Nordstrand Pick Up for Music Man OLP. Preamp Necessary?

HCBall · #1 01-02-2011, 11:14 AM

I purchased an OLP Music Man for $95.00, I want to upgrade the pick up and will spend $120.00 for a Nordstrand or other higher end pick up recommended on these forums. I don't think I can put an onboard preamp into the existing cavity without routing the body, and that seems to cost around $175.00. Any passive pick up recommendations? And also, if the Nordstrand requires a preamp; are there any outboard options you could recommend that would give it a Music Man sound? Many thanks!

mcnach · #2 01-02-2011, 11:42 AM

A passive pickup like the one you mention or a Seymour Duncan SMB4A will be a nice improvement.
I own three OLP and a 2002 Stingray. One of the OLPs is stock, another just has the pickup replacement (alnico smb4a), and another also has a Seymour Duncan 3 band preamp. Just replacing the pu is a good option. The preamp obviously makes it more versatile, but even without it the OLP is very Stingray-ish.
I installed the preamp myself, by the way. A cheap router and a bit of care will allow you to get good results. My fave preamp by far is the John East one. The 3 knob version (ideal for the OLP then). I have one on my Stingray and I love it.

HCBall · #3 01-02-2011, 04:15 PM

Thanks Mcnach. So the Duncan or the Nordstrand 4.2 will both work without a preamp?
Im not sure if I want to keep this bass, so if I decided to purchase an outboard preamp later on are there any recommendations you could make that would be closer to a stingray sound?

mcnach · #4 01-02-2011, 06:10 PM

Those pickups are passive, so no need for a battery and they can be used without a preamp, of course.
They are humbuckers, with the coils wired in parallel for a Stingray sound.

I can't recommend any particular outboard preamp. Maybe mount a Stingray designed-for preamp in a box... that way you can use it with any bass, but of course you lose the ability to modify tone from the bass itself.

I would get the Nordstrand or the Seymour Duncan pickup, and have the bass set up nicely. It will not be a Stingray, but you'll get a lot of its character. Those OLPs are nice.
You can worry about preamps later, as a separate issue.

BassLife77 · #5 01-02-2011, 09:39 PM

If you want that Music Man sound you can make your own Stingray preamp from the huge thread in this forum. It's a pretty easy build, only 1 opamp, and it sounds great. If you have the OLP bass with the pots mounted on pickguard there is just enough room to fit the preamp in the cavity. the battery will fit in the space between the volume pot and pickup

HCBall · #6 01-08-2011, 01:30 AM

Thanks again for all your help. Im looking into Uncle Fluffys PCB thread right now, 30.00 in parts is an incredible value considering the John Easts are 175.00. The Nordy arrived today, will try it w/o a preamp first