Which pickups are better and why?

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

I am purchasing my first ever 5 string because guys in my band want me to have that low B. I wanted a 5 string for a long time anyways.
I was recommended a couple of basses. One of them has an EMG HZ pickup; the other, Bartolini MK1.
Please let me know which one you prefer and why. I couldn't seem to find any reviews on those pickups.
Thank you.

[rh15951]

It would be a lot more helpful if you told us which basses you are looking at.

Out of the pickups though, the Bartolinis (not considering which bass they are in)

[muthafunkabass]

Both are good but I voted for the EMG's because basically all their pickups are clear as hell. The only problem is I think those are the passive EMG's? I heard something awhile back about how they aren't the same as their other pickups (alot of their models are active).

What tone do you want and what sort of music are you playing?

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Well, I am thinking between a Schecter Stiletto Custom and an Ibanez SR505. Ibanez has Bartolini pups and Schecter has EMGs.

I play mostly thrash metal, but I also enjoy playing slap n pop too. I think that the EMGs in the Schecter are active.

[rh15951]

I'd go with the Ibanez.

[Led_Zeppelin678]

Stiletto Custom. The Ibanez is absolute crap compared to it.

[Jublian]

i've found the stilhettos to be mega muddy dude to the mahogany body

[Radiobass81]

For the most part, I like EMGs, but they are horrible for Salsa and some other types of latin music. I'm not a fan of Bartolinis.

Didn't vote for either, because of it.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

i've found the stilhettos to be mega muddy dude to the mahogany body

I think the Ibanez SR505 also has a mahogany body.

[lemoley]

i voted EMG

although i have never played a bass with Barts the HZ's on my Schecter freaking rule - i just love the tone you can get out of them and with the help of my active EMG EQ can get a very Stingray-esque tone

[Sablate McNuff]

EMG always tend to sound big and beefy, which is something I dig. I really don't like the sounds of Barts at all; it's too mellow. I wish the pickups in my GTBD-7 weren't Barts.

[edgebass5]

Just for reference, EMG-HZ's are passive pickups. They sound nothing like the more expensive active EMG's. That said... I think all EMG pickups sound like crap. Sure they've got tons bottom end and very sparkly treble, but they've also got a big hole in the 400hz region and a HUGE spike in the 1khz region. If you like that sound they're great, but if you don't it takes some pretty decent EQ'ing to remove it. For me that's pretty much the opposite of my preferred EQ so to me they're useless.

I don't really care for MOST Bartolini pickups either. Bill makes lots of different pickups that range from aggressive to mellow to hifi to [insert adjective here]. The MK1 is a pretty mellow pickup with a pretty large high end extension. I'd vote for it over an EMG-HZ but I can think of a whole horde of other pickups I'd choose first.

[rh15951]

The Bartolini electronics in my Pedulla are really really nice, sounds pretty "vintage", not hi-fi like most active stuff I've tried. I have no idea what model they are...

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

That said... I think all EMG pickups sound like crap.
.

So, that means that you think that Les Claypool's CT basses sound like crap??

His main walnut 4 stringer has EMG 35DC p-ups. It sounds awesome IMO.

[rh15951]

So, that means that you think that Les Claypool's CT basses sound like crap??

His main walnut 4 stringer has EMG 35DC p-ups. It sounds awesome IMO.

Sounds awesome in your opinion, perhaps not in his. I don't see the problem.

[edgebass5]

Sounds awesome in your opinion, perhaps not in his. I don't see the problem.

Agreed.

[Radiobass81]

So, that means that you think that Les Claypool's CT basses sound like crap??

His main walnut 4 stringer has EMG 35DC p-ups. It sounds awesome IMO.

Good, clear tones and Claypool do not go in the same sentence without a negative in there.

[chaosMK]

The pickups are just one factor of your tone. I would get whichever bass looks cooler.

I'd worry more about cabinets when it comes to the low b. Some suck in that range (SWR), some are amazing (Mesa).

and... if you want a tighter B, get a 35" scale bass.