Gary Willis sig. bass (black one)

[aleksander_sk]

Haha!

I find it funny that this thread is still going strong. I started it in 2007 and not until this week did I order a Bartolini preamp. I will try to make a video covering before and after installation and put it on youtube.

If the preamp doesn't cut it I'll get a new pickup as well.

[FunkyZeit]

I'm kind of thinking of just going with the SR375F. That will save me about $250 to put towards a preamp and pickups. Is there a reason why the Gary Willis is better?

[maturanesa]

dont spect a hot signal with a Bartolini pup, in general its an under wound pup with weak magnets. i suggest using a very little distance between pup and strings and play with a powerfull amp (like gary does) or change the pup

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by aleksander_sk

Haha!

I find it funny that this thread is still going strong. I started it in 2007 and not until this week did I order a Bartolini preamp. I will try to make a video covering before and after installation and put it on youtube.

If the preamp doesn't cut it I'll get a new pickup as well.

I love the tone from the ntbt preamp and sgd pickup I have... Need to get the neck setup and leveled and the cavity shielded.

Using tapered B string helps a ton too

[aleksander_sk]

FunkyZeit: There is, as far as I see it, no good reason to go for the GWB35 and be aware of the need for an upgrade. I think most of us in here have been unlucky and baught the GWB35 without knowing about its bad electronics. But when the instrument is already in the collection it is harder to sell it (especially such a niche bass - and let's not consider how hard it would be to sell it when a buyer experiences the bad electronics) and replace it with a better fretless. I baught mine from an internet retailer and did not have the chance to try it before it arrived by mail.

___________________________________________
PREAMP ARRIVED
The preamp arrived a few days ago and today I want to go get a sodlering iron to finish the job. I have a few questions though:

1. The NTBT 2.2 A/P came with instructions, but the instructions seem to be generalized for use with several of the NTBT preamps as it tells how to connect it to a balance knob and how to connect both neck and bridge pickups. This is confusing because the 2.2 A/P is a 1 pickup; 2 knob configuration (active/passive volume + stacked bass/treble). I've found this instruction which is a bit easier to understand: http://www.bartolini.net/instruction...tbt/ntbt_1.gif Would I just connect the one pickup (I assume neckpickup, eventhough the GWB35 is more of a central pickup) and leave the other out of it or won't this work?

2. In addition I am a bit puzzled by the amount of wires coming form the pickup (and one coming from a separate hole) into the preamp cavity. I will update when I have loosened everything and can clearly describe.

3. The preamp can be aither 9V or 18V. I though about going for 18V with one battery in the battery cavity and the other in the preamp cavity. Anyone have experience with this? If I did go 18V, I presume I would be able to connect a switch for bypassing the second 9V battery and hence getting the option of switching between 9V and 18V.

Sadly, I do not have my amp where I live now so I won't be able to make a comparison video, but I'll try to post a video when the preamp is installed. I think we all know the "crappacity" of the GWB35 with original electronics.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by aleksander_sk

2. In addition I am a bit puzzled by the amount of wires coming form the pickup (and one coming from a separate hole) into the preamp cavity. I will update when I have loosened everything and can clearly describe.

How many wires are there? More than 4? Also, write down where they go goes before you disconnect the wires.

[smtnfi]

Isn't there a sort of adjustable capacitor inside the control cavity, or is that just on the high-end model?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by smtnfi

Isn't there a sort of adjustable capacitor inside the control cavity

Adjustable capacitor?