E string sounds distorted

[belzebass]

Hello.

I'vea just finished installing Bartolini pickups: Bartolini P-Bass pickup and Bartolini MusicMan pickup, wired with Bartolini NTBT preamp (Volume Balance 2 band EQ).

The notes on the E string sound distorted even when not digging in. The distortion appears on other strings too, but only when I dig in. Can it be a wiring problem?

Actually, when digging in all strings distort (even when lowering the volume). How can it be avoided?

Here is the soundclip:
https://soundcloud.com/belzec/bart-pu-test

It's a rif played on the E string, then the same riff on the A string.

First neck PU (pbass), then bridge (MM PU), then both together, with volume full on. After that the same thing, but with volume half on.

Thanks!

[72LML]

I'm really interested in what you find out about this. I just finished wiring up a P-bass with an EMG musicman pickup and it does the same thing. Both the P-bass and Musicman pickups are EMG and the 3 band pre-amp is a Seymour Duncan. If I play lightly there is little or no distortion. When I dig in it's distorted. I tried wiring it up to 18 volts and same thing.

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

I suggest posting a few pictures of the wiring. Its hard to diagnose with out actually seeing the Bass in question.
How high are the pickups?

[mjac28]

How close are the pickups to the strings? are there any internal trimpots?

[belzebass]

The pickups are not to close to the strings.

The wiring is exactly this:


I haven't wired a trimpot.
I seems that the pickups are just too hot, especially in lower frequences. But it sounds great with parm muting! A powerful boom with a fast decay.

[mjac28]

Here is a discussion about turning it down there seems to be a screw to adjust gain? Bartolini NTMB/NTBT preamp "system gain"??