Nordstrand Big Singles vs Big Splits...

THSL · #1 07-17-2008, 08:56 AM

Hey Guys,

I would like to know if anybody has experience with the following pickups... These will fit my bass without routing, etc...

Nordstrand Big Singles
Nordstrand Big Splits

I am looking to replace the pickups in my 6 bass (Bartolini P4). I have removed the active electronics also, and would like to keep it passive. Also I should add that I am tuned super low with an E0 .175 string on the bottom...

I recently bought a Peavey Zodiac bass with P/J pickups with passive electronics… I really like the way this sounds, and would like to get my 6 stringer to sound similar.

The only difference I can see between the 2 pickups is that one is hum cancelling, and the other is not, and then there’s a slight cost difference. Lemme know what you all think. Thanks.

Tim

jaebee · #2 07-17-2008, 08:58 AM

big singles are great, but dont expect a p sound from them, they are more like suped up jazz pickups. they humcancel when both pickups are on at full volume, but if you are only getting one pickup go for the splits to avoid the hum. otherwise i would suggest the singles if you want a more raw tone, or the splits if you want a more round tone.

renniw · #3 07-17-2008, 08:59 AM

If you use the search function on the upper right side of the page, you'll get dozens of threads with thousand of opinions about big-split vs big singles.... you may even find some sound samples...

FYI, I had big singles in one of my bass and they don't sound like P-J pickups at all. Really jazz-like....

maurilio · #4 07-17-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THSL

Hey Guys,

I would like to know if anybody has experience with the following pickups... These will fit my bass without routing, etc...

Nordstrand Big Singles
Nordstrand Big Splits

I am looking to replace the pickups in my 6 bass (Bartolini P4). I have removed the active electronics also, and would like to keep it passive. Also I should add that I am tuned super low with an E0 .175 string on the bottom...

I recently bought a Peavey Zodiac bass with P/J pickups with passive electronics… I really like the way this sounds, and would like to get my 6 stringer to sound similar.

The only difference I can see between the 2 pickups is that one is hum cancelling, and the other is not, and then there’s a slight cost difference. Lemme know what you all think. Thanks.

Tim

You can custom order a set of 6 strings PJ. Call the shop.

M

4Mal · #5 07-17-2008, 09:50 AM

http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/NordBigSplit.mp3
http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/BartMK1.mp3

http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/dark1.mp3

Samples of the Bart MK1 and Nord Big Split. Rough and straight into the recorder. Bass is a Lakland 55-01. Each sample is neck, then both, then bridge. I had to reduce the channel gain a bit as the nords are very high output.

I installed the Nords yesterday. My initial impression is that the Big Split is very P-Bass like. Big body, huge punch. It's the most Dark Star like of any non-Dark Star pickup I've encountered. Reasonably quiet - I was sitting next to my ProTools tower and directly in front of my monitor to record those samples. I'll get a little noise from that seat unless a pickup is quiet and a bass well shielded.

The chain was a GT passive DI, Aphex mic pre as a gain stage, Digi 002R, no compresison or EQ plugs.

Added a Dark Star clip for comparison grins. Samick Royale Dark Star project bass. Same signal chain. Not as responsiven or livly as most Dark Star clips you'll hear. The pickup is currently about .25 maybe closer to 5/16th from the strings. This one is strung with GHS Brite Flat's as well so it's a real different tonality. Still you can hear promise in there I think. I need to build a surround for hte pickup that will match the arched top of the bass and get the pickup closer to the strings. I'm also redoing the electronics - currently it's 250K vol & tone passive. I'm headed towards a passive circuit based on the G&L L1000 using passive, cut only Volume, Bass & Treble with a dark switch. My summertime project ... and completely irrelevant to this thread ;~)

THSL · #6 07-17-2008, 09:53 AM

I know they won't wound like P pickups... I was mearly using my cheapy bass as an example.

jaebee: Thanks for the description between the big splits vs big singles. I think I prefer the rawness of the single coil... I'n not too worried about the hum as my bass' control cavity is fully shielded in copper foil, and when I replace the pickups, I'll have my guitar tech shield the pickup cavities.

renniw: I'm searching the forums now for those thousands of opinions... Anyways, why did you chose big singles over big splits? I found a few samples, but they seem to be few and far between...

I do not want to go through the trouble of getting custom pickups for this bass, if there is something that is readily available...

So back to pondering... Hum or no hum? Round or raw? Spend $38 more or save $38?

monkeyland · #7 07-17-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/NordBigSingle.mp3
http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/BartMK1.mp3

Samples of the Bart MK1 and Nord Big Single. Rough and straight into the recorder. Bass is a Lakland 55-01. Each sample is neck, then both, then bridge. I had to reduce the channel gain a bit as the nords are very high output.

I installed the Nords yesterday. My initial impression is that the Big single is very P-Bass like. Big body, huge punch. It's the most Dark Star like of any non-Dark Star pickup I've encountered. Reasonably quiet - I was sitting next to my ProTools tower and directly in front of my monitor to record those samples. I'll get a little noise from that seat unless a pickup is quiet and a bass well shielded.

The chain was a GT passive DI, Aphex mic pre as a gain stage, Digi 002R, no compresison or EQ plugs.

your nord clip isn't working. and for some reason there's a click on the bart clip thats not in time with what you are playing

renniw · #8 07-17-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THSL

renniw: I'm searching the forums now for those thousands of opinions... Anyways, why did you chose big singles over big splits? I found a few samples, but they seem to be few and far between...

Showing results 1 to 13 of 13
Search took 0.12 seconds. Search: Key Word(s): big, split, singles

I chose the big singles because I love the sound of a jazz bass with both pickups full on.... I bever use any other settings (...yet) so hum was not an issue.

Oh, and my pickups are wired directly to the jack with only a kill switch.

4Mal · #9 07-17-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyland

your nord clip isn't working. and for some reason there's a click on the bart clip thats not in time with what you are playing

oh man - I really need to finish that cup of coffee before typeing - not to mention exporting MP3's ...

The Nord's I'm playing with are Big Split's - not Big Singles. When I recorded the Bart sample I had the click on but down in my phones so my timing is wandering all over the place... which is really noticible when I also exported the click - DOH! I'll fix the Bart sample shortly ...

I fixed the Nord link so it should work now!

THSL · #10 07-17-2008, 01:31 PM

Cool. Thanks. I'll check it out when I get home...

4Mal · #11 07-17-2008, 01:47 PM

re-exportred the Bart link without the click. Just for grins, I layed down the same line, played just as badly ;~) but on my Samick Royale, 4 string Hollowbody Dark Star project bass. Completel;y irrelevenant to this thread as Dark Stars aren't available in 5 string yet and they are not form factor compatible anyway - just for grins!.

rpatter · #12 07-17-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THSL

I know they won't wound like P pickups... I was mearly using my cheapy bass as an example.

jaebee: Thanks for the description between the big splits vs big singles. I think I prefer the rawness of the single coil... I'n not too worried about the hum as my bass' control cavity is fully shielded in copper foil, and when I replace the pickups, I'll have my guitar tech shield the pickup cavities.

renniw: I'm searching the forums now for those thousands of opinions... Anyways, why did you chose big singles over big splits? I found a few samples, but they seem to be few and far between...

I do not want to go through the trouble of getting custom pickups for this bass, if there is something that is readily available...

So back to pondering... Hum or no hum? Round or raw? Spend $38 more or save $38?

I tried both the Big Singles and the Big Splits in my bass. They are like fraternal twins, very much alike but not exactly. The Big Singles have a very "in your face" tone. The Big Splits are a teensy bit softer on the top end and overall richer sounding to my ears.

No matter how well your bass is shielded, the Big Singles will hum if you don't have both full on. In my bass they were dead quiet when the blend pot was in the center position. This is not a problem with the Big Splits. I played them with the bridge pickup almost completely soloed and never had the hum I got with the Big Singles.

Personally, between the two, I liked the Big Splits better. Ultimately I ended up putting in the Dual Coils.

Ralf

THSL · #13 07-17-2008, 02:27 PM

So basically the Big Singles are a single coil jazz pickup. Raw and in your face sounding. Will hum if soloed. That's just the nature of them...

Big splits are similar, maybe a little softer and rounder (warmer), less in your face sounding. Hum cancelling, so will not hum if soloed...

I have ruled out dual coil humbuckers as replacement as my current pickups are dual coil humbuckers, and they are not as clear as I would like them...

Cool, Ralf. Thanks for your descriptions... More stuff to go over with my tech...

4Mal · #14 07-17-2008, 04:02 PM

You could also ping user Chef as he recently re-did his 5501 with the Lakland LH-3 preamp and a set of the Nordstrand DC's. I'm more a single coil guy and the Big Split is very much a single coil in it's tone & response. Again - very P bass like.

Davo-London · #15 07-17-2008, 09:00 PM

What is this nonsense about hum?

I have Big Singles in a custom Cliff Bordwell and there is no hum. I mean it is dead quiet. Much better than any bass I've owned and I usually use 90% if not 100% bridge pickup.

Davo

basadam · #16 07-18-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/NordBigSplit.mp3
http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/BartMK1.mp3

http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/dark1.mp3

After a quick listen Nords and Dark Stars sounded very similar to my ears.

edit: Scratch that; I was listening to the wrong sample.

KJung · #17 07-18-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davo-London

What is this nonsense about hum?

I have Big Singles in a custom Cliff Bordwell and there is no hum. I mean it is dead quiet. Much better than any bass I've owned and I usually use 90% if not 100% bridge pickup.

Davo

Any single coil pickup will hum when solo'd. The hum will range from louder to softer depending on the environment and location, ranging from hardly noticable to so loud you can't stand it.

I found the Big Singles to actually be a bit noisier than my other single coil pickups (I assume due to the additional windings, etc.), but nothing that was out of the ordinary for single coil pickups.

IMO and IME, after A/Bing a couple of similar basses with Big Splits and Big Singles, they sounded VERY, VERY similar. Given how great the 'Big' pickups sound with the bridge pickup solo's (or at least favored), I personally would highly recommend the Big Splits.... 98% of the same tone (the Big Single sound NOTHING like a traditional single coil J pickup anyway IMO) as the Big Singles and totally quiet operation.

THSL · #18 07-18-2008, 07:55 AM

I'm sure the question has been asked before...

Single coils will hum if they are soloed, right?

If you have a V/V/T control set up, in order to have hum cancelling, do the bridge and neck pickup volume need to both be at 100%?

Or can they be 50% neck/100% bridge, or any other variation of both pickups being on, but in different proportions?

4Mal · #19 07-18-2008, 09:08 AM

full up. for noise cancelling.

Mark Latimour · #20 07-18-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Any single coil pickup will hum when solo'd. The hum will range from louder to softer depending on the environment and location, ranging from hardly noticable to so loud you can't stand it.

I found the Big Singles to actually be a bit noisier than my other single coil pickups (I assume due to the additional windings, etc.), but nothing that was out of the ordinary for single coil pickups.

IMO and IME, after A/Bing a couple of similar basses with Big Splits and Big Singles, they sounded VERY, VERY similar. Given how great the 'Big' pickups sound with the bridge pickup solo's (or at least favored), I personally would highly recommend the Big Splits.... 98% of the same tone (the Big Single sound NOTHING like a traditional single coil J pickup anyway IMO) as the Big Singles and totally quiet operation.

I've often wondered whether the hum is worse in the US than in countries that use 240/50hz power. I have never really had a problem with hum on single coil pickups in Aus or the UK, not that you couldn't get it, but thats its just not a big distraction. However, maybe 110/60hz produces a more noticeable effect. Any EE people able to comment?