Nordstrand or Bartolini MM Pick-up?

KageOnBass · #1 07-07-2007, 05:07 PM

I am looking for one with a good growl for finger style and a jazz bass tone for slap. Any other recomendation would be apprciated, though i am definatlylooking for a passive pick-up.

Sound clips would also be appreciated!

MysticMichael · #2 07-07-2007, 07:43 PM

From what I've heard, either the Duncans or the Nordstrands would be a good choice...

MM

kevin_lindsay · #3 07-08-2007, 02:49 AM

The Bartolini pickups have a far "woolier" tone - sounds petty muffled. The Duncans have plenty of midrange bark, but to be honest - the Nordstrand units are the best things I have experienced in teh past 15 years - really fabulous units - you won't go wrong with them.

I guess that's why Nordstrand pickups are getting such a great reputation - Carey has really listened to player feedback throughout the initial development phase, and the products he is making are simply amazing - really full range in their response.

KageOnBass · #4 07-08-2007, 06:16 AM

Thanks for your replies!

jgsbass · #5 07-08-2007, 08:35 AM

I was a former Bart kind of guy. I bought a pair of Nordstrand Big Singles for a Peavey. They have a really usable sound. Very responsive to your fingers so both the growl and brightness of popping are both there. Your touch determines the tone. When the tone control is up and both pickups are dimed, the bass sounds active. I roll off a tiny bit of the tone control and play around with the pickup volumes. Loads of tone.

KageOnBass · #6 07-08-2007, 11:16 AM

Cheers!

bassgod0dmw · #7 07-09-2007, 05:29 AM

I don't like my Barts for slap at all. They are a dark sounding pickup...even with on board EQ. I'd go with the Nordy as well.

For anything else, I prefer the Bart though...just not slap.

4Mal · #8 07-09-2007, 09:54 AM

The Bart is smooth and compressed, pretty sccooped sounding to my ear. I replaced the Bart MM with a Nordstrand Alnico (4.2 ?) in a 44-02 I had for a bit and that was a very nice pickup. Nice bottom and top and very detailed mids. A major improvement for my situation.

CaptainWally · #9 07-17-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin_lindsay

The Bartolini pickups have a far "woolier" tone - sounds petty muffled. The Duncans have plenty of midrange bark, but to be honest - the Nordstrand units are the best things I have experienced in teh past 15 years - really fabulous units - you won't go wrong with them.

I guess that's why Nordstrand pickups are getting such a great reputation - Carey has really listened to player feedback throughout the initial development phase, and the products he is making are simply amazing - really full range in their response.

Wow, this post really speaks to me. I agree Barts can be wooly and dark, although I find them to have a nice present fullness. Mid-range bark is exactly how I would describe the stock Duncans.

I've got a Sterling we're going to be doing some recording with, and you've got me really curious about the Nordie.

How hard is it to wire-up a triple coil like that?

kevin_lindsay · #10 07-17-2007, 12:00 PM

Drop Carey Nordstrand an e-mail and he'll give you the lowdown on wiring up the coils - here's his e-mail address:

carey@nordstrandpickups.com