Bartolini or Kent Armstrong?

juan_king · #1 05-20-2007, 01:46 PM

Hi!

I've just ordered a custom Sei Bass and need to decide which pickups to use. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for a Demeter preamp, and have narrowed my search to either Bartolini or Kent Armstrong. I prefer the look of soapbar style pickups but am willing to sacrifice this for tone. I really need it to be as versatile as possible. I'm leaning towards Kent Armstrong after reading reviews about Bartolini colouring the tone too much but would love to hear your opinions.

Here are the specs of my bass:

Sei Bass Flamboyant 5
Rock Maple Neck/Wenge
Ash Body
Buckeye Burl Full Facing
Ebony Fingerboard
2mm Sidedots M.O.P
Pickups to be decided (Bartollini/Kent Armstrong Humbuckers with c/tap)
Custom inlay on back elec compartment cover - yet to be designed
26 Frets
5 knob elec (possibly Demeter)
Black ABM Hardware

Cheers!

Aidan

Hollow Man · #2 05-20-2007, 04:39 PM

I'm not much of a fan of the Bartolini sound, but that's just me. I find that they are often dark and not as 'open' as I like my basses to sound. I know Kent Armstrong makes pickups for tons of people, so I'd imagine that his work may be a bit more versatile.

sir juice · #3 05-21-2007, 04:01 AM

definately kent

cheaper and better

DaveAceofBass · #4 05-21-2007, 09:02 AM

Kent will be making the pickups for my new Kinal... I vote on the Kents.

Graham Monette · #5 05-21-2007, 12:24 PM

I have a Swamp ash body on my Conklin Grove tools. It came with Bartolini pickups (active ones). I really like the clarity, as it picks up all the subtleties of the sound quite well. Mind you they dont have the bite that some do. to me they have quite a jazzy telecaster pluck to them. But thats just my opinion, as I've never heard any Kent pickups, so I can't say which I'd rather go with.

DaveAceofBass · #6 05-22-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Monette

I have a Swamp ash body on my Conklin Grove tools. It came with Bartolini pickups (active ones). I really like the clarity, as it picks up all the subtleties of the sound quite well. Mind you they dont have the bite that some do. to me they have quite a jazzy telecaster pluck to them. But thats just my opinion, as I've never heard any Kent pickups, so I can't say which I'd rather go with.

Kent's pickups are used in Ken Smith basses (which have a very unique tone) and several others. They are clearer and more open sounding than the Barts, but have a distinct bite and natural sounding aggressiveness...