'Bartolini Pickups Paired With Aguilar OBP-3'

[Arthur U. Poon]

I just decided on a Bart/Aguilar combo for my new Roscoe MM bass, because I wanted a more aggressive preamp than the NTMB (which my bass had installed at the factory).
I feel the OBP-3 is better for rock, but I like Bart pickups.

Nice Roscoe!!!

I have a Roscoe with the Roscoe Barts and a Bart 3-band EQ. It sounds great, and I'm totally happy with it's sound. I also have the Barts/OBP-3 combo in my Ristola bass, and for me, I give the OBP-3/Barts combo a slight edge. Honestly, I think it comes down to personal taste, as IMO neither EQ is better than the other, just two different flavors of Great.

I may just prefer the woods combo in my Ristola to my Roscoe, I'm not really sure.

I agree 100% with Maiden Bass, I also prefer the Aguilar OBP-3/Bartolini Pickups combo for Rock. The pickups in my Ristola are the Deep Tone Quad Coils. Along with the OBP-3, I couldn't be happier with my tone. It has a very Punchy, Ballsy tone. When I see folks remark that Bartolini pickups are Too Dark or Too Polite, I'm puzzled. On this particular bass, it's completely the opposite,- to me anyway.

The OBP-3's controls are super sensititive, though. Typically I run the preamp close to Flat. I may bump the Mids up a smidge, or cut the Bass back ever so slightly for the room, boost the Highs slightly for more Bite, etc etc., but never anything too drastic, as the Ristola's tone set Flat kills IMO.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I think they just did that.

Mark

You're right. On the Bartolini Website there's pictures showing the new version(s) of the preamp sitting next to the older version(s). They are indeed quite a bit smaller in comparison.

 

[Funkyputz]

All the guys with volume issues, are you wiring them exactly how the Aguilar diagram says? I had issues with a few but it was fixed based on where I put the master volume in line. I have multiple now with barts through obp-3. I always get huge compliments on the tone.