Soapbars for a 5 string fretless- any recs?

[DodoBird]

Hello TBers!
I got my hands on this lovely Walnut body from Warmoth and I'm starting to build it out (I have a matching neck too).
I need some advice about the pickups.
the maximum dimensions are 4.3 X 1.3 inch.
I prefer passive but I do have a battery cavity in the back as well if needed.
I'm not a professional musician, I record some music at home (I record all the instruments) - this is not for gigs or anything like that.
does this size limit my options significantly?
Can you recommended a set that would fit in the space and would sound decent, in a 5-string fretless ?
Thanks in advance!

 

[bholder]

The Bartolini P2 shape should fit.

I have a set on order for a fretless project, haven't tried them yet.
5-String P2 Soapbars - Bartolini Pickups & Electronics

 

[bholder]

Actually I ordered the M4 size not the P2 but what matters is the insides - I ordered the classic bass CBC type M45CBC which is also available in P2 size P25CBC which should sound the same if installed with the same wiring options.

 

[DodoBird]

This is very helpful! are those Barts passive or active?

 

[bholder]

This is very helpful! are those Barts passive or active?

Umm, passive pickups but made to work with their preamp modules, but I think they work without. I have mine running through a different preamp, seems to work ok.

 

[ctmullins]

Loads of options in the P2 size.

What’s your idea of “sound decent”?

 

[DodoBird]

Ah fair question! I'll try and describe the sound but I think this is very subjective...
I'd like it to sound close to an upright bass, I like a "woody" sound, I like clear, distinguishable notes- that don't muddle into each other, and of course the inevitable mwah
I don't know if this is helpful to you but so far this discussion has been very helpful to me!

 

[Lo-E]

Bartolini and fretless go together like Abbot and Costello. Like cheese and crackers. Like fish and chips.

I’ve played quite a few fretless basses with Barts and they really shine. Warm and detailed is how I would describe the tone. For fretless basses I tend to prefer a preamp but Barts sound great passive, too.

My experience is mostly with older Bart pickups, made before they made different series of pickups. The modern equivalent would be their Original Series, which is what I recommend. Their Classic Series is voiced brighter and with higher output.

Another good choice in soapbars for fretless would be Nordstrand. Their entire line sounds great.

“Mwah”, IMO, is much more a result of setup and technique and can be achieved with any bass or any pickups.

 

[ardgedee]

This is very helpful! are those Barts passive or active?

Almost all pickups are passive. Some pickups are active -- EMG is best known for their active pickups although they make passive models as well.

All pickups can be used with a preamp -- some are intended to be used with one. When people talk about active basses, they usually are referring to the onboard preamp (sometimes even if they think they mean the pickups).

 

[scuzzy]

USA Bart's are great. Read their tonal descriptions for each pickup and select what sounds best for your goals. Passive pickups, can be ran all passive or with a pre.

 

[jfiver]

Consider a filter preamp (Underhill and John East are two good examples) with a fully adjustable Q if your aim is both 'warm & woody' and 'clear'. I've a bass with an Underhill PD3 (with Aguilar Super Doubles, which are also excellent P2 sized pickups, btw), and it's remarkable how well a filter preamp can achieve what you're describing.

Whereas I've found there's generally a bit of a trade-off between the 'warmth' and the 'clarity' with passive electrics or a preamp with standard shelving EQ. (Pickup choice, etc, can get you past that, but it basically becomes a non-issue with a filter preamp.)

All that said, though, I've also played a passive (short scale) fretless with passive wiring and Barts, and like @Lo-E said, the combo is a great one.

(BTW, sounds like I'm considering a similar build to yours - fretless, walnut body, P2 pickups - so I'd be interested to hear how this turns out for you!)

 

[neddyrow]

Nordstrands all day!

5 String Soapbar Bass Pickups

 

[skyline_01]

Nordstrands all day!

5 String Soapbar Bass Pickups

^ Yep, what he said. Nordstrand has a load of options in that size. They're a great bunch of folks to work with too.

Nods to Bart, Delano, and Aguilar as well.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

^, as mentioned, Nordstrand has a ton of options for P2 size shell. I needed some pups for my Lakland 44-01. Requested P2 shell with Big Singles and Jazz Bars. Discussed tones and my needs. They are great to work with. Highly recommend Nordstrand.

 

[Hunter34]

I’m putting a Nordstrand BigRig in the neck and a Zen Blade in the bridge position of my Ibanzez Portamento. I’m keeping the piezo and will have a switch that goes between 100% piezo and 100% magnetic as I don’t want to mix the two. That’s based on wanting a sound that is a bit more edgy, punchy, etc. There are some fretless players that like what I call “syrupy” tone and that wasn’t what I was going for. YMMV.

 

[Barticus]

Aguilar DCBs or Delanos, I have Delanos in my fretless and love them in passive mode. Take a look at Fat Bass Tone or Best Bass Gear and filter pickups by soapbar size. Many Mfg make the same pickup in the std sizes P2,P4,etc

 

[DodoBird]

Thank you all very much!

 

[Thumpin6string]

I also like the Barts for fretless, but there are a lot of choices out there. I run Duncans in my fretted and Barts in my fretless. Just my preference.

 

[ctmullins]

I'll second @jfiver 's recommendation of a filter preamp. You can really tailor the tone that way, from deep and dubby, through thick and fat, all the way up to bright and snarly.

If that appeals to you, I would recommend a soapbar with a wide and relatively flat frequency response - Delano SBC for instance.

 

[groooooove]

if aguilar DCB pickups fit, those are my pick. they're really very nice sounding pickups.