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Clear and articulate pickup replacement

L

low5_er

May 9, 2006
55
0
#1
I have an Ibanez 485 and am wanting to swap out the P/U and Pre. I am after extreme clarity and articulation. I love high mids and highs, with nice bottom end, but not overly warm. I'm after a really modern tone, that slaps, taps and fingers well. Any suggestions? I've played Ibanez high end stuff with US barts and I like the preamp but I find the high mids lacking in the bantam bass and high level soundgears. Every bass that I've played that has emg's is cool, but I prefer the bartolini preamp with the switchable mids instead of the EMG sweep. It's just what I prefer. So I'm looking fot pickups with plenty of mids and highs that will fit a EMG40 shape.

Any suggestions?
 
#3
low5_er said:
I have an Ibanez 485 and am wanting to swap out the P/U and Pre. I am after extreme clarity and articulation. I love high mids and highs, with nice bottom end, but not overly warm. I'm after a really modern tone, that slaps, taps and fingers well. Any suggestions? I've played Ibanez high end stuff with US barts and I like the preamp but I find the high mids lacking in the bantam bass and high level soundgears. Every bass that I've played that has emg's is cool, but I prefer the bartolini preamp with the switchable mids instead of the EMG sweep. It's just what I prefer. So I'm looking fot pickups with plenty of mids and highs that will fit a EMG40 shape.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you answered your own question: EMG40's with Bart pre.

LPs would fit the bill but it wouldn't be cheap or a quick fix.
 
#4
Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate your comments. I've been looking around and was told by someone at bestbassgear that Norstrand doesn't make an EMG40 size pu, and about the EMG's they've been cool, but I was wondering if there is something out there with more mids and highs. IMO there is articulate and clear, and then there is really:eek: articulate and clear. Thanks tho. There is always wisdom in the counsel from different people.
 
#5
Carey has the Link Removed covers and makes Fatstacks and DC with these size. If you want you can have them with closed cover. No pole pieces visibile.
Nordstrand ARE very articulate, barky (upper mids) and clear (highs)...

I'm out

M
 
#6
low5_er said:
Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate your comments. I've been looking around and was told by someone at bestbassgear that Norstrand doesn't make an EMG40 size pu, and about the EMG's they've been cool, but I was wondering if there is something out there with more mids and highs. IMO there is articulate and clear, and then there is really:eek: articulate and clear. Thanks tho. There is always wisdom in the counsel from different people.
Click to expand...

FWIW:

you're stuck with what fits the route less appropriate alteration. Not that guys at bestbassgear don't know their stuff but given the above comment I would contact Carey.

Also, typically Bart pups have a muted top end so the issue is not in the preamp. Seems EMG throws the LJ5 in a 40 shape and going with the BTC would get the treble shelving. I don't like variable mids either.

Q tuners maybe but don't know about the shape.
 
#7
I have EMG40j (brige & neck) pickups in both of my 5ers.....they are very clear & articulate....if you have EMG 40dc or 40cs pickups now, this would make a huge difference. I have the EMG BTS pre in my basses , but they are bypassed & I run a Sadowsky outboard preamp. Amazing sound! Clean & clear & you can warm up the EMGs very nicely with the Sadowsky pre.
 
#8
I just put a glockenklang 3 band pre in my 5594, replacing the standard bartolini. If you're looking for clear and articulate I think you'd find it tough to beat the glock. It's quite bright compared to the bart but much clearer. The low end is also extended. It's not like an eq boost, it's as if it presents more of the fundamental on low notes. There's real depth and weight down low combined with great clarity. I also find the eq very usable. I tended to leave the bart set flat and adjust my amp as it's eq never really seemed to give me what I was after (no matter where the mid frequency was set). I'm running a nord pu in the bridge. My only caution would be that with the 'wrong' pickup, ie a bit bright, you might find a glock a bit over the top.
 
#9
From what you describe, a set of EMGs might do the trick. The EMGs tend to have lots of upper mids, although they are too brittle/processed sounding from my taste. My suggestion would be the somewhat warmer 40CS (or 40J or 40P), as I didn't like the harsh sounding DCs at all .

Q-Tuners have the most open/extended highs of any pickup I have heard, and a very clear natural sound. However, they don't seem to have anything in an EMG 40 size, so you would have to do some routing to make them fit.

The Bartolinis sound nice, but tend to be focused more on warm low mids and are generally a bit lacking in the upper mids and highs to my ears. The somewhat brighter Bartolini M45CBC might be worth trying.
 

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