BASS gear Q - Bartolini vs EMG via ESP vs Ibanez

[ThunderBass]

Trying to figure out if this is worth the trade off here.

I got a ESP F-5E with EMG DC 40's dropped in

as well as a Schecter HellRaiser 5 with (EMG HZ's) <---"MEH"

I was playing a Ibanez SR755 5-Strng that had Bartolini controls and pickups

Love the tone and sound out of it, played it through a MARK Bass rigg and then went to my rigg which is the Ampeg 8*10 Classic and SVT pro 4 to make sure the tone came out the same on the bass, and it did.

I'm trying to figure out if this is worth the trade off, I'm some what attached to my current bass's by their looks.

Yet that doesn't mean anything, sound is what means everything as a experienced player.

yet the action was nice and low how i like it and the bass did feel right so the feel doesn't concern me just the hardware in it.

So I would like to hear from anyone with experience with both of the pickups or Bartolini's.

I'm in buying mode GRRRRRRRRRR

 

[Trevoire520]

Dude Bartolini's are awesome. Very woody and organic sounding compared to EMG's imo.

If I was going to be getting a active soapbar style bass I'm pretty sure it would be a Ibanez SR.

 

[Pedro Teixeira]

I wouldn't buy neither an ESP nor an ibanez, but that's just me. But Bartolinis all the wya for sure

 

[ThunderBass]

Yea I just traded in and only payed $32 USD + 80 for 2yrs insurance on the bass that covers over seas use.

Great deal.

Yeah it surprised me actually because I used to own a Ibanez BTB:zombie:

The locking jack busted and Ibanez took forever to even respond to the repair so I just took the bass back.

Been turned away from them until now.

Your right the sound is very organic, it the bartolini Active controls and pickups add a nice Growl and Bite

with the EMG DC40's I just seemed to get a growl, a warm tone but with no bite.

I suggest checking this bass out at your local store.

I traded in a schecter Hellraiser and a ESP F-5E for it. Both which are great bass's for looks and really slick action but I just felt I had to modify them in order to get that tone.

I really think that the Bartolini controls and pickups is what makes the value of this bass.

Still Awesome and allows my tapping to glide and sweep so much more efficiently with a more sharper carved neck on this model Ibannez SR755.

now with my ampeg stack and added rack gear it just sounds titties

 

[Executioner213]

The locking jack busted and Ibanez took forever to even respond to the repair so I just took the bass back.

Couldn't you just replace it? Aren't they just standard Neutrik locking jacks? Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[egan.]

I like barts. Generally though, if you are after aggressive bass I would steer you towards ash and away from mahogany which I believe is a main wood in every bass you've listed. Pups matter but IME if the bass isn't loud and snappy acoustically you are going to fight it to make it sound mean. OTOH the complexity and low mid presence of mahogany can make it really sit nicely under guitars.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I personally tend to prefer EMG's over Bartolinis.

with the EMG DC40's I just seemed to get a growl, a warm tone but with no bite.

I think it's really weird that you feel this way. I've personally always thought of the DC's as super aggressive, bright and tight than pretty much any other bass pickup that I've tried.

 

[ThunderBass]

I personally tend to prefer EMG's over Bartolinis.


I think it's really weird that you feel this way. I've personally always thought of the DC's as super aggressive, bright and tight than pretty much any other bass pickup that I've tried.

It may have been that I didnt have a EMG control system put in and was using what came with that bass for the controls.

I plan on adding some nice EMG system and Pups in this Warlock NT 5 strng.

I cant nock EMG's as it made the ESP sound better by far but it still wasn't what I was looking for, for my style of playing as a bassist.

none the less, Iam rather happy with this buy.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

I like barts. Generally though, if you are after aggressive bass I would steer you towards ash and away from mahogany which I believe is a main wood in every bass you've listed. Pups matter but IME if the bass isn't loud and snappy acoustically you are going to fight it to make it sound mean. OTOH the complexity and low mid presence of mahogany can make it really sit nicely under guitars.

+1
Ash or swamp ash. I like a maple neck.