• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bartolini BH2 and Ibanez bass

#61
BH2 sound way better when wired in parallel, I would probably say that BH2 (in parallel) sound as good as the US Bartolini Classic Bass pickups (wired in series). Also, make sure that your bass has the BH2 pickups installed correctly (mine has not): the high resistance pickup must be put in the bridge position, while the low resistance pickup must be in the neck.

In the end I have installed US Bart's Classic Bass P4-shape pickups in my multiscale SRMS805.
 
#62
It sounds like installing the BH2 set correctly, wired in parallel through the +6dB preamp input would sound better and prevent a lot of customers from chasing pickup replacements. Disappointing that Ibanez didn’t get this sorted better before production.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BasseroDE
#66
5StringPocket said:
It sounds like installing the BH2 set correctly, wired in parallel through the +6dB preamp input would sound better and prevent a lot of customers from chasing pickup replacements. Disappointing that Ibanez didn’t get this sorted better before production.
Click to expand...

The +6dB preamp option is used on the Ibanez basses which do not have the active/passive switch. Reason is simple, using it will give you a volume drop when the passive mode is selected.

Also the preamp has two voices, BEQ3 and VMX (i believe). I assume they use one with the Bartolini MK1 pickups, because that mode sounds like the old terrible MK1 preamp.
 
#67
I have tried two mods to my SRMS805. The one above has dual-coil US Bartolini Classic Bass pickups wired in parallel, with two 3-band EMG EQ's (bass, treble, vari-mid) - one for each pickup, and a switch which allows me to change the pickup selector mode between two modes: bridge-both-neck and inner-both-outer coils.

This allowed me to have two pre-selected modes with individual eq settings and quickly flick between them. By the way inner coils sound very modern and nice, while the outer coils sound rather old-school like a Fender PJ.

The controls are:
Mode switch, Pickup selector, Volume
Bridge PU Vari-Mid, Bridge PU Bass/Tre, Neck PU Vari-Mid, Neck PU Bass/Tre.

1419191933117808651-E7H7h0SXIAEUZ6T.jpg


Then I have realised that the dual EQ setup is not that flexible as it sounds, so I have went for a more traditional setup with a blend control, series/single coil switch and a 4-band EMG EQ:

The controls are:
Series/Inner coils switch, PU Balance, Volume
Bass, VariMid, VariMid, Treble.
20220219_134121628_iOS.jpg


I still don't know which treble setting should I select with the EMG preamp DIP-switches, 3.5kHz band or the 5kHz shelf. The 5kHz shelf really transfers the US Barts sizzle (similar to the MTD basses), but the 3.5kHz band accentuates the attack nicely.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basehead, Funky40 and 5StringPocket
#73
5StringPocket said:
No reason that shouldn't work. Please post your impressions when this is done.
Click to expand...
Quick ? my BBG5a Yamaha has a great out of phase ( I assume ) between the neck/bridge PU's theres a sweet spot in the blend control that I LOVE for slapping , can the barts be setup with a switch to make them out of Phase on say the neck PU ?? or would they just cancel ? or maybe do it from neck to bridge using the mid freq sw left over from the mod to Darkglass pre ??

Better idea I';ll just use clip leads make the bridge PU out of phase and test the blend knob DUHHH lol.
 
Last edited:
#74
Ok I got the mod done Uhh , the BH2 pickups dont seem to follow the stock Bart setup ?? I had to wire them red/grn wht/blk_ shield to get them to work , Im not sure if they are out of phase ?? I can try another wiring later . these should be parallel wired.

It is a totally different sounding bass now , WAY clearer, no MUD pretty bright but the EQ deals with that no problem , like I said I might have the humbuckers out of phase but I like the sound .
the Dark EQ is nice , the low mid is sensitive on mine.

If you want to kill the MUD this mod works well

Oh I have 2 switch holes left over now so maybe a phase switch and or ?? passive ??
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 5StringPocket
#78
mike buzzetti said:
Ok I got the mod done Uhh , the BH2 pickups dont seem to follow the stock Bart setup ?? I had to wire them red/grn wht/blk_ shield to get them to work , Im not sure if they are out of phase ?? I can try another wiring later . these should be parallel wired.

It is a totally different sounding bass now , WAY clearer, no MUD pretty bright but the EQ deals with that no problem , like I said I might have the humbuckers out of phase but I like the sound .
the Dark EQ is nice , the low mid is sensitive on mine.

If you want to kill the MUD this mod works well

Oh I have 2 switch holes left over now so maybe a phase switch and or ?? passive ??
Click to expand...
The BH2 wires are:

Neck side coil: green - gnd, white - hot
Bridge side coil: black - gnd, red - hot.
Bare wire is ground.

And you are correct, the do not follow the US Bartolini colour scheme.

source: i have replaced the BH2’s with the US Barts
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Aloe, Kaster Troy, Funky40 and 1 other person

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back