I think I like the stock pickups more. They sound more smooth and fitting for fret less. Those Aguilar’s I could see sounding great on a fretted bass for sure. Good video.
Gotta love the Zelda representation. Heard the Song of Time a lot throughout your videos and to hear Saria’s Song put a smile on my face. Keep it up man love the DCBs as well.
Bartolini in my opinion is a much more natural sound on the other hand Aguilar is clearer and brighter, however it is a matter of preferences, they are great !!! thanks for the comparisons, regards
I agree. I think that it depends on what kind of fretless tone one prefers. For me the more subdued highs are what I naturally go for so I would probably favor it stock but those Aguilar pickups are great
Thanks for the review, Mr. Lobster - your demonstration of the before and after sound are exactly what I wanted to hear. I'll keep my Barts with slinky cobalt flats, but I'm looking for a darker tone than you are. Many thanks!
Thanks Daniel! We have a SRMS805 that we'll be reviewing and swapping in some Seymour Duncans, we'll see what kind of tones we get out of those. I'm flying blind going into these swaps in terms of what I'm actually going to get, but I'm glad I'm able to record and share my findings :)
Sounds really good! I don't think the Barts sound bad, but the Aguilars are an improvement. I really like it with the piezo blended in. With this bass, I couldn't find anything to fret about at all!
I’ve been a big fan of Aguilars in Soundgears since finding a SR2400 on the wall at my local music shop. Thanks for the demo and the confirmation that my ears weren’t lying to me.
Oh yeah! Much better! More clarity and seems like better hi mid presence. And nice fretless playing Low! I need lines on a fretless so I don't get lost, he he. That neck is so long too! You could land a DC10 on it!
Thanks Jeff! The long neck is kind of gimmicky being this long, but it's cool! I wish it was a little shorter to allow for easier slap, but I'm just nitpicking ;P
These pickups have an incredibly strong magnetic pull. I can feel something similar too, might just require moving the pickup further away from strings.
Thanks Rev! TBH I liked the DCB swap in the EHB more than this, though I wasn't disappointed. Someone else said I should have done some nords on this bass (though it's already gone). Next fretless pickup swap project will go nords just to mix things up ;P
Love those Aguilar DCB's. I recently upgraded my modified D. Lakin Bob Glaub bass with the DCB 4P and 4MM. It just kills. If I were to change one thing with this Ibanez it would be to have a passive tone for the DCB's. Sometimes I just want to play fretless like an upright. A great video Mr. Lobster! Love the before and after comparisons.
Thanks Chris! I agree, these would definitely from the passive tone control. The EHB has that with the preamp bypassed, which is a definite benefit with the DCBs in that bass!
This is a great sounding bass, not just because it’s fretless but it has a really nice fundamental tone overall that works great for a more traditional fretted electric bass style of playing as well. I don’t think that the Bart’s that are stock sound bad at all, quite the contrary and if Bartolini’s are your thing then you’ll love ‘em! They have a great aggressive 80’s tone that is not always easy to calm but the voicing is really cool and if you have problems cutting through the mix you can go from underneath the bottom of the mix to cutting heads off the front row with a little adjustment with the midrange/bridge pickup blend. However, after all that hype about the stock Bartolini’s..The Aggies sound much more linear and way more versatile! : )
Thanks Nuggs! I agree, I found myself keeping the preamp at center with these pickups where the barts definitely needed to lean on the preamp a bit more to get the sound I wanted.
Nice video ! For having owned a SRF705, I agree the Bart's lack authority. The Aguilar's are much better, but I still think that a set of nordstrand blades or big singles would improve it even more, giving more mid punch and eliminating the very high end frequencies.
Great choice putting those pickups onto this magnificent axe. Like they say: more warmth, articulation and space in these. You play great on this one! I knew there was a fretless lobster in you xD
@@LowEndLobster I can tell you like Zelda too. By the way that was a great review. I like Ibanez basses a lot. I'll be looking forward for more Ibanez reviews.
Panga panga.....now I’m going to be saying that all day! Quite the improvement. I have no experience with Aguilar. I’m going to change that. Nice upgrade lobster. I learned 2 things already and it’s not even 8am. I’m going back to sleep. Cheers
Panga Panga 😂👍 I loved your other review and this one definitely gives me food for thought on the one I ordered a few weeks ago. The pick ups sound amazing! 🦞🔥🙌
You sound great Lobster. They Ibanez seems like a great mid priced fretless option. I sort of wish these middling fretless especially came with better pickups, but the so so pickups surely keep the price on target.
Can hear the difference. Clearer and more depth (low freqs). Have a 705 myself, and noticed the Bartolini's lack a bit of that depth. The clarity seems a matter of taste and EQ. I don't mix the Piezo with the pickups. Would be a waste for that beautiful velvet deep tone. I use the pickups in a 2/3 bridge and 1/3 neck mix, to get all harmonics evenly (that mix cancels out the lost harmonics due to the pickup positions).
Would love to see a vid on the new DCB-5Js. I just built a kit bass (5 string fretless) and the low B kinda farts out a bit. Was wondering if the DCB would help that, I don't really want a battery on board but I do want more output volume as well.
@@LowEndLobster it’s a 5 string fretless kit from TheFretWire (kinda ironic). It’s the first 34” scale bass I’ve owned after coming from 35”s. Maybe that’s it? Could also be the strings, I need to get rid of these crappy stock ones
I see the argument for either set. If you want a thicker mwah, I think the Bartolinis are a little better. If you are the band leader and primary soloist, I could see favoring the Aggies for that little bit extra hi end edge they have to them. That said, I like this bass best with as much piezo as possible.
One thing I've been noticing about the DCB pickups is that they are indeed richer, which for me is a very desirable thing - if I want less of a certain frequency I can always turn it down in EQ later, but adding more content to a natural bass tone is much harder if you're using a pickup that doesn't bring a lot of content especially in the mids. So for my ears that was a big improvement as well, I much prefer them rather than the Bartolini MK1 pickups (which I never really liked a lot, despite being from Bartolini which makes other pickups I love - perhaps because it's a more economic product family and they might be spending less on making the pickups sound good)
Thank you Diogo! I agree, the DCBs seam a lot more sonically rich and balanced where I found myself trying to 'make up' the difference with the EQ for the MK1s. Great comment :)
You’re inspiring me to swap the pickups on my new ESP LTD Fretless (I gave up trying to find the Sire fretless you reviewed a bit back, impossible to find!), because it sounds a lot like your old pickups, especially on the G string, where I feel the pickup just drops sustain off above the 12th, even as the string continue to ring. Not too much of a problem as I really only use my fretless for noodling the songs I already know with lots of slides added (lol), but still, I love how those Aguilars sound!
fretless power💪...i personally think that fretless basses will be a huge trend in the next couple years...on my fretless cort i can adjust the string height so low that only a 1mm plek fits under the strings;) without touching the truss rod or Intonation problems...and of xourse: no fret buzz....ever!;)
I'm watching this and considering getting either the 4 or 5 string version. I'm thinking a bigger upgrade would be to remove the active preamp from the pickups and put 2 passive tones in. Or even better, 2 JTEX Distillers in, one for each bar. Think I might do that this summer or fall
The Aguilar's do feel like a better fit for you. With the Bart's, it kind of looks like you are wrestling with the instrument more to get a sound out of it, and those sounds -- while maybe a bit more woody and natural -- come out sounding fartier. With the Aguilar's and your playstyle, is seems like the notes are "right there" or at least easier to grab.
Thanks Rascal! Your assessment definitely aligns with my experience. In the full (stock) review, I talk about how I liked having +/-50% to the bass/treble (I don't remember which for which right now) to get more of the sound I wanted. The DCBs definitely were much more at home with the EQ centered.
@@LowEndLobster A flat EQ definitely feels like home, at least for me, and it gives you the most leverage when you do need to tweak your sound. Like many, I've been a fan of Aguilar pickups for a while -- I think they offer a unique mix of modern and vintage sounds. I was afraid that the ceramic magnets of these new pickups would make them too warm and wooly and compromise what Aguilar has worked hard to create. This video is the first time I've heard them, and I think they sound great: Clear and defined while still being smooth. I think they bring out a lot more of that bass than the stock pickups, and I think it will be more fun to play because of it. Great choice -- thanks for sharing!
@@jamcam9 True but I sold it after ;P. Though I to stay in touch with folks who buy basses from me, and just like Mold Smoothie, this one may come back for some more mods in the future.... who knows ;P
Thanks for a great demo! A late question: Are there higher-end Bartolini pickups that would also be worth considering for an upgrade for the Portamento?
The Bartos sound more accurate actually, but that can be a downside. The Aggys sound like they’re run through a compressor to even out the attack and boost the upper mids. Does that match what you hear in the room?
Great question Jake! It's really hard to judge stuff like this sometimes as the original review was in late 2020 (where I got the stock footage from) and it's not necessarily as accurate to go off my memory of how it sounded months ago. That being said, yeah what I hear in the recordings is mostly what I hear from the amp (obvious environmental factors taken into account)
In your response to Dave in NH, you wrote that you weren't entirely satisfied with this experiment and would try Nordstroms if you had a re-do. I'm not familiar with the Nordstrom offerings, so which of their many products would you use for the Portamento? I'm considering changing the pickup-only tone from "lovely fretless bass" tone to "big solid J bass" tone, because any time I want a distinctly fretless vibe I can just solo the piezo!
I have the 705 . I've been thinking about an upgrade after watching your video lobster . Care to put aguliar s in my bass? You can do a video about it ?
Wow what a difference! First of all, is it my internet connection, or does the audio keep fading and getting static? I have the 6 string version of this, which is proving to be more than I need and more than I care to wrap my fingers around. Tonally it's...eh... lacking? So if this 4 string is going up on your reverb shop, hmm...
Thanks Meatball! I think it could have been your internet, I didn't notice any. This one actually sold in under 12 hrs ;P. I have more stuff going up for sale over the weekend (likely will be posted tomorrow 3/21), keep your eyes peeled :)
NH resident, we enjoy lobster a few ways here. One is in a final, more fulfilling way! Apologies in advance, a few questions: You went from Mk-1's to DCB's...those were DCB D-1's, correct? Just plug and play (pop out the old ones, wire up the new ones)? Any preamp issues (I have heard that Piezo can get finicky with a pickup swap out)? In your opinion, on that specific bass (SRF700) would you go Aguilar DCB's or Bartolini MK4CBC and would you (suggest or need to) upgrade the preamp?
These are the DCB D2s from what I remember. Plug and play, each pickup connects to the preamp via a hot and ground solder point. No preamp issues, though I'd be wary of swapping it as to not interfere with the piezo
@@LowEndLobster Thx for the quick response...I thought lobsters were night feeders! Reason I ask: The D1's are the 4 string model, but the 5 string D2 LxW specs seem closer to Mk-1's (34mmx108mm). In your humble...Aguilar DCB or Bartolini Mk4CBC? Looking for a full Pino tone with some balls behind it went needed. www.linkedin.com/in/david-desmarais-aa3014208/ I am new to both of those pickups as my basses are outfitted with factory EMGs, MECs, or upgraded with custom-matched hand wrapped Stonewalls (yeah, they are as good as you are imagining). Scott/Stonewall doesn't want to play with that Piezo setup so he's out when I ask about this bass.
Hey there man, I also am trying to replace my MK1s in a different Ibanez. However, I've read that the Aguilars are slightly different in size. Did you have to make any adjustments or anything to install the Aguilars? Thanks dude!
I like the Bartolini’s better. They’re warmer sounding. And why does Ibanez insist on putting the side neck dots in the middle of the fret on a fretless?
Thanks Jim! Great question on the dots, I believe there were little lines on the side of the board to help guide you along with the dots. On other unlined fretlesses from other brands, they just put the dots where the lines go which I sometimes have trouble with (esp at the 12th fret)
For this bass... I still prefer the MK1 Bartolini... Because for me, I think that it sounds more natural and suits for these kind of basses (fretless bass). It's just my opinion tho.
@@LowEndLobster nice. Beardly Beast, *The brain spike of doom* should be there next week! One of these days I’ll get GlamLock out there, but it is my only fretless and is MUCH FUN!
@@TheBeardofDOOM I am super excited! That bass is going to knock some others out of the way in the schedule because the world needs to see the awesomeness... THE BRAIN SPIKE OF DOOM COMETH
i have the 6 string, i hate the passive bartolinis, i play only metal and was expecting this to be fine, but the pickups just suck compared to all my others basses having emgs, i hate the piezo system, i want to sell the bass and just get a matching warwick thumb fretless like my fretted one
Hello Lobster, I just picked up the 5 string version of the Portamento. BTW, did you keep the stock Ibanez preamp for this pickup swap? I do find that on my SRF705, with only the two Bartolini pickups, sound is not as satisfying nor as loud as just the piezo pickup by itself. I've found that boosting the low frequency EQ on the Bartolini will make the Bartolini pair sound more on par with the AeroSilk piezo in terms of volume and low end fullness. Perhaps the difference is even more pronounced on the low B string on my 5 string Portamento. The Aguilar pickup does make the Portamento sound more defined than the Bartolini per your individual position A/B comparison. However, this Aguilar-Bartolini swap on your SRF700 does not seem as drastic of an improvement as the Aguilar-Bartolini swap on your EHB1005MS project. Perhaps the flat wound strings and the the thru-neck of the Portamento make the Bartolini sound more acceptable? Perhaps the preamp difference plays into the overall results as well? Oh, I almost forgot, I'm sure the magic chant put some magic into your EHB!
Thank you Sean and great questions. I did keep the stock preamp, and you're absolutely right about the effect being completely different vs my EHB. I was rather shocked about this as well, though it took some time to process this and think about it. I think there's loads of differences in terms of construction, materials, etc that could attribute to the different impact of the DCBs vs the EHB, which I agree was a much more drastic improvement.
@@LowEndLobster thanks for the update, and for putting together this video. After hearing the difference, I decided not to do the Aguilar swap on this fretless. The "Bartolini tone" in combination with fretless bass and flat wound string sort of grows on me, albeit with some bass EQ boost. The left hand finger fretting (especially with my plushy fingertips) might've removed some high frequency content that would've made the Aguilar shine like it does on the fretted bass.
Hei Lobster do you know How It sounds the Aguilar DCB specifics for MusicMan? I thinking upgrade a stock Sterling Sub 5 with the Aggies DCB, and i really want to know your opnion. Tks
Nice Video man! It would be cool if you make a video with the same bass but with Real USA made Bartolinis! It would be a fun experiment don't you think? ;)
Ι agree about the Bartolini Mk1s. I used to have a Cort B4 with them - excellent construction but the articulation was simply abysmal - all you heard trying to play fast funk was a blurry mess of a sound. I'm at a loss why these pickups manage to find their way in so many basses out there - they are suitable only for very specific applications filling a very narrow part in the overall range of modern music.
@@LowEndLobster Yeah... it seems that we are currently in a trend of overwound, "hot" pickups. I bought an Ibanez SR-650 with Nordstrand-designed pickups, as an alternative to the SR500 which had the MK1s. The result: again, the Ibanez's interpretation of the Nordstrand pickups was an overwound and blurry pickup- I replaced the neck pickup with a genuine Nordstrand NP4A one and the bass became so much better, I couldn't believe it. It was like the strings had lost half of their weight - response was much crisper and you could just tell one note from the other so much better. What I've learnt is that tone and playability are not the only factors in how a bass guitar plays. Dynamics and response are equally important.
A little bit. Should hopefully get my vaccine in the next few weeks (I work in a field that is considered essential). I'm hoping to get a bit more out and about once there's more vaccine coverage and institutions start to open up. Fishman is actually a mile and a half from my house!
Still sounds like a Portamento. :-) Great tones, they're not so far off the original but they're improved in just the right way. Can't go wrong with that construction tho - mahogany basses always seemed like a no brainer to me but honestly I've seen more maple wings than mahogany in my pursuits, so far. The fingerboard sounds fine, I don't know how it feels but it's got that warmer, slippery sound like ebony tends to. I've never played a maple fretless but all the cool kids say the maple slab fingerboard is the shit...they look cool as fuck and I can imagine how it would feel in my hands so I'm not gonna disagree outright. anyhow Good stuff. There are still several of the odd Ibbys I want to collect up. That, the Affirma (original), the short 6 (SC6?), and of course the Ashula (IIRC)which is the fretted/fretless hybrid...as well as a variety that I'll probably love a bit but pass on as that's the value of getting things that need a little TLC and being able to give it to them - you also get pick of the litter. :-)
okay, that's why it works. On a whim I was rechecking the specs of the Portamento because I forgot how much they are and where they get built...and it's not Mahogany, it's Okume, which I can say (I have an *interesting* guitar made of okume) is HEAVY AS FUCK for its space occupied. Okume is like if you got the heaviest swamp ash every time out but it was actually made out of something structured like mahogany. That guitar I have is super heavy but it also screams with shit ass pickups and a built in very very sketchy speaker/amp/effects unit lol (I said it was interesting) - point being it's no trouble to generate so much sustain in that thing that I can make it feed back on pretty much a dime any time I feel like it on any setting including clean...I've played other "toys" before and it's the wood, for sure. It has such gnarly sustain it feeds back through the wood and gets microphonic on the pickups as well as stacking peaks which is the kind of stuff that shatters glass and punches holes in concrete. Okume - hell, if it grew in Oregon I would probably try to get some because the one thing we don't have tons of here in the Northwest is mahogany. Walnut, maple, alder, ash, you name it, I'll go get it myself on a firewood permit from fallen timber lol...but mahogany doesn't seem to be plentiful cheap supply here so I assume it's not growing anywhere on the mainland US in any great amounts.
I would actually say Okume is why you had to tune the electronics. I bet if you put the stock electronics into an actual maple/mahogany wing body that they sound nearly perfect. They were probably dialed in for an ebony/dyed rosewood fingerboard for tone, as well. Now that I think about it, I really like the way my zebrawood P bass feels - I wonder if zebrawood would make a good fingerboard? It's hard and slippery...wears almost like legit ironwood. I was already looking at ironwood for fingerboards because it's a hard oily wood - but it's also toxic as fuck IIRC (stuff like turpentines and creosotes, massive toxins), so maybe zebrawood is a good alternative.
I'd make a guitar out of sasparilla so it always smelled like root beer but prolonged contact with sasparilla is no good for you lol you will get poisoned.
Thanks! I like how this turned out, but kind of wish I explored some of the nordies. They were backordered at the time though. We have other fretless projects a comin though!
It's not that the mk1 Bartolini pickps are bad, it's just that they're ... adequate. They're ok. Nothing too interesting. Nothing too unique and exciting. They're just...there.
@@MeatballCereal I am considering either the Cort B5 or Cort GB75JJ. I just can't decide which one to get but apparently the B5 has the MK1 and markbass MB-1 pre amp I thought they might be great but apparently MK1 isn't the best pickup. But from what I've heard the Cort preamp on the GB series isn't the best either
Meatball put it well, they're just.... ok. They're not terrible but the MK1s definitely needed to lean much more on the EQ where the Aguilars were happier at center
I think I like the stock pickups more. They sound more smooth and fitting for fret less. Those Aguilar’s I could see sounding great on a fretted bass for sure. Good video.
Thanks Meyers!
Gotta love the Zelda representation. Heard the Song of Time a lot throughout your videos and to hear Saria’s Song put a smile on my face. Keep it up man love the DCBs as well.
Thanks Spencer!
Bartolini in my opinion is a much more natural sound on the other hand Aguilar is clearer and brighter, however it is a matter of preferences, they are great !!! thanks for the comparisons, regards
I agree. I think that it depends on what kind of fretless tone one prefers. For me the more subdued highs are what I naturally go for so I would probably favor it stock but those Aguilar pickups are great
Thanks Ernesto!
Thanks for the review, Mr. Lobster - your demonstration of the before and after sound are exactly what I wanted to hear. I'll keep my Barts with slinky cobalt flats, but I'm looking for a darker tone than you are. Many thanks!
Thanks Daniel! We have a SRMS805 that we'll be reviewing and swapping in some Seymour Duncans, we'll see what kind of tones we get out of those. I'm flying blind going into these swaps in terms of what I'm actually going to get, but I'm glad I'm able to record and share my findings :)
Lots of MWAH going on with the Aguilar bridge pickup soloed. 🤘
Thanks Joe!
Not just clarity, but dynamics are more even to my ear.
Thanks James!
Much love for the Saria's song rendition! :)
Thank you :)
I'm not usually a bridge pickup kind of guy, but on this fretless it sounded really cool.
Thanks John!
I swear that the bridge pickup was designed for fretless.
Sounds really good! I don't think the Barts sound bad, but the Aguilars are an improvement. I really like it with the piezo blended in. With this bass, I couldn't find anything to fret about at all!
Thanks Bizi! Quality pun ;P
Big improvement with the Aguilars!
I really like the tone with the 3 pickups engaged!
Cheers my low end friend! 🦞😎
Thanks J S! :)
These have so so much definition to them.
Thanks Ricardo!
I’ve been a big fan of Aguilars in Soundgears since finding a SR2400 on the wall at my local music shop. Thanks for the demo and the confirmation that my ears weren’t lying to me.
Glad you liked it, Joe!
Sounds like not just clearer, seems warmer too, like the MK1s were very midd-y
Thanks Kirt!
That’s my bass now! You made it sound great. I do think the new pickups sound better, much better defined. Well done!
Enjoy it my friend!
Another great review and the humor is back love it!!
Thanks Tony :)
Oh yeah! Much better! More clarity and seems like better hi mid presence. And nice fretless playing Low! I need lines on a fretless so I don't get lost, he he. That neck is so long too! You could land a DC10 on it!
Thanks Jeff! The long neck is kind of gimmicky being this long, but it's cool! I wish it was a little shorter to allow for easier slap, but I'm just nitpicking ;P
I’m gonna break ranks and say I preferred the originals. These pups seemed to have an overtone to them that I found unpleasant.
These pickups have an incredibly strong magnetic pull. I can feel something similar too, might just require moving the pickup further away from strings.
Me too. I feel what the Aguilar do, the Bartolinis could do with some EQ. Not so sure about the other way round. 🤔
Thanks Rev! TBH I liked the DCB swap in the EHB more than this, though I wasn't disappointed. Someone else said I should have done some nords on this bass (though it's already gone). Next fretless pickup swap project will go nords just to mix things up ;P
Love those Aguilar DCB's. I recently upgraded my modified D. Lakin Bob Glaub bass with the DCB 4P and 4MM. It just kills. If I were to change one thing with this Ibanez it would be to have a passive tone for the DCB's. Sometimes I just want to play fretless like an upright. A great video Mr. Lobster! Love the before and after comparisons.
Thanks Chris! I agree, these would definitely from the passive tone control. The EHB has that with the preamp bypassed, which is a definite benefit with the DCBs in that bass!
Never thought I'd prefer barts, but on this bass the barts are more true to the bass. I bet nordstrands would have been great too!
Was looking at soap bar comps. AND GOT DEKUUUUUUUUUU NUUUUUUTSSSSSS INSTEEEEEEAD! Dude, that just made my day 👌😆🤙
:) I love that song
This is a great sounding bass, not just because it’s fretless but it has a really nice fundamental tone overall that works great for a more traditional fretted electric bass style of playing as well. I don’t think that the Bart’s that are stock sound bad at all, quite the contrary and if Bartolini’s are your thing then you’ll love ‘em! They have a great aggressive 80’s tone that is not always easy to calm but the voicing is really cool and if you have problems cutting through the mix you can go from underneath the bottom of the mix to cutting heads off the front row with a little adjustment with the midrange/bridge pickup blend.
However, after all that hype about the stock Bartolini’s..The Aggies sound much more linear and way more versatile! : )
Thanks Nuggs! I agree, I found myself keeping the preamp at center with these pickups where the barts definitely needed to lean on the preamp a bit more to get the sound I wanted.
Excellent choice on the pickups.
Thank you!
ok ,now it's perfect, an extra gear in frequencies🤜🤛
Thanks Circle :)
Nice video !
For having owned a SRF705, I agree the Bart's lack authority. The Aguilar's are much better, but I still think that a set of nordstrand blades or big singles would improve it even more, giving more mid punch and eliminating the very high end frequencies.
Yes! Though this bass is already gone I will definitely explore nords in an upcoming fretless project!
Great choice putting those pickups onto this magnificent axe.
Like they say: more warmth, articulation and space in these.
You play great on this one!
I knew there was a fretless lobster in you xD
Heheh thank you! I really do love playing fretless a lot
Don't always agree with however, you are a part of the few who opinion that I trust. Gives me food for thought when in of a new instrument. I
I loved Saría´s Song on the bass!! Great review.
Thank you! It's a very fun song to play :)
@@LowEndLobster I can tell you like Zelda too. By the way that was a great review. I like Ibanez basses a lot. I'll be looking forward for more Ibanez reviews.
Panga panga.....now I’m going to be saying that all day!
Quite the improvement. I have no experience with Aguilar. I’m going to change that. Nice upgrade lobster. I learned 2 things already and it’s not even 8am. I’m going back to sleep. Cheers
Thanks Tommy!.... Panga panga ;P
Panga Panga 😂👍 I loved your other review and this one definitely gives me food for thought on the one I ordered a few weeks ago. The pick ups sound amazing! 🦞🔥🙌
Thanks Shugyo! I swapped out the pickups on this in another video. Let me know what you think about the new pickups vs the stock ones :)
Both sound great in my opinion.
Thanks Jeff!
You sound great Lobster. They Ibanez seems like a great mid priced fretless option. I sort of wish these middling fretless especially came with better pickups, but the so so pickups surely keep the price on target.
Thanks man! We're going to be revisiting my Sire V5 and be performing some mods to take it that extra step very soon ;). Stay tuned my friend!
Can hear the difference. Clearer and more depth (low freqs). Have a 705 myself, and noticed the Bartolini's lack a bit of that depth. The clarity seems a matter of taste and EQ.
I don't mix the Piezo with the pickups. Would be a waste for that beautiful velvet deep tone. I use the pickups in a 2/3 bridge and 1/3 neck mix, to get all harmonics evenly (that mix cancels out the lost harmonics due to the pickup positions).
Aguilars for the win! I have a SR1605DW with same pickups. 🙂
Since I like a midrange heavy fretless tone (think Jaco) I prefer the Barts
Thanks AK! No problem with that :)
🤔I think the Aguilars definitely give it a better voice!🎖
☝🏿But the Piezo really adds another layer of "goodness"!!🤗
Nice Chops!🎸🎶
Thanks Jason!
Very cool, as always
Thanks Eugene :)
My future project along with an alembic band pass circuit
Nice upgrade there
Thank you Simon!
Yeah Aguilar more clarity but the Bart's seem warmer.
Would love to see a vid on the new DCB-5Js. I just built a kit bass (5 string fretless) and the low B kinda farts out a bit. Was wondering if the DCB would help that, I don't really want a battery on board but I do want more output volume as well.
Heyo! Can't say for sure. A bad B will be a bad B regardless of the pickups. What kind of bass?
@@LowEndLobster it’s a 5 string fretless kit from TheFretWire (kinda ironic). It’s the first 34” scale bass I’ve owned after coming from 35”s. Maybe that’s it? Could also be the strings, I need to get rid of these crappy stock ones
I see the argument for either set. If you want a thicker mwah, I think the Bartolinis are a little better. If you are the band leader and primary soloist, I could see favoring the Aggies for that little bit extra hi end edge they have to them.
That said, I like this bass best with as much piezo as possible.
Thanks Bassasaurus! This swap was definitely less decisive than my EHB one that's for sure
One thing I've been noticing about the DCB pickups is that they are indeed richer, which for me is a very desirable thing - if I want less of a certain frequency I can always turn it down in EQ later, but adding more content to a natural bass tone is much harder if you're using a pickup that doesn't bring a lot of content especially in the mids. So for my ears that was a big improvement as well, I much prefer them rather than the Bartolini MK1 pickups (which I never really liked a lot, despite being from Bartolini which makes other pickups I love - perhaps because it's a more economic product family and they might be spending less on making the pickups sound good)
Thank you Diogo! I agree, the DCBs seam a lot more sonically rich and balanced where I found myself trying to 'make up' the difference with the EQ for the MK1s. Great comment :)
Very smooth 👌 😎
Thanks Ralph!
You’re inspiring me to swap the pickups on my new ESP LTD Fretless (I gave up trying to find the Sire fretless you reviewed a bit back, impossible to find!), because it sounds a lot like your old pickups, especially on the G string, where I feel the pickup just drops sustain off above the 12th, even as the string continue to ring. Not too much of a problem as I really only use my fretless for noodling the songs I already know with lots of slides added (lol), but still, I love how those Aguilars sound!
Thanks Nathan!
nice sound !!
fretless power💪...i personally think that fretless basses will be a huge trend in the next couple years...on my fretless cort i can adjust the string height so low that only a 1mm plek fits under the strings;) without touching the truss rod or Intonation problems...and of xourse: no fret buzz....ever!;)
Thanks Crusader! I want to see some fretless multiscale production basses!
I’ll go ahead and say I prefer original Bartolini CB over both the MK1 and DCB. Something with Bartolinis on the Portamentos is what makes the bass
Thanks Lavalval!
I'm watching this and considering getting either the 4 or 5 string version. I'm thinking a bigger upgrade would be to remove the active preamp from the pickups and put 2 passive tones in. Or even better, 2 JTEX Distillers in, one for each bar. Think I might do that this summer or fall
New pups add more definition and clarity and even warmth. The barts sounded cold and “cheap”. Nice improvement.
Thanks Rick!
Such a bast difference. Puts the Bartolini to shame.
Looking forward to the PJ DCB on a fretted guitar video
Great job again . Stay safe Stu
Thanks Stuart! My PJ set is en route :)
@@LowEndLobster Top man 🎸🦞🦞🎸
I think this video finally convinced me to get a fretless. RIP stimulus check (i wish wife would kill me haha)
:) Stay alive friend ;P
The Aguilar's do feel like a better fit for you. With the Bart's, it kind of looks like you are wrestling with the instrument more to get a sound out of it, and those sounds -- while maybe a bit more woody and natural -- come out sounding fartier. With the Aguilar's and your playstyle, is seems like the notes are "right there" or at least easier to grab.
Thanks Rascal! Your assessment definitely aligns with my experience. In the full (stock) review, I talk about how I liked having +/-50% to the bass/treble (I don't remember which for which right now) to get more of the sound I wanted. The DCBs definitely were much more at home with the EQ centered.
@@LowEndLobster A flat EQ definitely feels like home, at least for me, and it gives you the most leverage when you do need to tweak your sound. Like many, I've been a fan of Aguilar pickups for a while -- I think they offer a unique mix of modern and vintage sounds. I was afraid that the ceramic magnets of these new pickups would make them too warm and wooly and compromise what Aguilar has worked hard to create. This video is the first time I've heard them, and I think they sound great: Clear and defined while still being smooth. I think they bring out a lot more of that bass than the stock pickups, and I think it will be more fun to play because of it. Great choice -- thanks for sharing!
I love those portamentos. I want to get one and put Nordstrands in it.
I regret not going the nordy route this time honestly. I love the DCBs but I will always wonder
@@LowEndLobster it's not like a pickup swap is undoable... Just sayin'
@@jamcam9 True but I sold it after ;P. Though I to stay in touch with folks who buy basses from me, and just like Mold Smoothie, this one may come back for some more mods in the future.... who knows ;P
Let’s goooo
WOO!
What a great video. Have you tried Nordstrand pickups on this guitar? Would love to see a video about that. Thank you.
Zelda is one of my favorite pieces of music.
Hi, great video as always .Why do you preffer DCBs over AG 5SD? What is the difference between the two?
Thanks for a great demo! A late question: Are there higher-end Bartolini pickups that would also be worth considering for an upgrade for the Portamento?
Absolutely. I am a big fan of real bartolini pickups. These cort made MK1s and BH2s can't even compare
The Bartos sound more accurate actually, but that can be a downside. The Aggys sound like they’re run through a compressor to even out the attack and boost the upper mids. Does that match what you hear in the room?
I hear that evening out, compression with the aguilars. I prefer that!
Great question Jake! It's really hard to judge stuff like this sometimes as the original review was in late 2020 (where I got the stock footage from) and it's not necessarily as accurate to go off my memory of how it sounded months ago. That being said, yeah what I hear in the recordings is mostly what I hear from the amp (obvious environmental factors taken into account)
In your response to Dave in NH, you wrote that you weren't entirely satisfied with this experiment and would try Nordstroms if you had a re-do. I'm not familiar with the Nordstrom offerings, so which of their many products would you use for the Portamento?
I'm considering changing the pickup-only tone from "lovely fretless bass" tone to "big solid J bass" tone, because any time I want a distinctly fretless vibe I can just solo the piezo!
Thanks Daniel! Great question. I would eye the Nordstrand blade pickups, specifically the 'warm and wooly' ones.
What DCB part number are these? Loving the sound!
I have the 705 . I've been thinking about an upgrade after watching your video lobster . Care to put aguliar s in my bass? You can do a video about it ?
I want to switch out my mk1s, what DCBs are those? The D2 ?
Yes! DCB D2 for the 4 string
Wow what a difference! First of all, is it my internet connection, or does the audio keep fading and getting static? I have the 6 string version of this, which is proving to be more than I need and more than I care to wrap my fingers around. Tonally it's...eh... lacking? So if this 4 string is going up on your reverb shop, hmm...
Thanks Meatball! I think it could have been your internet, I didn't notice any. This one actually sold in under 12 hrs ;P. I have more stuff going up for sale over the weekend (likely will be posted tomorrow 3/21), keep your eyes peeled :)
NH resident, we enjoy lobster a few ways here. One is in a final, more fulfilling way!
Apologies in advance, a few questions:
You went from Mk-1's to DCB's...those were DCB D-1's, correct?
Just plug and play (pop out the old ones, wire up the new ones)?
Any preamp issues (I have heard that Piezo can get finicky with a pickup swap out)?
In your opinion, on that specific bass (SRF700) would you go Aguilar DCB's or Bartolini MK4CBC and would you (suggest or need to) upgrade the preamp?
These are the DCB D2s from what I remember. Plug and play, each pickup connects to the preamp via a hot and ground solder point. No preamp issues, though I'd be wary of swapping it as to not interfere with the piezo
@@LowEndLobster Thx for the quick response...I thought lobsters were night feeders!
Reason I ask: The D1's are the 4 string model, but the 5 string D2 LxW specs seem closer to Mk-1's (34mmx108mm).
In your humble...Aguilar DCB or Bartolini Mk4CBC? Looking for a full Pino tone with some balls behind it went needed.
www.linkedin.com/in/david-desmarais-aa3014208/
I am new to both of those pickups as my basses are outfitted with factory EMGs, MECs, or upgraded with custom-matched hand wrapped Stonewalls (yeah, they are as good as you are imagining). Scott/Stonewall doesn't want to play with that Piezo setup so he's out when I ask about this bass.
@@daveinnh2292 I have never used those barts, but I wasn't 100% satisfied with these DCBs either. Next time around I might go Nordy honestly.
@@LowEndLobster SRF700 upgraded with Barto Mk4's and a TUSQ nut...inbound...all your fault! Thx for the feedback.
@@daveinnh2292 congrats!
Hey there man, I also am trying to replace my MK1s in a different Ibanez. However, I've read that the Aguilars are slightly different in size. Did you have to make any adjustments or anything to install the Aguilars? Thanks dude!
I like the Bartolini’s better. They’re warmer sounding. And why does Ibanez insist on putting the side neck dots in the middle of the fret on a fretless?
I have an Inanez Aerium fretless and that has the dots exactly on the 'frets'. It does make a difference.
Thanks Jim! Great question on the dots, I believe there were little lines on the side of the board to help guide you along with the dots. On other unlined fretlesses from other brands, they just put the dots where the lines go which I sometimes have trouble with (esp at the 12th fret)
For this bass... I still prefer the MK1 Bartolini... Because for me, I think that it sounds more natural and suits for these kind of basses (fretless bass). It's just my opinion tho.
Thanks Sandy! That's ok! I provide both clips so people can make up their own minds :)
So much better than the MK1s
Thanks! I just restrung the SRMS and am messing around with it stock... then it's dunky time!
@@LowEndLobster nice. Beardly Beast, *The brain spike of doom* should be there next week!
One of these days I’ll get GlamLock out there, but it is my only fretless and is MUCH FUN!
@@TheBeardofDOOM I am super excited! That bass is going to knock some others out of the way in the schedule because the world needs to see the awesomeness... THE BRAIN SPIKE OF DOOM COMETH
i have the 6 string, i hate the passive bartolinis, i play only metal and was expecting this to be fine, but the pickups just suck compared to all my others basses having emgs, i hate the piezo system, i want to sell the bass and just get a matching warwick thumb fretless like my fretted one
Hey Ian! Bummer you don't like yours, a fretless thumb would be killer (and I would love one as well! I used to have a Thumb NT like 10+ years ago)
Were these the DCB D1 pickups?
Can you do a video showing the difference in tone with a tone choke in a passive bass?
I would need to do some research into toke chokes, but that sounds like fun! Thank you for the suggestion!
@@LowEndLobster thanks
@@LowEndLobster I’ve tried it. Thanks though. Thanks
Hello Lobster, I just picked up the 5 string version of the Portamento. BTW, did you keep the stock Ibanez preamp for this pickup swap? I do find that on my SRF705, with only the two Bartolini pickups, sound is not as satisfying nor as loud as just the piezo pickup by itself. I've found that boosting the low frequency EQ on the Bartolini will make the Bartolini pair sound more on par with the AeroSilk piezo in terms of volume and low end fullness. Perhaps the difference is even more pronounced on the low B string on my 5 string Portamento. The Aguilar pickup does make the Portamento sound more defined than the Bartolini per your individual position A/B comparison. However, this Aguilar-Bartolini swap on your SRF700 does not seem as drastic of an improvement as the Aguilar-Bartolini swap on your EHB1005MS project. Perhaps the flat wound strings and the the thru-neck of the Portamento make the Bartolini sound more acceptable? Perhaps the preamp difference plays into the overall results as well? Oh, I almost forgot, I'm sure the magic chant put some magic into your EHB!
Thank you Sean and great questions. I did keep the stock preamp, and you're absolutely right about the effect being completely different vs my EHB. I was rather shocked about this as well, though it took some time to process this and think about it. I think there's loads of differences in terms of construction, materials, etc that could attribute to the different impact of the DCBs vs the EHB, which I agree was a much more drastic improvement.
@@LowEndLobster thanks for the update, and for putting together this video. After hearing the difference, I decided not to do the Aguilar swap on this fretless. The "Bartolini tone" in combination with fretless bass and flat wound string sort of grows on me, albeit with some bass EQ boost. The left hand finger fretting (especially with my plushy fingertips) might've removed some high frequency content that would've made the Aguilar shine like it does on the fretted bass.
this aguilar vs traditional fender jazz pickups?
That's night and day the difference between those pickups.
Thanks Chris! I agree
Hei Lobster do you know How It sounds the Aguilar DCB specifics for MusicMan? I thinking upgrade a stock Sterling Sub 5 with the Aggies DCB, and i really want to know your opnion. Tks
I think they sound great but a bit more balanced and modern as opposed to a more vintage style pickup.
@@LowEndLobster thank you Lobster for your fast response! Definitively i will go with the DCB5M in my Sterling! Thanks!
What tune is he playing at 5:23?
Can you do a reciew of the Btb line?
I plan on it! :)
Hmmm...... I still prefer stock mk1 pup sound myself.
Thanks Totomo!
We’re they easy to put in? I have a Cort with those pickups and would consider replacing
Yes! Drop in install, two wires per pickup (hot and ground). Very easy to install on stock Ibanez preamp.
Lobster, which DCB model did you put in, they have 1-5?
Mmm🤔 I have a feeling I may be replacing the Bartolinis in my fretless...
:)
Are the Aguilar dcb passive ?
Great question! They are passive pickups
Nice Video man! It would be cool if you make a video with the same bass but with Real USA made Bartolinis! It would be a fun experiment don't you think? ;)
Thanks Raphael! This bass is already gone but we will be doing more pickup experiments and will definitely include US Barts :)
@@LowEndLobster Awsome! If you could put your hands on the Candybars or the Singularity it would be nice! In fact... any US Barts ahah! :P
Ι agree about the Bartolini Mk1s. I used to have a Cort B4 with them - excellent construction but the articulation was simply abysmal - all you heard trying to play fast funk was a blurry mess of a sound. I'm at a loss why these pickups manage to find their way in so many basses out there - they are suitable only for very specific applications filling a very narrow part in the overall range of modern music.
Thanks Marios! I agree, Ibanez and other manufacturers should move away from the MK1s
@@LowEndLobster Yeah... it seems that we are currently in a trend of overwound, "hot" pickups. I bought an Ibanez SR-650 with Nordstrand-designed pickups, as an alternative to the SR500 which had the MK1s. The result: again, the Ibanez's interpretation of the Nordstrand pickups was an overwound and blurry pickup- I replaced the neck pickup with a genuine Nordstrand NP4A one and the bass became so much better, I couldn't believe it. It was like the strings had lost half of their weight - response was much crisper and you could just tell one note from the other so much better.
What I've learnt is that tone and playability are not the only factors in how a bass guitar plays. Dynamics and response are equally important.
Is Lobster still in Lockdown mode?
A little bit. Should hopefully get my vaccine in the next few weeks (I work in a field that is considered essential). I'm hoping to get a bit more out and about once there's more vaccine coverage and institutions start to open up. Fishman is actually a mile and a half from my house!
Still sounds like a Portamento. :-) Great tones, they're not so far off the original but they're improved in just the right way. Can't go wrong with that construction tho - mahogany basses always seemed like a no brainer to me but honestly I've seen more maple wings than mahogany in my pursuits, so far. The fingerboard sounds fine, I don't know how it feels but it's got that warmer, slippery sound like ebony tends to. I've never played a maple fretless but all the cool kids say the maple slab fingerboard is the shit...they look cool as fuck and I can imagine how it would feel in my hands so I'm not gonna disagree outright.
anyhow
Good stuff. There are still several of the odd Ibbys I want to collect up.
That, the Affirma (original), the short 6 (SC6?), and of course the Ashula (IIRC)which is the fretted/fretless hybrid...as well as a variety that I'll probably love a bit but pass on as that's the value of getting things that need a little TLC and being able to give it to them - you also get pick of the litter. :-)
okay, that's why it works. On a whim I was rechecking the specs of the Portamento because I forgot how much they are and where they get built...and it's not Mahogany, it's Okume, which I can say (I have an *interesting* guitar made of okume) is HEAVY AS FUCK for its space occupied. Okume is like if you got the heaviest swamp ash every time out but it was actually made out of something structured like mahogany. That guitar I have is super heavy but it also screams with shit ass pickups and a built in very very sketchy speaker/amp/effects unit lol (I said it was interesting) - point being it's no trouble to generate so much sustain in that thing that I can make it feed back on pretty much a dime any time I feel like it on any setting including clean...I've played other "toys" before and it's the wood, for sure. It has such gnarly sustain it feeds back through the wood and gets microphonic on the pickups as well as stacking peaks which is the kind of stuff that shatters glass and punches holes in concrete.
Okume - hell, if it grew in Oregon I would probably try to get some because the one thing we don't have tons of here in the Northwest is mahogany. Walnut, maple, alder, ash, you name it, I'll go get it myself on a firewood permit from fallen timber lol...but mahogany doesn't seem to be plentiful cheap supply here so I assume it's not growing anywhere on the mainland US in any great amounts.
I would actually say Okume is why you had to tune the electronics. I bet if you put the stock electronics into an actual maple/mahogany wing body that they sound nearly perfect. They were probably dialed in for an ebony/dyed rosewood fingerboard for tone, as well. Now that I think about it, I really like the way my zebrawood P bass feels - I wonder if zebrawood would make a good fingerboard? It's hard and slippery...wears almost like legit ironwood.
I was already looking at ironwood for fingerboards because it's a hard oily wood - but it's also toxic as fuck IIRC (stuff like turpentines and creosotes, massive toxins), so maybe zebrawood is a good alternative.
I'd make a guitar out of sasparilla so it always smelled like root beer but prolonged contact with sasparilla is no good for you lol you will get poisoned.
maybe I can make a guitar with a sasparilla core so you can smell it but you never have to touch it
Thanks! I like how this turned out, but kind of wish I explored some of the nordies. They were backordered at the time though. We have other fretless projects a comin though!
Are the MK1s not that good on their own?
It's not that the mk1 Bartolini pickps are bad, it's just that they're ... adequate. They're ok. Nothing too interesting. Nothing too unique and exciting. They're just...there.
@@MeatballCereal I am considering either the Cort B5 or Cort GB75JJ. I just can't decide which one to get but apparently the B5 has the MK1 and markbass MB-1 pre amp I thought they might be great but apparently MK1 isn't the best pickup. But from what I've heard the Cort preamp on the GB series isn't the best either
Meatball put it well, they're just.... ok. They're not terrible but the MK1s definitely needed to lean much more on the EQ where the Aguilars were happier at center
@@LowEndLobster thank you! I'm still not sure what bass I want but I've heard Amazing things about the MK1s which Cort uses on their artisan series
4:50
He got a haircut mid video
XD
Man... I just don't really like either.