Bartolini XTCT help

[PSPookie]

I recently acquired a magnificent Bacchus 5 string Jazz that has a Bartolini XTCT preamp installed. I'm having trouble finding the sounds I want from this instrument and I think it's because I don't understand the controls on the pre.

I did a search, but what little information I can find is conflicting. The bass is wired vol/vol/treb/bass and there is another small wheel-type pot inside the control cavity. There are no center detents on any of the pots.

Is this pre boost only? cut only? boost & cut? What's with the little wheel inside the bass? Is that my mid control? When I turn this wheel and then roll back the bass knob too far, I lose all volume. I'm confused

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[brandonwong]

I had a friend with the same problem with this particular preamp.
I had him bring his AtelierZ over and we swapped the preamp out with a John East U-retro (hid the two switches in the cavity so we didn't have to drill extra holes).
The results was more than satisfactory.
IMO, the XTCT didn't do much to bring the character of this aggressive bass out.

Another preamp option might be the Audere or the Aguilar.
For barts, i much prefered the NTBT 2 band to their 3 band preamps.

 

[maurilio]

http://bartolini.net/instructions/electronics/tct/xtct_on_board_preamp.pdf

M

 

[PSPookie]

http://bartolini.net/instructions/electronics/tct/xtct_on_board_preamp.pdf

M

Thanks Maurillo -- that's the ticket

Diagram 4 looks very close to what I have going on; though there are a few extra capacitors and resistors in my setup

I think I'm going to try removing the XTCT and just setting it up for passive opperation tonight. I'd kinda like to see what theses barts sound like uncolored before I make any decisions about a new preamp.

 

[maurilio]

check first page. It explains what those caps and res are

M

 

[PSPookie]

check first page. It explains what those caps and res are

M

I didn't read anything in there that described what I saw. There was a cap and a res on each of the volume pots connected in parallel beteween the pos and neg terminals IIRC. I took some pics of it -- I'll try to post those later. I'm a bit curious as to their function.

 

[Shiveringbass]

I should get a Bacchus soon and this thread is helping.


I was just hesitating between a Woodline (passive) to add a pre I like later or a Standard (active with XTCT).

I'm not a Bartolini fan and your coments does not makes me feel like changing.


I guess I will just take a passive Woodline and add a Audere or Glockenklang. Only question is is there enough room in the passive for a preamp ?

Regards

Ludo

 

[needmoney]

Get a passive Woodline, and you won't need a preamp. Trust me.