Nordstrand Big Singles sounding like humbuckers??

[bongostealth]

Has anybody who has Nordstrand Big Singles had a similar experience whith these pickups where they don't sound that much at all like jazz pickups?

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 or split coils. They don't have that traditional single coil growl even though they are in fact single coil. I confirmed this with a recent install onto a Warwick Corvette 6 because I also had these same pickups on a Roscoe SKB-3006 with a Bartolini preamp and they sounded the same.

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.

[Todd GT5]

I have to say, nobody should claim they sound exactly like a jazz PU.

I think the electronics are probably effecting your sound a bit. I'm running my "Big Singles" passive VVT, like a jazz bass. I'm getting what sounds to me like a fatter, beefier jazz bass sound, with great growl. I'm sure that they sound a lot different with an active preamp.

-Todd

[Darkstrike]

Are you sure they're Big Singles, and not Fat Stacks, or Big Splits?

[Infidelity]

They definitely sounds more on soapbar side than singles to my ears but it has the SC grind that I would call a jazz but like they said beefier and full.

Definitely not a humbucker to me. Maybe it's your pre-amp?

[walterw]

yeah, who says they're supposed to sound like jazz pickups?

they're gonna have a bit of the edgy jazz single-coil feel, while being fat and loud like soapbars.

[bongostealth]

I ordered them from Bestbassgear.com and the Nordstrand box said "Big Singles." I guess if I was running them in passive they would probably have more of a traditional sound. I'm currently running them with an Aguilar OBP-3 in active mode only.

[Infidelity]

Originally Posted by bongostealth

I ordered them from Bestbassgear.com and the Nordstrand box said "Big Singles." I guess if I was running them in passive they would probably have more of a traditional sound. I'm currently running them with an Aguilar OBP-3 in active mode only.

I'm surprised you're not getting a mid grind with the OPB-3 and big singles..

I'm currenty using Audere and thinking of changing it to OPB-3 to add some more aggressiveness..

EQ set flat?

[maurilio]

A VERY important thing:

Roscoe and Warwick DON'T have a "jazz" pickup placement! You will never have a Jazz sound out of those two basses (owned both)… you might get close but not same, even using a "real" jazz pup.

[Infidelity]

Originally Posted by maurilio

A VERY important thing:

Roscoe and Warwick DON'T have a "jazz" pickup placement! You will never have a Jazz sound out of those two basses (owned both)… you might get close but not same, even using a "real" jazz pup.

Aha! That's why.. That definitley cleared things up!

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by maurilio

A VERY important thing:

Roscoe and Warwick DON'T have a "jazz" pickup placement! You will never have a Jazz sound out of those two basses (owned both)… you might get close but not same, even using a "real" jazz pup.

That is to say, their standard soapbar position is nowhere near a jazz setup.

Both companies offer J pickups in J locations, at least Roscoe do, I believe Warwicks Corvette Standard with the J pickups are in the J position.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by Todd GT5

I have to say, nobody should claim they sound exactly like a jazz PU.

I think the electronics are probably effecting your sound a bit. I'm running my "Big Singles" passive VVT, like a jazz bass. I'm getting what sounds to me like a fatter, beefier jazz bass sound, with great growl. I'm sure that they sound a lot different with an active preamp.

-Todd

That what I got out of them as well.
I had a existing Jazz routed for them...So that might have something to do with it.

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by maurilio

A VERY important thing:

Roscoe and Warwick DON'T have a "jazz" pickup placement! You will never have a Jazz sound out of those two basses (owned both)… you might get close but not same, even using a "real" jazz pup.

Mid grind? Yes. If I boost the mids all the way i get an overdrive sound. Nothing I might actually use, aside from my EBS Metaldrive pedal, but it's interesting.

What exactly is a "jazz pickup placement"? From how it looks to me, the pickups on the Roscoe and Warwick are spaced out about the same from each other and from the bridge as you would find in an actuall Jazz bass. Hmm...

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by bongostealth

What exactly is a "jazz pickup placement"? From how it looks to me, the pickups on the Roscoe and Warwick are spaced out about the same from each other and from the bridge as you would find in an actuall Jazz bass. Hmm...

Aye, but a jazz has 20 frets, Roscoe/Warwick have 24, the neck pickup would be closer to the neck to be in the J spot.

Here's a Roscoe with correct J location pickups, and a standard soapbar setup to compare.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by bongostealth

Has anybody who has Nordstrand Big Singles had a similar experience whith these pickups where they don't sound that much at all like jazz pickups?

They're not Jazz pickups. Why would they sound like Jazz pickups?

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 or split coils. They don't have that traditional single coil growl even though they are in fact single coil.

There is no right or wrong tone for a single coil pickup. Those are single coils though, but they have a wider aperture so they get a fuller tone. Split coils are also technically single coil pickups.

[KJung]

IMO and a bit of IME, these pickups are much better thought of as soapbar pickups. Also, the splits sound VERY similar to the singles, and hence IMO they would be the better choice for those who want a nice, modern, soapbar pickup type tone... big, relatively smooth, modern clean, upper treble.

I think that 'jazz pickup on steroids' description that was on the website (not sure it is still there) set up expectations that IMO weren't really met.

However, darn good soapbar pickup... big fat low end, smooth mids, crystal clear, clean upper treble.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by walterw

yeah, who says they're supposed to sound like jazz pickups?

they're gonna have a bit of the edgy jazz single-coil feel, while being fat and loud like soapbars.

That just it...I think in my instance you could easily both type of qualities...but I could easily here the 'single J' sound and not just the feel. It was thicker like a soapbar, yet did not dwarf the sound on the single. IMHO

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Aye, but a jazz has 20 frets, Roscoe/Warwick have 24, the neck pickup would be closer to the neck to be in the J spot.

It's not closer to the neck, it's closer to the end of the fingerboard. That has no bearing on the tone of the pickup. Where the pickup is in relationship to the scale length (between the nut and bridge) matters. How many frets does not.

But they pushed the neck pickup closer to the bridge on the bass with the soapbars to give the player more room. That will affect the tone.

But why would you want a bass that's not a Jazz bass to sound like a Jazz bass anyway? Find the tone of that bass.

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

But why would you want a bass that's not a Jazz bass to sound like a Jazz bass anyway? Find the tone of that bass.

Yeah, I guess this is about right. I wish I was a luthier!!

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

It's not closer to the neck, it's closer to the end of the fingerboard. That has no bearing on the tone of the pickup. Where the pickup is in relationship to the scale length (between the nut and bridge) matters. How many frets does not.

Indeed, I was oversimplifying things, just trying to point out the important factor at the time, the pickups being in different locations.

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

But why would you want a bass that's not a Jazz bass to sound like a Jazz bass anyway? Find the tone of that bass.

Some people like the sound of a Jazz, but not the feel or look, why settle?

Why do people get a Jazz Bass and put big 'ol humbuckers in them, instead of buying a bass that has them stock?

Maybe they want a "SuperJazz"?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Indeed, I was oversimplifying things, just trying to point out the important factor at the time, the pickups being in different locations.

Right, the distance between the two pickups will alter the tone when they are both one because of the phase cancelation you get.

Some people like the sound of a Jazz, but not the feel or look, why settle?

As soon as you build a bass differently, it will sound different. I say embrace the tone of that bass and find something that works, instead of trying to sound like everyone else using a Jazz bass.

Why do people get a Jazz Bass and put big 'ol humbuckers in them, instead of buying a bass that has them stock?

Maybe they want a "SuperJazz"?

Because some people are sheep?

I hear people say that putting a reversed angled pickup at a Strat's bridge position, or a reverse P on a P bass "doesn't look right". That makes no sense. Why worry if it doesn't look like everyone else's bass? Are you going to get kicked out of some club? That's the same as wanting to get the exact tone of some famous player.

I say find your own sound.