bloomfieldriffs
New member
Been hearing about them recently and the chatter has been favorable. Their bass pups have been very popular for a while but it seems now the are getting into guitar pups.
Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
- Thread starter bloomfieldriffs
- Start date
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
They've made guitar pickups ever since the beginning. They've come out with new models over the years, some replacing the old models. Bill and Pat Bartolini retired a few years back and sold the company to a smart engineer type, who spent a lot of time with Bill transferring knowledge.
So rather than just some marketing department trading on the brand equity, there are and will be new products as time goes by. I haven't heard anything new from them, but I did always like their guitar pickups over the past 20 years.
They've made guitar pickups ever since the beginning. They've come out with new models over the years, some replacing the old models. Bill and Pat Bartolini retired a few years back and sold the company to a smart engineer type, who spent a lot of time with Bill transferring knowledge.
So rather than just some marketing department trading on the brand equity, there are and will be new products as time goes by. I haven't heard anything new from them, but I did always like their guitar pickups over the past 20 years.
bloomfieldriffs
New member
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
" I haven't heard anything new from them"
From their WEB page:
January 23, 2014, Introduction of the NTMB+. It is a 3-band pre-amp module in a single low-profile package, as opposed to the previous NTMB/918 assembly that was comprised of two modules.
April 4, 2014, Bartolini is pleased to announce Dana B. Goods as exclusive US distributor of the complete Bartolini product line, including pickups, pre-wired harnesses, and electronics modules.
2015, Introduction of two new products including ACE Series Guitar Pickups: Alnico-Ceramics based pickups for that hot legendary voice you want in an electric guitar with the tonal balance you get from ceramics. Also introduced Singularity: Single Coil Bass pickups for musicians with soap bar style pickups who want that voice you normally see in J-Bass style instruments.
April 2016: Bartolini releases it’s b-axis series of exposed-pole Alnico V Jazz bass style pickups, based on the original Hi-A design from the early 1970’s.
“Bartolini is taking it up an Octave” –Clyde Clark
Seems that they have been releasing several new products.
Based on your favorable opinion will take a leap and buy one to hear for myself.
Thank you for the reply.
Interesting AB test:
https://youtu.be/PaCGWBfYxNA
My ears say parallel humbuckers sound the best by a long shot. Think I go for a set of Prails instead.
" I haven't heard anything new from them"
From their WEB page:
January 23, 2014, Introduction of the NTMB+. It is a 3-band pre-amp module in a single low-profile package, as opposed to the previous NTMB/918 assembly that was comprised of two modules.
April 4, 2014, Bartolini is pleased to announce Dana B. Goods as exclusive US distributor of the complete Bartolini product line, including pickups, pre-wired harnesses, and electronics modules.
2015, Introduction of two new products including ACE Series Guitar Pickups: Alnico-Ceramics based pickups for that hot legendary voice you want in an electric guitar with the tonal balance you get from ceramics. Also introduced Singularity: Single Coil Bass pickups for musicians with soap bar style pickups who want that voice you normally see in J-Bass style instruments.
April 2016: Bartolini releases it’s b-axis series of exposed-pole Alnico V Jazz bass style pickups, based on the original Hi-A design from the early 1970’s.
“Bartolini is taking it up an Octave” –Clyde Clark
Seems that they have been releasing several new products.
Based on your favorable opinion will take a leap and buy one to hear for myself.
Thank you for the reply.
Interesting AB test:
https://youtu.be/PaCGWBfYxNA
My ears say parallel humbuckers sound the best by a long shot. Think I go for a set of Prails instead.
Last edited:
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
Right. So you were asking about guitar pickups. Perhaps I should have been more specific. Of the Humbuckers on this page, I have not tried the ACE pickups yet. http://www.bartolini.net/product-category/guitar-pickup/humbucker/
From this page, I like the 1D 01 and 492C B, both pickups designed maybe 20 years ago or so. I was a friend of Bill and Pat, and at that time bill would send me those pickups when he was developing them.
I've tried dozens of other Bartolini Humbuckers that aren't on this page. I like the 494's the 492C N, the E92C B, E94, I think I have those numbers correct. I used to install custom Bartolini setups, with customized electronics, boosts, etc.
So I wasn't saying I hadn't heard ABOUT new things from them, just that I hadn't heard their new electric models.
Right. So you were asking about guitar pickups. Perhaps I should have been more specific. Of the Humbuckers on this page, I have not tried the ACE pickups yet. http://www.bartolini.net/product-category/guitar-pickup/humbucker/
From this page, I like the 1D 01 and 492C B, both pickups designed maybe 20 years ago or so. I was a friend of Bill and Pat, and at that time bill would send me those pickups when he was developing them.
I've tried dozens of other Bartolini Humbuckers that aren't on this page. I like the 494's the 492C N, the E92C B, E94, I think I have those numbers correct. I used to install custom Bartolini setups, with customized electronics, boosts, etc.
So I wasn't saying I hadn't heard ABOUT new things from them, just that I hadn't heard their new electric models.
bloomfieldriffs
New member
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
Heard from a reliable source that they are working on a new line of active pickups:more tone from the coil and less preamp interferrance or something like that. Don't know enough about pickups to really understand this but it sounds good, more organic.
Heard from a reliable source that they are working on a new line of active pickups:more tone from the coil and less preamp interferrance or something like that. Don't know enough about pickups to really understand this but it sounds good, more organic.
jtougas
New member
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
I've got a fairly good collection of new, NOS, and used Bartolinis (including some 3XVs, which are getting hard to find). My personal favorite right now is the 1CTA, but I've got a full Strat set to put into a build, and a bunch of others that I intend to put to work, both active and passive.
I've got a fairly good collection of new, NOS, and used Bartolinis (including some 3XVs, which are getting hard to find). My personal favorite right now is the 1CTA, but I've got a full Strat set to put into a build, and a bunch of others that I intend to put to work, both active and passive.
bloomfieldriffs
New member
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
Could you pick a Duncan pickup similar to the 1CTA?
I understand they pretty much use ceramic magnets but the description of the tone characteristics sound more like a Duncan with an A2 or A5.
Could you pick a Duncan pickup similar to the 1CTA?
I understand they pretty much use ceramic magnets but the description of the tone characteristics sound more like a Duncan with an A2 or A5.
jtougas
New member
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
As far as the 1CTA, the closest things would probably be the Benedetto humbuckers - *very* clear tone, sounds great under a variety of gains, but covers *nothing*. You can hear every nuance of playing, but your flubs will show up just as clearly. Complex chord voicings show through, too. I've got it in a Warmoth chambered black khorina Jazzmaster body, and two different players have said "That neck pickup... you've got something magical going there."
If that's what you're after, I highly recommend giving it a shot.
The SD Jazz would be another close possibility, as is the DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell. The 1CTA is an assymetric coil design, but the windings are closer to even than the 1C, for better noise suppression.
As far as the 1CTA, the closest things would probably be the Benedetto humbuckers - *very* clear tone, sounds great under a variety of gains, but covers *nothing*. You can hear every nuance of playing, but your flubs will show up just as clearly. Complex chord voicings show through, too. I've got it in a Warmoth chambered black khorina Jazzmaster body, and two different players have said "That neck pickup... you've got something magical going there."
If that's what you're after, I highly recommend giving it a shot.
The SD Jazz would be another close possibility, as is the DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell. The 1CTA is an assymetric coil design, but the windings are closer to even than the 1C, for better noise suppression.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Has anyone tried Bartolini guitar pups?
I've played his Warmoth loaded with them...the 1CTA is probably the best neck pickup I've ever used for cleans. Very clear sounding pickup that the tone knobs turns into an awesome jazzy tone that is not muddy at all.
I've played his Warmoth loaded with them...the 1CTA is probably the best neck pickup I've ever used for cleans. Very clear sounding pickup that the tone knobs turns into an awesome jazzy tone that is not muddy at all.
