Nordy NP4 VERSUS '62 Re-Issue

::::BASSIST:::: · #1 01-05-2008, 12:26 AM

What is the better P bass pickup?

What are the tonal differences?

To put it another way, does anything beat the NP4s?

::::BASSIST:::: · #2 01-08-2008, 07:02 PM

Bueller?

DanGouge · #3 01-08-2008, 07:09 PM

I'm wondering the same thing, 'cept with a 62 reissue Jazz and NJ4s. I intend to find out once I have some time and cash on my hands...

ArwinH · #4 01-08-2008, 08:06 PM

i definitely don't think they're is any 'better' pickup. I liked the sound of the pickups in my fender jazz, it's the mim 60's reissue, but the bridge pickup went dead along the line. The Nj4se's I put in definitely sound different. They might be 'better' in that they're humcancelling, but they're both jsut different flavors of good. i would have been happy with either, I just wanted to try the nordstrand's.

ninerfan · #5 01-08-2008, 08:59 PM

Here's a link to a thread with sound clips of each:
P-pickups NP4 vs. Fender '62 (soundclips included)
I cracked out on it for an hour last night even asking my wife what she prefered. I think I decided on the 62 reissues. I was going to put a NP4 in before I started listening to the sound clips, but I felt it was a tad too hi-fi. The 62 is THE p bass tone IMO.
I was going to drop int the NP4 because I love my NJ4's so much in my jazz. For a J the NJ4's are IT, again IMO.

DavePlaysBass · #6 01-09-2008, 12:24 AM

I have a 50's P with what I believe is the 62 reissue. It measures around 10.5 k-ohm. I like it quite a bit.

Dave

::::BASSIST:::: · #7 03-11-2008, 09:30 PM

Still thinking about doing this. I checked out the sound samples and dont hear much of a difference, but maybe thats just because I'm a hack.

I've read more than a couple times that the NP4 is more modern sounding than the 62 RI. Modern is not my cup of tea.

Any other thoughts on this?

Ninja>Pirate · #8 03-11-2008, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Still thinking about doing this. I checked out the sound samples and dont hear much of a difference, but maybe thats just because I'm a hack.

I've read more than a couple times that the NP4 is more modern sounding than the 62 RI. Modern is not my cup of tea.

Any other thoughts on this?

How much do the 62 RIs sell for anyway?

I feel those sound samples in that other thread portray the pickups accurately. I never really thought of the NP4 as a modern sounding pickup... (I always thought active hi-fi eq'd all to hell was modern sounding, the nordy's are round and full with that bit of grind that makes you go ahhhh, not clanky or empty or in your face, the kind of tone that sits perfect in the mix like Leo wanted)

Anyway if you can't decide from those sound samples and you're happy with what you have I recommend you don't spend any money on pickups and just keep playing what you have.

::::BASSIST:::: · #9 03-11-2008, 11:58 PM

Is this just different packaging with the same 62 RI pups or are these, in fact, different products?

OR

< (The seller of these claims that these are indeed the 62RIs.

Kubs · #10 03-12-2008, 03:33 AM

What about Dimarzio´s???
They have great reputation here on TB.....and are mch cheaper than boutique Nordys or Fralins etc.
Now Iam EMGed but want to swap for passive and also try to solve problem "which is best"

::::BASSIST:::: · #11 03-12-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubs

What about Dimarzio´s???
They have great reputation here on TB.....and are mch cheaper than boutique Nordys or Fralins etc.
Now Iam EMGed but want to swap for passive and also try to solve problem "which is best"

Awhile back I asked what is 'the' best p pickup. The conclusion is that there are many great P pups out there and really comes down to subjective opinion as to what the individual prefers.

As an owner of the NP4 I can tell you its very good. Personally, I like a 'blues' tone from a P bass with subdued highs. I think the Fender 62RI will get me closer than the NP4. Worth a shot anyway!

pickles · #12 03-12-2008, 12:54 PM

The Fender '62 RI is an extremely bright and dry P-bass pickup. People think vintage means dark, but old P-basses actually have a lot of top end on tap, and are wound for a balanced sound. If you want tons of bottom end and a more rounded top, look into Duncan's "hot" and "antiquity" pickups.

::::BASSIST:::: · #13 03-12-2008, 01:09 PM

Interesting. I dont know that I want 'tons of bottom' but I do want a more rounded top as you say.

When you say 'dry' what exactly do you mean?

narud · #14 03-12-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

The Fender '62 RI is an extremely bright and dry P-bass pickup. People think vintage means dark, but old P-basses actually have a lot of top end on tap, and are wound for a balanced sound. If you want tons of bottom end and a more rounded top, look into Duncan's "hot" and "antiquity" pickups.

this is what ive been noticing with my 62 and 78 jazz basses. they have an extended top end that some of the "boutique" pickup makers' pickups dont have. i have some samarium cobalt noiseless pickups that sound closer to vintage pickups than the stock fender pickups or aero or nordstrand singles ive had. i did have some custom shop 60's pickups years ago that had that high end of a vintage pickup. might be time to pick some up again.

pickles · #15 03-12-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Interesting. I dont know that I want 'tons of bottom' but I do want a more rounded top as you say.

When you say 'dry' what exactly do you mean?

Dry meaning relatively flat, quite woody, extended in the top end ... as opposed to fat/ballsy/deep.

For a rock/blues sound I think its really hard to beat the Duncan Hot, but I have not had a chance to try the Nordstrand yet.

#include <MK> · #16 03-12-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narud

they have an extended top end that some of the "boutique" pickup makers' pickups dont have.

"boutique" pickup makers' pickups? Don't really know why you're associating pickups with less high end to a few makers other than the big names. In any case, "boutique" really has nothing to do with pickups and not all makers other than the big names use that marketing term.

Overwound (mmm...) pickups (whatever you determine the benchmark point for overwinding) tend to have reduced high frequencies. It's not a single maker or two, or even a small group that offers so called overwound models. Many of the big names offer them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by narud

i have some samarium cobalt noiseless pickups that sound closer to vintage pickups than the stock fender pickups or aero or nordstrand singles ive had.

I think I understand what you're getting at...possibly... That all depends on which stock Fender pickups you're referring to. Not all Fender pickups are vintage (which vintage?) in design and certainly are not all the same, there are vast differences over the years across and within models. So called noiseless pickups will not give a standard single coil sound (you didn't state this, just making the point). So, to be clearer, maybe state the year at least and type of pickup.

Willem · #17 03-12-2008, 06:24 PM

If you have too much high end I would just turn the tone knob down...

pickles · #18 03-12-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willem

If you have too much high end I would just turn the tone knob down...

That is a totally different sound than you'll get from changing the pickup design. I like to find a bass, pickup, string combo that is as close as possible to the sound in my head ... then just try not to mess with it very much. I think you get better overall sounds that way.

And with P and J basses ... its so easy to cast the sound with pickup choice.

savit260 · #19 03-12-2008, 07:22 PM

I'm not fond of the sound clips of the Nordies myself.

I've used the Fender "original" or "62 RI" p/u for quite some time, and it sounds fairly close to my 64 Precision.

I've been using a Jason Lollar P bass p/u now for a few months. IMO, it's a better, livelier , more 3 dimentional sounding version of the Fender RI p/u. Sounds a little closer to the 64 P than the Fender RI p/u does. I'd highly recomend it, if you want the best Vintage Fender tone IMO.

narud · #20 03-12-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #include <MK>

"boutique" pickup makers' pickups? Don't really know why you're associating pickups with less high end to a few makers other than the big names. In any case, "boutique" really has nothing to do with pickups and not all makers other than the big names use that marketing term.

Overwound (mmm...) pickups (whatever you determine the benchmark point for overwinding) tend to have reduced high frequencies. It's not a single maker or two, or even a small group that offers so called overwound models. Many of the big names offer them.

I think I understand what you're getting at...possibly... That all depends on which stock Fender pickups you're referring to. Not all Fender pickups are vintage (which vintage?) in design and certainly are not all the same, there are vast differences over the years across and within models. So called noiseless pickups will not give a standard single coil sound (you didn't state this, just making the point). So, to be clearer, maybe state the year at least and type of pickup.

i own a 62 and 78 jazz. i have owned a 65 and 66 jazz basses along with 2 other 78's. a former student of mine has a large vintage collection. all the basses in question have a more extended top end than the singles ive heard from aero,sadowsky,nordstrand etc. these newer pickups have more grindy upper mid/low highs going on. the scn pickups i have dont have the single coil grind like a true single but they extend in the highs more like the older pickups ive experienced do.

the fender pickups im referring to have been every american standard jazz bass ive heard and played from the mid nineties on to now (havent played the 2008's without the s1). there has been more mids, but less extended highs. again this is just to my ears and in my experience. the custom shop 60's ive tried in a 62 reissue sounded more like my own 62.