I'm going through something similar myself, but on a Schecter. I'm looking for something that will approximate a P-bass in a soapbar.
First off, and I hope Bartolini sees this, the Bartolini web site is an utter mess. Forget it being attractive, information is sheer gobble-de-gook. Broken links and unclear information are the hallmark of the place. They make great stuff, but they should hire a web company to make the site useful.
With that said, I have divined from reading and reading several sources on the internet that Bartolini makes 2 soapbar pickups in the vein of a 5-string P-bass in a soapbar that look interesting : Both are from the Bartolini Original series (not to be confused with the "Classic" series; see what I mean about confusing?), and are M4 models. These have the same size as the EMG 40.
Invalid Link Removed
Regular P-bass pickups are split-coil designs, and Bartolini has 2 takes on this for 5-string:
1. XXM45M-split coil deep tone
2. XXM45C-quad coil deep tone
In addition, each of these come in tunings for either neck or bridge.
As for the difference - I think the the split coil is like the regular P-bass but in a soapbar shape.
The quad coil: imagine 2 P-bass pickups in one soapbar shell, but one is reversed. Another way to think of this is to imagine a dual coil pickup that has rail/blade magnets. However, each rail/blade is split, one set under the lower 3 strings, the other set under the upper 2 - just like a 5-string P-bass would be.
This pickup can be wired like a standard P-bass, a reversed P-bass, or straight series/parallel wiring for a dual coil pickup. All this from one pickup. This is definitely the most versatile if you like to experiment.
All these pickups are passive.
As for me: I'm going with the XXM45M-split coil with neck voicing.
Hope this helps,
hd
