Bartolini MK1 in Cort Artisan, which pickup is which?

[show-stoppers]

I know many Ibanez reverse the MK1 pickup positions; "T" in the neck and "B"" pickup at the bridge, but does Cort also reverse them?

They are labeled Bartolini-mk1-5-F at the neck (red wire) and Bartolini-mk1-5-R at the bridge (green wire) and the bass sounds terrible, almost hollow with no mids, all highs and rumbly bottom. The only usable tone is with the bridge pickup completely off. Could this be from the dreaded pickup position swap at the factory?

 

[mmbongo]

Well, the swap is not a 'dreaded' thing..they do it so the hotter pickup is at the neck. There is a minor sound difference and will not cause what you're describing.

I'd start with a preamp upgrade then a pickup upgrade...installing actual Barts will make a huge difference as those really have nothing to do with Bartolini.

 

[ex-tension]

AFAIK, F is front (=neck) & R is rear (=bridge).

 

[show-stoppers]

"F is front (=neck) & R is rear (=bridge)" That is my assumption as well, but are these stickers put on by Bartolini or Cort (or Ibanez)?

So I guess the question is: is the red wired pickup neck and green bridge?

Just want to get as much correct info first before going into trial and error swap and solder mode.

 

[darthplagis]

Im guessing the cables go to a blend pot.
It should be a simple few solder points (+ signal, - ground maybe a braid ground also)

Just remove blend pot wires (take a pic first) pull pickups out and swap, then solder the pickups to the other terminals (red where green was, green where red was)

 

[JustForSport]

Measure the resistance of each pickup- usually the one with the higher reading (hotter, usually) is mounted in the bridge position due to the strings having less excursion there, and generating a smaller signal.

 

[ex-tension]

...but are these stickers put on by Bartolini or Cort (or Ibanez)?

Probably by Cort (or Hoshino Gakki?). See this post: www.talkbass.com/threads/preamp-identification-what-is-this-pre.1079271/

Just want to get as much correct info first before going into trial and error swap and solder mode.

Also see:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/bartolini-mk1-pickups-and-eq-anygood.211475/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/anyone-running-bart-mk1s-without-the-active-preamp.970451/

 

[show-stoppers]

I've reversed the pickup position and there was enough improvement in tone to think that they were in the wrong positions (that and the fact that they appeared to be resoldered by the previous owner)

The pickup labelled "F" is now at the bridge and the one labelled "R" is now at the neck. Now there is at least some midrange and midbass. The next step will be to bypass everything, wiring both pickups straight to the jack for a full passive test to see if its worth investing in another preamp.

If the pickups aren't worth keeping then neither is the bass. A Sterling SUB5 makes more sense financially.

 

[edencab]

Well, the swap is not a 'dreaded' thing..they do it so the hotter pickup is at the neck. There is a minor sound difference and will not cause what you're describing.

I'd start with a preamp upgrade then a pickup upgrade...installing actual Barts will make a huge difference as those really have nothing to do with Bartolini.

hi.could you elaborate on your last sentence there, about actual Barts etc etc..... and is this why I can't find Mk12 on their web site...

 

[mmbongo]

hi.could you elaborate on your last sentence there, about actual Barts etc etc..... and is this why I can't find Mk12 on their web site...

MK1's are not Bartolini's, they are G&B brand, made in Korea. They just pay Bartolini to use their name...pretty stupid on Barts part if you ask me. That's why you don't see them on Bartolini's site, they have nothing in common with real USA made Barts.

 

[edencab]

MK1's are not Bartolini's, they are G&B brand, made in Korea. They just pay Bartolini to use their name...pretty stupid on Barts part if you ask me. That's why you don't see them on Bartolini's site, they have nothing in common with real USA made Barts.

thanks...I'm trying out an Ibby SR500 and while they do sound good, I didn't know they were not real Barts, learn something new here everyday

 

[mmbongo]

thanks...I'm trying out an Ibby SR500 and while they do sound good, I didn't know they were not real Barts, learn something new here everyday

Yeah I think those MK1's do a lot of harm to Bartolini's reputation. People think all Barts sound like those, but they are nothing alike.

 

[edencab]

Yeah I think those MK1's do a lot of harm to Bartolini's reputation. People think all Barts sound like those, but they are nothing alike.

do you know what real Barts would fit the SR500?.....on their site they have MK4s, guessing that MK series is close to the MK1.....

 

[DWBass]

Honestly, I think the pickups sound fine. The preamp leaves much to be desired though. I switched the MK1's for MK5's in my Lakland 55-01 and didn't like them. I then tried some Nordie Big Splits. Didn't like those either. Ended up putting the MK1's back in it sounds great. I did upgrade my preamp to a US Bartolini 5.2AP. The MK1's are just split coils with no coil switching options. Basic pickups. If you want more options then upgrade.

 

[nutdog]

thanks...I'm trying out an Ibby SR500 and while they do sound good, I didn't know they were not real Barts, learn something new here everyday

Play it first and see. I had a lakland with the mk1 set up and found it to be somewhat dark. But I also had an sr500 and 600 with the "fake" barts and thought they sounded nice. I swapped the pre in the 600 for a us bart but didn't leave it because I couldn't discern a noticeable difference.

 

[mmbongo]

do you know what real Barts would fit the SR500?.....on their site they have MK4s, guessing that MK series is close to the MK1.....

Yep, the MK4 is a drop in replacement for the 4 string. MK4 and MK5 are the same exact shape as the MK1. Difference is the radius of the blades inside with the MK4 being optimized for 4 string and of course MK5 optimized for 5 string.

But like DWBass said, you can try the MK1's first, they may sound fine. Just because they are not USA Barts does not mean they are junk...they are just not Barts

 

[mmbongo]

I was wrong on who and where the MK1's are made! They are made by Cort in Indonesia, not G&B.

Clyde: Yes, there is a licensing agreement for the MK Series, and those are manufactured by Cort in their Indonesian facility, but that is the only licensing agreement that's currently being used.

Max: So an MK1 or MK2 pickup is made by Cort, but the MK4, MK5 or MK6 pickups are made in the USA?

Clyde: Yes, that's correct.

 

[ex-tension]

do you know what real Barts would fit the SR500?.....on their site they have MK4s, guessing that MK series is close to the MK1.....

Search for 'MK4' and 'MK5' here in pickups forum.

 

[edencab]

cool..thanks guys.....so far (a week) I like the bass/neck/pups etc.....might put flats on it....the pups seem v powerful and warm rich etc etc..not sure if I would go out of my way to change at this point

 

[show-stoppers]

.....The next step will be to bypass everything, wiring both pickups straight to the jack for a full passive test to see if its worth investing in another preamp.

The straight wire bypass is done and they do indeed sound OK passive. Worthy of a Delano or NTMB preamp (once the value of the Canadian dollar comes out of the toilet)