Bartolini HR-2.3AP/918 2-Band EQ
| Product # | 252139 |
| Brand | Bartolini |
| Category | On-board Preamp |
- Preamp Module Size:
- 1.76" [44.7mm] Long,
- 1.02" [25.9mm] Wide,
- 0.54" [13.7mm] Thick
- Operating Voltage:
- 9V or 18V - Prewired for 9V. An additional battery clip is included for 18V wiring.
- Mid:
- Center@400Hz
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Product Number | 252139 |
| Brand | |
| Category | |
| Relevancy rank in Category On-board Preamp | |
| Date | August 2025 |
The preamp comes, of course, as a "pre-wired" kit, with all the wiring already done. Everything is neatly soldered, and everything is in perfect condition. Or is it? In my case, the layout of the potentiometers on my guitar doesn't match that of the HR-5.2. And then the problems start. The components are connected together using a very rigid grounding wire. It's impossible to install this in my guitar in this configuration. Why doesn't Bartolini simply use a flexible cable? And the very short connecting wires are also not helpful. So, the only solution is to use wire cutters and a soldering iron to sort it out and, ultimately, rewire. In conclusion: If you have a guitar in which the Bartolini pre-wiring happens to fit, then this "pre-wired" kit might be a good option. However, if it doesn't, it would be much easier to buy and install the preamp and potentiometers separately. By the way, that's what I eventually did. But be careful: Some components (e.g., 50k potentiometers and 50k push-pull potentiometers) are not always easy to find.