Please help with bartolini thickness !

[kolkoz]

hi !
Sorry for my english, i'm french !
Recently, i bought a Bart MMK pickup for my Stingray 4 and I have a serious problem... i can't install it on my stingray because the bart is too high !
I don't understand why !
Please someone could explain me !
Thank you

 

[todd4ta]

I'm not familiar with that model, but I think there may be some Bart models that fit in well and other Bart models (like yours) that don't and may require routing (DON'T DO IT!).

There are several MM pickups that fit in perfectly with no mofications needed. I highly recommend you seek out one of them or put your EB pickup back in. Don't do any routing, you will regret it.

Are you replacing the original EB pickup, or did the bass come with something else installed?

 

[kolkoz]

Thank you for your reply !
Yes I would like to replace the original EB pickup... because It seems to have few problems...
Also I would like to put an aguilar OBP-3 preamp...
Now, I don't know what can I do to change the stock pickup...

 

[Hutton]

What problems are you having with the stock pickup?

Why not replace it with a new stock pickup? That way the job will be easy and you will retain the original character of your instrument. After all, the sound of the original is, in my humble opinion, the best.

 

[kolkoz]

I don't know how to explain in english my problem with the stock pickup...
Simply, sound seems to be "poor", lack of "richness" and sustain... And bad string to string balance...

Where could I buy a stock pickup ? (U.S online site)

 

[Hutton]

From what you describe I think it would be an idea to get your bass checked and set up by a professional. The problems that seem to be affecting your bass aren't normally ascribed to Stingrays.

If you want to source a stock pickup it is probably best to contact Ernie Ball customer service.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

kolkoz, I personally would try and stay with an original Music Man pickup.

Are your strings ok?

Is your pickup the correct height and distance from the strings?

Is your Bass a Pre-EB or EB? Not that it matters, just interested

 

[kolkoz]

Strings and pickup height are ok !
My bass is an EB...
Setup is perfect !
I had no problem during 3 years... Problems appears just a month ago...
I will install my stock pickup again and I would like to try to install an aguilar preamp this week...

 

[todd4ta]

Make sure that your battery is good and new. Make sure that the battery is making contact. Search the bass forum for 'battery' and you will see several threads about battery contact problems.

Unless the preamp or pickup has failed, it sounds like they may not be your problem since they were working OK before.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I agree with Todd about the battery.

It's unlikely that your pickup has just decided to fail. The battery can produce weird results!

 

[kakobass]

I had the same problem with a 2001 StingRay and Bartolini. I did installed it OK, but it would sit too close to the strings when adjusting for low action.

You would have to route the body (make the pickup cavity deeper.)

The reason I wanted to install the Bart was because I find pole-pieces to be a nuisance.

Maybe Bartolini used an older model as a "model" to make their pickups, or they didn't test for different setups with low action - Definitely a miscalculation from Bartolini.

 

[prickly_pete]

You could shim the neck a bit and raise the bridge saddles (remember a little bit of shim goes a long way). That would move the strings away from the pickup and keep the same string action. I'd do that before taking a router to it.

 

[sultrabass]

I had that problem with Barts I installed in another bass. It turned out to be the pins on the back of the pickup that the wires attached to. I just used a Dremel to make indentations where the pins were hitting and that made enough clearance. I'm not sure about your setup, though.

 

[Musicman Nut]

I don't know how to explain in english my problem with the stock pickup...
Simply, sound seems to be "poor", lack of "richness" and sustain... And bad string to string balance...

Where could I buy a stock pickup ? (U.S online site)

I'm Now seeing new Stingrays with all flat Pole pieces, I'd wait and find a Ray with staggard pole pieces, I bet that's the only problem, I have one Stingray with flat pole pieces and the strings are very unballanced so if you have one of these I'd try to score an older pickup. DJ