Epic with Bartolini Electronics

[jazzyvee]

What do you guys think of the sound? I have read that people have modified their alembics with bartolini electronics and/or pickups.
Interesting that it still is useable with a passive mode. I don't think it sounds like an alembic anymore but I guess he has a bass he likes with Alembic build quality. :-(

[lbpesq]

This looks like it still has the original Alembic pickups. 

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

I can't be hard on his decision, as you know I did that once, put alternative filter system in my Europa which sounded good at home but when using it live i found it was lacking in the full spectrum of sound I was used to. I eventually put the alembic innards back in the bass and all is good in my world. I learnt a lesson I won't be repeating. But I guess he is happy.  Yep looks like those are the originals.

[gtrguy]

Some Barts are a direct fit for Alembic gear.

[keith_h]

It looks like it had the standard Epic V/P/B/T controls. I've not played an Alembic that doesn't have a filter. About the closest I have is my fretless Orion with EMW electronics. With that in mind I could understand where someone would think the Bartolini preamp is an improvement for their taste.

[edwardofhuncote]

I have absolutely no quibbles with Bartolini pickups, preamps, or anything... they make fantastic electronics. I had a 1st gen Tobias Growler 5-string that had an 18v preamp and a Bill Bart Quad-Coil pickup, and even had stereo output. I still regret trading that bass sometimes. It was the most Alembic-like non-Alembic bass I ever had.


That said, I ain't havin' none of it in my Alembics. What someone does is their biz-niss, but the first conversation I ever had with Mica was how to get rid of some, and put some proper Activator circuitry back in my Persuader 5-string.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Back then, I was hired to do sound for 3 different bands by a bassist (and PA owner) who played a custom build by Ed Reynolds (then of Soundsmiths in Chicago, now of Ed Reynolds Guitars in Austin).  It was a modified Fender shape; a bubinga body on a 3-piece maple thru-neck with an ebony 'board sporting MOP oval inlays (is any of this sounding familiar?).  It had Barts with 3-band active EQ, and it was absolutely killer - enough so that when (between the 1st & 2nd of said bands) I helped another bassist I was working for design a redo on his fretless P-bass, and convinced him to go with P-J Barts & active 3-way (installed by Ed).   Had I been as knowledgeable then as I am now, I probably would have steered him toward Activators, but the Barts were wonderful.  My guitar tastes tend toward old-school (Leo & Ted did pretty good there), but I would not hesitate to put Bartolinis in any bass.

Except an Alembic.  If Barts are the Porsche of bass p/ups, Alembics are the McLaren.........................

Peter

[gtrguy]

I have an odd custom built guitar that came with Hi-A pickups (pre-barts) and several onboard Stars Guitars modules that I plan on returning to its original shape one of these days. I have no idea what it will sound like. It has some nice PRS pickups in it now that I put in there. I do like Bart bass PUPs too but original Alembic is the best.


http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=16266.msg164252#msg164252

[lbpesq]

I have an odd custom built guitar that came with Hi-A pickups (pre-barts) and several onboard Stars Guitars modules that I plan on returning to its original shape one of these days. I have no idea what it will sound like. It has some nice PRS pickups in it now that I put in there. I do like Bart bass PUPs too but original Alembic is the best.


http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=16266.msg164252#msg164252

This guitar looks like it’s saying “I love you THIS much!”

Bill, tgo

[gearhed289]

I once had a Kramer 8 string bass that someone had installed Hi-A pickups on. They didn't really have much character, so I put EMGs on it. I probably should have tried adding a preamp first, but I sold it before too long once I acquired my Ric 8 string.

gtrguy - that is a cool looking guitar. Very different, but appealing.