nordstrand 4.3 on a sterling

[wriklygit]

Hello everyone,I have searched the forum & this seems to be a popular mod,I have just aquired a 2003 mm/sterling with a nordy 4.3 installed, however it has a fault in the switching circuit eg-

bridge pos = full output
centre =no output
neck pos = very low output

I have already emailed mm & nordy but as yet had no replies,having found your forum I'm hoping someone here may have the answer,the bass itself is one of the most playable instruments my arthritic fingers have come across which is why I would like to resolve the swithing issue,any schematics or photo's of the board or switch connections would be helpful,all the best ,mike b.

[wriklygit]

Just had a schematic emailed from MM,excellent customer service,now looking like a faulty switch,anyone else had problems with these, mike b.

[BigOldHarry]

Hmmmm...

Why? My stock sterling sounded dandy... Why the need to change?

[depalm]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Hmmmm...

Why? My stock sterling sounded dandy... Why the need to change?

Because Nordstrand MM4.3 is made of Alnico, much better sounding, warmer, puncher, fatter and balanced than the lifeless, clanky, trebly and cheap original ceramic MM pickup.

My humble opinion of course. ;-)

Replacing is very easy, just follow the color scheme printed on the board.

Red, Green, Black, White.

[depalm]

[BigOldHarry]

So the stock MM P'up sounds bad, eh?

Wow. All that time I gigged with the bass, all those recording were *bad*?? Whew - I'll call those old groups up now and let them know that I need to come back in for a do-over...



My point is - if a bass sounds good out of the box, then why muck with it? I too have been sucked into the "must customize" thing in the past - mostly because I owned many '70s fenders and one ALWAYS replaced the crappy electronics on those beasts (until they suddenly because "great" because they are old...)

I would be interested to hear a side-by-side, though. I know that Bart in my Lakland sounds great in the MM mode - but it doesn't sound like an MM (if you follow). And I really dug the way my stock Sterling sounded...

[depalm]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

So the stock MM P'up sounds bad, eh?

Yep, as I said, that's my opinion. If it works nicely for you… than you've saved $140.

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Wow. All that time I gigged with the bass, all those recording were *bad*?? Whew - I'll call those old groups up now and let them know that I need to come back in for a do-over...

How would I know? You should try! :-)

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

My point is - if a bass sounds good out of the box, then why muck with it? I too have been sucked into the "must customize" thing in the past - mostly because I owned many '70s fenders and one ALWAYS replaced the crappy electronics on those beasts (until they suddenly because "great" because they are old...)

I agree, I keep some of my basses stock 'cause I like them as they are. And I've been playing for quite so long so I think I know what I want from an instrument when I choose one.
However "customize" must not be misunderstood as mere consumerism or other kind of obsession but an attempt or effort to achieve your own voice or style.

What I like on Sterling basses is its playability. The neck is one of the best I've put my hand on and the slick body feels so nice and very comfortable…

But I guess there are some minor flaws or lack of attention on its construction, like the poor ceramic pickups and the old fashion and heavy tuning machines.

So why not replace them? Now my bass feels much more balanced and sounds a zillion times better!

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I would be interested to hear a side-by-side, though. I know that Bart in my Lakland sounds great in the MM mode - but it doesn't sound like a MM (if you follow). And I really dug the way my stock Sterling sounded...

I spent some time swapping from the original to the Nord to be sure and it was like day and night. With Nordstrand is simply impossible to sound bad.

The pickup position on Lakland basses is different from MM.
It would never sound like a MM even if you install a real vintage Sting Ray pickup.

Take care.

best