nordstrand/emg/mm

[eddododo]

I am building a warmoth project (gecko 5).

I want to use a nordstrand DC5 at the neck and an EMG Jx(40) at the bridge.

a) The EMG x series are battery-powered in-house active pickups. I worry that the extra meat from the powered EMG might cause a balance problem with the nordstrand dual coil.
[using a 3 knob with a switch to split coils, should I put them Volume-Volume-Blend?]

b) Is it foolish to use the nordy DC as a neck pickup, since its essentially 2 J-pickups coiled side by side, pole pieces and all?

c)alternatively, I have considered the Nordstrand dual coil as a bridge pickup, as it would be like having the 2 different jazz bridge settings in one pickup. In this case i would use a MM style pickup at the neck. I hear such good things about MM pickups, but I worry they'll end up too bright and clanky; instead of getting the Modern-clear plus vintage-smooth that I'm hunting for I worry the MM neck will just make me sound clankier.


I hope you guys make this a d--- showing competition, I'd really like to get alot of thoughtful opinions on all-or-any of my questions

Feel free to suggest ANY other options as well.

Thanks!

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by eddododo

I am building a warmoth project (gecko 5).

I want to use a nordstrand DC5 at the neck and an EMG Jx(40) at the bridge.

a) The EMG x series are battery-powered in-house active pickups. I worry that the extra meat from the powered EMG might cause a balance problem with the nordstrand dual coil.
[using a 3 knob with a switch to split coils, should I put them Volume-Volume-Blend?]

b) Is it foolish to use the nordy DC as a neck pickup, since its essentially 2 J-pickups coiled side by side, pole pieces and all?

c)alternatively, I have considered the Nordstrand dual coil as a bridge pickup, as it would be like having the 2 different jazz bridge settings in one pickup. In this case i would use a MM style pickup at the neck. I hear such good things about MM pickups, but I worry they'll end up too bright and clanky; instead of getting the Modern-clear plus vintage-smooth that I'm hunting for I worry the MM neck will just make me sound clankier.


I hope you guys make this a d--- showing competition, I'd really like to get alot of thoughtful opinions on all-or-any of my questions

Feel free to suggest ANY other options as well.

Thanks!

That's a bad idea. The chances that these two pickups will mate well electronically or sonically are slim to none.

You should probably try to stick with two pickups from the same manufacturer and should definitely stick with both active or passive pickups. I recommend passive since you will have far more choices that way and then you can add the active preamp of your choice.