Bartolini Jazz pickups...new to me...need advice

tonynoriega · #1 06-28-2007, 06:23 AM

I just bought a pair of Jazz Bartolini's and need advice from some of you more informed users. The seller didn't know which model they were but sold them as hum cancelling and let me know that they were used as passives but could be used as actives. I didn't know they were interchangeable like that.......is that true for all Barts? On the back of the PU's there is 9v scratched in the finish. I did an Ohm test and both are about 7.15 Ohms. I bought these to replace the stock Japanese PU's in a Reissue I have, because I love the Bart sound in my vintage '66 Jazz and hope to duplicate the roundness and smoothness of the notes. Any input from you guys will be warmly appreciated! Tony Noriega in Tampa

pickles · #2 06-28-2007, 07:54 AM

I've never heard of a pickup that could run both passive and active. I figured he meant it was a passive pickup and you could add an onboard preamp, but the "9v" on the cover would indicate its an active pickup.

You can try wiring it up passive and see if it makes any noise, but I'm suspecting its going to need 9v.

tonynoriega · #3 06-28-2007, 09:13 AM

Uh Oh!!! Maybe I've invested in pickups that I cant use (don't play active at all!). Please - more opinions - please.....

ROGI · #4 06-28-2007, 03:01 PM

active pickup si pickup that needs power supply (9v battery) but does not need active onboard preamp. you can still have volume volume tone pots but you'll need a battery for the pickups.
i hope that helps

alexofc69 · #5 06-28-2007, 03:16 PM

my barts are Passive, then you add an active preamp and the pickups become active. Bartolini make an active Jazz too.
I bought mine here, you may want to ask them. Bartolini web sit SUX.
http://www.thebassplace.com/mfg/bartchart.html

tonynoriega · #6 06-28-2007, 03:57 PM

It seems there are different opinions on this situation......I did go to the BassPlace website and looked at the Barts for sale and they made no distinction between passives and actives. That leads me to believe that passives can be used with a preamp in active mode as alexofc69 indicates in his reply. I really hope someone out there can give us a concrete answer, because I don't want to install these to find out they won't work. Thanks!

alexofc69 · #7 06-29-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonynoriega

It seems there are different opinions on this situation......I did go to the BassPlace website and looked at the Barts for sale and they made no distinction between passives and actives. That leads me to believe that passives can be used with a preamp in active mode as alexofc69 indicates in his reply. I really hope someone out there can give us a concrete answer, because I don't want to install these to find out they won't work. Thanks!

Yeah, you may want to give the bassplace a ring. Like I said Bartolini web site sux. No support, no number to call. I would love to build them a new site to get some clear info going.
Most likely they are passive meant to run a preamp and make them active.

maurilio · #8 06-29-2007, 05:58 PM

The Bartolini website doesn't sucks , if you know where to look for.....

About the pups, if there is a red wire coming out (aside the regular coax cable) they are active.

I'm not at home right now, but I can look for more info once I'm home this evening.

M

BTW, 9v is a very old model. The Bart J active pups used to be labelled 9E.

maurilio · #9 06-29-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexofc69

Yeah, you may want to give the bassplace a ring. Like I said Bartolini web site sux. No support, no number to call. I would love to build them a new site to get some clear info going.
Most likely they are passive meant to run a preamp and make them active.

http://www.bartolini.net/salesinfo.htm

maurilio · #10 06-29-2007, 10:29 PM

Ok.....

I think those pups are 9U (not V). Old single coil:

Jazz pups Comparison Chart

M

alexofc69 · #11 06-30-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

The Bartolini website doesn't sucks , if you know where to look for.....

About the pups, if there is a red wire coming out (aside the regular coax cable) they are active.

I'm not at home right now, but I can look for more info once I'm home this evening.

M

BTW, 9v is a very old model. The Bart J active pups used to be labelled 9E.

Actually, their site does SUCK. Compare it to EMG and it blows the big one. Its just not good. It hasnt been updated in years. I am a Web Developer for a 22,000 + employee Fortune 500 company and deal with UI, site architecture and taxonomy all day long, every day. For a world class product like Bartolini offers, it should be a world class site.
They have no customer support?? Call a sales rep in Florida When the company is in Livermore, CA. ???
Maurillio, you have a very nice clean web site.!

maurilio · #12 06-30-2007, 01:01 AM

Thanks, although I think it would be nice to update it with more stuff (pics, audio clips, video...), but right now I don't have time and money to invest in it....

I see what you mean when you say the Bart web sucks. Esthetically it's not fancy at all, but I personally think it has way more info and explanations than the EMG one.... as always IMO. I actually don't like the EMG website, go figure

I agree it would be nice to see a face lift, but Bartolini is still a very small company runs by two bros. I know they don't want to deal directly with the customers (lots of time spent on emails and phone calls). If you need any info, refer to their dealers, like Brian at bestbassgear.com,for example. BTW Brian is a super cool guy and super available.... always!

M

tonynoriega · #13 06-30-2007, 09:12 AM

[quote=maurilio;4373620]Ok.....

I think those pups are 9U (not V). Old single coil:

Yeah, I thought that it was possible that the "u" looked like a "v" but it's very distinctly a "v" so I don't know what to think. I'm getting closer to a firm answer though, thanks to you guys jumping in with your knowledge.....

alexofc69 · #14 06-30-2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

Thanks, although I think it would be nice to update it with more stuff (pics, audio clips, video...), but right now I don't have time and money to invest in it....

I see what you mean when you say the Bart web sucks. Esthetically it's not fancy at all, but I personally think it has way more info and explanations than the EMG one.... as always IMO. I actually don't like the EMG website, go figure

I agree it would be nice to see a face lift, but Bartolini is still a very small company runs by two bros. I know they don't want to deal directly with the customers (lots of time spent on emails and phone calls). If you need any info, refer to their dealers, like Brian at bestbassgear.com,for example. BTW Brian is a super cool guy and super available.... always!

M

Cool! Yeah, it needs a facelift and re-organize the info etc.
I usually use the bestbassgear.com site for Bartolini info.
Cheers