Bartolini BH2 and Ibanez bass

[andruca]

Where did you get the finger ramp - desperately searching for one like yours?

Edit: Should´ve read the thread further ;-) could you please also send me the files? @andruca

I didn't 3D print that, just the pickup covers. The ramp I bought from an Etsy Shop. Unfortunately it's not there anymore (neither the ramp nor the seller as far as I can see)
I never had the original ramp (bought my 1005 used without it) nor olayed one, that's why i got this one, which also looks much more secure and comfortable than the original.

 

[andruca]

I understand BH2s are not good but are you also disliking the USA Bartolinis as a direct replacement? I'm thinking between BTB Iron Label BTB625EX updated to USA Bartolinis and BTB1835 with Aguilar DCB. Iron Label would still be cheaper (and black), where BTB 1835 more expensive, good out of factory (but not black).

IDK about you, but I definitely am over Barts, the USA were no better than the BH2s for me, some different mids, but averall the signature Bartolini kinda' dead. Furthest from what I like than any other pickups I've played (humbucker or not), just not for me, not even serious. Sad and bitter I threw away so much money to figure that one out.

 

[RyanC]

So here's the full guide for anyone interested- the schematic bartolini provides here: https://bartolini.net/wp-content/uploads/Docs/PickupWiring4Conductor.pdf
-is what will give you the correct wiring HOWEVER the wire colors in the BH2 are as follows:

Neck side coil: Green (start) - White (hot)
Bridge side coil: Black (start) - Red (hot)

Hello, I want to wire my EHB the same way and I just want to confirm that I'm understanding this correctly (pickup wiring noob).

Bart | BH2
Green = Green
Red = White
White = Black
Black = Red

Is that correct?

Which then on the switch would be (oriented like bart pic)-

* White *hot out *NA
*NA *jumper up *Red


Thanks!

 

[RyanC]

Hello, I want to wire my EHB the same way and I just want to confirm that I'm understanding this correctly (pickup wiring noob).

Bart | BH2
Green = Green
Red = White
White = Black
Black = Red

Is that correct?

Which then on the switch would be (oriented like bart pic)-

* White *hot out *NA
*NA *jumper up *Red


Thanks!

Just a reply to say two things, 1) The top color codes are right (pretty sure), the bottom wiring is upside down so it should be

*NA *hot/jumper *red
*white *hot/jumper *NA

And

2) I installed the switches, and an Underhill (dual filter, variable boost and treble boost) preamp, and cavity shielding and I'm loving the sounds I can get out of this bass now. Before (both series and parallel) were so tame and polite to the point of being boring for most things. Now I can dial in as much snarl/bite/growl as I would need.

 

[Arjank]

I'm in "Bartolini sucks" camp forever.

Each their own right?

My Bartolini story is quiet different (and rather positive).
Let's start with my Ibanez EHB1500 which comes with Nordstrand Big Splits. I was never able to get the sound I wanted out of this bass. The sound was always kinda harsh and thumb 'n pop was not punchy. I decided to put a set of Bartolini CBC's (parallel humbuckers) into the EHB and voilá, the harshness was gone and thumb 'n pop sounds growly and punchy. The sound comes very close to a Kubicki Factor bass (Stuart Hamm sound).
The Barts are a tad darker though so you need to set the onboard EQ differently then with the Nords.

After this positive experience I installed a set op MK4 Singularities (single coil) in my mid 2000 SR900 along with a Glockenklang pre-amp. It turned this bass into a high end sounding instrument reminiscent of Victor Wooten's 90's tone.

So there ya go, I love these Bartolini's.
Nordstrands are great (for rock and metal), don't get me wrong but they're not my cup of tea.
My Ibanez SR1200VNF has Nordstrand Big Singles, it can create a very convincing Stanley Clarke solo tone when using the bridge pickup. It also has a great tone for finger style with both pups on but again it lacks growl and punch for thumb 'n pop.

 

[zwii]

Okay, so here's what you need to do to re-wire the BH2 pickups in parallel: See those fat black wires, -- those are coming from the pickups, each of them has four leads: black, white, red and green.

You need to do the following for each of your pickups:
1. Solder Green+Black and solder them to ground of your balance pot (marked as "GD" on the balance pot circuit board).
2. Solder White+Red and solder them to "BR" (or "NK" for the neck pickup) pad on the balance pot circuit board.

Also, something you can try without soldering to change the voicing of the preamp: unplug the connector from the "BEQ3" on the side of your preamp (marked with the red sharpie), and plug it into the connector marked as "VM3" next to it, it will make the bass sound less nasally.View attachment 4796257 View attachment 4796272

Hi, Ach! I made an account here just so I could respond and say thank you for these simple and clear instructions!

For everyone else: I picked up my BTB845 to learn bass. I love the way it plays but, like many others, was never quite satisfied with the stock tone. Wasn't bad, just felt dark and muddy. Wiring the BH2s in parallel isn't quite as dramatic as changing the pickups or EQ, but it was free and made a big enough difference that I am satisfied as a beginner. Well worth the effort.

 

[CavinTan]

I've owned an EHB1005MS for a week and have already rewired the BH2s to single coils (hated them stock -series-, criminally muffled/scooped -scoopDEAD-). Just didn't wire outer/inner, but both neckside coils (barely makes it to P position in neck pickup, also prefer the fattest bridge tone I can get). Doesn't hum at all, and it's the tone I liked the most, after trying all combinations, also parallel (ultra clicky/zingy). This guy's video helped me get the colors right.



This last week has been an intensive course on BH2s/wiring/replacements/etc. It's my impression these pickups are the weak link in this otherwise awesome bass. I'm also awaiting delivery of one of those 26€/$ Guyker blade sets. Will report back on that, hopefully with sound clips. Could even 3D print pickup covers for them if they work better than i expect (I don't expect anything beyond cheap generic single coil tone, which I will definitely like more than the BH2s in either series or parallel).

This is how my neck PU sounds single coil. The tone opened up significantly, like a blanket was lift from over my amp, I can totally live with these now, sounding completely "regular" single coil (as unnatural as I found the BH2s in series, they're surprisingly normal in single coil). Also there's less compression and no overdrive going on (which I got when boosting lows/low-mids too much with stock wiring). I personally don't seem to have a problem with the VariMid onboard, I've always found my desired tone easily with VariTones in any Ibanez bass I've played with one.

Would you be able to share the wiring schematic u did to get this? love the fat tone u get here

 

[Progressive10]

Hello how are you,
I recently purchased an Ibanez EHB1005MS and I’m experiencing the same issue with the Bartolini BH2 pickups—a lack of brightness and clarity. I noticed that in my case, the preamp doesn’t have space to move the jumper to switch to +6dB.
Also, I can see a blue wire in the circuit, which looks quite different from the image that was shared. My question is whether this parallel wiring configuration is applicable to my specific bass model. I’ve attached an image of the preamp circuit.
Thank you very much for your help.

Okay, so here's what you need to do to re-wire the BH2 pickups in parallel: See those fat black wires, -- those are coming from the pickups, each of them has four leads: black, white, red and green.

You need to do the following for each of your pickups:
1. Solder Green+Black and solder them to ground of your balance pot (marked as "GD" on the balance pot circuit board).
2. Solder White+Red and solder them to "BR" (or "NK" for the neck pickup) pad on the balance pot circuit board.

Also, something you can try without soldering to change the voicing of the preamp: unplug the connector from the "BEQ3" on the side of your preamp (marked with the red sharpie), and plug it into the connector marked as "VM3" next to it, it will make the bass sound less nasally.View attachment 4796257 View attachment 4796272

 

[JakesAy]

Ibanez should bring back the previous preamp.. this preamp isn't cutting it for me.. loved the +6db input and the 2 output modes