Bartollini MM pickup problem

[bah]

Hello guys!
A few months ago i have ordered custom made 5 string bass from Polish luthier Krzysztof Kania. I was looking for a WALish sound, and he proposed to put two Bartollini's MM replacement pickups in the middle and near the bridge. I haven't ever tried or had Bartollini's before, so i agreed. However, after some time with my bass i can tell for sure that bartollini pickups are not for me, and i wanted to change them for Seymour Duncan Ceramic MM. I even ordered one, but when i wanted to mount it, i realised that it is much bigger, and won't fit!
I have never suspected that MM replacement pickup ( means Bartollini ) could have other measurements than original MM pickup. (Bartolini have about 9,6 cm without ears)
I don't know what to do now, because i have beautiful 5 string bass, but i don't like the sound of it, and cannot find any other pickups that would fit. Are there any that are 9,6 cm wide without ears? I have been looking for it forever.

P.S. my bass string spacing is 16 mm.

Thanks for all help,
bah

[Mr_Music90]

I thought those MM Barto's had ''ears''... strange..

Can you show me a picture?

[BassGyver]

For narrow string spacing, Bartolini has enough room to put a 5 string PU under a 4 string cover (they are rail type PU). The SD has the standard 5 string MM shape (without ears).

There is also the OLP/Lakland size, which is a 5 string with ears, even larger.

[mmbongo]

Need pics.

[bah]

Yes they do! It just has 9,6 cm without measuring ears (i measure it like that because most of the companies i checked out does it) however i still cannot find any MM pickup that is narrow enough - all of them have more than 10 cm without measuring "ears", and in my bass bartollinis fits perfectly, and the wood is so beautiful that i don't wanna ruin it by drilling
I took a picture:
http://s21.postimage.org/5hlujxkjb/P3202335.jpg

Thanks for replies!

[mmbongo]

Well here's what I would do.

Contact David at SGD Pickups. I use his pickups because of their Wal-like tone. Get him specific mesurements and he can make you what you want.

http://www.sgd-lutherie.com/

[maurilio]

Originally Posted by bah

Yes they do! It just has 9,6 cm without measuring ears (i measure it like that because most of the companies i checked out does it) however i still cannot find any MM pickup that is narrow enough - all of them have more than 10 cm without measuring "ears", and in my bass bartollinis fits perfectly, and the wood is so beautiful that i don't wanna ruin it by drilling
I took a picture:
http://s21.postimage.org/5hlujxkjb/P3202335.jpg

Thanks for replies!

Interesting, indeed it is a not common size. Routing for a standard sized MM pickup is not a big problem and if done right you would not "ruin" the wood (done it plenty of times)…

Is this the size of your pups?



M

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by bah

I have never suspected that MM replacement pickup ( means Bartollini ) could have other measurements than original MM pickup. (Bartolini have about 9,6 cm without ears)

That's because that's a 4 string size MM pickup.

The one you got from Duncan is a 5 string size.

The one in your bass should measure 8,89 cm. There is also a 5 string version with the mounting ears, that's about 10,31 cm.

As maurilio said, it's easy to rout the bass for a different size pickup. The new one will cover the footprint on the old one.

You can also look for a 4 string size pickup that will work with a five string with a 16mm spacing. That's a total of 64mm. I make blade pickups in that size pickup shell that work with any amount of strings up to 72.6 mm. As mmbongo said, they get a Wal like tone.

[bah]

SGD Lutherie, thanks for a reply!
I think the one i have is exactly 10,31 cm when i measure it with ears and i would love to try one of Your pickups, because i have read many great things about them Is there anywhere when I can check out the sound of Blade pickup?

Cheers!