Bartolini pickups anyone?

anon · Post by **anon** » Thu Sep 21, 2000 4:55 pm

Anyone had any experience with installing/using Bartolini pickups on their 4001?

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 8:37 am

I have put these in for quite a few players.

They really like them.

Most of the people that have the Bartolini's have had some time playing Tobias' or similar basses with active and/or passive bartolini pickups.

They do change the timbre of the bass.

I do like the sound.It's completely different.But it has more of a bark...throaty tone not so clanky.
What ever floats your boat.

If you have heard what Barto's do to a Fender ...then you know what to expect .

Mike_LeBlanc · Post by **Mike_LeBlanc** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 11:47 am

I installed bartolini pickups in my 4001 bass.Because it had been hacked by some one and only one weak original pickup remained on it. All other parts were restored back to stock but because the price of the stock pickups I decided to give 'em a try.
No regrets. They sound great and don,t get that clunky sound. They are also dead quite.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 7:29 pm

I have some bartolinis out of a 68 4001. Didn't bother to try them. Why put non-Rickenbacker pickups into a Rickenbacker. People say they sound different. Well then...doesn't sound like a Rick any more. Never liked active anyway. That's jsut my opinion though. They're for sale with all the electronics. Anyone want them?

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Fri Jan 19, 2001 9:45 am

I don't like the active Bartolini pickups for the Rick ,but the passive ones I do .

They seem to widen the tone spectrum.

With a great bass amp it sound terriffic

Why change pickups in anything? because it needs a little something to bring out that mystery tone you are looking for .At least if you can return it to stock ,it doesn't matter .

lucien_s. · Post by **lucien_s.** » Fri Jan 19, 2001 1:00 pm

Never heard Bartolini's in a rick, but I prefer the sound of the rick pickups even if they are kind of cheezy. That rick sound just scratches an itch that makes all other basses, no matter how good, sound ordinary.

Bartolini's do sound good in ordinary basses, but the best pickups in the non-rick world are the G&L stock soapbars. Totally massive tone....

LS

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Tue Mar 06, 2001 12:29 am

It doesn't really say on the website of Bartolini if the replacement pickups (6rc treble - 6rt bass - 6jh mute compartment)are passive or active.
Does anyone know ? Probably passive since they don't show any additional electronics.
I have been considering to put one in a 3001 bass
plus one in it's mute compartment.
The 3001 has only 3 pots (bass treble volume)
Anyone any Ideas how this could be wired without
adding pots? The mod should be totally reversible
otherwise I would not do it.

Thanks,

Marcus

tom_r · Post by **tom_r** » Thu Mar 08, 2001 9:02 am

Six years ago I had a pair of Bartolinis installed in my '78 4001 - they're both passive and I do not recall which model numbers they are (both different). The net result was much better low-end while retaining most of the "Ric" sound and giving it a deeper, broader tone overall (I do have a Badass II on it). They are not wired stereo. I, too, made sure everything was reversible prior to having them installed.

However, after playing a friend's 4001CS (simply incredible) and a '76 4001 reequipped w/a horseshoe and toaster, I'll soon be giving Mike Parks a call to source out a toaster, horseshoe & new wiring harness for my 4001. The horseshoe/toaster combo transformed the 4001 into a screaming tonal monster, nice low-end, etc. - you have to play & hear it to believe it! I'd strongly suggest to anyone out there who is considering Barts in their 4001/3 to try out this combo, along with a new capacitor. The Barts are fine pickups and they did expand the tonal envelope of my 4001; they will find a nice home in an old Aria Pro J-bass copy I've been fiddling with this winter.

Regards,
Tom R.

John_Zimmer · Post by **John_Zimmer** » Fri Jun 01, 2001 3:26 am

I have a 74 4001 in which I have had installed custom T.W.Doyle bass pickups and electronics. The pickups are passive low impedance and are the most powerful I have ever seen without the use of a preamp. Also, they are noiseless. They have four distinct sountds through a varitone type eaualizer, the top setting sounding like your vintage Rick's but with less noise and more punch. Tom Doyle is Les Pauls personal guitar tech and a custom luthier. I was turned on to his work over 20 years ago - there's no one like him for bass or guitar!