Bartolini Classic Bass Series Soapbar

The Classic Bass Series covers a wide varitey of shapes/dimensions, are avalible and have machined blades rather then poles. Mine is the old Thunderbird shape T4CBC-B (T=thunderbird 4=four string CB=classic bass B=hubucker or soapbar is my educated guess and -B=neck position) Bartolini's are passive but work well with active systems. Most, including mine have four conductors/wires which can be installed in series/humbucking or paralle/two independent single coils. (a switch will let you use both) Series has the most output and mid frequency while Paralle has more high> less mid frequency and less overall output. Mine is wired in series to a passive harness.

It's in the neck position of a Fender Jazz and replaced the original jazz pickups. Mike Watt and Kira both use Bartolini and many builders include them in costume basses. I changed the pickup cause I can always get another fender jazz, like how a Percision bass has one central pickup and wanted to have more meat in my tone.

The output is awsome.
I use an Ampeg B112 or a Fender 250 head/no name speaker and have also used a yamaha head/no name speaker already setup at the practice space. Flat Wound strings, distorition, echo, chorus and phaser effects. Also a behreinger usb/guitar interface for digital recording. The tone is great, has no weak points and presents the fingers on the strings beyond my wildest dreams. I play worship on Sunday and Jazz/Funk/Blues the rest of the week.

I would replace the pickup in a second if it ever got stolen. Have been playing for over 10 yerars. Have had a handful of electric basses, an upright and 2x15 solid state Ampeg portflex from the 70s.
I really like that people who've heard me play before notice and ask why it sounds better. I'm very satisfied and want to try one on a frettless.