Bartolini MK1 Soapbar sized pickups that sound like Active EMGs

[Delberthot]

Absolutely loving my new Cort Space 4 but I am really missing the sound of the active EMGs I have in my jazz bass.

 

The EMG soapbars are too wide and I don't want to route the bass for them. likewise, the EMG J set would fit length wise but leave a big ugly hole wither side.

 

Is there any other brand of pickup that sound like EMGs?

[simisker]

Maybe you'll find something to your liking in one of the excellent Fat Bass Tone demos:

 

https://www.youtube.com/@FatBassTone/videos

 

Just check out any of the ones featuring the blue Ibanez SR.

 

 

Also, the usual follow-up for anyone asking about MK1 replacements: in MK1-equipped basses, it's usually the preamp that's the weak link, not the pickups.

 

See this recent Space 5 owner's post on Talkbass: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/cort-artisan-space-5-my-experience-one-year-later.1670985/

 

 

[Delberthot]

I think I have a plan to get EMGs into this bass without making any irreversible mods to the bass.

 

I'll report back if it works later in the week

[Dood]

EMG are releasing a Bart’ sized “fat sounding, wide aperture single coil” called the E4W.

[Delberthot]

Hmm, that sounds interesting and long overdue considering the number of basses that use the Bart soapbar sized pickups. Looking forward to hearing them but in the meantime I'm going to try something else to see if it works.

[crazycloud]

On 08/05/2025 at 01:52, Dood said:

EMG are releasing a Bart’ sized “fat sounding, wide aperture single coil” called the E4W.

As all the MK housings are 108x34mm, I hope the sensing width is wide enough for 6 strings. 

[PaulThePlug]

Mk1 Barts are a Reverse P Mars Bar.

SR500 with em passive, Vol & 3-Way Switch

[crazycloud]

On 10/05/2025 at 22:31, crazycloud said:

As all the MK housings are 108x34mm, I hope the sensing width is wide enough for 6 strings. 

According to Alex at EMG, nope as the magnet is 77.5mm long.

 

Some of these might then suit the SR375, providing the early reviews online are good, which I'm not really worried about as I've yet to use an EMG I didn't like.