Blending a Bartolini Classic and Deep? Good or bad?

[rude_basstard]

I currently have EMG 40HZs in my neckthru Dean Euro 5 string with the original EMG BTS pre-solderless preamp. I eventually plan on installing an ACG preamp, but I'm starting with the weakest link first--the HZs. I was going to get a set of classic bass Barts, but everyone's out of stock in the neck pup. Bestbassgear has the bridge CB, and the neck Deep Tone pup in stock?

Would it be a good idea to combine the two? Use the DT in the neck to complement the deeper neck tones, and maybe cut some of the clicking when I dig into the strings and occasionally slap them against the pickups? And use the CB in the bridge to complement the crisper neck tones? Them I could simply roll the balance back and forth to drastically affect the sound.

To me it sounds like a good idea, in theory. But I don't know if there would be any impedance issues or severe volume imbalances between the two pickups. I know EMG pickup types are mixed around all the time, but I've never heard of anyone doing it with Barts.

Edit: I guess I should mention that I'm primarily going for a growly, modern rock tone.

 

[rude_basstard]

Really hoping for some input, because the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of rolled off highs on the neck pickup, especially since the ACG pre has a low pass filter for each pickup, but only one shared high pass.

 

[jallenbass]

From what I understand you generally don't want to swap the neck and bridge pickup as they are designed to be balanced in their perspective positions. Has more to do with output.

 

[mmbongo]

From what I understand you generally don't want to swap the neck and bridge pickup as they are designed to be balanced in their perspective positions. Has more to do with output.

Actually, this is a pretty common thing to do. Ibanez even does it at the factory. They install the bridge and neck reversed so they get a brighter sound at the neck and a deeper sound from the bridge.

 

[rude_basstard]

I'm talking about having a Classic Bass Bridge pickup in the Bridge position and the Deep Tone Neck pickup in the neck position.

 

[mmbongo]

I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[GBassNorth]

I did something kinda similar with a bass build a few years ago but in reverse. I combined a Bart classic bass Precision neck pickup (mounted in reverse layout) with a Bart Stingray pickup in the bridge (or stingray) position. A lot of people said it wouldn't work because they weren't a balanced set. It worked great! The key is to have your control layout with a volume control for each pickup. I suspect a blend knob without a balanced set of pickups would not work well due to the significantly different output levels of each pickup. I specifically used a vol/vol stack so that once I got the two pickups adjusted in respect to each other I could just grab the entire vol stack and turn it up or down keeping the relative volumes of the two pickups about the same (could probably do the same thing with a master volume knob).
So on to your original question. Deep tone at the neck and classic tone at the bridge in an unmatched set of pickups should sound great as long as you don't use a blend knob. I would think it would give you the ability to get that deep fundamental dub type tone and yet be able to dial in some good bite or bark from the bridge pickup when needed.
Also keep in mind there isn't a monstrous difference between the classic and deep pickups. It's not like you're putting a gibson mudbucker up against the base of the neck and a fender jazz right at the bridge (although that could get interesting also).
I say go for it, the pickup housings are all the same size so if you find you don't like one or the other of the pickups you can always replace it at a later date with the type you like best.

 

[rude_basstard]

I definitely was looking at using a blend knob. Dual volumes always seem to have iffy results when I use them, but since the acg eq01 has a trim pit for each pickup, then that should quell the volume balancing problem, right? And in the meantime, I may be able to get by with pickup height adjustments to get me by until I get the new pre. Hopefully. I mean, if there's not a huge output difference between the two, that is.

I've only ever done hardware swaps in passive 6 string guitars, and didn't have to worry so much about pickup balance since I only ever used the bridge at live shows. Pickup balancing and active electronics is a new foray for me.

 

[rude_basstard]

I'm in luck, they finally restocked the classic neck pickups, so I got a matching set. I may try that neck/bridge swap thing, though. I've always liked how Ibanezes with barts sound.