Bartolini Pickups Buzz

Dad Bass · #1 08-04-2009, 01:35 PM

I have a Modulus fretless 4 string with Bartolini Pickups and there is a buzz or some kind of noise and it is more obvious when the treble is boosted. My local repair person says it's a poblem with the active preamp and suggested I reduce the treble on the bass and attempt to increase it through the amp.

1. Has anyone else encountered this situation?

2. Any fixes or suggestions?

Thanks in advance. Dad Bass

Arthur U. Poon · #2 08-05-2009, 03:01 PM

Does your Modulus also have a Bartolini onboard preamp? The reason I ask is I have a bass with Bart pickups and a Bart preamp that has the same problems you're having. I called a builder who has lots of experience with different pickups and preamps. I asked if the preamp could be at fault, maybe some inherent noise problem with Bart preamps, but he's had good results with them. He told me the first thing I should check is the bass' shielding. Possibly my bass is inadequately sheilded.

I don't know if your local guy already checked out your bass' shielding job, but if not, have him take a closer look at it. My latest bass was custom built and the builder didn't skimp on it's shielding. It has Bart pickups and an Aguilar OBP-3 onboard pre. It's super quiet unless I max it's treble boost, -which I'd never do in a real-world situation. And even with the treble control cranked it's still not that noisy.

I hope this helps, -Art

Dad Bass · #3 08-05-2009, 03:07 PM

Hey Arthur. The bass does have a Bart active pre-amp and my local guy believes that's the source of the noise. This is my first experience with Barts....my other bass has EMG and it's super quiet. At this point put me in the EMG fan column.

bassike · #4 08-05-2009, 03:09 PM

I do have the same problem bart pup and OBP2 preamp

and I always taught that it was the repair guy who didn't do a good job,

but now that I see this, it makes me wonder.

i'm a bit disapointed cause I like the pup but I can't use the preamp without getting weird noises.

Dad Bass · #5 08-05-2009, 03:14 PM

What solutions have you found to reduce this sound?

Arthur U. Poon · #6 08-05-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad Bass

Hey Arthur. The bass does have a Bart active pre-amp and my local guy believes that's the source of the noise. This is my first experience with Barts....my other bass has EMG and it's super quiet. At this point put me in the EMG fan column.

I hear you. I have a couple of basses with EMG's and they're very quiet. If your bass is well shielded, you can simply replace your preamp. If you choose to keep the Bart pickups in your bass, check around here for which preamps match well the Barts in your bass. I have 2 basses with Bart pickups and Aguilar preamps and IMO they work well together. You could always replace your Barts and Bart preamp with EMG's and an EMG eq system. That's another option, but it's a bit more costly. Personally I'm a fan of Bart pickups, I'd check out a different preamp -but it seems many people dislike Barts. Just like EMG's, some people love them, and others don't.

Regards, Art

Arthur U. Poon · #7 08-05-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad Bass

What solutions have you found to reduce this sound?

Turning the bass' treble control all the way down and turning the high frequency horns in my cabs off was the best I could do. I wasn't thrilled with my sound but I was able to play the gigs this way. I didn't mess with my amps' treble control because I don't boost my highs very much.

Arthur U. Poon · #8 08-05-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassike

I do have the same problem bart pup and OBP2 preamp

and I always taught that it was the repair guy who didn't do a good job,

but now that I see this, it makes me wonder.

i'm a bit disapointed cause I like the pup but I can't use the preamp without getting weird noises.

I'm going to say you're bass definitely needs a better sheilding job. Both of my basses with a Bart pup's/Aggie pre setup are very quiet, but both are very well shielded. One of the basses had Duncan single coils stock before I had them replaced with Barts. Either way it was quiet.

Eight_Stringer · #9 08-05-2009, 06:54 PM

Maybe my observations have been canvased previously, if not here goes. Recently the collection had added Ibanez SR706 and SR705, Bart Mk1 i believe. Their range of tones is very good to my ear, though early days yet. The master volume introduces a higher frequency "buzz" ie not 50hz fundamental or its first harmonic, though there may some secondary effect of the first harmonic.

The volume at maximum does not produce any "buzz" yet as the control is reduced towards minimum a "buzz" does become noticable. This happens on both basses, my first impression is that the master volume control is not a voltage divider arrangement rather a negative feedback control on one of the amplifier/control sections. This would account for the buzz not at maximum yet at lower settings it does occur. Though i have not removed the cover to inspect the circuitry concerned, if indeed i can see anything given potted circuits these days.

Let you know what i find out in time, or others may have already investigated this anomoly or characteristic. Incidently i have some EMG PJ's in a fretless which is quiet compared to the Bart Mk 1 i have available to test. Regards.

bassike · #10 09-21-2009, 03:53 PM

could anyone explain how to do the sheilding job.

I'm gonna try to see if it works.

it's weird that the repair guy didn't offer to do it, cause I remember telling him about the noise; and he said it was normal because of the preamp.

cliff78 · #11 09-22-2009, 12:12 AM

my suggestion is to trim the gain output of the preamp. there is a trim pot in on the bartolini preamps. That is what i did with mine ane it solved the problem

noahw1 · #12 09-23-2009, 01:09 AM

I'm having a bit of noise with my new Bart pups that are passive. A faint buzz, much more noticeable when I try to solo either pickup, but lessens when I roll off the treble.