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Bartolini NTBT Question

gimmeagig

gimmeagig

Feb 25, 2004
2,891
1,198
Coeur D'Alene,Idaho
#1
Hi,
I just got a Atelier Z 5 with a Bartolini NTBT preamp and Nordie Splitcoils.
All my other basses have either the Aguilar OBP 1 or the Sadowsky preamp. So the EQs I'm used to are boost only.
The Bart is a two band boost and cut.
Does anybody here know this preamp pretty well?How do you think it stacks up against the other choices out there?
What are the center frequencys? It also seems to me that on center there is already a lot of boost for treble and bass.So I have to back the treble off halfway to make it sound right.I'm after the Marcus sound and I don't want the high end too harsh.
Also, the Bart has an output trimpot.With the trim vol all the way up it is still not nearly as loud as my Sadowsky and it does seem like that trim pot affects the tone a bit.The Bart sounds a little more transparent with the output level backed off about halfway.
The other thing that bugs me is when I switch from active to passive with the push pull pot I get a loud pop.I would have to turn off the volume on my amp.
I had some Bart stuff in the past but got terrible customer service from them so I won't even attempt to give them a call about this.
I do like the way the bass sounds very much and I'm not sure if a different Preamp would improve it.So I'm hestant to swap the Bart out for a Sadowsky at this point.
 
#2
Don't know the frequencies but doesn't matter to me cause I adjust whatever to get the tone I want and either it gets me there or it doesn't. Bart/aggie pre's to me is splitting hairs - their both fine. A Sad is a different animal for sure and is not comparable to either of the former to me - different not better or worse.

Seems you can install a cap on the by-pass so you don't get that pop but I've never messed with doing as much so can offer no specifics but can't be too complicated a mod.

At any any rate, if you're getting the sound you want out of the bass then the pop you can likely remedy.
 
#5
The frequency centers on your Bart are 30 Hz and 10 KHz. The centers on the two-band Aguilar are 40 Hz and 6.5 KHz. The centers on the Sadowsky are 40 Hz and 4 KHz.

The Sadowsky is +13 dB on each (it appears there is no cut functionality). The Bart is +/-14 dB for the bass and +/-16 dB for the treble. The Aguilar is +/-18 dB bass and +/-16 dB treble.

40 Hz is probably the more useful frequency to boost, but I don't think you really can go wrong with the Bartolini. I'm biased because I'm happy with mine.
 
#6
10 khz on the Bart... no wonder I'm cutting that.I like the high end sizzle but my amp gets me that already.I think i kind of like the 4 k a little more, but I guess each one of my basses really should have it's own character.They are all similar in that they are all jazz basses.My 74 Jazz and my KSD w/Sadowsky,the Moon and my Modulus Jazz w/Aggie OBP 1 and now my Atelier Z with the Bart.
 

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