Switch Bartolini pickups ?

[BrusselsBass]

Guys, I believe the Bartolini PJ pickups in my '88 Streamer suck out the light from the sound. I can't get used to and I'm not satisfied with the sound. So I'm thinking to replace them with DiMarzio DP126 BK.
Any opinions?

I read @Henrythe8 post on the swap of active MEC to passive DiMarzios. Changing Active MECs to Passive DiMarzio with MEC preamp. (and a bit of rejuvenation)
I will keep the original BEC in the Streamer.

 

[steembass]

imho: I would rather exchange the BEC against a Bartolini 2-way electronics - which I did many years ago in my 91 Streamer Stage 1 5string (with Bartolini humbuckers).

 

[BrusselsBass]

imho: I would rather exchange the BEC against a Bartolini 2-way electronics - which I did many years ago in my 91 Streamer Stage 1 5string (with Bartolini humbuckers).

And why is this ?? Would an exchange with a 3-band Glockenklang be an option?

 

[steembass]

no experience with Glockenklang preamp-sorry..

 

[steembass]

also: the MECs (BEC) pan pot has 220 kOhm, the Bartolini pan pot 250 kOhm…might influence the “sound”??

 

[warwickhunt]

Easier to give me your Bartolini 88 and I'll give you a choice of 3 SSI that will sound brighter/lighter.

On a serious note there is no guarantee that swapping out pups on your bass will change it enough to get to where you want to be. To qualify that my comment is based upon the experience that many wenge necked Streamers (pre 88-89) sound 'darker' than those with maple necks (post 88-89). I've owned quite a few Streamers from all of the periods AND I've swapped/modified the pups and preamps. I sometimes found that you could get some variation but a few basses had an inherent core tone that required quite a radical change in electronics to modify. A friend fitted an ACG filter preamp that did give a big difference to the tone, so that might be worth looking into. There are various manufacturers who create this kind of electronics and it differs from traditional 2 or 3 band EQ.

My difficulty was that I WANTED the dark tone but I wanted it from the later SSI which is difficult to achieve. I've been actively searching for an 88(ish) Streamer with wenge neck and 2 piece bridge as I feel that will give me the tone I desire.

Good luck with your search.