Nordstrand NJ4SE w/ audere pre--swamp ash/wenge

[()smoke()]

hi fellas...i've read through a lot of previous posts on these pickups and preamp, but wanted to try and get some specific feedback from anyone with relevant experience before i proceed

have a <4lb swamp ash jazz body, plan to go with a wenge neck/rw fretboard and gotoh bridge

i've narrowed my pickups decision down to the nordstrand NJ4SE or the Lindy Fralin vintage...the fralins sound great for a vintage-geared pickup, but the rolled-off highs and the low-mid presence of the nordstrands sounds exactly like what i want for fingerstyle playing

i'm considering an audere pre, as it seems to color the instruments sound very little when set flat...i play mostly fingerstyle, only occasional slapping, play through an older ampeg SVTII

this shouldn't sound too 'hi-fi' should it? or should i nix the audere and go passive?

i'm kind of 'old-school' with my instruments in that i generally prefer, passive, less knobs, etc...but the supposed transparency of the audere pre is intriguing, and i wouldn't mind the options if it didn't hurt my basic 'passive' sound too much

[Lorenzini]

From what I've heard, the regular single coil NJ4s are more what you're asking for. The SEs would have a more "clear" sound, humbucking, and less passive vintage sounding. They would be my choice.

I've also owned the Lindy Fralins and those are *great* at the throaty vintage sound. They can also thump really well.

Recommended reading: SMASH's sticky at the top of the Pickups & Electronics Thread. It should show ya lots!

Oh and for the Audere... only heard good things, and heard it's very transparent.

[()smoke()]

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

From what I've heard, the regular single coil NJ4s are more what you're asking for. The SEs would have a more "clear" sound, humbucking, and less passive vintage sounding. They would be my choice.

I've also owned the Lindy Fralins and those are *great* at the throaty vintage sound. They can also thump really well.

Recommended reading: SMASH's sticky at the top of the Pickups & Electronics Thread. It should show ya lots!

Oh and for the Audere... only heard good things, and heard it's very transparent.

thanks lorenzini!

i would have assumed the NJ4s would be more to my liking until i listened to some clips i found searching the forum--the low-mid voicing of the SEs combined with the roll-off in the highs really had a kind of growly, but tamed sound that i dig

i'l take a look at the sticky--thanks!