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Delano preamp with Bartolini pickups

iplay5strings

iplay5strings

Aug 10, 2007
1,177
707
Waterford, MI
www.adamsaylorbass.com
#1
Well, I'm looking for another preamp for my Tobias Classic V. The Bartolini HR-5.4 was a good replacement setup-wise (had all the same knobs/controls) when the stocker died, but I'm already having problems with it (scratchy pots, drains batteries every 3 or 4 days even with bass unplugged and in passive mode, etc), plus it doesn't quite have that articulate tone that Tobias' were known for (before Gibson) and that the factory preamp had before it crapped out. So, while it may have just been a dud preamp, I've also looked into other options and the Delano 3MS/E has an identical setup as far as controls, but I've never heard one or know how well it would work/sound with the Tobias Bartolini pickups as they are not your "typical" sounding Bart pickups. Just like the ones in the new American MTD's they are/were made to specific specs per Mike's request. I LOVE the Bartolini HR-5.4 preamp in my Carvin, but it has two Bassline SMB-5D pickups so the "darker" tone of the Bartolini preamp warms/rounds the tone of the Basslines nicely. I'm torn between giving the Bart preamp another shot or going for the Delano. I'd really like to get that iconic Tobias sound back.
 
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#2
Hmm.. It's weird that a new pre-amp (especially Bartolini) drains the batteries so fast.. Maybe trying some different types of batteries..?

For the sound you are looking for, I would suggest eather a Glockenklang pre-amp or a pre-amp made by Nordstrand. Both very good quality amps. The glockenklang pre-amp can help your Bassline pickups have more clean in it and more highs and mids. The Nordstrand pre-amp however, is a good choice if you want that sort of ''old-vintage'' kinda sound, but still being clear with some extra punch in it..

It's only a matter of taste ;)
 
#3
I would double check all my wiring first before to make sure something isn't shorting out and keeping the preamp turned on.

If the sound isn't working for then you might as well swap it out. But if you trouble shoot it first you can at least recoup some of your money by selling the pre.

Haven't tried a Delano pre... yet. I will say their pickups are some of the best I've heard. Full range, clear and dead quiet. I would imagine the preamps are decent but like I said, have no experience with them.
 
#6
Also since the install of the HR-5.4 I've noticed that the bass lacks lowend with preamp set flat in active mode, but switch to passive and the low end is very prominent. This was not the case with the stock preamp or with the identical preamp in the Carvin...in fact I actually find myself cutting a lot of lowend out to clean up the tone of the Carvin. I really wish I knew how much the Bart preamp cashew in when it comes to the tone of the Carvin. I HATED the tone of the Carvin when it had a Bartolini jazz neck/musicman bridge set along with the HR-5.4, but that could've been because of a poor/wrong pickup choice. Like I said b4, I LOVE the HR-5.4 with the Basslines. I dunno wish I could get my hands on a bass with a Delano preamp...
 
#10
carvinbassplyr said:
I'm also considering the "Burbank" old TCT Tobias harness still offered by Bartolini...would that be a better choice than the HR-5.4 (NTMB)?
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If you want a pre Gibson sound then anything Burbank won't do as that factory was built and owned by Gibson and Mike was a Gibson employee while working there. The last pre Gibson Tobias was made in Hollywood.

I have 2 Tobias' with aftermarket NTMB's and they sound great to me. I suspect yours is messed up.
 
#11
As fate would have it, I just happen to have an LB75 with a brand new Delano Sonar MS/E onboard preamp - along with a set of custom Nordstrand Dual Coil pickups (with series/single-coil/parallel switching option).

Now bear in mind that I had the upgrade done only recently and haven't played the instrument very extensively - yet. But what I hear is a very nice, high-end, hi-fi bass guitar preamp. The potentiometer action is smooth and linear - no sudden jumps or sudden cuts in level. It appears to be well-balanced in terms of frequency sweep & frequency response. And the tonal quality is pristine clean as well as warm - certainly it is not harsh or "clinically clean" - in the way that some onboard preamps (*cough*EMG*cough*) are reputed to be. :smug:

In summary, if you own an instrument with a set of premium-quality pickups, and you want an onboard preamp that can give you all the benefits of active operation, without getting in the way of your preferred tone or adding a lot of its own coloration, then the Delano Sonar would be an excellent choice. :cool:

On a side note, I've gotta tell ya: I also have a new set of Delano JMVC 5 FE twin coil in-line humcancelling pickups for my Carvin SB5000, and WOW! These babies are unbelievably powerful! They'll just about take your head off - if you're careless with your settings or with your playing style when you plug the instrument in... :eek:

At this rate - between Delano, Glockenklang, TecAmp and Warwick - I am beginning to become a HUGE fan of German-designed and German-manufactured bass gear. Such high quality. Such attention to detail. Count me impressed... :cool:

MM
 
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#12
MysticMichael said:
On a side note, I've gotta tell ya: I also have a new set of Delano JMVC 5 FE twin coil in-line humcancelling pickups for my Carvin SB5000, and WOW! These babies are unbelievably powerful! They'll just about take your head off - if you're careless with your settings or with your playing style when you plug the instrument in... :eek:
Click to expand...
I agree! Those Delanos are insanely hot and bright! Check this cat out. He's got Delano pickups paired with a Bartolini preamp.
 
#13
Darnell Jones said:
If you want a pre Gibson sound then anything Burbank won't do as that factory was built and owned by Gibson and Mike was a Gibson employee while working there. The last pre Gibson Tobias was made in Hollywood.

I have 2 Tobias' with aftermarket NTMB's and they sound great to me. I suspect yours is messed up.
Click to expand...

Good point about the pre Gibson thing. I do believe I got a bum preamp. Like I said, the HR-5.4 in my Carvin sounds phenomenal with the Bassline SMB-5D pickups and the original preamp in the Tobias was a Bartolini, albeit custom made, but still Bartolini so hopefully if I get another one it will fix all the issues and regain that iconic Tobias tone.
 
#14
MysticMichael said:
As fate would have it, I just happen to have an LB75 with a brand new Delano Sonar MS/E onboard preamp - along with a set of custom Nordstrand Dual Coil pickups (with series/single-coil/parallel switching option).

Now bear in mind that I had the upgrade done only recently and haven't played the instrument very extensively - yet. But what I hear is a very nice, high-end, hi-fi bass guitar preamp. The potentiometer action is smooth and linear - no sudden jumps or sudden cuts in level. It appears to be well-balanced in terms of frequency sweep & frequency response. And the tonal quality is pristine clean as well as warm - certainly it is not harsh or "clinically clean" - in the way that some onboard preamps (*cough*EMG*cough*) are reputed to be. :smug:

In summary, if you own an instrument with a set of premium-quality pickups, and you want an onboard preamp that can give you all the benefits of active operation, without getting in the way of your preferred tone or adding a lot of its own coloration, then the Delano Sonar would be an excellent choice. :cool:

On a side note, I've gotta tell ya: I also have a new set of Delano JMVC 5 FE twin coil in-line humcancelling pickups for my Carvin SB5000, and WOW! These babies are unbelievably powerful! They'll just about take your head off - if you're careless with your settings or with your playing style when you plug the instrument in... :eek:

At this rate - between Delano, Glockenklang, TecAmp and Warwick - I am beginning to become a HUGE fan of German-designed and German-manufactured bass gear. Such high quality. Such attention to detail. Count me impressed... :cool:

MM
Click to expand...

I've listened to some full Delano setups and while it may be because of the personal taste of the person playing, they were like shredder guitar, give people a haircut bright...I like a nice bite/attack to my tone but there needs to be some punch behind it, not just clank. Marcus Miller has a bright tone but it's not harsh, same with Gouche. There's mids behind it adding punch and neatness, especially for fingerstyle playing. Just my opinion. FYI Marcus' original bass used a TCT preamp which was copied for his mass produced ones and obviously Gouche plays American MTD's which are all Bartolini so you can see where my preference lies lol.
 
#16
carvinbassplyr said:
I've listened to some full Delano setups and while it may be because of the personal taste of the person playing, they were like shredder guitar, give people a haircut bright...I like a nice bite/attack to my tone but there needs to be some punch behind it, not just clank. Marcus Miller has a bright tone but it's not harsh, same with Gouche. There's mids behind it adding punch and neatness, especially for fingerstyle playing. Just my opinion. FYI Marcus' original bass used a TCT preamp which was copied for his mass produced ones and obviously Gouche plays American MTD's which are all Bartolini so you can see where my preference lies lol.
Click to expand...

I couldn't speak to any of that. I can state only that I've heard the Sonar MS/E with a pair of Nordstrand Dual Coils, and to me it sounded fantastic - like a very refined, powerful, active, modern rock tone (i.e. when I dug in a little on the strings with my right hand playing fingerstyle, my LB75 actually growled at me - which is the first time that's ever happened to me. So I growled right back!) :cool:

Yeah, there was definitely some brightness there - but in a good way - and nothing I couldn't handle by dialing down the highs just a bit. Besides, I was using a brand new set of stainless steel Lo-Riders. What would you expect? :eyebrow:

MM
 
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#17
DWBass said:
I thought Marcus' original preamp was a Stars and not a Bartolini? Anyway, it's not so much the preamp but more so the pickups. I originally had Bartolini 'darks' in my jazz and I changed them to classic series, single coil 'brights'. Big difference.
Click to expand...

"Hi It seems that the tct Marcus Miller has in his bass isn't built no more today..."
That was taken right from a TCT discussion here on talkbass so take it or leave it lol



03-29-2012, 01:01 PM
 
#18
MysticMichael said:
I couldn't speak to any of that. I can state only that I've heard the Sonar MS/E with a pair of Nordstrand Dual Coils, and to me it sounded fantastic - like a very refined, powerful, active, modern rock tone (i.e. when I dug in a little on the strings with my right hand playing fingerstyle, my LB75 actually growled at me - which is the first time that's ever happened to me. So I growled right back!) :cool:

Yeah, there was definitely some brightness there - but in a good way - and nothing I couldn't handle by dialing down the highs just a bit. Besides, I was using a brand new set of stainless steel Lo-Riders. What would you expect? :eyebrow:

MM
Click to expand...

The "modern rock" tone is where you lost me. For guys that want that Robert Trujillio (spelling?), playing with a quarter for a pick sound that's great...for a Gospel/Jazz/R&B cat like me, you want that sizzle up top for the fusion playing, but need that thick, warm butter to keep it smooth under the band. Not saying you can't get that tone from those setups, but it just seems like they lean away from that tone.
 
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#20
Darnell Jones said:
It's possible, could be one of the wires coming out of the block was stressed and broke inside the insulation. Either way it's disappointing as I'm a big Bart fan :)
Click to expand...

I was/am too...in fact, the more I think about it the more I realize that the players I draw inspiration from are Bart users for the most part. And even though I did not care for the all Bart setup previously in my Carvin, I think it was just a bad pickup choice since I didn't know enough about the different pickups at the time I had those put in (think I was still a teenager) and just went off the recommendation of a phone salesman. For all I know they could even be the "deep bass" series (which would explain why I wasn't digging them).
 

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