Aguilar OBP-3 and Nordstrand Big Singles WOW!

bongostealth · #1 08-27-2011, 09:05 PM

I just had a pair of Nordstrand Big Singles installed in my Warwick Corvette 6 string along with an Aguilar OBP-3 with push/pull mids.

I have to say that this thing now has some SERIOUS output and INSANE bottom! But then again, there's the problem. I lost a lot of highs even with the treble boosted all the way and it sounds really boomy. I still LOVE the sound but, man does this thing kick some power! I actually have a slight headache now, and I didn't even have my volume on the bass cranked past 2!

I do have to say that, as far as the pickups sounding as advertised, I was a bit dissapointed. Aside from the high output produced, the Nordstrand Big Singles don't sound all that much like Jazz bass pickups to me but more like humbuckers. They don't have that traditional single coil growl even though they are in fact single coil. I confirmed this on this install because I also had these same pickups on a Roscoe SKB-3006 with a Bartolini preamp and they sounded the same.

However, I still love how my bass sounds! I also have a Warwick Thumb 6 with Nordstrand Fat Stacks and a U-Retro preamp but, in my opinion, the John East preamps tend to warm up the sound too much for my taste. I think that for my Thumb I will install the MEC 3-band preamp that you would find in the Thumb neck-thru models. I believe it's the MEC 60024. This preamp would definitely help conserve the highs and therefore retain consistency along the frequency range.

Any thoughts from anyone??

FunkyMan · #2 08-27-2011, 09:51 PM

I'm not very technical, but i think that the volumen on bass most be all the way up to get full tone! And maybe the woods on your bass are a very strong factor soundwise?

maurilio · #3 08-27-2011, 11:40 PM

That's interesting, this is the second post here on TB saying Big Single are like humbuckers

To me they sound like big, thick, mean 'J'….

Beside this, not having enough highs sounds strange, than again I don't know how your bass sounded before to be able to compare…

Are you sure the pots and the wiring are right?

maurilio · #4 08-27-2011, 11:42 PM

If you want a very transparent and uncolored pre matching the Nordstrand pups, I would suggest you take a look at the Nordstrand pre.

bongostealth · #5 08-28-2011, 06:19 AM

Yeah, I don't understand why the Big Singles have sounded like humbuckers to me. I have heard them on other basses and they do indeed sound like Jazz pickups.

The Roscoe I previously owned had a birdseye fingerboard, maple neck, quilted maple top, and an ash body. This is a very bright configuration. My Warwick Corvette has a bubinga body, wenge fingerboard, and an ovangkol/ekanga neck. This configuration is more on the fuller/warmer side. However, the sound I get from the pickups has been the same on both basses. Oh well. If anything, I love the fact that they're high output. That's a big plus for me.

bongostealth · #6 08-28-2011, 06:22 AM

I had the preamp wired by a tech who's done all my work before and done several Aguilar preamps before. So I trust that he wired it right. The preamp came with a stacked bass/treble and a push/pull mids. The only pot I had to add was a stacked 250K vol/vol.

remo · #7 08-28-2011, 06:30 AM

I can't go past +2 with the boos on my Aggy OPB-3 preamp... I wish they made the bass taper in a bit slower...

bongostealth · #8 08-28-2011, 08:38 AM

There's something totally awesome in knowing that you have at your fingertips the ability to boost that much!

maurilio · #9 08-28-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remo

I can't go past +2 with the boos on my Aggy OPB-3 preamp... I wish they made the bass taper in a bit slower...

The problem is that the bass frequency point on the obp3 is higher than what the specs says. It's up more on the 80hz, which is a lot of info in the bass range, a little gain there, to our ears, seems louder than the same gain down at 40/50hz (I wish I had here with me the results of my comparisons with different preamp I did some time ago).

narud · #10 08-28-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

That's interesting, this is the second post here on TB saying Big Single are like humbuckers

To me they sound like big, thick, mean 'J'….

Beside this, not having enough highs sounds strange, than again I don't know how your bass sounded before to be able to compare…

Are you sure the pots and the wiring are right?

i dont really think they have as much lower highs/grind going on either. wider tone profile. i can see where people are comparing them to humbuckers in that regard.

pbgonecrazy99 · #11 08-28-2011, 10:00 AM

Are you glad you replaced them overall, or do you wish you kept the Warwick pu's? I am looking at the Ibanez SR1200e that has these, and I am stuck between that and a Warwick $$ or Music Man HH. I don't think they have the Ibanez at GC near me, but I haven't checked recently.

bongostealth · #12 08-28-2011, 10:50 AM

The original pickups in the Warwick Corvette were MEC split coils. The Nordstrand Big Singles have way more output and have a bit more snap and punch to them. In that respect, yes, I am glad I changed them out. But as far as sounding like a "Jazz bass on steroids," no. I think that they don't sound all that much different from the stock MEC split coils.

I have a Musicman Bongo HH and I love it. However, it is a completely different sound from a Warwick $$. If I'm not mistaken, I would say that the Warwick $$ has a bit more ouptut simply because the $$ pickups are high output. I used to have a pair in another bass and they could get quite loud. I've never played an Ibanez SR1200E, but between a Warwick (German made) and a Musicman (U.S. made) you honestly can't go wrong with either one. This is from personal experience. They are both different and awesome in their own way. It's just a matter of trying them out and making a decision based on pure personal preference, taste, and your wallet regardless of what anyone else says.

scotch · #13 08-28-2011, 10:57 AM

The OBP-3 is a very transparent on-board pre when set flat! I put one in my Fender Am. Deluxe P5 utilizing the passive switch option. With the OBP set flat (in detent position), and I engage or disengage it, I hear zero difference from the passive pickups.

If I want to get super-critical listening-wise, the OBP-3 might be ever so slightly compressed sounding - but it nay be my imagination as the difference is so minute!

That said, the bass eq on that pre has a lot of "booty" available!
Still, I Imagine the Nordstrands must be the predominant source of the tonal change.

ddnidd1 · #14 08-30-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote - "The problem is that the bass frequency point on the obp3 is higher than what the specs says. It's up more on the 80hz, which is a lot of info in the bass range, a little gain there, to our ears, seems louder than the same gain down at 40/50hz (I wish I had here with me the results of my comparisons with different preamp I did some time ago)."

Check the frequency response with a spectrum analyzer and you will see its down to 40 Hz.

maurilio · #15 08-30-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddnidd1

Quote - "The problem is that the bass frequency point on the obp3 is higher than what the specs says. It's up more on the 80hz, which is a lot of info in the bass range, a little gain there, to our ears, seems louder than the same gain down at 40/50hz (I wish I had here with me the results of my comparisons with different preamp I did some time ago)."

Check the frequency response with a spectrum analyzer and you will see its down to 40 Hz.

that's what I did and even printed the results…

M