If Bartolini is loathed by so many bassists, why then do so many builders use them?

[capnsandwich]

I see builders like MTD, Roscoe, Elrick, Brubaker, Stambaugh, etc. using them almost exclusively in their basses. Then I read where a lot of bassists find them nasily sounding, too dark, not versatile enough, and there seems to be more guys who dislike them than like them. Me personally, I like them. I know they have different voicings and tones that come in the same shape but I'm sure these guys who don't like them know that too, or at least I would hope since they've already written them off.

I mean, if so many bassists found them not to their liking wouldn't you think some of these great bass builders would find what people want and use them instead?

Not trying to stir anything up here. I've been curious about this for a while. Just want some insight.

[LaklandBass]

A good question. I have had barts in two of my basses and loved them. I get a good amount of tones out of my current ones and Im looking to upgrade soon to the better barts than came stock

[meatwad]

I love my Barts in my fretless Tobias! It's my best sounding bass, and I would never change it's pickups or preamp. I've even thought about going with an active Bartolini P/J set in my Ibanez. I don't understand the hate some folks have for them, although everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[GeneralElectric]

One of my basses is loaded with barts and a demeter preamp. Its a bit dark sounding but thats what I like. I think that in cheaper basses they put in a crappy pre and then add barts. With a good pre, they shine.

[bongomania]

I have two ideas about this:

1) There is a current increase in the number of bassists seeking a "zingy" crisp or bright or flat-EQ or "hi-fi" tone, and many Bart models don't excel at that zingy flat sound.

2) When Barts were the exotic new thing, everybody loved them. Now, other brands are the exotic new thing. Trends and fads.

[smem]

I was unaware that people disliked Barts so much. I had always thought they were a pretty high quality pickup if not tonally my thing.

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

One of my basses is loaded with barts and a demeter preamp. Its a bit dark sounding but thats what I like. I think that in cheaper basses they put in a crappy pre and then add barts. With a good pre, they shine.

I noticed that in most of these custom basses with Barts they usually have the matching NTMB or NTBT preamp. I'm not sure if you would call those cheap but I can understand that a good pre definitely makes or breaks the tone of an active bass, no matter what pups.

[Munjibunga]

People who like Barts have no reason to post about them, but people who don't, do.

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I have two ideas about this:

1) There is a current increase in the number of bassists seeking a "zingy" crisp or bright or flat-EQ or "hi-fi" tone, and many Bart models don't excel at that zingy flat sound.

2) When Barts were the exotic new thing, everybody loved them. Now, other brands are the exotic new thing. Trends and fads.

I've often pondered #2 of what you posted. Just wondered if I was right, and I have heard some pretty zingy and bright Barts, especially in some of the MTD's I've played and heard. Maybe not what other guys are after as far as a modern tone for a bass but definitely modern and zingy for my tastes.

[PilbaraBass]

Nothing wrong with barts at all...

I agree with bongomania... it really is trends and fads...

for the last 5 years the two big rages in pickups has been nordstrand and Hammon Dark Stars

at one point EMG's were the rage (I bit on that one )

Barts are now becoming a bit "old school", but boy what a school they are (*two thumbs up*)

[Hoover]

I never heard a bassist disparage Bartolini pickups until I came on TalkBass.

[Govier966]

barts have pretty low output so they sound kind of dull without a pre amp

[JBasstorius]

Good question, i've been thinking about this for a while too. Gary Willis used custom Bartolini's, and one of my favorite bassists Jon Evans uses (or at least used) a Lakland and Tobias basses which have bartolini's. Yes, i know that lakland makes their custom pickups now, this was before that.

Hope to get some good opinions on this thread.

[Rickett Customs]

I prefer Barts in my fretlesses, I feel like they are voiced especially for them.

[bassike]

i do have them in my fretless and so far I'm an emg guy
i'm saying so far caause i have no experience with all pups
and i love my fretless with the bart and i like my esp with the emg's
but then I like the mec's on my wick
and i wonder what if I had a ken armstron or a vilex or something else in the fretless plus all the kind of preamps that can make the pup sound different.

so my guess is that famous builders use barts cause it is kinda standard clear and versatile.

this kind of quiestions drive me insane cause i'll never know what would be the best pup for my taste depending of the bass.

[gregwatts2008]

A lot depends on the bass in which they are installed. A cheaply made bass, or one of cheaper woods, certainly won't benefit from the Barts. I swear by my Barts, which are in my 1988 Tobias. I have owned Smiths, Roscoes, and Sadowskys. My tone comes from the Barts in my hand made, neckthru, high quality wood bass.

[stflbn]

My biggest issue with barts is that there's so many variants and no real way to decipher what they really sound like what without buying each set and trying for yourself.

I've no clue why pickup designers don't do basic general sound clips like Lakland does of their different basses. Well... actually I do... if they did that they would sell pickups to people who specifically want that sound, but NOT to people who are randomly searching. It would likely cost pickup manufacturers sales from players GASing for tone in their head that they can't attain.

[4001]

Jeff Berlin has a Bartolini HI-A pickup in his bridge position of his old P/J bass.
Sounds damn good on all of that old Bruford stuff and his older solo albums.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I have two ideas about this:

1) There is a current increase in the number of bassists seeking a "zingy" crisp or bright or flat-EQ or "hi-fi" tone, and many Bart models don't excel at that zingy flat sound.

2) When Barts were the exotic new thing, everybody loved them. Now, other brands are the exotic new thing. Trends and fads.

I agree. My modulus has Barts and it is not dark, or nasty sounding. They cut the mix like a hot knife through butter. And I fell for the EMG thing too. yes, bright and zingy. TOO bright and zingy! Thin. Sterile. Much too much high end. I SOLD that bass EMGs and all!

Personally I don't get the people that hate Barts and love EMGs. That is not me. But hey there is no predicting taste.

[Jefenator]

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

I see builders like MTD, Roscoe, Elrick, Brubaker, Stambaugh, etc. using them almost exclusively in their basses. Then I read where a lot of bassists find them nasily sounding, too dark, not versatile enough, and there seems to be more guys who dislike them than like them. Me personally, I like them. I know they have different voicings and tones that come in the same shape but I'm sure these guys who don't like them know that too, or at least I would hope since they've already written them off.

I mean, if so many bassists found them not to their liking wouldn't you think some of these great bass builders would find what people want and use them instead?

Not trying to stir anything up here. I've been curious about this for a while. Just want some insight.

Barts may not be for everyone but that could be said of any brand of basses and pickups.

If certain builders decide they want to stick mostly with their own vision and not pander to Bartolini haters, that would be their prerogative. Apparently there are enough Bartolini fans out there to keep them in business.