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Nordstrand Big J-Blade Pickups

#44
4StringTheorist said:
I'd be surprised in extremis if Carey use an entirely different magnetic material between the Big Blades and Big J Blades. If you want to be 100% sure though, drop Nordstrand a line. They've always been great about customer correspondence in my experience.
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Just surprised that they would use ceramic for J pups, it's seems like Alnico would be more along the lines of tradition.
 
#47
hey people. very interested in these for my fretless, as i changed the bridge to adjust string spacing a little narrower. j blade's seems to be the perfect match for what i want as they have continuous sensitivity.
no way to try a bass with nordy's here, so i'm wondering, for a flat wound stringed fretless jb, warm and woolly or crystal clear? what do you think.
i'm guessing the warm and woolly have less bright and sounds like that should do on first thought, but flat wound strings are already very dark sounding, hence my concern -not that i need a lot of highs on a fretless anyways though, just enough for it being defined and not just mud-

thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
#48
sata_fortuna said:
hey people. very interested in these for my fretless, as i changed the bridge to adjust string spacing a little narrower. j blade's seems to be the perfect match for what i want as they have continuous sensitivity.
no way to try a bass with nordy's here, so i'm wondering, for a flat wound stringed fretless jb, warm and woolly or crystal clear? what do you think.
i'm guessing the warm and woolly have less bright and sounds like that should do on first thought, but flat wound strings are already very dark sounding, hence my concern -not that i need a lot of highs on a fretless anyways though, just enough for it being defined and not just mud-

thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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It depends on what you are after.
I have warm and wooly in a already bright bass so it balances out and more natural lower mids.

Personally on a fretless I would clear especially if you are going to have flats on it.
 
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#52
sata_fortuna said:
oh, so i have to order to bbg and then they order to nordstrand? may i ask how long did it took for you to get the PUs?
thanks for your reply man.
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That's my understanding of what happened when I ordered mine. Can't remember how long it took exactly, but it was more than the standard couple weeks. But BBG emailed me right away with a heads up and maintained good communication theoughout.

Best bet would be to email BBG yourself and just ask them.
 
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#53
sata_fortuna said:
oh, so i have to order to bbg and then they order to nordstrand? may i ask how long did it took for you to get the PUs?
thanks for your reply man.
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I've been talking with BBG about an order of a Big Single pickup with the Alnico 3 magnets. They told me today that their Nordstrand lead time is about 4 weeks right now if it's something that's not already in stock or on order.

Best to ask them if they already have some Big J Blades on an incoming stock order. Even if they don't, your wait is only a few weeks. The BBG folks have always treated me well.
 
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#54
Just recently installed the J Blade clean/clear. I was surprised at the balance and evenness particularly through the upper midrange. The top end is extended yet doesn't seem to exhibit the peaks and valleys you get with a hot Alnico 5 recipe. So you can dial in a vintage 60's era J bass tone or scoop it to get a killer slap tone. It seems like a more blank canvass without sacrificing thick supportive lows. My new fav.
 
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#56
Doug Parent said:
Just recently installed the J Blade clean/clear. I was surprised at the balance and evenness particularly through the upper midrange. The top end is extended yet doesn't seem to exhibit the peaks and valleys you get with a hot Alnico 5 recipe. So you can dial in a vintage 60's era J bass tone or scoop it to get a killer slap tone. It seems like a more blank canvass without sacrificing thick supportive lows. My new fav.
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This makes a lot of sense to me in hindsight...

There is a more personality so-to-speak with any Alnico traditional wound single coil pickup as compared to the Nordstrand Blades.
If anybody wanted an ultra uber even J bass then the J-Blades are the way to go.
 
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#57
TonyP- said:
This makes a lot of sense to me in hindsight...

There is a more personality so-to-speak with any Alnico traditional wound single coil pickup as compared to the Nordstrand Blades.
If anybody wanted an ultra uber even J bass then the J-Blades are the way to go.
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Agreed Tony. Its true the blades don't have that low mid bump or the lower treble grind it's really a different flavor of good almost reminds me of a "more open" EMG or Bart.
 

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