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Underwound Bartolini Bridge Pickup

T

Trevor Findley

Sep 19, 2009
12
4
#1
Hello. I recently acquired an Ibanez Prestige SR3000 with Bartolinis that I'm enjoying greatly. The bridge pickup was noticeably weaker than the bridge, so I measured the resistances, and the neck measured 12k and the bridge 8.6k. They're both wired in series, and they are labeled neck and bridge. I have always seen bridge pickups wound at least as hot as the neck, and I'm wondering why they would choose to do this. I switched the pickups and I like it much better.
 
#2
Uh? Bartolini don't labeled their pups neck and bridge, but "T" (bridge) and "B" (neck)… just wanna make sure you have them right. Lately I had three different basses with barts here on my bench that were installed wrong.
What's the writing on the back of these pups?
It does seems quite a big difference if it is a set….
 
#3
Trevor Findley said:
Hello. I recently acquired an Ibanez Prestige SR3000 with Bartolinis that I'm enjoying greatly. The bridge pickup was noticeably weaker than the bridge, so I measured the resistances, and the neck measured 12k and the bridge 8.6k. They're both wired in series, and they are labeled neck and bridge. I have always seen bridge pickups wound at least as hot as the neck, and I'm wondering why they would choose to do this. I switched the pickups and I like it much better.
Click to expand...
The previous owner could have swapped them. I would have done what you did if the are the same physical size. Good job!
 
#8
Trevor Findley said:
I meant to say that they are labeled B and T. The B one was the stronger one. They are very cool pickups. Full in the mids but not overbearing.
Click to expand...

I have noticed this labelling on other basses as well. This is just my thoughts B =Bass or neck pickup T= Treble or Bridge pickup. Maybe all wet on that but that is only thing that comes to mind.
 
#9
maurilio said:
you could use this:

Invalid Link Removed

I'm using it on my basses and I love it!
Click to expand...

That sounds really nice as it would keep each pickup from loading down the other and you can adjust the gain of each pickup to suit you. Bartolini preamps are really nice. I use a 3 band Bartolini in the bass shown in my icon. I could have used that on a bass I used to have.
Trevor Fendley This unit is really small and it plus a 9vdc battery should fit nicely. There is not enough difference (I have found) between 9 vdc and 18vdc to worry about trying to put two batteries in your particular bass (unless they both fit)
 
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#10
Bartolini = B neck - T bridge!

I have/had that buffer with Nordstrand, Demeter and Bartolini preamp. Like/d it with all of them, but my favorite is the AGDB-Nordstrand.
Granted, I would be very careful using it with high output pickups, very easy to overload the pre input and distort
 
#12
maurilio said:
Bartolini = B neck - T bridge!

I have/had that buffer with Nordstrand, Demeter and Bartolini preamp. Like/d it with all of them, but my favorite is the AGDB-Nordstrand.
Granted, I would be very careful using it with high output pickups, very easy to overload the pre input and distort
Click to expand...
In his case 12K and 8.6K I don't think would be any problem. But you are right to be careful not to drive them into distortion.
 
#14
Well 12k is a pretty high impedance (the dc resistance isn't the whole story really) and might be at the limit.
Typical low impedance pups are usually around 3-5k

(This is all generalization though)

:-)
 
#16
maurilio said:
Definitely custom Bart built!
Click to expand...
Trevor Findley said:
Hello. I recently acquired an Ibanez Prestige SR3000 with Bartolinis that I'm enjoying greatly. The bridge pickup was noticeably weaker than the bridge, so I measured the resistances, and the neck measured 12k and the bridge 8.6k. They're both wired in series, and they are labeled neck and bridge. I have always seen bridge pickups wound at least as hot as the neck, and I'm wondering why they would choose to do this. I switched the pickups and I like it much better.
Click to expand...
If you like the tone after you switched pickup positions then nothing more to worry about, otherwise either get new pickups, add a buffer preamp or both
 

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