Pickups and Electronics for my second bass build.

[Kevindavid3]

Hello

I have a question, I am about the start my second build and i want to know if people think i should use bartolini or Nordstrand. Both are very good quality, but i was just wanting to know peoples personal opinions on both brands.

I used EMG's on my first build and didn't like them.

Cool.....Thanks

[Ric5]

It depends on what sound you are looking for.

[Kevindavid3]

true that. I like a nice clear but deep rich sound, if that makes sense. But both brands will do have electronics that will do that for me.

[rojo412]

Bartolini has a low output and a more soft, mellow tone. The output always seems quiet and a preamp tends to be required to get any sort of tone shaping. Personally, I don't love the tone, but 1000 people on here will disagree with me.

Nordstrand is the new kid on the block and while I've personally never heard their stuff, I like what I see when it comes to specs. I think they tend to do a good mix of modern tonality and can be shaped with a pre to make more of a vintage sound as needed.

One thing to remember is that the preamp is not a magical device for making things sound exactly like you want. You should get PICKUPS that sound like what you want them to BEFORE adding a preamp.

My best personal example of this is my Squier Deluxe Active Jazz. I replaced the stock preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3, expecting the world. It turned out good... better than it was, but it wasn't like a completely different bass.
When I replaced the pickups with Sadowsky pickups... IT CAME ALIVE! They had a different voice and higher output which gave the preamp more to work with.

So choose pickups first, then do preamp.
(My pickup vote goes to Nordstrand, by the way. Because I want you to tell me how they sound before I buy some )

[Kevindavid3]

Hey thanks alot.....I talked to the guy who owns nordstand, and he pretty much sold me on his electronics they build. I will try to remember to message my review about them when i finish my second build.