Anybody here have experience with the Bart AGDB buffer?

[bongomania]

Here's a layout from the Bart site:
Invalid Link Removed
I've searched in this forum, but all I've found so far is references to the fact that the AGDB exists.

So, anybody used it? Your thoughts?

 

[A9X]

No experience, but note that it only has two inputs. If your bridge has 4 outputs (or 5 or 6) then you may need more than one. Piezo's will parallel OK, but it's certainly not my preferred method. It's a Bart so it should be of decent+ quality.

 

[bongomania]

Bumpola?

 

[luknfur]

FWIW:

you might try calling a distributor - like bestbassgear. You could call Bart but a long shot you'll make contact.

Anything in particular you're wanting to know? Dharma's an engineer. Not that that's a pass go draw but Dharma does know his stuff.

Bart makes quality stuff. Don't know squat about buffers myself but I'm guessing buffers aren't like pups in terms of tone, they either do what they do or don't.

Maybe Dharma will throw some light onto that.

 

[bongomania]

I've been talking with Matt at FBB about options for replacing the preamp we originally went with in my FBB custom, and he recommended a Bart pre. I saw the AGDB listed on the Bart site, and read some vague references to it here, and wondered if it was vaporware or a real and useful component. Pickup blend buffering is a big selling point for some preamps, so I was puzzled why the Bart one is practically unknown and unused.

As it happens, it looks like we're just going to forgo any preamp and go passive only.

 

[T. Brookins]

This is an important part!

If you want a high fidelity sizzle or need to make up for cable losses, you might want to look into a buffer!

The db18 is the fixed version of the adjustable agdb-918.

Some famous manufacturers use these and modify them to make MAGIC!

It is a good idea to try a buffer.

 

[bobp718]

This thread is kind of old but I'd like to address a point that AX9 made about this buffer only having two input channels.

Most players would use this device to buffer and amplify the signals from two independent sensors. The buffering stage is to prevent one pickup from *seeing* the other pickup thus maintaining the independence of the two sensors (i.e. avoiding insertion loss) and the amplification stage is to condition the signals prior to a summing junction. The signal conditioning would be balancing the output signals seen at the summing junction, this is to alleviate the irritating imbalance between the output signals seen at the bridge and at the neck (whether you're running parallel or series or SC or whatever).

The thought might be that if you also want control over the configuration of the coils (i.e. parallel / series / SC) you'd need another buffer / amplifier to drive those signals as well (If you have 4 conductor PUps and have hardwired them to parallel or series this doesn't apply to you). This thought would be wrong because ultimately you still want to sum two signals together at the preamp.

I have drawn up some plans that use a single AGDB unit (along with two quad pole switches and a support circuit) to have 4 independent channels ([Neck series / Neck parallel],[Bridge series / Bridge parallel]). This would mean that you can have any of the 4 configurations of neck / bridge series / parallel with balanced output going to your blend pot with no nasty insertion loss.

Contact me if you'd like these plans (for free of course). I am an electrical engineer by trade and I am like 99% sure that this will not blow up your bass.

Bob
[email protected]

 

[luknfur]

This thread is kind of old but I'd like to address a point that AX9 made about this buffer only having two input channels.

Most players would use this device to buffer and amplify the signals from two independent sensors. The buffering stage is to prevent one pickup from *seeing* the other pickup thus maintaining the independence of the two sensors (i.e. avoiding insertion loss) and the amplification stage is to condition the signals prior to a summing junction. The signal conditioning would be balancing the output signals seen at the summing junction, this is to alleviate the irritating imbalance between the output signals seen at the bridge and at the neck (whether you're running parallel or series or SC or whatever).

The thought might be that if you also want control over the configuration of the coils (i.e. parallel / series / SC) you'd need another buffer / amplifier to drive those signals as well (If you have 4 conductor PUps and have hardwired them to parallel or series this doesn't apply to you). This thought would be wrong because ultimately you still want to sum two signals together at the preamp.

I have drawn up some plans that use a single AGDB unit (along with two quad pole switches and a support circuit) to have 4 independent channels ([Neck series / Neck parallel],[Bridge series / Bridge parallel]). This would mean that you can have any of the 4 configurations of neck / bridge series / parallel with balanced output going to your blend pot with no nasty insertion loss.

Contact me if you'd like these plans (for free of course). I am an electrical engineer by trade and I am like 99% sure that this will not blow up your bass.

Bob
[email protected]

That's a pretty decent explanation - especially coming from an engineer

 

[Matthijs]

Bumping an ancient thread here.

I'm curious about any experiences with the Bartolini AGDB-918 too.

I've been using a tc3 in my Yamaha for ages now and I'm thinking of trying this one. I'm happy with having a buffer and no fully tone controlling pre amp. I ike the combination of a passive circuit and the slight boost in sound provided byt the buffer. The tc3 boosts to much though and I want to try a double channel buffer and see what it does to a pj configuration. I could wire it with a vol/tone stack for each pickup.

The AGDB is advertised as a input stage in front of a pre, but I think it would be usable on it's own as just the buffer. Any thoughts and experiences?

Would it benefit from 18 volts or is that just an option to make it compatible to both 9 and 18 volt pre's?

 

[Matthijs]

Bump?

I ordered it anyway to see what it does.

There are several threads where this question has been asked, but none with answers. Aparently Pedulla uses them, so it can't be all bad.

 

[Combinator]

So what were your experiences with the buffer Matthijs? Let us know! I'm interested in this too. I like the active blend on my Warwick so much, due to it using active PUs, I miss it in my Drozd and have considered adding a buffer prior to the OBP-3 in there now.

 

[fast slapper]

Bumping this up once again....active blend controls are all I use once my amp eq is set. I figure this would be a good solution for that and maintaining a low noise floor.

Any experiences?

 

[Combinator]

The Bart buffer works great. I've been using the dual buffer in my Drozd for a long time now, post pickups and pre blend. It still requires mix resistors on the output of each buffer side, but you can boost the gain so much you won't lose any with the resistors.

 

[fast slapper]

Very cool. Are you using it with a with a pre or solo? I looked at the pdf and it only shows a resistor on the preamp trim pot and not on the buffer trim pots.

Would I just insert resistors in the same locations when just using the buffer? Thank you.

 

[Combinator]

With a pre. The resistors go in line between the output of each channel of the buffer and the outer lugs of the blend pot. The output of the blend goes to the preamp's input.

 

[fast slapper]

Sounds good thanks again.