Ibanez Custom USA Bartolini pickups on their Prestige basses?

[fourstringbliss]

Ibanez uses "custom" USA Bartolini pickups in their Prestige line of basses.

For any of you that either have one of these or have had one of these basses, how do these "custom" pickups compare to other Barts? Similar tone but different pickup size?

Thanks!

 

[flamefork]

Tried 5006 with that custom Barts.
Although Bartolini makes a lot of very different sounding pickups, the ones on 5006 definitely sound very much Bartolini: deep lows and low-mids, subdued high-mids, hi-fi highs.

 

[pellomoco14]

Ah yep, basically that^.
After daily playing for a year and considering Ibanez's description.

I think it may only be a "custom" pairing.
Like maybe a classic series (slightly brighter model compared to my old mtd) at the bridge.

Probably an original series at the neck position it sounds JUST like my old mtd.

My sr5005 isn't noticablely different from my buddy's fodera monarch.

 

[pellomoco14]

Ah yep, basically that^.
After daily playing for a year and considering Ibanez's description.

I think it may only be a "custom" pairing.
Like maybe a classic series (slightly brighter model compared to my old mtd) at the bridge.

Probably an original series at the neck position it sounds JUST like my old mtd.

To answer OPs other question. Its the typical bart soapbar size and shape.

My sr5005 prob. doesn't sound noticablely different from my buddy's fodera monarch.

 

[Michael Jewels]

I have a BTB1205E.

I assume it was made in 2005, because I bought it brand new in January 2006.

It has Barts in it, and that's one of the reasons I bought the bass, aside from the feel of the neck.

These Barts have a warm, vintage sound. This bass can sound close to a Pre-CBS Precision if you EQ it correctly on the neck pickup.

And I know what a Pre-CBS Precision sounds like, because a friend of mine had one, and I must have played it 50 times over about 5 years.

I don't know which model of Bart they are, but to me, they sound great if you like vintage tones.

Mike