The Nordy Club (Part XII)

[basswave]

Originally Posted by rodneyat

As you would expect from anything Carey builds..it's top notch. The volume is consistent from one string to the next, across the board. The G string has always been an issue for 5 string stingrays especially. I don't know what. But, not the vM5. And the B is nice and fat sounding but still tight. It's a killer bass.

I have Carey's MM 4.2s and 5.2s pickups in my rays and they are very even.

BTW His MM basses at the show ripped.

[Modern Growl]

Seems the buzz overall for Nordy has died down a bit.

Two AWSOME Nordy vJ's in the classifieds - but not takers! Crazy!

[jebmd]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Seems the buzz overall for Nordy has died down a bit.

I don't think the Nordy buzz will ever die down. I played my PJ last night and it just killed. I think folks are just out playing their basses.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by rodneyat

Typical for a blend pot. If you truly want that to "go away" have it wired volume/volume instead of vol/blend.

I'm sure Tom and Vic will chime in on this one.

Originally Posted by tombowlus

LOL

Actually, there are some buffered blends that do a great job of keeping the volume the same in any setting. I think John East uses this approach in the J-Retro. This usually does not help in passive mode, though.

And yes, still a vol/vol fan, here.

Truth is, vol-vol does improve it, but you'll still have it. Any time you're passively blending pickups, you're gonna' get a loading effect, which is what's going on here. You wouldn't have it in an active blending config, but then you couldn't support an optional passive mode of operation because each pickup would have to have it's own electrically isolated buffered input to a preamp. Think of it like having a mixing board with two input channels.

Thing is, the blend pot brings in a second consideration, which is that they aren't all made the same, and it can adversely affect it.

Carey has a great image on his web site (below) describing how to check (and fix as needed) a blend pot's wiring. Just note that while it's worse if it's not wired the best way, even wiring it the best way will still be not quite as good as vol-vol, and neither is as good as active mixing (tho again, that's a less flexible option).

[bongomania]

^^^ Exactly. Some misconceptions seemed to be percolating in this thread, so thanks for setting things straight. Vol-vol does _not_ inherently make level problems "go away"--it has to be done right.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bongomania

^^^ Exactly. Some misconceptions seemed to be percolating in this thread, so thanks for setting things straight. Vol-vol does _not_ inherently make level problems "go away"--it has to be done right.

Interestingly, I've never noticed this 'volume drop' that others talk about on any of my instruments, regardless of circuit (passive like my Sadowsky/A-C's), blend versus vol/vol (Sadowsky versus A-C) or active passive (Sadowsky, A-C versus Celinder), etc.

The primary difference I notice is with active versus passive, where the blend is much more even, versus the virtual 'on/off' behavior of any passive circuit (blend or vol/vol) that I've experienced.

I again have never noticed a meaningful volume drop. Yes, soloing the bridge pickup will give you a lot more midrange and a lot less bass, which will result in a more cutting tone, and of course, you will lose a lot of upper mids with the neck pickup solo'd, which of course will result in a very different tone, but the absolute output seems the same to me.

I HAVE experienced a few miswired circuits that are out of phase or something and result in the volume dropping greatly when both pickups are dimed.

All in all, zero issue. As Vic says, the big difference is the active circuits, which result in a TRUE blend (i.e., relatively even volume of each pickup through the entire travel of the blend or VOL/VOL pot(s)), but you give up a lot (the ability for passive operation).

In summary, if you hear a meaningful, noticeable volume drop when both pickups are dimed, regardless of circuit, there is IMO something wrong with the circuits design or execution/installation.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Seems the buzz overall for Nordy has died down a bit.

Two AWSOME Nordy vJ's in the classifieds - but not takers! Crazy!

I think the 'died down' issue is primarily driven by Carey massively cutting his production output a while back. I believe he is only producing around 20 basses a year now, and there just aren't that many new ones on the market any more.

I sure am glad I got mine when I did, and at the price that I paid

[kobass]

Originally Posted by KJung

I think the 'died down' issue is primarily driven by Carey massively cutting his production output a while back. I believe he is only producing around 20 basses a year now, and there just aren't that many new ones on the market any more.

I sure am glad I got mine when I did, and at the price that I paid

+1!

[rodneyat]

Originally Posted by KJung

I think the 'died down' issue is primarily driven by Carey massively cutting his production output a while back. I believe he is only producing around 20 basses a year now, and there just aren't that many new ones on the market any more.

I sure am glad I got mine when I did, and at the price that I paid

Another +1!!!!!

[Chef]

My VJ5 is still in regular rotation!

[macribas]

Originally Posted by KJung

I think the 'died down' issue is primarily driven by Carey massively cutting his production output a while back. I believe he is only producing around 20 basses a year now, and there just aren't that many new ones on the market any more.

And the used ones are now more expensive... which to me does not make sense at all. 90% of the people that buy used boutique basses do not buy new ones. They will not pay more for a used bass just because a new one is more expensive now.
I loved my Nordy and I am trying to get it back. But I will not pay more for it now than what I sold it for a year ago.
Nordys used to be killer deals at their old prices, now they are just excellent basses at a price point where you have decent competition.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by macribas

And the used ones are now more expensive... which to me does not make sense at all. 90% of the people that buy used boutique basses do not buy new ones. They will not pay more for a used bass just because a new one is more expensive now.
I loved my Nordy and I am trying to get it back. But I will not pay more for it now than what I sold it for a year ago.
Nordys used to be killer deals at their old prices, now they are just excellent basses at a price point where you have decent competition.

The supply/demand ratio defines the price. I sold my Fodera for more than I paid for it after using it for about 8 years or so. It is the way the world works.

IMO, you need to look at it as 'you are getting a deal versus a new one' (which will cost more and take well over a year now to deliver) versus comparing it to 'what it used to cost'.

[CTC564]

I'm kinda new to "Nordy Worship" and recently picked up rodneyat's VJ5 Modern (that I LOVE)...but I'm wondering if anyone knows WHY Carey decided to reduce production so drastically?

[rodneyat]

Originally Posted by KJung

The supply/demand ratio defines the price. I sold my Fodera for more than I paid for it after using it for about 8 years or so. It is the way the world works.

IMO, you need to look at it as 'you are getting a deal versus a new one' (which will cost more and take well over a year now to deliver) versus comparing it to 'what it used to cost'.

+1 It is the risk you take whenever you sell something on the used market. Sometime prices go down and you can buy it for less later. You never know....

But, like Ken said..Generally speaking, if you hold on to a musical instrument long enough. You can sell it later for as much or more than you paid for it new. Mainly driven by the fact that the new ones get more expensive. While the prices of new Nordy's have only gone up recently. Some of those purchased at the new prices will start to trickle on to the market and make the used prices go up even further.

So, I'm holding on to mine, thank you.

[rodneyat]

Originally Posted by CTC564

I'm kinda new to "Nordy Worship" and recently picked up rodneyat's VJ5 Modern (that I LOVE)...but I'm wondering if anyone knows WHY Carey decided to reduce production so drastically?

Carey has not chimed in here in a while. But, he does stop in on occasion. He sent out an email last year when he made the decision and I can't seem to locate it. So, I don't want to get any of the details wrong. Maybe someone who still has the email or Carey will chime in.

[rodneyat]

Originally Posted by rodneyat

Carey has not chimed in here in a while. But, he does stop in on occasion. He sent out an email last year when he made the decision and I can't seem to locate it. So, I don't want to get any of the details wrong. Maybe someone who still has the email or Carey will chime in.

I found the answer to my own question on their website.

"11/7/2011

First update in awhile! You may have already heard, some big changes have happened lately. We moved to a new shop in Redlands, and the associated chaos is almost cleared up but we're still putting things back together in the woodshop. Carey made this announcement a few weeks ago on Facebook, and the changes foretold have now come to pass:

Some big changes coming to the way we/I make basses and guitars. Hide has moved home and Josh has moved on (hopefully to build his own instruments). Mo will still be around to do repairs (send them in!), but soon I'll be building all the instruments totally by myself. At a very slow pace. 1-2 per month. We'll still take orders for Nordy's, NX's, and NJ's and they'll be scheduled at a pace of ...1 per month. Prices will adjust accordingly.

Then, I'll build what I want to build. Let the creative spirit take me where it wants to go. And make the results available for purchase when completed. I really want to get started on acoustic guitars and I have some pretty crazy bass ideas. I'll try to blog all the progress here and on our site. Should be a lot of fun.

So, the new prices are currently in effect, and our build time is quite a bit longer now. Your friendly neighborhood webmaster (this is Adrian, typing about himself in the third person) will continue helping out on the computer side of things, but everything else with our instruments, from initial sanding to final assembly, will be done by Carey."

[CTC564]

Thanks rodneyat

[macribas]

Originally Posted by KJung

The supply/demand ratio defines the price. I sold my Fodera for more than I paid for it after using it for about 8 years or so. It is the way the world works.

IMO, you need to look at it as 'you are getting a deal versus a new one' (which will cost more and take well over a year now to deliver) versus comparing it to 'what it used to cost'.

I understand. If you really really want a Nordy, then yeah, your logic is spot on, and a good way to justify the expense. But if you're comparing what you get for the price with other options in the market, it is not such a no brainer as it was before.

Don't get me wrong, I still think they are great buys. But a few hundred dollars really make a difference for the not-yet-converted.

[rodneyat]

Originally Posted by macribas

I understand. If you really really want a Nordy, then yeah, your logic is spot on, and a good way to justify the expense. But if you're comparing what you get for the price with other options in the market, it is not such a no brainer as it was before.

Don't get me wrong, I still think they are great buys. But a few hundred dollars really make a difference for the not-yet-converted.

IMO Carey has well more than earned his spot in the "best of the best" in bass builders. And while his pricing has gone up. Have you seen the prices of a Sadowsky lately or even more so an Alleva Coppolo lately? As before, it will make a Nordy look cheap. It's all relative!

[Vic]

Originally Posted by macribas

I understand. If you really really want a Nordy, then yeah, your logic is spot on, and a good way to justify the expense. But if you're comparing what you get for the price with other options in the market, it is not such a no brainer as it was before.

Don't get me wrong, I still think they are great buys. But a few hundred dollars really make a difference for the not-yet-converted.

IMHO, this is a non-starter of an argument.

I don't really believe someone is going to compare high end instruments like these... even ones with very similar designs... on price alone. Premium instruments... again, even if based on a well-known style/design... are such a HUGELY personal fit.

In other words, I think it really does boil down to if you really want a Nordy or <other brand/model>... not just a price diff.

IMHO/IME anyway.