Bartolini BH2 and Ibanez bass

[mike buzzetti]

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

THANK YOU I thought I was going MAD , BTW this is the way I have them hooked up now Parallel . Grn+BLK+SHeild = Gnd - - Red/Wht= out

 

[Ach]

Do you have wiring of the switch for this ??

Sure!

 

[5StringPocket]

Thanks for posting. Switching between neck/bridge blend and inner/outer coil blend provides a variety of different and useful voicings with a set of parallel dual coil pickups. One of my favorite is a set of Nordstrand Bigman. I think this modified Sadowsky M5-24 layout with that switch would be killer:

 

[Ach]

Thanks for posting. Switching between neck/bridge blend and inner/outer coil blend provides a variety of different and useful voicings with a set of parallel dual coil pickups. One of my favorite is a set of Nordstrand Bigman. I think this modified Sadowsky M5-24 layout with that switch would be killer:
View attachment 4599288

Another option is also possible if you have a 4PDT switch available:

A. Blend between neck and bridge humbuckers (each humbucker is internally wired in series)

B. Blend between inner and outer coils (all coils in parallel)

 

[Ach]

According to my experience the BH2 inner coils sound very nice, like a modern Jazz Bass. The outer coils sound rather old school like a PJ.

 

[State Man]

Just bought a BTB 846v with the BH-2's.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Sure!

View attachment 4599144

I was thinking of making the neck pickup out of phase with the bridge PU ? , then the balance acts like a variable phase level control in a sense, your setup switches BOTH PU phase correct ?

My other switch would be for Active vs passive ( in case of battery death )

 

[mike buzzetti]

Another option is also possible if you have a 4PDT switch available:

A. Blend between neck and bridge humbuckers (each humbucker is internally wired in series)

B. Blend between inner and outer coils (all coils in parallel)

how would you wire that ?

 

[mike buzzetti]

I just did a gig with the new setup ( parallel PU's and Darkglass EQ/PRE ) and it is WAYY better , cuts thru the mix etc.

 

[5StringPocket]

I just did a gig with the new setup ( parallel PU's and Darkglass EQ/PRE ) and it is WAYY better , cuts thru the mix etc.

It’s satisfying when an idea works out.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Well I tried both of these switch setups and neither one did anything for me actually !! so back to basics and where Im happy , got 2 switch holes now LOL !

 

[incommunicado]

You're welcome. Remember that the P2 (5-string) and P4 (6-string) Bart sizes are essentially the same length, just a hair narrower, so if you don't mind a small gap, or are willing to fill the gap with a thin spacer, then any of the Bart P2 offerings, and by extension, others who make pickups in a P2 size, will fit.

Yep, the P2 is indeed slightly narrower than the MK5, but I thought P2 is just a pickup shape, while it turned out it was an actual pickup - looking at the specs of P25C and the MK5C, I realized they're quite similar (apart from the underlined in red), but the P25C has two, instead of three screws, and therefore I thought they would be a better replacement for my current MK-1 pups which also have two screws...Any advice?

 

[iiipopes]

THe

Yep, the P2 is indeed slightly narrower than the MK5, but I thought P2 is just a pickup shape, while it turned out it was an actual pickup - looking at the specs of P25C and the MK5C, I realized they're quite similar (apart from the underlined in red), but the P25C has two, instead of three screws, and therefore I thought they would be a better replacement for my current MK-1 pups which also have two screws...Any advice?View attachment 4626258 View attachment 4626259

For the pair of MK5CBC pickups I bought for the BTB845V I used to own, I had one that shipped with a two-screw cover and one that shipped with a three-screw cover. When I asked, they said they were in transition to all three-screw covers and didn't have any more pickups with two-screw covers in that model. It doesn't matter. I drilled a couple of very small pilot holes for the pickup with the corner screws, which are not visible, of course, being under the pickup, and I found out that to stabilize the slight tilt necessary so the pickup was parallel to the strings that I actually preferred the three-screw pickup covers.

 

[c3powil]

Hey guys! I've owned Ibanez basses with the Bartolini pickups and never thought they sounded all that great. The BH2's are the best sounding, IMO, but still sound somewhat compressed and lacking top end in my BTB846SC. I performed the +6 db "mod" and yea it got louder, but still sounds the same. So I went poking around and discovered that there in another output on the end of the PCB labeled "BEQ3". I tried it out, and I really think it opened up the sonics of these pickups! I really enjoy playing and listening to this bass now! But, to be sure I'm not experiencing placebo, I recorded a bit of each so you guys can tell me if there is really any difference.

Vocaroo | Online voice recorder

I play a few lines with the preamp set with only the +6db "mod" and then repeat the same lines with the beq3 "mod". Is there more treble in the second part? I feel like the preamp sounds better in this mode as well. Much less harsh and more articulate.

 

[5StringPocket]

Another option is also possible if you have a 4PDT switch available:

A. Blend between neck and bridge humbuckers (each humbucker is internally wired in series)

B. Blend between inner and outer coils (all coils in parallel)

True, but with a blend control or stacked volume you can keep the simple DPDT switch and can solo or blend the coils any way you want.

 

[RenderBroken]

Hey guys, just created an account. There is alot of great info on this thread. I too have noticed how dark my BH2 pups are and have been chasing my tail trying to fix it in my DAW. I have seen the Nordstrand Blades being recommended. Any reason why these and not some other Nordstrand Pickups? I am looking to increase my mids without creating harsh harmonics. When I boost through EQ, I am having to use another EQ just to cut those harsh freqs out.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Hey guys, just created an account. There is alot of great info on this thread. I too have noticed how dark my BH2 pups are and have been chasing my tail trying to fix it in my DAW. I have seen the Nordstrand Blades being recommended. Any reason why these and not some other Nordstrand Pickups? I am looking to increase my mids without creating harsh harmonics. When I boost through EQ, I am having to use another EQ just to cut those harsh freqs out.

Most have come to the conclusion that it is the pre amp inside the bass , I swapped mine out for a Darkglass pre and it is much better ! also string choice matters , Im putting on some DR Hi-Beam's Ill let you know how it goes.
The Hi-beams sound GOOD except I got a dead G string so I used my Roto G for now , but much better for slap/funk IMO

 

[c3powil]

Hey guys, just created an account. There is alot of great info on this thread. I too have noticed how dark my BH2 pups are and have been chasing my tail trying to fix it in my DAW. I have seen the Nordstrand Blades being recommended. Any reason why these and not some other Nordstrand Pickups? I am looking to increase my mids without creating harsh harmonics. When I boost through EQ, I am having to use another EQ just to cut those harsh freqs out.

I beg you, please try the quick "mod" I posted a few above yours. I'm very eager to find if other bh-2 owners find it as rewarding as I do. I feel like it shifted the whole frequency range up. Much more clear and articulate than before.

 

[RenderBroken]

I beg you, please try the quick "mod" I posted a few above yours. I'm very eager to find if other bh-2 owners find it as rewarding as I do. I feel like it shifted the whole frequency range up. Much more clear and articulate than before.

I guess I should have clarified a bit more. I did try the mod. I had tried the +6db mode and he other voicing (I think it was vmx?). But nothing really helped.

I like to user some Ernie Ball strings (super slinky) but I have tried about 7 different brands and makes of strings. From steels to nickel, etc.

I may try the darkglass preamp. I have the Alpha Omega Photon and love it.

If I had to describe the issue I am having better, it sounds like using a limiter with the ceiling at 0db. The presence is non existant.

I found an interesting vid on YouTube that shows the different between bh2s and some nordstrands. It shows the exact problem I am hearing.

 

[c3powil]

I guess I should have clarified a bit more. I did try the mod. I had tried the +6db mode and he other voicing (I think it was vmx?). But nothing really helped.

Hmmm, that's disappointing. I thought for sure it helped mine. Maybe I just got used to the tone. But I have two other basses, and I think it sounds as good as those now. That video definitely shows a huge difference between the barts and the nords, but I honestly think I can get a tone pretty close to both with my bass.