Jazz Bass with Bartolinis

I have a MIA with Bartolinis, and it sounds good, but the output level is a lot less then my Geddy Lee with Dimarzio Model J's... as far as the Barts go, they sound good, they have a really full sound, a little heavy on the low side, but the difference in outputs between the basses bugs me... I will probably replace my Barts with Dimarzios...



[email protected]

 

I put Bart pickups and its preamp into my early 80s Jazz bass back in '85. It still sounds great. I can't remember the model or the specs, but it was your basic replacement pick ups for the Jazz at the time. They are single-coil, not humbucking. The preamp consist of a little black chip which adds a small boost. Volumewise, it is louder than a stock Fender and keeps up with my MTD, F Bass, and Lakland.

I just checked out the Bart site, and there are many more models to choose from. I have heard that the single-coil models are brighter than the stacked or humbucking models.

My bass kind of sounds like a Marcus Miller, but not as bright, and with more mids. this due to the Alder body and rosewood fretboard. I play funk, blues, and Top 40 stuff.

Although I have not heard them myself, you might want to check out Aero jazz bass pick ups. They received good comments in the Bassplayer magazine pickup shoot out some time back.

 

Look at my green custom Jazz bass on page 1 of the "Show your basses" thread. I have passive single coil Barts in my Jazz. They're nice. I'm not much of a pickup snob (used to be) so I can't tell you specifics. I rely more on technique, Pickup configuration (rather than brand), and my vintage tube amp for my sound than the particular brand and model of pickups.

Personally I'd stick with the MIM stockers if I were you, I think they're highly underrated.

 

So what? What's a little noise? Single coils sound better than humbuckers on a Jazz bass. Heck listen to the sound Jaco got out of a soloed single coil jazz pickup!

That's my opinon only of course!

Carful, Bartolini definitely makes some non humbucking single coil pickups for Jazz basses for those like me who like the more traditional tone. Mine are living proof. Both full up = silence, one soloed = noise. I don't mind because they sound great.

 

I always run both pick ups on full, if I'm playing a Jazz Bass. So, I never have a problem with hum.

If you want to solo a pick up, or mix them, then that's another story. You might want to consider humbuckers; but then you get a totally different tone.