. How do the J pickups differ in voice from the soapbars?

Floridabwoy · #2 02-08-2011, 08:34 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twkkCD9ybhw

Just as a reference, this is a Modulus VJ with the NBMT & Jazz pickups... it sounds amazing.

I think the Jazz ones sound better than the MK soapbars.... is the general opinion.

-=DanAtkinson=- · #3 02-08-2011, 10:57 AM

Anybody compared the tone between J and soapbar types?

maturanesa · #4 02-08-2011, 11:21 AM

J pups have more highs and Soapbars are darker. Both have that bartolini mid growl. In passive mode the Js seems to be too weak for my taste and soapbars have a bit more balls i think... But both in passive are rather low output. With a pre both kill. Maybe its just done on purpose to sell the preamps...

tubby.twins · #5 02-08-2011, 12:02 PM

In general, their Jazz pickups have a typical "narrow aperture" tone with a slight roll-off on the upper reaches of the treble. They have a crisp upper midrange and a modest fundamental. In general, their humbuckers have a fatter fundamental and lower midrange, but the upper midrange and treble response can vary widely between the different models (armatures).

If we're talking about the "deep tone" pickup, I think the Jazz (split coil inline) pickups are okay, but the humbucking (dual or quad coil) soapbars are simply too dark and dull for most uses. They don't have enough treble or upper midrange for my taste, and what's there is clanky, unconvincing and a bit metallic.

Their "classic bass" pickups are another story. The humbucking soapbars are reasonably bright, and have a nice resonance in the upper midrange. I have one "classic bass" Jazz bridge pickup which I haven't tested yet - when I get some results I can gladly share them here, but I would expect it to be correspondingly bright and snappy as well.

I've also tried one of the "K" series bright Jazz pickups, which are harder to find. It has an extremely low output, but makes up for it with a bright, sweet tone with a very delicate lower-midrange response and a rich, detailed upper midrange. It doesn't have the resonance of the "classic bass" series, but is very nice for what it is. I believe this pickup (or a similar one) was in the bass that Gary Willis used during the "early years" of Tribal Tech. It has the same sort of upper midrange and treble response.

The "CX" series of quad-coil humbuckers is more bright than the "C" series, but still not up to the level of the "classic bass" series. These are less common as well.

Most of the Bartolini pickups have a lower output because they're wound to get a specific tone. If they wound them hotter, it would change the sound of the pickup. I don't think they do this to purposely sell the pre-amps. You can always boost the gain on the amp to get the same result. I've used most of my Bartolini pickups in all-passive basses, and never had a problem that a good gain knob couldn't solve.

maturanesa · #6 02-08-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubby.twins

In general, their Jazz pickups have a typical "narrow aperture" tone with a slight roll-off on the upper reaches of the treble. They have a crisp upper midrange and a modest fundamental. In general, their humbuckers have a fatter fundamental and lower midrange, but the upper midrange and treble response can vary widely between the different models (armatures).

If we're talking about the "deep tone" pickup, I think the Jazz (split coil inline) pickups are okay, but the humbucking (dual or quad coil) soapbars are simply too dark and dull for most uses. They don't have enough treble or upper midrange for my taste, and what's there is clanky, unconvincing and a bit metallic.

Their "classic bass" pickups are another story. The humbucking soapbars are reasonably bright, and have a nice resonance in the upper midrange. I have one "classic bass" Jazz bridge pickup which I haven't tested yet - when I get some results I can gladly share them here, but I would expect it to be correspondingly bright and snappy as well.

I've also tried one of the "K" series bright Jazz pickups, which are harder to find. It has an extremely low output, but makes up for it with a bright, sweet tone with a very delicate lower-midrange response and a rich, detailed upper midrange. It doesn't have the resonance of the "classic bass" series, but is very nice for what it is. I believe this pickup (or a similar one) was in the bass that Gary Willis used during the "early years" of Tribal Tech. It has the same sort of upper midrange and treble response.

The "CX" series of quad-coil humbuckers is more bright than the "C" series, but still not up to the level of the "classic bass" series. These are less common as well.

Most of the Bartolini pickups have a lower output because they're wound to get a specific tone. If they wound them hotter, it would change the sound of the pickup. I don't think they do this to purposely sell the pre-amps. You can always boost the gain on the amp to get the same result. I've used most of my Bartolini pickups in all-passive basses, and never had a problem that a good gain knob couldn't solve.

A lower output dont only affect the volume. Generally low output pickups, like Bartolini jazz, have more highs and less bottom, thats why im saying that they sound weak for me in passive mode. And you cant solve that turning up the amp. With a premp you can boost bass, middle or treble, and thats when Bartilini jazz pups really work for me. In passive, i think Bartolinis have almost the half of signal of a Fender stock...