Nordstand on Passive MTD Z5: Big Splits or DCs?

[lefty007]

Planning to get a fretless MTD Z5 soon, and I was thinking on eliminating the preamp to leave it passive, and changing the pickups.
(All my basses are passive.)

I've narrowed it down to Nordstrand Big Splits, or DCs.

Which one do you think will work better on a passive fretless? I was thinking to get the DC in series.

I want a throaty and punchy sound, and I tend to EQ with lots of bass, and I don't like a lot of treble in my sound, just enough to have clarity.

I was thinking the Big Splits would be clearer, more of a single-coil sound, and the DC darker, humbucker sound. . .


Or how about if I mix them? Put a DC in the bridge for an extra thick sound, and a Big Single in the neck, for a clearer, more focused sound. . . .

Or, for going passive, shoud I go with Bartolinis?

Thanks.

[maurilio]

Hi,
I love Bartolini (I have them on my bass), but for passive operation they don't have much output.

I would go with BigSpilt. Although they are a sigle coil (split coil) design, they have a fat sound. DC are not dark sounding at all, thicker yes!
I would not mix different pups...
We made a couple of fretless basses with MM pup, wonderful fretless sound!
Don't listen to me, anyway, my idea of sound is often different from most of the people, call the shop!

M

[JMDT]

Add a series/parallel/single switch for the dual coils and they will be amazing and versatile.