Bartolini MK1 - Characteristics?

[Solarmist]

Bear with me guys - my 2nd post in this forum. Can you tell me about the characteristics of Bart MK1 PU's like on Ibanez basses? Thanks Guys

Deep thunderous lows?
Somewhat scooped upper mids?
Very crisp sparkling highs?

I like somewhat extreme lows/highs - not much upper mids

[Ach]

Actually inside mk1 pickups are Split coils (read: P bass pickup), their tone are very similar to classic Precision bass pickup. But MK1 preamp on Ibanezes do a lot of EQ while flat: it adds lot of sizzle.

Lows are not thunderous, these lows lost in mix (blame mk1 pre).

IMO, mk1 pickups are good pickups.
MK1 pre is a good preamp... NOT!

PS: the best thing in ibanez basses are playbility and comfort, you can always change electronics.

[Aarix]

I found the mk1 pickups in my old Cort/Elrick RB5 to be very smooth and full. Nice balance even tone across the whole spectrum. They recorded very well too.

Live I had a bit of trouble cutting through the mix.

Honestly, I feel like the pre wasn't that bad. It's very transparent, and maybe the pickups need something a little more colorful and focused. I replaced the pre with an Audere 3B and it sounded essentially the same flat, just a better eq.

I still wished I had swapped the pickups with the USA barts or Nordstrands... I guess I'll never know.

[sanfan]

Hi all
hope you won't mind me jumping on this tread. Juat wanna know if the 5 sting version of the MK1 sam as the 4 string version becasue they have the same dimensions?

[Ach]

to sanfan:
Some people had complained that their 4 bangers with mk1 pups has low output from D string, i don't know but maybe all of these pickups are for fivers? Or just a lack of Q/A on the factory.

[Cutty]

Are these Mk1 pickups the same as used on some lakland skyline basses?

[Solarmist]

I was asking because I'm interested in a Ibanez SR530 or SR535 that has this pickup/EQ configuration, and was wondering how much difference there is in sound over my SR400QM with the EXF pickups, and StyleSweep EQ.

[WhiteKnuckles]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

I was asking because I'm interested in a Ibanez SR530 or SR535 that has this pickup/EQ configuration, and was wondering how much difference there is in sound over my SR400QM with the EXF pickups, and StyleSweep EQ.

You will hear a difference between the two.

I have a SR400 and a SR405, and recently picked up a SR505 because I really don't like the tone of the 405. The 505 with MK1s has a much much better tone...it's still not quite as snarly as I'd like, but it's not bad at all.

[emblymouse]

Originally Posted by Cutty

Are these Mk1 pickups the same as used on some lakland skyline basses?

Yes

[Billy Low]

Originally Posted by emblymouse

Yes

Darn, you beat me to it!

IMO the MK1 combo is not a bad one. I believe that many people find that it has its own sound, not one that emulates. Meaning that most basses that this combo is installed in do not sound like basses that listeners are most accustomed to (J style, P style, or Music Man style). Once players begin to appreciate that the combo has its own identity, you'll see more love for the MK1.