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How closely did the DC's fit into the MK1 cavities? Did you have to do any routing, or other mods? Or conversely, are there any unusual gaps?
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55-01 with Nordstrand Dual Coils
- Thread starter billbern
- Start date
Gaps but not large ones. If I'd centered the pickups better before I drilled the two mounting screw holes it'd be better, but I doubt anyone would notice. Bill Bern mentioned them in his original post as well.
KO
KO
just a quick tip,,, before drilling,,, shim the pickups on all sides with ,,, whatever,, paper / foil / cardstock,, to:
A center pickup
B keep pickup from shifting during process
I like the neck pickup parallel and I also like the bridge pickup series. I wonder what it would sound like mixed with the pickups hardwired like that....the series would be a higher impedence than the parallel so it might not work too well.
Chef
In Memoriam
Hey Bill;
Just got a set of DC5's coming. They'll be wired into the 5501 with a single coil/parallel/series coil tap. Not sure if I'm switching preamps or not...I think the 5501's big problem was the pickups. But, by going to the ntmb, or lh3, I can run the 5502 style lighter knobs, and knock about 1lb off an already light bass. Nice!
Took me a while, eh!
cheers; alan
Just got a set of DC5's coming. They'll be wired into the 5501 with a single coil/parallel/series coil tap. Not sure if I'm switching preamps or not...I think the 5501's big problem was the pickups. But, by going to the ntmb, or lh3, I can run the 5502 style lighter knobs, and knock about 1lb off an already light bass. Nice!
Took me a while, eh!
cheers; alan
In my case ("Wound for Parallel" DC5's) the pickups are better. I haven't installed the coil splitters yet. Mine isn't going to have a normal "series" setting, but a G&L "single coil with bass boost" setting, which attenuates the high end of one of the coils in the dual coil pickup so the top end is single coil, the low end is series.
In my case, the Bart NTMB-L preamp has got to go. To each their own, but I'm not a fan. I'm going to get a preamp that buffers the signal but doesn't offer active EQ. DavidRavenMoon has one. I'm doing that because the battery cavity is already there and there are a fair number of controls.
Mine's going to be Volume/Volume/TrebleCut*/BassCut* and a coil splitter switch for each pickup.
Once I get the parts ordered.
KO
*both are passive controls, again ala G&L
In my case, the Bart NTMB-L preamp has got to go. To each their own, but I'm not a fan. I'm going to get a preamp that buffers the signal but doesn't offer active EQ. DavidRavenMoon has one. I'm doing that because the battery cavity is already there and there are a fair number of controls.
Mine's going to be Volume/Volume/TrebleCut*/BassCut* and a coil splitter switch for each pickup.
Once I get the parts ordered.
KO
*both are passive controls, again ala G&L
Chef
In Memoriam
Why do you prefer parallel?
Curious, cause Stew at Nord told me the series wind was better for what I was wanting to do..."more even across the spectrum, and splits well without signal loss" I think is more or less what he said.
Curious, cause Stew at Nord told me the series wind was better for what I was wanting to do..."more even across the spectrum, and splits well without signal loss" I think is more or less what he said.
I was planning on being all passive when I ordered and I thought that the little extra power I got from Wound for Parallel would get me was a good idea. I'm not sure that's the case, but it's what I have. I am running in parallel right now, into the NTMB-L and it's been workable, but I'm looking forward to having it set up the way I have it envisioned.
Loved your 5 string "51 reissue" bass, BTW. I probably wouldn't have done the bridge pickup, but I've gotta say that's a really cool bass. My ultimate dream bass is the Lull P5. I should save up my sheckles and do it...
KO
Loved your 5 string "51 reissue" bass, BTW. I probably wouldn't have done the bridge pickup, but I've gotta say that's a really cool bass. My ultimate dream bass is the Lull P5. I should save up my sheckles and do it...
KO
Chef
In Memoriam
:swerve:
I went back and forth on the bridge pickup.
It mucks with the strictly old school look;
but it barks real nice!
I went back and forth on the bridge pickup.
It mucks with the strictly old school look;
but it barks real nice!
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Bill, now that I'm pointed down this road, how and why did you choose the pup you did out of the three offereings that Nordstrand has that will fit here?
I have the Fat Stack Single in one of my axes already:
That is crazy cool looking.
Its like making it a completely different instrument.
I just recieved my Big singles that I'm having dropped into a Mexi Jazz. Can't wait to hear how it going to sound. (Although my luthier is a bit backed up right now).
I'm just wondering how stuck I am to the string spacing if I can move the strings a touch closer (never been a fan of the 19mm spacing).
Who nows...
Chef
In Memoriam
That 51P5 is set at 18, and it's fine.
My two Valentis are 18 as well, I believe.
I wouldn't want to runn 17mm, too far off what the pups were designed for IMO.
My two Valentis are 18 as well, I believe.
I wouldn't want to runn 17mm, too far off what the pups were designed for IMO.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Thanks Chef...
18 mm is most likely what I will go with.
I hoping that the big out put would help compensate if a sting is not in exact alignment.
BigMikeW
Inactive
- May 25, 2005
- 2,991
- 5
- 56
- Disclosures
- Banned by TB Administration for refusal to account for funds
As a possible Lakland player soon (giving them another look), I was surprised at how nice the 55-02's were. Amazing for the price. Not as good as the Metro's but at half the price it would be hard to go wrong.
The 55-01's just sounded dead to me and I have wondered why you 55-01 owners haven't put Carey's Big Single or Big Splits in them. Looks like the pickups are in the normal 60" jazz location; or at least close to there.
The 55-01's just sounded dead to me and I have wondered why you 55-01 owners haven't put Carey's Big Single or Big Splits in them. Looks like the pickups are in the normal 60" jazz location; or at least close to there.
Chef
In Memoriam
I personally didn't go with the single/split cause I already several basses set like that and figgered this was a good chance to try the DC's.
BigMikeW
Inactive
- May 25, 2005
- 2,991
- 5
- 56
- Disclosures
- Banned by TB Administration for refusal to account for funds
I see. What type of tone do the DC's give you? Can you compare them to something for me? I only heard them once and very briefly at Carey's shop almost a year ago.
Chef
In Memoriam
I don't have 'em yet.
Purely science at this point my man!
But I knew I didn't need to repeat a single coil experience: I already have that covered.
Plus: look at 'em! They're Dual Coils!
Surely they have to be twice as good, right
This is America, after all.
I will report back when it's done, but it'll be several weeks.
Purely science at this point my man!
But I knew I didn't need to repeat a single coil experience: I already have that covered.
Plus: look at 'em! They're Dual Coils!
Surely they have to be twice as good, right
This is America, after all.
I will report back when it's done, but it'll be several weeks.
In my case I was hoping for essentially Roscoe Beck pickups in a slightly different format: A pair of Jazz pickups in a single package. I don't like active electronics in general, but I like coil splitting options. My goal is to have a decent Jazz Bass tone when run single coil, a quasi-MusicMan sound when the bridge is soloed in Single Coil with Bass Boost (series on the low end, single coil on the top end as outlined above), a passable P Bass tone with the neck pickup run in parallel and combinations thereof.
I'm not sure what I'm actually going to get. If a person could get all of MM/Jazz/PBass in one package they'd have most tones a person really needs. I'm confident in saying that the P-Bass tone won't be there. P-Bass pickups are a whole different animal and I know the P-Bass tone very well. The Jazz Bass tones will probably be close. The MusicMan won't really be for anyone who really knows that tone, either.
But I'll have a bass that gives me a very nice variety of tones (15 coil splitting options [three neck, three bridge, nine with both pickups full on] before you start to blend pickups and dial the bass and treble cut EQs) without having to resort to much for EQ. And the basic Nordstrand tone is very well regarded, so I'll probably be in good shape.
The funny thing is, I like a P-Bass. I'll probably pretty much discover the one tone the bass puts out that I really like and pretty much stick with it. I tend to work that way.
Every time I start to mentally design my dream five string, I pretty much come back to either the 55-01 with these electronics or the Mike Lull P5. I'm $20 worth of parts (if I stay passive) away from realizing it, but I keep getting distracted from itemizing the parts and ordering them. This week or next - when the wife is gone for two weeks - the order will go in.
KO
I'm not sure what I'm actually going to get. If a person could get all of MM/Jazz/PBass in one package they'd have most tones a person really needs. I'm confident in saying that the P-Bass tone won't be there. P-Bass pickups are a whole different animal and I know the P-Bass tone very well. The Jazz Bass tones will probably be close. The MusicMan won't really be for anyone who really knows that tone, either.
But I'll have a bass that gives me a very nice variety of tones (15 coil splitting options [three neck, three bridge, nine with both pickups full on] before you start to blend pickups and dial the bass and treble cut EQs) without having to resort to much for EQ. And the basic Nordstrand tone is very well regarded, so I'll probably be in good shape.
The funny thing is, I like a P-Bass. I'll probably pretty much discover the one tone the bass puts out that I really like and pretty much stick with it. I tend to work that way.
Every time I start to mentally design my dream five string, I pretty much come back to either the 55-01 with these electronics or the Mike Lull P5. I'm $20 worth of parts (if I stay passive) away from realizing it, but I keep getting distracted from itemizing the parts and ordering them. This week or next - when the wife is gone for two weeks - the order will go in.
KO
Very cool Alan
You'll have lots of options now. That was my point in choosing DC's,options!
Are you going to put in two switches?
If so, I'd like your opinion on neck pickup parallel, bridge pickup single coil. I can't do that on mine, I've got one 4 pole double throw switch now. I'm thinking about adding a switch to allow front parallel, rear single coil, hoping for a pseudo P/J vibe.
I don't really NEED another option..but more is the American way..right?
Bill
You'll have lots of options now. That was my point in choosing DC's,options!
Are you going to put in two switches?
If so, I'd like your opinion on neck pickup parallel, bridge pickup single coil. I can't do that on mine, I've got one 4 pole double throw switch now. I'm thinking about adding a switch to allow front parallel, rear single coil, hoping for a pseudo P/J vibe.
I don't really NEED another option..but more is the American way..right?
Bill
Chef
In Memoriam
I was planning on just one...but, I'll think on it.
The Reverend Brad Houser I have is set up like that with single/para/series for each pup.
When I run one in series, I run the other in para, and bias volume towards para...otherwise it's just too massive and dark for me-but it's passive and I can't trim bass.
The Reverend Brad Houser I have is set up like that with single/para/series for each pup.
When I run one in series, I run the other in para, and bias volume towards para...otherwise it's just too massive and dark for me-but it's passive and I can't trim bass.
