Nordtrand Big Singles vs string spacing

**Chef** · #1 05-05-2008, 08:35 AM

So, ...
I have this warmoth J5 with EMG's and the two band btc preamp in it:

I don't care for the emg tone so much...
I have a 5 string set of Nord Big Singles I want to route into it...

It's got a carvin/gotoh bridge on it with very narrow string spacing...17mm, maybe a little less...

1) I'd like to change to a hipshot model b bridge with 18mm string spacing...is that ok, or must I use 19mm?

2) Do you think the emg btc preamp would work well with the big singles?

thanks, alan

maurilio · #2 05-05-2008, 09:58 AM

without mesurement it's difficult to say. From the pic I guess you can go up to max 18mm (if your string spacing right now is 17mm). More and you'll have the outer strings falling off the fretboard.
With 18mm string spacing your BS pole pieces will not be properly alligned, but they will still work.
I have never tried Nords with EMG. If you don't like the combo you can change the pre later..... or wait a few weeks and get the new preamp from Carey

M

**Chef** · #3 05-05-2008, 10:28 AM

I can measure the neck's width...
Oddly, this warmoth 5 neck is indeed a little narrower than the neck on either Valenti 18 or 23 that I have...

Followup q's:
Do you think I can run the proper 19mm spacing bridge on this neck? It'll push the strings closer to the edges, but it seems like there's room.

And:

Valenti 18 that I have has Nord pickups and an audere, which I like a lot, but don't really want to duplicate.
Valenti 23 has nords and an opb3, which i also like well, but again don't want to duplicate.
I'd be open to some other preamp I haven't tried yet that you think would pair well woth the Big Singles.

Also, I'd thought about leaving it passive, and setting it up like a G&L L1000, with treble and bass cut, and the mini switch to add bass boost via the two caps...I've never seen anyone else do this, and it seems interesting and viable, and good. What do you think about this?

thx-alan

ibanezcollector · #4 05-05-2008, 10:39 AM

the spacing might be a issue the current spacing looks like its pretty close to the edge 18mm might work but I dont think 19mm would..

As for the routing I would def find a local luthier that can do it properly since its already finished a homebrew job might chip around the paremeter and we dont want that do we.. No need to relic that baby

maurilio · #5 05-05-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibanezcollector

the spacing might be a issue the current spacing looks like its pretty close to the edge 18mm might work but I dont think 19mm would..

..........

^
+1

Since you have the two others already active, I would go passive.... you can always mod it later.

M

tallboybass · #6 05-05-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

.....Do you think I can run the proper 19mm spacing bridge on this neck? It'll push the strings closer to the edges, but it seems like there's room......

Hi Alan, I've talked to Warmoth about this and they say their necks don't support 19mm string spacing....I'd already have one if they did.

Alan

**Chef** · #7 05-05-2008, 12:26 PM

This is an older bass.
The neck measures 2.75" at the last fret, and 1.9 at the nut.
The newer ones are 2.9"

My warmoth based '51P5 is the newer 2.9 neck, and I have a 19mm hipshot on it.
Valenti #18 is 2.9 also, and has a 19mm hipshot on it.
Valenti #23: 2.9 also, 18mm hipshot on that one.

I don't think this neck will support even 18 comfortably without pushing the strings too far outside. I'll have to do some more measuring and thinking...

BruceWane · #8 05-05-2008, 01:03 PM

You could get a pair custom made for your spacing.

Or, if you don't want to wait that long..... it'd be a little different, but since you're routing anyway, you could slant the pickups.

maurilio · #9 05-05-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

This is an older bass.
The neck measures 2.75" at the last fret, and 1.9 at the nut.
The newer ones are 2.9"

My warmoth based '51P5 is the newer 2.9 neck, and I have a 19mm hipshot on it.
Valenti #18 is 2.9 also, and has a 19mm hipshot on it.
Valenti #23: 2.9 also, 18mm hipshot on that one.

I don't think this neck will support even 18 comfortably without pushing the strings too far outside. I'll have to do some more measuring and thinking...

if your actual string spacing is 17mm, an 18mm bridge would push the outer string ~2mm further out.... lose the B string and move it out over the saddle 2mm.... this way you'll see how it fit.

M

**Chef** · #10 05-05-2008, 01:22 PM

"but since you're routing anyway, you could slant the pickups"

huh...I'm not sure I could really do that since the body is already routed. on a fresh body, yeah...i'll make a paper template of the BS's and check that out!

"lose the B string and move it out over the saddle 2mm.... this way you'll see how it fit.''

good idea...thx!

**Chef** · #11 05-05-2008, 02:59 PM

I was gonna edit the original post, but...

turns out the bridge is a schaller 496 with adjustable spacing.

I'll mess with that tonight and see where I can get the strings.
Hopefully real close to 18...

L-1329 · #12 05-06-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

This is an older bass.
The neck measures 2.75" at the last fret, and 1.9 at the nut.
The newer ones are 2.9"

My warmoth based '51P5 is the newer 2.9 neck, and I have a 19mm hipshot on it.
Valenti #18 is 2.9 also, and has a 19mm hipshot on it.
Valenti #23: 2.9 also, 18mm hipshot on that one.

I don't think this neck will support even 18 comfortably without pushing the strings too far outside. I'll have to do some more measuring and thinking...

Hey Chef,

Here is the specs off a Warmoth bass I have that had a 19mm Hipshot A style bridge on it. You didn't specify if your bass has the Warmoth Deluxe 5 neck, but if so a 19mm bridge will work. Mine measures 1.75" at the nut and 2 7/8" at the 22nd fret. It also had Nordie Dual Coils that lined up perfectly. It sounds like your bass might be a deluxe five, and if so it will work.

The bridge on yours appears to be the Schaller roller bridge, and if it is the maximum spacing on it with the rollers set to the outer limit is 17.5mm. If you want 18 or 19 mm then you will certainly need a new bridge.

Also, I have just set up another Warmoth deluxe five necked bass with the Nordie P and J, set for 17.5 mm bridge spacing. They had to be special ordered due to the close pole spacing, and the bridge pickup was an issue. They were not able to wind a NJ5S split coil J since there wasn't enough room without underwinding the coils. They were very helpful though in building a custom spaced stacked J pickup for me for this spacing. If you go with an 18mm bridge you should have no problems. I also have two basses with 18mm bridges and Nordstrand pickups. The key here is to first decide on the bridge and spacing you want, and verify that the neck will work. Then, decide on what pickups you would like and work out the specs. You might have to very accurately measure the spacing over the point the pickups will sit and email that in to see if Nordstrand can do what you want. I used BestBassGear for my custom order, and Brian was super helpful, as was Nordstrand.

If you want me to measure anything else on these basses to compare to yours let me know, but a 19mm bridge does fit on the Warmoth Deluxe 5 neck.

**Chef** · #13 05-06-2008, 09:43 AM

L-1329:
19mm won't work on this one; even 17.5 is pushing the strings really far towards the edge of the neck.
As I mentioned, I have several Warmoth necks that are 2.9 at the end of the neck.
This one is 2.75.
Here's pics with the strings set at 17mm+ a little more:

I'm gonna pursue some other options.
Flip the 19mm Big Singles,
Try Aeros and a Sadowsky preamp, or something...

Anyone want some Big Singles?