FGN Mighty Jazz - Epic EMG vs. Bartolini Pickup Comparison - LowEndLobster Tone Shootout

[@nj1255]

The Bartolini's with both pickups blended and the bridge in parallel sounds so damn good.

[@hyperluminalreality1]

I do not like the overcompressed sound. Ar 3:43 the incidental click between notes is uncompressed but the played notes are. Makes it stand out. At 4:05 the note actually gets louder as it holds, indicating uncontrolled compression. I do not like the Bartolini preamp compression sound here. The EMG is open compared to it. Sounds like a bad engineer who does not know how to use compression.

[@nj1255]

@@hyperluminalreality1 It's not because of the pickups or pre-amp, it's the Orange amp that is compressing. It has a compressor that you can't disable. That's the reason he is now using an Ampeg. You can hear the compression just as much with the EMGs.

[@stascoin]

you are the one and only who made this

[@LowEndLobster]

Indeed :)

[@SurcoTheWise]

I would love to see more JM pickup sets tested, especially Nordstrand blades or Delanos.

[@rl-ub9hx]

The EMGs seem to be louder and a bit sharper with more separation between the notes. The bartolini we're more mellow on the top but more full throughout the mids. I think I'd put the Bartolini into the blue one.

[@LowEndLobster]

Was low key thinking about it hahaha

[@rl-ub9hx]

@@LowEndLobster great minds

[@TheDevnul]

Exactly my thought also. I kind of liked how the EMG was pushing the input, just on the edge of breaking and establishing that growl that I love so much.

[@hyperluminalreality1]

Did you use a compressor in the audio production? There is note bloom present. What is that volume increase while the note sustains at 4:05? Sounds like badly applied compression.

[@keithjackson4990]

FGN Mighty Jazz Barts vs. EMGs Thank you for this review 🦞

[@JOTG2000]

Hi Lobster. This was a good shoot out. When you started to play I read through the comments and if I liked a tone I would check what you were playing...I'd say it was maybe 60/40 in favour of the Bartolini's. And when you got to the slappin I did like the barts for the most part.

[@rqkeating]

Love the shorter sound samples for comparing instruments. I think you are on to something with that. Hope to see (hear?) more of that in future comparisons.

[@LowEndLobster]

It's funny, this is an older video and I actually went to the longer ones but this is really helpful feedback. Thank you!

[@devlintaylor9520]

@@LowEndLobster Yea, I like the shorter sound samples, but longer ones can be fine if there are timestamps to make it easy to jump back and forth

[@BlindPilot1711]

@@LowEndLobster Again, kerping us on our toes here, there I was asking myself why you played the old bassline all of a sudden. Nice retro touch though 👌🏽

[@ba55note53]

@@LowEndLobster I agree about keeping them shorter. Love the channel BTW!

[@gf9898]

Definitely shorter ones, it’s better to compare

[@TomMarello]

In the 'slap chapter' the annotations for pickups are flipped/reversed...I prefer the sound of Bartolinis - there's more body to it, less honk and spikey trebles, and is more balanced frequency-wise overall

[@carlosKDRHCP1]

You should give the Dean Hillsboro Select bass a gander. Dean to me is an underrated brand and i personally own one as well as a 2010 Hillsboro Jazz that I use for church gigs as well as musical projects I am currently working on. As far as pickup comparison, I am torn between both of these but to me the bartolinis stood out a little more. I absolutely love how informative you are with your reviews and just your obvious love for the bass and passion. Very glad to have found your channel sir!

[@room34]

I'd definitely go with the Bartolini, although I have kind of a bad personal experience with EMG pickups that maybe is biasing me a little bit. I just felt like the Bartolini pickups had a richer and fuller sound, whereas, to me, the EMG by contrast sounded a bit hollow and cold, and I also noticed more undesirable overtones in the EMG. (My bad experience with EMG pickups is more about the instrument they were on, although I also found that the EMG bridge pickup in that bass couldn't *not* produce a distorted tone unless I was barely touching the strings.)

[@prestachuck2867]

They both sound good, but the Barts definitely have more character and warmth. Great playing!

[@josephjordan2883]

Bartolini J/MM is what Lākland used as they grew from a nobody into a world leader in bass manufacturing. But, I’m also a huge fan of EMGs. I think when it come to a J/MM setup, I prefer the Bart sound about 51-49 over the EMG. So, they’re both great.

[@chrismorris3897]

Incredible basses! Another great video, I love tone shootouts!!!! This one sounds close to me! I think maybe the Bartollini's have a little bit fuller range to notes

[@lionelmonteiro9440]

Hey Lobster, I have the same FGN JMJ but in blue…in your opinion what is the better pickup to make it less less brigther than the stock SD ? Bartolini, Nordstrand ? Thanks for your great videos

[@VeitLehmann]

I absolutely share your opinion on those! The Barts are definitely a great improvement over the stock Seymour Duncans! I like their richer sound and how they react to the tone control. However, I'd wire them like on the blue one, I think that pickup split gives you more variety compared to series/parallel switching. I'd actually prefer a Lakland-like switching to select either coil or both in parallel. Regarding the actual pickup sound of Bartolini vs EMG, I also can't decide. But in stock config, I'd prefer the blue one, even though I prefer the look of the yellow bass.

[@spi-fi_media]

My favourites were: Barts in the Bridge, EMGs in the neck. To hear them together might be an impossible task!

[@zyenathalous]

oh, that would be a great mix...then a blend to go between them instead of a hard on/off switch.

[@patrickgil3589]

Another very thorough and well thought out comparison thank you for putting these quality videos out. As mentioned earlier, the pickup descriptions during the slap section, were reversed. One question and you may have addressed it earlier reviews, is the BART set passive and are the EMGs active? If so, is there a difference of output?

[@TheChrist117]

Both are superb sounding instruments although personally, I prefer the sound of the EMGs. They seem to have more warmth and bottom end, than the Barts. I agree with you Lobster about the Seymour Duncan's; they have a lot of balls but there is a harshness about them, I don't particularly care for. It's all subjective! On another topic: I wonder if you might be doing a review on the Cort GB Modern 4, in the future? Thanks for this review.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! I'm gonna try and snag the Elrick one first but I definitely want to check out that Modern as well. Will likely do 5's for at least one.

[@TheChrist117]

@@LowEndLobster : I've seen a couple of things on the Elrick. They look like a great bang for the buck.

[@crispineda4630]

@@LowEndLobster I am now patiently and eagerly awaiting the elrick review now ahahaha

[@r.l.rachel740]

Bartolini's for Jazz riff's, EMG's for Rock refrains to cut thru the bands guitarist(s) & drums. Lobster, Thx for the sonic review.

[@GarySchneider-pi8dh]

Barrolini is what I did like the best and agree both have their own flavor.

[@barretprivateer8768]

I have the EMG model on the right, only mine is translucent white. Absolutely love it, best sounding and playing bass I've ever owned.

[@CamiloPefaur]

Very nice video! I'm really digging those EMGs here!

[@zyenathalous]

i was thinking that same thing.....have been considering upgrading mine to barts, but after hearing this, im favoring the emg.

[@rickrolli7091]

Hey Lobster. I completely agree with you. And the other people leaving comments after this. I can see where you would use both basses in a certain band situation. Depending on the type of music you play. For me, I'm a Bartolini fan and I appreciate the warmer meatier tones. The EMG pickups seem to be a thinner hollower tone and the Bartolini. Until we groove again 🎸🥕🦀🦞✌️😎👍

[@24evman]

I just bought a new classic series j bass and I was thinking about bartolini pickups my only question the bass is passive

[@iamgribs]

Right away the bartolinis have a nice warmth to them, but i am partial to the EMG heat and clarity. I am not big into bartolini but this sounds nice.

[@DiogoBaeder]

Bartolini for me, 100%, any time. It has much more meat, and is probably the one that would sit better in a band mix. When playing both for comparison, though, a suggestion I have is to keep a consistent playing position, because that changes tone a lot - when you showed the bridge pickups, the position was very different

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Diogo! Great suggestion, I'll try and be more mindful of that in future comparisons.

[@hyperluminalreality1]

Do you like the massive compression? Can you hear it? Why is nobody even commenting about it? The compression clamps then releases hard. The click at 3:43 is too loud compared to the notes played. The compressor had released. At 4:05 the note actually gets louder as the compressor releases. If this is the Bartolini preamp doing this then no thanks.

[@DiogoBaeder]

@@hyperluminalreality1 if there's any compression going on, then it's off-board. Neither of those basses are equipped with preamps, let alone any compression circuitry.

[@LowEndLobster]

@@hyperluminalreality1 The compression was in the amp. I addressed this with the new amp and recording setup for 2023 though! Way less compression and way more natural sound out of the basses, plus a great opportunity to revisit some instruments. Great comment!

[@RobMLyon]

Hey Lobster, thinking of putting these pups in my Sandberg tm5, already put a sadowski VTC preamp in it. Looking for the best options and would appreciate your advice. Thanks buddy

[@mklcrossover]

the yellow one was more to my liking.

[@necarz]

In this case, I prefer the EMGs only because for my ears this set sounds more powerfull and with more bottom compared to the Bartolini (Bartolini sounds more natural perhaps). Both models are great. Thanks Lobster

[@leighcoulson2148]

Like a bit of them both ..probably slight preference for the Bartolini. However both are fine.

[@pimcramer2569]

Did you made this vid for comparing? Or just for flexing you're basses😉

[@Bassdriver]

Both sound good but I like Bartollinis more - they're tighter and more mid-focused while the EMGs have their treble set way too high for my taste (meaning the Hz's, not the dBs ;-) ).

[@PierluigiBalducci]

Please, could you tell me the model of EMG humbucker at the bridge?

[@meyersguitars2196]

The Barts get the nod from me but both sound amazing.

[@ileutur6863]

The EMGs sound tight and compressed, albeit a bit honky. I'm missing the high end on the bartolinis

[@jkf9167]

I think that these pickups kind of excel at different things. I'd choose the EMGs for their clearer sound. The exception would be for the middier bridge-only sounds, where the Bartolini sounds nice and plummy and the exact frequency of the EMG mid-honk sounds a bit annoying, despite the EMG being lighter in the mids. For flatwound strings, or dense, low-end Reggae sounds, I'd go for the Bartolinis, for roundwound strings, rock or funk, I'd go for the EMGs. I have active EMGs in a Tagima J copy, and I like them a lot. I've also had them in a P, which I thought sounded great as well. I've never owned Bartolinis.

[@ChaelaThompson]

Bartolini have some interesting 4 coil pickups I'd love to try, looks like they could be wired to do a p and reverse p tones as well has humbucker and single tones

[@countzero1972]

hard to choose..... but if I had a gun to my head I'd go with the Bartolini's which were a little more smooth and mellow to me, IMHO. I have old EMG active set in my awesome lawsuit era MIJ Granada (Matsumoku) 75 Fender Jazz Bass clone. They sound amazing. Always a fan. In my 80's CORT headless P/J bass too (the originals were so ***** microphonic it was crazy). I have Bartolini in my 90's Korean Cort Artisan A5 neck-thru, and it sounds pretty awesome too. This shootout, I think Barts had a slight edge... at least with my PC speakers LoL

[@hyperluminalreality1]

Right off the Bartolini sounds like someone is using a compressor on it. Not dynamic at all. The EMG sounds more open. The actual notes are no louder than the incidental between notes at 3:43. At 4:05 the note blooms and gets louder as it rings. Definite compression. If that is the Bartolini preamp doing that then no thanks.

[@Eugensson]

As a bartolini person I was sceptical about the EMG pickups at first (I love EMG preamps tho), but I was susprised at how nice they sounded here. Doesn’t even remotely sound like “compressed” and “flat sounding” descriptions of EMG online.

[@jamestom2510]

Jeepers they both sound good, very little seperating them. At times i would say the bartolini and then others i would say emg...... Id be happy with either. I have an older Yamaha RBX765a which im looking at changing but low and behold the yammy pickups are a proprietary size, so it looks like ill have to get a second set and rewind a new config myself. Ill rewind them in a Elnico madget in a resin bobin and a custom wire guage. ?

[@gimmeagig]

You've been practicing :)

[@jamesbunn6118]

I go with the Bartolini’s

[@klaymeister]

labeling is backward on the slap portion. It's ok, we know the blue one has EMGs and the other Bartolinis EMG is the winner for me, something in the top end of Bartolinis is weird to me.

[@LowEndLobster]

Good catch and thank you!

[@BlindPilot1711]

Yeah, I was wondering if Lobster switched the pickups around mid video just to mess with us, or maybe you just got bored after all those mod videos in december 😅

[@LowEndLobster]

LOL I'm keeping you all on your toes! Totally intentional... I swear!

[@ghana1823]

I’ve always loved the BIG FAT sound of EMGs. I only like Bartolini for certain things like finger punchy things. What I hate about Bartolini’s is that they lose to much bottom in the higher notes on the neck..

[@DolemiteSammich]

What pre was used?

[@LowEndLobster]

No preamp

[@patrickgil3589]

Are the barts weaker in output, Lobster? With the EMGs having an internal preamp and all I mean. Both sound great - but agree difft flavors

[@GRiani]

EMG Win! And now, EMG x Norsdtrand?

[@rl-ub9hx]

Oh YAAASSSS

[@tSp289]

Damn it, I already bought Bartolinis for my bass. I prefer the EMG on nearly all of these except slap. .

[@OFI_Bass]

EMG for me

[@smrg141]

Emg for me

[@carlosdrfx]

Well I guess I'm an EMG guy!

[@somebrains5431]

It would be nice if Fishman made other shapes besides EMG DC. The whole EMG vs Bartolini thing has been going on forever. Duncan's kinda get there in active pickup reviews. MEC's suck. No a whole lot of active options for those of us that are bored.

[@rajeshsunchildmadhav9740]

EMG

[@jamesbunn6118]

I like to EMGs for slap

[@johangericke1492]

It's Bartolini for or me.

[@ErnieLeblanc]

EMG💥💯💥

[@user-vw7um9vv5p]

Yeah I'm a Barts fan all the way but was impressed by the fullness and brightness of the EMGs. Tho my next PU upgrade is nothing but BC52J barts and a HR 5.2AP/918.

[@alpsala]

EMG wins.