Lindy Fralin 5-string Jazz Pups…

[Geri O]

I’m looking to maybe replace the Nordstrand NJ5 vintage 70s wind pups with pups that are still bright, but not as, I don’t know, harsh or edgy. I see Lindy Fralins mentioned here a lot as a favorite Jazz pickup.

I’m just not familiar with the options they offer. The choices are N/A, 5% underwound, stock, and 2 choices of overwound. I don’t think I want to go the overwound direction.
Is anyone family with these pickups and the options. I may try to call the factory tomorrow, if I get a minute. I’m just not sure how to convey my dislikes about the pups I’m using now.

Thanx.

 

[dwizum]

Just call and tell them the first sentence in your post and They'll make sure you're all set!

The standard Nordstrand 60's wind is a pretty accurate vintage spec. Their 70's version is slightly underwound and uses wire with less insulation thickness, so the winds are packed in tighter to the magnets. That's why it sounds a little brighter and "edgy" as you're describing. The Nordstrand 70's wind is probably closest to the Fralin underwound pickup. I'd guess Fralin will suggest you go with their default wind, or maybe at most the 5% overwind, depending on how far away you want to get from the Nordstrand 70's sound - basically, how thick you want the midrange vs the top end.

 

[Geri O]

@dwizum, thanx, this is great info! I appreciate the detail on the nature of the Nord 70s wind. In EQ terms (from my mixing cap), the highs are there, but with a high-mid-range edge to them that makes for the harsh tone, I believe. As I play a fair amount of slap-style music and I do like an edge to the finger-style playing, I do want to keep a bright tone available. So it sounds like the default wind is what I'm likely to get. I definitely don't want to go darker.

I'll keep the John East J Retro deluxe preamp as every pickup I've heard sounds better to me through those preamps. And as the Mike Lull M5V bass has the 60s spacing, I know I won't achieve that "Marcus" tone and I don't think that's what I'm after anyway.

As if buying a new Lull P5 wasn't enough of a Christmas present to myself, I'm gonna get a set of these on the way..... And thanx again!

 

[Killing Floor]

I currently have Lindys in a P, a J fretless, a J fretted, and a couple guitars. Reason is I tried a set in 1 bass. Then a year later I emailed a question about a set for a build and he called me next morning and asked me about my guitar, my playing style, my objective, even asked the neck radius and the position to make sure the pole stagger was going to be ideal. First thing I'd say, if you don't see it and it seems reasonable, just ask. They're hand made. It's not tricky to over or underwind to your preference. Next thing, his pickups are pretty hot and the one set I have that is overwound was not necessary. Crystal clear and punchy. You won't be sorry if you get a stock set because it his descriptions are pretty accurate where he defines the type and "era" of the model. In my experience turnaround is pretty quick, a few days. He lives by service.

I think this page says all you need to know. Notorious tone chasers and legends like Jeff Beck, Adam Clayton, Bill Frisell, David Gilmour, Brad Paisley... This is a partial list of people known for their tone that buy Fralins. He never sponsors players, they have to buy them. That should tell you something.
Lindy Fralin Pickups: Notable Players Of Fralin Pickups

I am a fan and he makes me feel like an important customer. Good luck.

 

[daddymactx]

I have Lindy Fralins 5% over wound in a Lakland 55-63 jazz bass.. It will never, ever leave. It does get that "Marcus" tone & I like it!!! I can roll out/off the highs (edge) if I need to..

 

[JW56789]

Fralin seems to have found quite a niche for guys that feel like stock pickups are a little lacking, but don't want to go EMG or something much brighter/much different. They seem to ride that sweet spot where they sound like really, really good Fender-ish pickups, and they're well made.

 

[dwizum]

I think it's worth pointing out that Fralin's over/under winds are in pretty small increments. Most winders would probably target 10% or more as what they would call their overwound pickup, or they'd offer a totally different "hot" model that's built differently and has a very different sound - but Fralin does 5% increments on the same basic design. The differences in his 4 default versions of the pickup are extremely subtle, which is nice if you want to really fine tune your goals. It also means you really can't go wrong, since they're all fairly mainstream in a sense, none of the options are too extreme that they'd be polarizing.

Lindy Fralin is also a really great guy and has arguably done far more to share knowledge with small-time and hobbyist pickup builders than your average big-name pickup builder.

 

[pepj]

I wouldn't call Nordstrand Jazz 70's bright if my examples are anything to go by, but a John East pre can be.

I'd call the East harsh and if the pre is mostly used, would be the component to swap out.

I'm looking for a good match with Barts and the East isn't it, for me.

But...many pre amps are unusable much more than a qtr off center, imv.

 

[daddymactx]

EMG X pickups may also be a great alternative. You can get the bright but without the harshness of traditional EMG's with Great lows and mids. I have them in a Modulus (EMG Pre) and they are awesome. But again they have a slightly different sonic character. When and if you need that sonic color, its there.. But lately Ive been leaning strongly on my Nordstrand Zen Blades (with a Nordstrand pre BTW). Not as edgy as Lindy's or EMG's but more edge and character than the Barts. Again IMHO!!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

for the uninitiated, pups=pickups

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I’m looking to maybe replace the Nordstrand NJ5 vintage 70s wind pups with pups that are still bright, but not as, I don’t know, harsh or edgy. I see Lindy Fralins mentioned here a lot as a favorite Jazz pickup.

I’m just not familiar with the options they offer. The choices are N/A, 5% underwound, stock, and 2 choices of overwound. I don’t think I want to go the overwound direction.
Is anyone family with these pickups and the options. I may try to call the factory tomorrow, if I get a minute. I’m just not sure how to convey my dislikes about the pups I’m using now.

Thanx.

Fralins are the pinnacle of jazz bass pickups

 

[BassRone01]

I just installed some in my 5 string earlier this year and played a month's worth of theater gigs with them in September, and I was blown away. The sound carried thru the theater and I got a ton of compliments on the tone. Like the others said, they're probably the best replacement J pickups you can buy IMO; the dynamic response is super satisfying and I think they were worth every cent. I didn't go overwound, just stock.

 

[pepj]

I think it's worth pointing out that Fralin's over/under winds are in pretty small increments. Most winders would probably target 10% or more as what they would call their overwound pickup, or they'd offer a totally different "hot" model that's built differently and has a very different sound - but Fralin does 5% increments on the same basic design. The differences in his 4 default versions of the pickup are extremely subtle, which is nice if you want to really fine tune your goals. It also means you really can't go wrong, since they're all fairly mainstream in a sense, none of the options are too extreme that they'd be polarizing.

Lindy Fralin is also a really great guy and has arguably done far more to share knowledge with small-time and hobbyist pickup builders than your average big-name pickup builder.

Did an experiment with Kent Armstrong. He helped me out.
I swapped out a MM pickup to go passive and he made a pickup with multiple taps. The best tone was the tap on the least wounds, the hottest was on the most wounds and I had a selecter to chose.
Lesson learnt was thicker wire, less winds.
You want more volume, you have an amp.

 

[Geri O]

Thanx to everyone for help with figuring out which options I need to specify on my Lindy Fralin order. I'll be ordering the standard wind models early next week.

I just hope they aren't too busy and can get my order out reasonably quickly. I'll try to keep my expectations in check....

Edit: My pickup sizes are 3.73 wide for both pups (the measurements as listed by Nordstrand) and Fralin lists the neck pup at 4.1 and bridge at 3.97. Will they make the shorter size I need?

 

[pepj]

In my experience in winding shops, you may find they wind specials for other vendors.
Kent did all manner at the time I was in his factory, Smith, Fender Customs etc etc, so they tend to have plenty of cases around.
I would guess Fralins could be the same?
Its mainly a plastic case unless it has a logo on it, anyway.

The juice is in the wire and winds.

 

[Geri O]

In my experience in winding shops, you may find they wind specials for other vendors.
Kent did all manner at the time I was in his factory, Smith, Fender Customs etc etc, so they tend to have plenty of cases around.
I would guess Fralins could be the same?
Its mainly a plastic case unless it has a logo on it, anyway.

The juice is in the wire and winds.

That's cool, I would be fine with re-using the Nord pup covers, if need be.

Thanx!

 

[pepj]

You have to tell us how it works out because I hear good things in general about Fralins, but mostly gtrs.

 

[Geri O]

You have to tell us how it works out because I hear good things in general about Fralins, but mostly gtrs.

Oh, I most certainly will! Stay tuned!...

I hope to make some recordings of the bass (My Mike Lull M5V) now (short clips, no wacked-out 10 minute demos or such) and with the Fralins installed....

 

[Geri O]

Well, bummer news….

Fralin doesn’t make 5-string Jazz bass pickups that fit the Lull routes. I have 3.73 wide routes on both and Fralin offers only 3.92 and 4.1 width.

Well, that’s fine. The Nords certainly don’t sound bad by any means. The bass always gets compliments from sound guys, recording engineer types, as well as other musicians.

So there we are….

 

[Geri O]

Now….it seems not all is lost….

I spoke with Mr Fralin after the first call when we thought we we out of luck. We discussed possibly rewinding the Nords I have in the bass now. He’s very positive about the idea and that I would be very happy with the results.

I have the original Duncan humbucking pups that came in the bass, so I could reinstall them and send off the Nords to Fralin. I gotta send him some pics of the Nords to make sure it’s doable.

So as they say in ham radio land…

Stay tuned….