On-Board preamps: Bartolini vs Glockenklang

[glassmoon]

Hi all

I'm looking at upgrading the innards of my Ibanez BTB (currently with Bart MK1 pickups and Ibanez vari-mid [which is failing a bit due to age]) with (firstly) a new pre-amp and (later) new pickups).
I'm torn between two, the Bartolini system, which I know very well and a Glockenklang, which I know by reputation only.
(prices are from Bass Direct here in the UK)

• Bartolini @ £155 (3 band, active/passive, 3-way mini toggle mid freq, 9/18v)
• Glockenklang @ £130 (3 band, active/passive, 9/18v)

A big differentiator is the 3-way mid frequency selector, which is nice for getting 3 quite different tonal options (finger style, slap, solo (whenever that happens hahahaha)

But all that aside, opinions are VERY welcome - shoot!!!!

KR
Julian aka Glassmoon

 

[Zooberwerx]

Followed with interest! I asked this same question weeks ago: which s/o is more practical...preamp or pickups? There was no consensus.

I'd go with the Glock just to be different and not get hung-up on the Bart's 3-way switch. I was of the impression the Glock's voicing as-is is so close to ideal that it doesn't need any embellishments.

Riis

 

[glassmoon]

I'd go with the Glock just to be different and not get hung-up on the Bart's 3-way switch. I was of the impression the Glock's voicing as-is is so close to ideal that it doesn't any embellishments.Riis

See, I've had a couple of USA Barts before - older model NTMB units - and I really liked the mid selector, mostly so I could dial in a nice finger sound and add some 250hz for slap (on those odd occasions I needed to slap).

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, yeah, the whole Glock vibe resonates with me a lot

 

[Zooberwerx]

BTW: you may want to re-post in one of the Ibanez / Soundgear fan-boy threads.

Riis

 

[glassmoon]

BTW: you may want to re-post in one of the Ibanez / Soundgear fan-boy threads.Riis

let me see if I can find one of them

 

[el murdoque]

I found the Ibanez preamp in the BTB to be quite artificial sounding and way over the top.
The Glockenklang has, to my ear, a more natural vibe and you can turn the knobs a lot further before you cross the line.
Had I kept my BTB, I'd have swapped the Pickups for Nordys and put in a Glockenklang.

 

[aproud1]

The Glockenklang preamp is probably one of the cleanest most transparent I've heard. Pretty much works the way you would expect. If you get one with stack knobs you will need to buy specific knobs because the stack has tiny shafts. The 5 pot model also has a passive tone option. Works pretty well.

The Bart will color the sound more but I actually like the color and they are usually prewired (in case you aren't into that). If you already know you like the bart, I'd probably go in that direction. PLus, if the 3 way mid is helpful....

The MK1 pickups aren't terrible, just nothing special. The US made Bart pickup/preamp is a certain sound and I personally like it. Especially with 5 strings. Glockenklang with some Basscultures or Delano pickups are a model of German technical accuracy (and clean/HiFI, not sterile). Both great options depending on what you're looking for.

 

[bgartist]

The Glockenklang is my all-time favorite preamp. As stated before, very clean sounding and will not color the sound of your bass. The treble frequency adds a crispness that I like. But you cannot change the mid frequency or adjust gain with a trim pot as you can with the Bart.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I’ve been sitting on an unopened Glockenklang 3 band for years, taking the box out of my gear drawer every so often and wondering if it’s worth installing - the treble point is so high (~18k iirc) and the bass so low (40hz) that I worry about it not being super useful for my needs, as I so rarely need the “super scoop” sound. I bought it shortly after playing an old Sandberg back when they used Delano pups and glock preamps.

I’m looking forward to reading ppls thoughts about this preamp!

 

[InhumanResource]

Hi all

I'm looking at upgrading the innards of my Ibanez BTB (currently with Bart MK1 pickups and Ibanez vari-mid [which is failing a bit due to age]) with (firstly) a new pre-amp and (later) new pickups).
I'm torn between two, the Bartolini system, which I know very well and a Glockenklang, which I know by reputation only.
(prices are from Bass Direct here in the UK)

• Bartolini @ £155 (3 band, active/passive, 3-way mini toggle mid freq, 9/18v)
• Glockenklang @ £130 (3 band, active/passive, 9/18v)

A big differentiator is the 3-way mid frequency selector, which is nice for getting 3 quite different tonal options (finger style, slap, solo (whenever that happens hahahaha)

But all that aside, opinions are VERY welcome - shoot!!!!

KR
Julian aka Glassmoon

I always found Bartolini stuff to be too “polite” for what I was doing (usually cover bands with distorted guitars) but unfortunately I have not used any Glock stuff.

In the price range you are showing, I would suggest checking out John East’s stuff. Frankly, if I am installing an onboard EQ then I want parametric/sweepable mids. Single most meaningful preamp upgrade I’ve ever had.

 

[Speakz]

I have the Glock in my Sandberg with Delano's. It's very transparent so it's important to like everything else about your bass because it's not going to color over those things but gently bring them forward. The midrange settings fit very well in the mix even though it may seem a little brighter when played solo. It helps to have some sweepable midrange EQ options on your pedal or head to fine-tune depending on the situation.

I should mention that I tried a few different sets of Nickel strings to help with midrange presence. I use either DR Pure Blues or Fodera Nickels.

 

[Membo]

I have the Glock in my Sandberg with Delano's. It's very transparent so it's important to like everything else about your bass because it's not going to color over those things but gently bring them forward. The midrange settings fit very well in the mix even though it may seem a little brighter when played solo. It helps to have some sweepable midrange EQ options on your pedal or head to fine-tune depending on the situation.

I should mention that I tried a few different sets of Nickel strings to help with midrange presence. I use either DR Pure Blues or Fodera Nickels.

As Speakz says, you had better be OK with the sound of your pickups and of your bass because the Glock will only let you boost the natural sound. If you are not satisfied, the Glock will just make it that much clearer.

The bonus with the Glock is there is no volume drop when you switch it over to passive mode.

 

[Danny C]

I have an older PJ from Sandberg that has the Glock and Delano pickups. I dig it cuz it does it's thing but yet the bass sounds more passive than other active basses I have. Don't know how to explain it except the sound doesn't have that active vibe yet you have great control onboard. I have no experience with the Bart pre or pickups.

 

[aproud1]

I’ve been sitting on an unopened Glockenklang 3 band for years, taking the box out of my gear drawer every so often and wondering if it’s worth installing - the treble point is so high (~18k iirc) and the bass so low (40hz) that I worry about it not being super useful for my needs, as I so rarely need the “super scoop” sound. I bought it shortly after playing an old Sandberg back when they used Delano pups and glock preamps.

I’m looking forward to reading ppls thoughts about this preamp!

It works much better than the specs would indicate. I thought the same thing but in practice it is actually very useful.

 

[glassmoon]

Some very interesting comments here, and some more food for thought.
I like the Bart's frequency points, to me, it makes sense.
As for the inherent sound of the bass.... Well, the pickups are the "weak" link, but from all I've read, not overly so. MK1s are not as full throated as their US made big brothers, but pretty good nonetheless.
And the whole active/passive thing for me boils down to, "my battery just died, oh crap, hang on, I'll just run passive until the end of the song". I've been playing active for nearly as long as I've played bass, it's just "me".

Buuuuuut, my jury, while leaning towards Bartolini, is still undecided.

 

[InhumanResource]

Are you looking at swapping the pickups? May not make sense to do a park if you don’t like what the pickups are giving you. Might solve the issue entirely. There’s lots of options that fit this size.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

i'd say if you have a good set of pickups and you love the sound of the pickups themselves than the Glockenklangs are the way to go. when i had a Dingwall AB2 it had a 2 band Glock Pre amp and it was great because it just emphasized those frequencies on the pickups without changing the overall voice of the pickup. In a 9v set up it was hard to "go overboard" with that pre amp. unlike say a 9v Aguilar pre amp that is already way over the top the second you boost past detent

 

[glassmoon]

Are you looking at swapping the pickups? May not make sense to do a park if you don’t like what the pickups are giving you. Might solve the issue entirely. There’s lots of options that fit this size.

Well, from the gazillion pages from blogs, forums, manufacturer's sites etc. I've been reading, the preamp is the weakest link here, not the pickups. I'm looking at replacing the MK1s with USA Barts, so while I'm open to suggestion on the preamp, I'm favouring the Bartolini pre just because I am fairly certain that it's going to be matched with Bartolini pickups.

 

[superheavyfunk]

It works much better than the specs would indicate. I thought the same thing but in practice it is actually very useful.

Any chance you (or someone else in this thread) could share some audio clips? There’s not much on YT by way of a demo of the sweep of the glock sounds.

Failing that, I think it’d be really helpful just to hear about how the treble control works when it’s turned all the way down - can it act like a sort of tone control (shelving high frequency)? Like, if one needed a “dub” tone, can it do that?

 

[InhumanResource]

Well, from the gazillion pages from blogs, forums, manufacturer's sites etc. I've been reading, the preamp is the weakest link here, not the pickups. I'm looking at replacing the MK1s with USA Barts, so while I'm open to suggestion on the preamp, I'm favouring the Bartolini pre just because I am fairly certain that it's going to be matched with Bartolini pickups.

I don’t think they’re necessarily “weak” so much as a big part of the end product. Bart makes a whole lot of products that will fit in those routs. It’s just a question of what you are hoping to get from the system that you are not getting today, and how to accomplish it.