Bartolini and Sterlings

[krich]

Hey, does anybody know if you can put a Bartolini on a Sterling? I know they make them for the StingRay, but am unsure if the wiring will mesh with the Sterling's selector switch.
Thx...
:- k

 

[LoveThatBass]

I read where someone recommended Bartolini's deep tone tri coil from Guitarelectronics.com.

 

[Mobay45]

I like to drink Bolla Bartollini sometimes but I prefer Bolla Valpolicella. Italian red wines are soooo good.

 

[bdgotoh]

A Bart MME will give you the best performance in a Sterling - you'll get all 3 of the switch options. It's a triple coil humcanceller, two outer sensing coils and a center non-sensing humcancelling coil.
Two things I've found: The Bart MM pickups have the coils farther apart than the EB stockers and exhibit a little more phase cancellation in the tone. The other thing is the solder lugs on the back of the Bart plus the overall depth of the MM Bart make it a really tight fit in a Stingray. I had to file down my solder lugs about halfway to make it fit. Sterling pickup routes are deeper in the center but not where you'll need it for the Bart, so you might have to work to get it to fit.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Thanks!
Very good info. Can you tell me if you would just have to shave some off one side of the route or is it a big difference that would require extensive work to put the Bart pickup in a Sterling?
Gary

 

[bdgotoh]

I'm allergic to modding perfectly good basses so I modded the pickup. You'd only have to modify an area around 3/4" x the width of the pickup under the side of the pickup closest to the bridge, and deepening it 1/2" would probably be enough.
If you just filed down the solder lugs you probably wouldn't have to touch the body route.

 

[LoveThatBass]

If you just filed down the solder lugs you probably wouldn't have to touch the body route.[/QUOTE]


That would be my choice. I do not like changing the guitar either unless absolutely necessary.

 

[LoveThatBass]

The Bart MM pickups have the coils farther apart than the EB stockers and exhibit a little more phase cancellation in the tone.

Does this give you more or less growl or what?

 

[philthygeezer]

I'm also curious. Would the MME provide a deeper, darker tone than stock?

 

[LoveThatBass]

I am curious about the tonal charactoristics also. If you do an advanced search of the Bartolini you will find where a poster put an MP3 of his Bart on the forum.

In fact here it is:
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=455

Hope this helps,
GAry

 

[bdgotoh]

I sold off my Bart MMC 4 string pickup several years ago, but I recall it had a more "scooped" tone with less mids than the stock pickup.