Bartolini MK1

[creabass]

Hello,
recently bought used Ibanez SR 505 and I am wondering
is this how the MK1 preamp should really look...

If anybody has any basses with this preamp, please check
and confirm. Help really appriciated

I'm asking since the signal is quite wierd. It has a lot of hiss and noise in treble, less in mid and none in bass. It's noisier than my JB with single coils.

[azarias]

Yes that is the correct preamp. I have read that this is a licensed Bartolini preamp and pickups. So its made by some factory overseas.

There are a few replacement options for you. I only know the exact replacements for the 4 string version. perhaps you can check out the dimensions of pickups here to compare and see. http://www.bestbassgear.com/

I bet there are at least a set of nordstrands or Barts that will drop in easy.

[creabass]

There is no other way to correct the noise? What about making
better shielding? Any info on what actually generates the noise?

I couldn't find any other solutions from the net, than changing the preamp, but also it seems that nobody didn't try to fix it as it is.

Unfortunately I lack electronical knowledge to pursue the matter
myself without any questions.

And in the end even if I dont have decades of experience in playing neither in basses in general, "split coils with active EQ are noisier than passive single coils" seems like a really wierd statement - i feel there must be somethig wrong.

[ashtray9]

It's just a mediocre preamp. Maybe you got a really bad one. I took mine completely out and went passive. Much better.

[BillySid]

Originally Posted by ashtray9

It's just a mediocre preamp. Maybe you got a really bad one. I took mine completely out and went passive. Much better.

You went passive with the stock MK1's? If so, cool idea and I may be up to doing this myself.

[azarias]

I do remember the one i had was also noisy. The moment i got a chance to try and record with it is when i realized it was going back from where it came!
Personally, i just didnt want to drop pickups and preamp into it.
I decided it was either replace or return and so i just returned it.
I hope you can also resolve your dilemma.

[Steve Bennett]

Originally Posted by creabass

There is no other way to correct the noise? What about making
better shielding? Any info on what actually generates the noise?
[snip]
And in the end even if I dont have decades of experience in playing neither in basses in general, "split coils with active EQ are noisier than passive single coils" seems like a really wierd statement - i feel there must be somethig wrong.

It's not at all unusual for an active EQ to generate some hiss. The cavity is already shielded. I had a Lakland 55-01 with the same preamp and it hissed when I cranked the treble. So I didn't crank the treble.

Regarding single coil pickups, that's a whole different type of noise (60 cycle hum), which is canceled out in a typical J bass when the volumes are at matching levels.

[creabass]

Hey ashtray, could you make a simple wiring diagram for passive
setup of MK1 pups and EQ? I assume that volume and
balance knob will be working even after going passive?

Sounds like an easy thing to try out and easily restorable as well.

Steve I would be happy to have "some hiss" instead of "big pile of hiss". It's not about cranking the treble since this bass has enough
treble at flat position. It's about not cutting the treble...

[creabass]

Okay, I've been studying around.
Can anyone comment how does it sound and how is the hiss
after installing Aguilar OBP3 or any other preamp instead of MK1,
while leaving the pups as they are?

[Fenderjazz6823]

My MK1 preamp Crapped out after a year it started as a hiss then just was crappy sound

I got the MK5 Preamp for my Cort (they make some Ibanez basses) Brian at Best Bass gear has info in it I'm looking to get the MK5 Barts also But i don't have the cash yet

The Mk5 Preamp has a passive\active switch it's really cool

I also Boosted it up to a 18 volt

[chicago_mike]

The pups are okay, the preamp is meh. You could go passive or use a real bart preamp.

[barbe-et-hache]

Originally Posted by ashtray9

It's just a mediocre preamp. Maybe you got a really bad one. I took mine completely out and went passive. Much better.

I did that on a Spector NS94 with cheap electronic and it is much better without the preamp.

I also tried some Cort bass with MKI inside and I didn't like it at all. I would replace everything in the long term.

Be careful before replacing your pickups and pre. I put a bartolini in a washburn rb2500 and it still sound crap. I did the same in a washburn X600 and it was a big improvement.

[Ach]

Change the pre, mk1 pickups are ok by themselves.

[creabass]

Wierd is that I can't find such preamp as MK5 anywhere.
Bartolini NTMB 5.2 A/P is what I can find suitable for my bass.
It is at this adress: http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-preamps-ntmb.htm

Is this the right preamp to buy?

[hyp.spec]

My sr505 hisses when you crank the treble too.

I've been thinking to replace the preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3.

I would also like to hear comments on an sr505 + obp3.

[ashtray9]

Originally Posted by creabass

Hey ashtray, could you make a simple wiring diagram for passive
setup of MK1 pups and EQ? I assume that volume and
balance knob will be working even after going passive?

As always, do a search. I got the mod from a Lakland thread and re-posted in this forum a while back. Your volume will still work but you will lose the balance pot. Being crazy I decided to go further and wire both pups to the output jack... The tone made another improvement. I can now hear the tone of the wood in the signal

[creabass]

This bass is staying, preamp going...Altough I still dont know is it going to be Aggie or Bart.