• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Barts.......low output.......

DWBass

DWBass

The Funkfather
Jan 24, 2003
24,632
1
22,479
67
Newport News, VA via NYC
www.facebook.com
#1
Is this an inherant thing? In my everlasting search for my sound, I had my tech try some Barts in my Fender Jazz. 9J's (most likely the deep pair)I believe he said they were. The hum cancelling model. Currently wired passive. Are these best served paired with a pre-amp in order to get some gain [and a bit of boost in the treble region]??

I like the way they sound but they are a bit subdued in the high end. Also, would raising the heights help a bit as they are pretty low in output as compared to other pickups I've had installed.
 
#4
SGD Lutherie said:
They are medium output pickups. The deep set is the one with the treble rolled off.

What type of tone are you looking for?
Click to expand...
I love the articulation of the Barts and would like the same (with a boost in treble) and higher output! Bearing in mind, I don't want to spend $200 on a set of pickups at this time. What do you suggest?
 
#8
Pretty sure I had a set of those same pickups coupled with a Bartolini bass/treble preamp and while they seemed somewhat mellow and refined, they were also rather warm and smooth. I first put them in a semi-cheesey fretless project, but later swapped them into a nice bubinga & wenge Warwick Corvette - preamp included. Sounded gorgeous by itself, but I couldn't get enough bark in the mids to have enough of a cutting sound in the mix with the band.

Nothing against those pickups, but I'd probably only want them to be paired with a 3-band preamp (on-board) so that I could get more mids in my overall sound. The materials in that Corvette may have had an inherently scooped tone, but I've tried some other passive Jazz pickups in other basses that seemed to deliver extra "boldness" without needing a pre.

My current "parts" Jazz has DiMarzio Ultra-J's which have a bit of a mid-scooped sound, but these are loud and proud without an on-board preamp. I cut my lows and boost my mids a bit on my amp when I use this bass and the sound is fine for me. I also had a similar franken-Jazz with the pickups out of a Geddy Lee signature Fender and those actually had too much in the mids to make my ears happy. Plenty of output though.
 
#11
To be honest and IME Ive found that a simple string change can quickly enhance the high end of things. Bartolinis to me have always had an inherent compression of sorts..which for slap can be a good thing.. Ive got some CB soapbars that tend to have a bit more grind and top end then what Im used to.

Are you basing the low output on recordings or through an amp or?? Id hate for you to drop the dough and it be a simple fix elsewhere... lastly Fralins have been the highest output passive pups ive played
 
#13
LightGroove said:
To be honest and IME Ive found that a simple string change can quickly enhance the high end of things. Bartolinis to me have always had an inherent compression of sorts..which for slap can be a good thing.. Ive got some CB soapbars that tend to have a bit more grind and top end then what Im used to.

Are you basing the low output on recordings or through an amp or?? Id hate for you to drop the dough and it be a simple fix elsewhere... lastly Fralins have been the highest output passive pups ive played
Click to expand...
These pickups definitely have lower output than any other pickups I've tried! Tried through both my amp and a headphone amp I use to practice with. Also, as mentioned above, Barts are 'medium' output pickups and are best paired with a pre-amp of some sort.

In any case, I have researched my solution. I'm going to buy a set of Classic 'Brights' and pair it with either a Bartolini HR-3.3 or 3.4 preamp. In the meantime, I can dial in some highs and volume on my Ashdown Dual Band Compressor and on the amp until I get the new componants in. I only have 2 more gigs this year.
 
#15
DWBass said:
I love the articulation of the Barts and would like the same (with a boost in treble) and higher output! Bearing in mind, I don't want to spend $200 on a set of pickups at this time. What do you suggest?
Click to expand...

These can be closer to the strings than the standard pup. I ended up putting in the Bart NTBT in my Jazz to bump up the output and it REALLY made the pups come alive. as always ymmv
David
 
#17
My experience with Barts has been the same, although the Steinberger XQ I had didn't seem underpowered. Of the other two I owned (one is my current bass) both had NTMB pre's. With the internal gain maxed out the output was plenty and the sound was just as clean.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back