Gecko 5 elecronics questions

[StanleyStudent]

Hello all. I'm new to the forum and am about to take on my first build. A gecko based on a wood combination offered by Tobias: ash body with a wenge neck and fretboard. Since I don't know a lot about the sounds from different wood combinations, I thought I would just copy one that is already being used.
I've played some basses at music stores and found that I liked the Bartolini pu's found in a Ibanez bass best. Not sure which Bart's they were though. I assume they are special made for Ibanez and looked like P2's or M4's.
The pre-amp I'm not so sure about. Since this is my first build I don't know the first thing about choosing the correct one or if I should attempt installing it myself. I do have some minor electronics experience and equipment but no experience with wiring pu's and pre-amp's.
:help:
What are difference in the sound between the the P2's and the M4's?
What pre-amp should I use?
Should I attempt the wiring myself?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[BassmanAK]

Bartolini has an odd, but simple coding system...
It just refers to the outside dimensions, the insides are identical...

M4- Equal to an EMG 40 shape. Quite common, and a lot of makers have pickups that fit this.
P2- is a Bart shape, and a few of the "boutique" p/u makers (Nordy, among others)
use this shape too....
The cool thing about the Bart stuff is it's passive, so you're not stuck
with an "active only" preamp.

I also built a Gecko using the same combo... I would suggest you
get it HARD finished (i.e. glossy, or at least thick satin)....
It wound up sounding very deep, and blusey...
I'm convinced it is because I finished it myself...
Live and learn.... I'm hatching a plan for a D-5 with a Moses neck,
but that's gotta wait for a bit.  :icon_biggrin: