Slant Nord DCs

Funkinthetrunk · #1 08-05-2008, 08:59 PM

Hello Everybody,

I'm new to Roscoes and have been checking out this great forum for a while now. I purchased a SKB3005 (5737) which happens to have the LG slants and wanted to upgrade from the stock Roscoe/Bartolini pickups, to Nords. But I've read on previous threads that Nord DCs are not available for LG's slant pickup routings.

Well....Nords built a set for me. This set was made parallel and I have them wired to a push/pull volume pot for coil splitting, using the north coil of the neck pickup and the south coil of the bridge. They sound great in dual coil mode, but even better as single coil. Not to mention, they look awesome installed.

G

CactusmanDoug · #2 08-06-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

Hello Everybody,

I'm new to Roscoes and have been checking out this great forum for a while now. I purchased a SKB3005 (5737) which happens to have the LG slants and wanted to upgrade from the stock Roscoe/Bartolini pickups, to Nords. But I've read on previous threads that Nord DCs are not available for LG's slant pickup routings.

Well....Nords built a set for me. This set was made parallel and I have them wired to a push/pull volume pot for coil splitting, using the north coil of the neck pickup and the south coil of the bridge. They sound great in dual coil mode, but even better as single coil. Not to mention, they look awesome installed.

G

You bet-

I know what you mean regarding the change to Nordys. Those pickups add such an openess to an already phenomenal bass.

I noticed the pups were a little off-center. I know by experience you have to get Nordys special-made for Roscoes so the strings will be over the poles. Regarding my Big Splits (of which I love), I simply told Carey they were going in an LG 5-string.

How did you measure the distance in reference
to the pup cuts so you could order from Carey and get those poles to fit so well? I guess you figured from the B string out and then the the G string out. The Barts fit in any varied placing because of the bar magnet construction so the pup cuts wouldn't be anything other than a cosmetic issue if that.

This would be good information for those wanting to Nordify their Roscoes that might be dealing with the same irregular pup cuts. It would make a real difference even if the pole alignment was a little off.

No doubt the little extra work was well worth the sonic change.

That is such a gorgeous body on that bass-you better not put any more pics up or Youngs will be trying to buy it from you. Lol!

All the best,

Doug

BTW- Just for the record, as all things are musically, the tone you like is the tone you should get-I just personally love the openess of the CB Barts and all the Nordys I've heard.

Funkinthetrunk · #3 08-06-2008, 02:07 PM

Hey Dougie,

All measurements were from center of the pickups in relation to the A string. Also the center to center of all strings over each pickup.....and few many dimensions that I can't remember that was requested by Nords.

According to Gard, the CBs sound similar to Nord's DC, if I would have known this, I may have gone in that direction instead. But these came out fine, at least I think so....and they do sound great. More definition and timbre.

G

CactusmanDoug · #4 08-07-2008, 10:39 AM

Gerry,

I now see how that would be the way to measure...duh!

I was playing my LG with the Big Splits and noticed they are off by about an 1/8". Now my bass sounds great, vastly improved with the Nordys to my taste yet I can't help to think they would be yet more defined if the poles were lined up "spot-on". Had I known of pup cut irregularities in advance, I would've made provision.

It might take some extra routing and getting a new pickup cover to fit from Carey (if possible) but we have already spent alot of dough to get things just right so why not?

If anyone has any experienced advise in this area, I'm all ears.

Thanks again.

Funkinthetrunk · #5 08-07-2008, 06:16 PM

Doug,

1/8" may be a little hard to detect at a glance, so I can understand not catching it until you installed your pickups. Unfortunately, the routs on my bass were off center by far more, the neck and bridge pickups had to be measured independently. But, if your poles are off by 1/8" uniformly from string to string, pickup to pickup, I think it would be an easy fix using new covers with the adjusted pole holes. Although, the bobbins on one side would need to be sanded down due to the 1/8" shift. Nord pickups are not epoxied, so I don't think this should be much of a problem. But an email to Nords would clear things up better.

Hey, a wise man once told me, “Don’t get off in Chicago when you’re going to New York”, so I think you should do whatever it takes to make your bass perfect for you in every way. I only own one 5 string bass and this is it. This bass has to serve me and serve me well. It was a journey to get these custom Nords, but it was worth it. C’mon Doug, get on that train!

BTW, glad to hear about your Glock! That’s going to be my next venture…. I got the Aggie installed, a giant step towards perfection!

Gerry

CactusmanDoug · #6 08-08-2008, 09:03 AM

Gerr Baby!!

You be da man!

I'll do just that... I'll see what I can shave and get Carey on the horn.

Yo brutha from anutha mutha,

Doug

Another saying, "Never regret leaving Chicago even if you get derailed in Ohio"

Funkinthetrunk · #7 08-09-2008, 03:16 PM

Yo Dougie,

Keep a brutha posted with the results! It would be a Greek tragedy if you have to get a new set made again.

Gerry

CactusmanDoug · #8 08-09-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

Yo Dougie,

Keep a brutha posted with the results! It would be a Greek tragedy if you have to get a new set made again.

Gerry

Hey Gerry,

I didn't get a chance to get my bass this weekend but will be stepping that way next week. "So soon I'll be a part of it, New York, New York".

I'll let you know when "I get to the heart of it".

Doug

CactusmanDoug · #9 08-11-2008, 10:56 PM

Hey Funky Gerr,

I got one pickup off and it looks like this will be duck soup.

I'll just shave it down like you suggested and have Carey send me some covers that have pole holes shifted 1/8"over which will put everything exactly even. This will be nice to hear as I'm already bonkers over the greatness of the Big Splits that I'm getting with the misalignment. Muscles deluxe. I can't over recommend them.

I also love the dual coils in #5850 and may go with that split coil option you talked about.

Thanks again,

Doug

Funkinthetrunk · #10 08-12-2008, 01:08 PM

Hi Dougie,

Great news! Should be an easy fix....remember to use silicone to glue the coils back in the covers....don't use anthing that'll dry brittle, like super glue.

Dual/Single splitting....I think Audere use 100K pot for their volume. I try to get more info from them and get back to ya. I think you'll like having one on your bass.

Gerry

CactusmanDoug · #11 08-23-2008, 09:15 PM

Ger Baby,

Mike over at Nordstrand said he'd get those LG pickup covers to me as soon as they get the next bunch in. Those guys are great!

Maybe you or someone would know what might be causing my latest dilemma regarding the "snap, crackle, pop noise" that surfaced last week in #5850.

The symptom is a constant, crackly static sound like a loose instrument cord when wiggled only the noise occurs regardless to any or no movement of the cord or any other physical variations. It is simply dominant although you can hear the bass guitar through the static both of which get louder or softer in relationship to the volume knob setting.

Keep in mind the Audere 4 way pre and Nordy DC's were Roscoe installed early this year so inconsistant installation should not be an issue.

Thanks,

Doug

CactusmanDoug · #12 09-08-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CactusmanDoug

Ger Baby,

Mike over at Nordstrand said he'd get those LG pickup covers to me as soon as they get the next bunch in. Those guys are great!

Maybe you or someone would know what might be causing my latest dilemma regarding the "snap, crackle, pop noise" that surfaced last week in #5850.

The symptom is a constant, crackly static sound like a loose instrument cord when wiggled only the noise occurs regardless to any or no movement of the cord or any other physical variations. It is simply dominant although you can hear the bass guitar through the static both of which get louder or softer in relationship to the volume knob setting.

Keep in mind the Audere 4 way pre and Nordy DC's were Roscoe installed early this year so inconsistant installation should not be an issue.

Thanks,

Doug

Hey Funky Ger,

That static sound seems to have quit. I trust it will not return but if it does I will quickly check the blend pot to see if it could be a particular pickup issue. Whatever the case, I hope the problem has subsided or at least when it returns it stays around long enough to diagnose the cause.

All the best,

Doug

Funkinthetrunk · #13 09-08-2008, 09:19 PM

Hey Doug!

Glad to hear your bass is sounding better....a self healing bass? I knew Roscoes were awesome! But, check in the control cavity to see if anything is floating around in there. A piece of solder, wire or anything that could have shorted a terminal on a pot to ground. Also, make sure none of the copper shielding lifted up and grounding out anything that it's not suppose to.

Your "Miracle Bass" post is nothing short of incredible. Glad it had an happy ending, very glad....because these kind of stories usually don't. Unless you have really good insurance.

Gerry

CactusmanDoug · #14 09-27-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

Yo Dougie,

Keep a brutha posted with the results! It would be a Greek tragedy if you have to get a new set made again.

Gerry

Hey Ger,

Mike from Nordstrand sent me the new covers which were drilled perfectly. Like you said, it just took a little Dremel work on the spools to get things fitted just so.

And yes, IMO they do sound fuller!

All the best,

Doug

Funkinthetrunk · #15 09-28-2008, 01:30 PM

Great news Dougie! I figured the poles lining up properly under the strings has gotta make a difference....and it did. I'm excited for you....great news!

G