The Pedulla Club!

[Addison]

I've never liked the sound of Barts passive. They're really quiet and a little lifeless, in my opinion... almost dim, for lack of a better word.

Which, ironically, makes them work really, really well with an onboard preamp... pickups that are too bright, loud and dynamic tend to be a little more finicky with preamps.

YMMV, of course.

 

[Freddels]

Jeff Berlin's basses have Barts and are passive.

 

[LeonD]

Well I should know in the next day or so. I have Bart pickups and I just got a Bart preamp with an active/passive switch.

 

[Addison]

Jeff Berlin's basses have Barts and are passive.

I don't know anything about his pickups... How they're wound, what his specs are and how they differ from the "off-the-shelf" pickups I've tried... if at all.

This has just been my experience... I've had 4 different basses with Barts that have had active/passive switches and I never would choose to use any of them in passive mode unless it was a battery emergency.

But... like I said... YMMV.

 

[WayneP]

For half the price, I can get a Bartolini NTMB which is volume, blend, bass, treble, mids with selectable frequency and an active/passive option. Seeing how good the bass sounds unamplified, I think the active/passive option will be a great addition.

Any opinions on which way I should go? Has anyone tried a Buzz with a standard Bart preamp instead of a Pedulla spec'd one?

Mike said the newer pickups are also a little more refined but I don't think the pickups are the weakest link here.

Perfect timing my friend! At this minute I’m having my Thunderbass retro’d with I think that same set-up. I know two of the knobs will be push-pull, and that one of those is the active/passive option – maybe the other will be the midrange sweep, we’ll see. I’ll be picking it up in a week or two, I’ll let you know what I think of it compared to the stock set-up.

My TB I think is a 2007 model and from what my tech has found out, the electronics in those years had issues. I’ve never been happy with the way it sounded compared to my other bass with Bartolinis, and that one was made back in the early 90s. In addition to the lackluster sound, the volume control got something like 80% of its action in maybe the last 10% of knob travel, and it seemed like every time I plugged it in it sounded different, even in the same venue with the same knob settings!

Regards,

Wayne A. Pflughaupt

I'd like to know some details of that because I have the old 3 knob system on mine and I'd really like to change it up. My PentaBuzz has the newer system. But what you are describing sound better!

My luthier tells me that the Bartolini pre amp he wanted to install in my Thunderbass was the 4.6 AP, not the NTMB.

Not that it matters, because turns out it was a bust. He told me that the Thunderbass pickups are unusual in that they have four wires instead of the usual two. So basically, the pickups and pre-amp module Pedulla specs from Bartolini is a proprietary integrated system, and changing one means changing out everything, which would be over $700 - way more than I want to spend.

The good news is that my luthier figured out that problem with the “hair trigger” taper with the volume knob and inconsistent sound quality was all with the volume control section of the pre amp. He was able to bypass it, and wired in a capacitor and resistor (although I honestly don’t know what their function is). I can tell a big difference – much more low end than I was getting before, and the volume taper is now uniform.

Of course, your 1987 Buzz has different electronics than my 2006 Thunderbass, so you might be able to change out the pre amp.

Regards,

Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[mtb777]

My luthier tells me that the Bartolini pre amp he wanted to install in my Thunderbass was the 4.6 AP, not the NTMB.

Not that it matters, because turns out it was a bust. He told me that the Thunderbass pickups are unusual in that they have four wires instead of the usual two. So basically, the pickups and pre-amp module Pedulla specs from Bartolini is a proprietary integrated system, and changing one means changing out everything, which would be over $700 - way more than I want to spend.

The good news is that my luthier figured out that problem with the “hair trigger” taper with the volume knob and inconsistent sound quality was all with the volume control section of the pre amp. He was able to bypass it, and wired in a capacitor and resistor (although I honestly don’t know what their function is). I can tell a big difference – much more low end than I was getting before, and the volume taper is now uniform.

Of course, your 1987 Buzz has different electronics than my 2006 Thunderbass, so you might be able to change out the pre amp.

Regards,

Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

Hummmm. That really sounds like my 3 knob ThunderBolt. It's all high end with not much of any bottom end until cut all the high Mid's EQ on my amp.

 

[LeonD]

Just a note of warning to anyone wanting to change their preamps. The one I'm putting in has two push/pull pots. It seems like these are about 1/8" too high to allow the cover to close all the way. My bass is now at my repair "wizard" and he's looking for a solution.


Possibly shave down the cavity and/or cover a bit. Or use different pots. Or maybe lose some functionality so I can use all normal pots.

I will say this, in the 15 minutes I played the bass with the new preamp in (and the cover off), it was a different instrument. And one of my favorite setting was in complete passive mode. It just really seemed to let the sound of the wood come thru.

I'll post more updates when I get them.

 

[Envincibal]

I was just going through some of my home recordings and found a very short track I recorded with my Rapture-5 J/J... after hearing the track, I wish I was able to get along with the 19mm spacing on the 5-banger...

 

[WayneP]

Wow, can’t say I’ve ever heard a Rapture – it sounds great! But you can get it with 17mm spacing, can’t you?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt



Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[Envincibal]

I am fortunate enough to own a 5-string Rapture with the 17.5 mm spacing... it was a single soapbar config, which I then added a J pickup north and south of it... currently its loaded with Delano JC5 AL j-pickups and a Delano soapbar sandwiched between the two J's. I like the J's, but the soapbar is too modern sounding for this setup. I'm considering either putting another Bart soap in there or contacting either Kent Armstrong or Nordstrand for something custom (would love to get an aggressive/grindy P-pickup in a soapbar shell.

As for a comparison between the bartolini J's in the Rapture the soundclip was from, vs the current setup I have with the Delano JC5 AL... The Delano's have some vintage bite, but are quite articulate, whereas the Barts have a bit more more teeth and, too me, sound better. There are several other differences between the stock Rapture (in the clip above) and my current one: Stock: BEM fret board, Current: Rosewood board | Stock: Bart 2 band preamp, Current Pope Flexcore.

Also wanted to mention that Phil Jacoby of Phil Tone Guitars in Baltimore did a plek job on my current Rapture and the guy did a heluva job! Plays like buttah!

 

[mtb777]

Nice, really like the black and moto. The electronics are a whole nuther world!

 

[WayneP]

Got my Thunderbass back from my luthier a couple of weeks ago. (By the way, I was wrong, it’s a 2005 model, not 2007.) I must say it looks like his work-around for the volume control did the trick! (see Post 322 and Post 341.) The bass has noticeably more bottom end than before. We’ll see if the inconsistent sound issue is fixed, but I’m sure this will take care of that, too. If I understand, the volume control is the last thing in the signal chain so if there is a problem with it, it affects everything else “upstream.”

We had ordered gold knobs for the new pre-amp I ultimately didn’t get (necessitated because one of the pots was stacked), so I decided to keep them anyway. Here’s a picture - I think they look pretty sharp!

​

​

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Post 322

 

[robthebassplaye]

Hi! I'm a first time Pedulla Thunderbass ET 5 Owner, as of today! Not sure what took me so long, but it's a joy to play! And, I love the Zebra wood. It's a 2005, and it is flawless, I love it.

Can I join the club and have a number ???

 

[Envincibal]

Got my Thunderbass back from my luthier a couple of weeks ago. (By the way, I was wrong, it’s a 2005 model, not 2007.) I must say it looks like his work-around for the volume control did the trick! (see Post 322 and Post 341.) The bass has noticeably more bottom end than before. We’ll see if the inconsistent sound issue is fixed, but I’m sure this will take care of that, too. If I understand, the volume control is the last thing in the signal chain so if there is a problem with it, it affects everything else “upstream.”

We had ordered gold knobs for the new pre-amp I ultimately didn’t get (necessitated because one of the pots was stacked), so I decided to keep them anyway. Here’s a picture - I think they look pretty sharp!

View attachment 416472 ​

​

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Post 322

Beautiful bass!

 

[Envincibal]

After several attempts to get this tbass, I finally was able to pick it up on the 'bay... I've pulled the original preamp and pickups and replaced them with an Audere Classic 4b and Nordstrand Dual Blade Neos. I can't say enough good things about that combo, especially while using Ernie Ball Cobalts! I have the pickups wired via a 3-way switch, for Outer Single Coil/Series/Inner Single Coil - this setup gives the bass far more tonal options than the standard pickups & pre offered.

 

[Envincibal]

Hi! I'm a first time Pedulla Thunderbass ET 5 Owner, as of today! Not sure what took me so long, but it's a joy to play! And, I love the Zebra wood. It's a 2005, and it is flawless, I love it.

Can I join the club and have a number ???


View attachment 417305

I had one of these T-basses - great sound and, like all Pedulla's, played like a slice of heaven - I just couldn't get along with the 19mm spacing

 

[robthebassplaye]

I had one of these T-basses - great sound and, like all Pedulla's, played like a slice of heaven - I just couldn't get along with the 19mm spacing

I's amazing how a few mm can really make a difference ! I don't slap or pop much, but I still really prefer 19mm. But, it's clear that it's very different than the 17.5mm (which, you can get a T-bass in, BTW, just don't see many).

 

[WayneP]

Hi! I'm a first time Pedulla Thunderbass ET 5 Owner, as of today! Not sure what took me so long, but it's a joy to play! And, I love the Zebra wood. It's a 2005, and it is flawless, I love it.

Can I join the club and have a number ???

Yes sir! Welcome to the club!

Updated list:
1. p0k
2. kobass
3. michael case
4. Tom7
5. Lonnybass
6. westrock
7. bgartist
8. robwren
9. kojak
10. mikekim
11. Rick Auricchio
12. hiderebirth
13. nalapit13
14. jmorbita
15. jmcgliss
16. Munjibunga
17. coreyfyfe
18. lamonica78
19. krrt
20. BlacksHole
21. rockdoc11
22. Chebass88
23. BigRedX
24. Thunderchief
25. steve4765630
26. BadJazz
27. cetera
28. kaputsport
29. swpyne
30. Kawai-chang
31. kdog
32. Russell Bergum
33. mburd
34. Soulfishing13
35. zoomduck
36. Fawkes007
37. pondscum29
38. NL5
39. Mike - NJ
40. eshears
41. Eminor3rd
42. wallybill
43. chrisp2u
44. Chunk-O-Funk
45. WayneP
46. rhs1856
47. rb1
48. robisbass
49. ZachB
50. baconeater
51. Pedulla?
52. JensWest
53. Bushwood
54. p5string
55. timmbass
56. pbass6811
57. pjmuck
58. pedulla-2007
59. Pedulla-Player
60. Envincibal
61. genocide roach
62. JEDI BASS
63. mightog
64. Jamie Bishop
65. trujo777
66. MoBeach
67. Asomodai
68. dangorange
69. blueacid4l
70. Maclu
71. jmjam -
72. daahoud
73. hensonbass
74. JazzyLambert
75. Flaked Beans
76. jelpo
77. comno
78. Fishheadjoe
79. mc2ny
80. churchplayer
81. seungkoo
82. Vakmere
83. chimaera1982
84. mindwell
85. anthomp
86. melodicly
87. ClassicJazz
88. LarkinLondon
89. ZiggyDude
90. rusackas
91. rodneyat
92. silvertripper
93. 88Sound
94. MasterMonkeyMan
95. jacobw82
96. tombowlus
97. bassthunder100
98.ghiadub
99. bass4worship
100. surfdog
101. chepo06
102. Dan Knowlton
103. TylerE
104. Tony CC
105. CelinderMotoMan
106. NYCBass
107. Pedullabill
108. foundation
109. Mi5a
110. Musicmaster75
111. MVPBASS
112. c-ba55
113. BassGreaser
114. 4to5to6
115. GBassNorth
116. Khui
117. francios
118. seamus bass
119. RandyMolson
120. Sir CussFreq
121. lpjiang
122. thibo62
123. nickmcknnn
124. newamsterdam
125. apener
126. fretless guy
127. mtb777
128. MisterWraith
129. BostonJazz72
130. BrandonA119
131. JeX
132. PazzoBasso
133. pert-urb
134. Randall
135. evilgus
136. INTP
137. scubaduba
138. Freddels
139. Oubabass
140. Where July
141. rolorockbass
142. esa372
143. selassie1
144. joebar
145. BenTitusMusic
146. Dwight
147. Sid Fang
148. Thumpy Fenda 5
149. deitzel
150. Dougazbass
151. amerbs38
152. emurga
153. rockiezz
154. fabinosto
155. Modulus1906
156. rocoop53
157. socialleper
158. 7777777
159. g-bro
160. dayer2bme
161. fabinosta
162. gegznes
163. tkhNote
164. BottomThumper
165. Folmeister
166. CTC564
167. TheShape101
168. Marial
169. Hot Pocket
170. Suatie
171. LatimerFripp
172. NightDonkey
173. Baird6869
174. Mexibass
175. Crowella
176. Dan Horboychuk
177. Sgroh87
178. LexD
179. stefandisgust
180. LeonD
181. EddieJackson
182. ric426
183. inthebasscleff
184. dataxguy
185. Addison
186. markcv
187. RLK
188. N03L
189. Templar
190. pmad bass
191. Caustic Crunch
192. hyperdoc
193. robthebassplaye

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[WayneP]

Beautiful bass!

Thank you kind sir!

I had one of these T-basses - great sound and, like all Pedulla's, played like a slice of heaven - I just couldn't get along with the 19mm spacing

Really? I love the Pedulla 19mm neck! Otherwise I probably wouldn’t be playing a 5-string at all. I’d played 4-string since I was a teenager and had wanted to go 5-string for years, but never could find a 5-string neck that felt “right.” If the neck size felt comfortable, the strings were too close together. If the string spacing felt right, the neck was too fat. Pedulla’s shallow-depth 19mm neck hit the perfect sweet spot for me – the wider string spacing a 4-string guy is used to, with a neck that doesn’t feel like a telephone pole!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[WayneP]

After several attempts to get this tbass, I finally was able to pick it up on the 'bay... I've pulled the original preamp and pickups and replaced them with an Audere Classic 4b and Nordstrand Dual Blade Neos. I can't say enough good things about that combo, especially while using Ernie Ball Cobalts! I have the pickups wired via a 3-way switch, for Outer Single Coil/Series/Inner Single Coil - this setup gives the bass far more tonal options than the standard pickups & pre offered.

Nice! You don’t see many TBs in color. I found the listing on ebay – looks like you got a killer deal!

Link Removed​

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45