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Mustang replacement Pickups: Aero vs. Nordstrand

M

markham

Jan 29, 2011
11
0
Durham, NC
www.mark-williams.com
#1
OK, my thread title says it all. I'm wondering if anybody has played or heard both and can make comparisons/contrasts between them.

I'm hoping to pick up a Mustang soon, and I'm already planning on putting in different pickups than stock. I'm going to want something big and fat, but with good articulation and not muddy. And I'd love some deeper low end extension, if possible.

I know both the Aeros and the Nordstrands are a step up from the stock Fender pups, but I'd love to hear opinions on how they differ from one another.

Thanks, guys!
 
#2
I don't know how the new Mustangs are, but the originals sounded great. I've also not seen any replacement Mustang pickups on the market.

To get a fatter tone the replacement pickup will have to be wound differently from the stock pickup. Were you planning on sticking P bass pickups in it?

You can get a deep fat tone out of anything if you EQ the bass the right way at the amp.
 
#4
Markham,

I have the Aero's in my mustang and recently ordered the nordstrand. My opinion of the Aero is quite high. It has higher output, a wider freq. response, meaning there is more treble and more bass on it. It is also has a good amount of clarity, Larry recommends a .02 or .022 cap. I found that did very little so used a .047 and like it much better. These may or may not be good things depending on what you want out of the bass. I want more of a p-bass sound out of the bass, hence the reason I ordered the nordstrand. I understand that it will have less output, but it's reverse wound reverse polarity on the coils just like a p-bass so I am hoping for it to sound closer to a p than the Aero, but we shall see. I am not a contributing member (yet:o) so I don't know if I can post comparison Mp3 files. It will be interresting to see, as the clips I heard of the nordstrand didn't sound different from the originals. But a lot of people have said they do sound better. I will post my findings when I get the pickup, next weekend it should be in the bass.

A piece of peace for me and a peice of peace for you.
 
#6
Hey Hudpucker,

Nice photo, is that you or your girl?

I was going to change them out on friday but got lazy and just played the bass with the aero's. Actually I recorded a demo onto my loop station, and will record another of same material same levels with the nordstrand. I will put the pickup in tonight.
Will let you guys know tomorrow. Just busy with work. You know how it goes.
Regards,
 
#7
Folks,

So I had the Aero's in for a couple of months and wanted to try the Nordstrand for no particular reason, just to compare. I recorded the same grooves on 2 slots of (one for each pickup) my loop station same levels on bass, amp, and pedal. I didn't use the scientific method so take my observations with a grain of salt.

Aero's qualities:

Output was significantly higher than Nordstrand, I would say by about 25%-30% approximately.

Single coil sound, coil is not hum cancelling or reverse wound.

Good Articulation and clarity, nice and thick tone, as Larry says WIDE FREQ. RES., not muddy at all, sort of brutish and austere with the tone and volume wide open (but not overwound). They can be made to sound nicer (as opposed to brutish/aggresive) and vintage if you play with the pots.

Sound does not get lost in a jam out,it blends in very nice, and pops out if you want it to.

The Magnets are a bit oversized, like 1/4 lbers. So there is wider aperture than stock.

I think that it is good to have the pickup be what it is at wide open, it's easier to take out something in the sound than put something on that isn't there.

By the way it overdrove my alessandro basset very nicely and effortlessly at high volume.

Nordstrand:

Pickup slugs are like a p-bass angled at a 45 degree angle, as a result they have a wider aperture across the body.

They are reverse wound and hum cancelling, so it's like a p-bass pickup.

Output 25-30% lower than aero's.

Sound was more controlled at wide open, good articulation, not as fat sounding at the aero, sounds a lot more vintage as compared to the aero, it may or may not be what you are looking for. Good treble response, did compress nicely when slammed hard.

Did not sound as good as the Aero's when overdriving my alessandro, probably because they are lower output.

There's a demo floating on the web, which does not do a service to the nordstrand pickups in my opinion. The stocks, to me, sound better in those demos. I don't think they accurately represent the Nordstrands.

I have not played with the Nordstrands in a jam situation or at a show so I can't comment further right now. I will update when I do.

Well that's it, if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Regards,
 
#8
Now I wish I had made some 'before' and 'after' clips for comparison's sake.

The stock 'Duncan Designed' pup measured 8.95k whereas the Nordstrand is at 7.76k

The stock pup was muddy and thuddy compared to the more articulate and balanced Nordstrand. Yes, it does have lower output but the extra clarity (not treble, mind you) was very noticeable.

Definitely puts it closer to P bass tones, for sure.

Installation was painless (everything fit perfectly).

Still.....curious about the Aero now.
 
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#9
To be clear the aero is not muddy or overwound, it's just got a lot more of everything. Also it fit PERFECTLY into the old covers where as the nordstrand were a little bit smaller around the edges, screws go in ever so slanted, not a big deal and only visible if you look for it.

I completely agree with you, the nordstrand are clear, warm, and polite, like an english gentlemen.lol!

The Aero is more like a boorish American who's read the classics and is educated but unapologetic.
 
#13
wow, great info here guys! I'm comparing both the aero and nordstrand pickups for a mustang. Does anyone know if it makes a difference if the mustang is a reissue or a vintage? Also, how noisy are the aeros seeing as how they are not hum cancelling? I'de love to hear the comparison...:)
 
#14
If your bass is properly grounded, they are not noisy at all, still susecptible to 60 cycle hum and flourescent lights but still relatively quiet, remind me of dark star pickups in terms of how quiet they are.

As far as vintage vs. Reissue, both nordstrand and aero make pickups to fit the reissue and vintage, there is a difference in pickup size.
 
#15
Guys,

Just wanted to update you and let yOu know I put the nordie back into the mustang. As discussed before the aero is a higher output pickup. I did notice that the mustang was clearer probably because it had slightly thinner mids. I also thought it sounded sweeter than the aero. Please understand that this is at bedroom levels. I did play the aero out twice and sounded great live in a mix, I have not tried the nordie live yet. I will be selling the aero pickup shortly. Pm me if u r interrested or have any questions regarding the two pickup comparison.

Regards,
 

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