Nordstrand Big Splits on Sadowsky M5-24 w/clips

basadam · #1 07-14-2008, 02:38 PM

I'm at it again, this time comparing Nordstrand Big Splits against Sadowsky Soapbars on a Sadowsky M5-24. I currently only have the neck pickup (Nordstrand) so the samples are neck only. I recorded the samples with the same strings, preamp on bass flat and direct to desk.

Sadowsky Soapbar: http://mp3space.com/file/101067/sadneck
Nordstrand Big Split: http://mp3space.com/file/101069/bsneck

Enjoy.

**smperry** · #2 07-14-2008, 03:32 PM

Thanks for doing this!

I think I prefer the Nordstrands more in the neck position solo, but I can imagine that having Sads in bridge and neck kick serious butt.

Marshall

basadam · #3 07-16-2008, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

Thanks for doing this!

I think I prefer the Nordstrands more in the neck position solo, but I can imagine that having Sads in bridge and neck kick serious butt.

Marshall

Interesting. As I play more, I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't have ordered the bridge pickup. The way Big Split sounds in that weird position soloed is exactly the tone I was looking for. It's open with enough bite and enough low end. A BS in bridge may turn out to be too-much-bite. I'll see in a week anyway.

Combining the BS and Sad pickup is also an interesting idea but there is volume difference (I normalized the samples I recorded). BS is louder and it's good that way, I wouldn't want to bury it down into the wood just so it has equal loudness.

Don't you sometimes think too many options is a bad thing?

**smperry** · #4 07-17-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basadam

Interesting. As I play more, I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't have ordered the bridge pickup. The way Big Split sounds in that weird position soloed is exactly the tone I was looking for. It's open with enough bite and enough low end. A BS in bridge may turn out to be too-much-bite. I'll see in a week anyway.

Combining the BS and Sad pickup is also an interesting idea but there is volume difference (I normalized the samples I recorded). BS is louder and it's good that way, I wouldn't want to bury it down into the wood just so it has equal loudness.

Don't you sometimes think too many options is a bad thing?

Yeah, I totally get your concern that two Big Splits could be too much, but I don't know - it might be the thing that's easy to tame with a tone control. Listening again, I just like the definition that it has. It also occurred to me that the punch of the Sadowsky would be killer on a fretless - it's surprising to me that I don't see more of those (in the NYC models of course).

But I'm rambling. Looking forward to your impressions when you have the pair of Big Splits installed.

Marshall