Nordstrand Big J-Blade Pickups

[Nedmundo]

I’m going to replace the factory-optioned SD setup in my Warwick Streamer 5 (ash/maple) and these J Blades look lovely - and I’m thrilled that they are available in 20” radius for flat fingerboards. Really torn between CC and WW. Now that they’ve been out for a while, what’s your real-world experience?

I have a WW (20" radius) set on order for my Sandberg TT-5, and per Nordstrand I probably won't get them until the end of the month. I'll definitely post my impressions as soon as I've run them through a real rig with a band. The neck pickup will require some routing, but it shouldn't be a big deal. My excellent tech/luthier is also a good friend and bandmate, so at least it will be done quickly!

 

[John D Harris]

The one issue that I had with the WW J-Blade set in my Warmoth Jazz is that the strings would hit the blade under the A and D strings....

What is the fingerboard radius for that bass?

 

[mikezimmerman]

What is the fingerboard radius for that bass?

It's a Warmoth neck, and they don't list fretboard radius options for their bass necks, but I'd guess it's somewhere between 12" and 16"--modern, but not totally flat.

 

[GRichards]

It's a Warmoth neck, and they don't list fretboard radius options for their bass necks, but I'd guess it's somewhere between 12" and 16"--modern, but not totally flat.

On the 4 string necks, I believe the radius is 10”. Not sure about the 5 string necks.

 

[mikezimmerman]

On the 4 string necks, I believe the radius is 10”. Not sure about the 5 string necks.

This was a 4 string.

 

[John D Harris]

It's a Warmoth neck, and they don't list fretboard radius options for their bass necks, but I'd guess it's somewhere between 12" and 16"--modern, but not totally flat.

So the curvature of the pickup is more than the radius of the fingerboard?

Someone mentioned a 20" pickup curvature - maybe you got the wrong set.

 

[mikezimmerman]

So the curvature of the pickup is more than the radius of the fingerboard?

Someone mentioned a 20" pickup curvature - maybe you got the wrong set.

It was the standard set. There is no option to select a different radius on the Big J-Blade 4 unless you do a custom order.

The description says

• Blade radius designed for even output in most basses: (14”r: vintage round)

All I'm pointing out is that the blade protrudes above the cover under the middle strings, so it's possible for those strings to hit the blades if you're an aggressive player.

 

[John D Harris]

It was the standard set. There is no option to select a different radius on the Big J-Blade 4 unless you do a custom order.

The description says

• Blade radius designed for even output in most basses: (14”r: vintage round)

All I'm pointing out is that the blade protrudes above the cover under the middle strings, so it's possible for those strings to hit the blades if you're an aggressive player.

Yes, I had that problem with a StingRay 5 H, until I learned to control my technique.

I'm fairly sure you can also request (or make your own) pickup covers that cover the blade fully.

 

[mikezimmerman]

Yes, I had that problem with a StingRay 5 H, until I learned to control my technique.

I'm fairly sure you can also request (or make your own) pickup covers that cover the blade fully.

I got around it by covering the top of the pickups with electrical tape, but I've swapped them out for different pickups since then so it's no longer a concern. I was just trying to share my experience with the Big Blades in case it was an issue that might affect other people who were considering them.

 

[Nedmundo]

Got my Big J Blades installed in my Sandberg TT-5 (W&W, 20" radius), and fired them up for band rehearsal last night, through an Eden head and SWR Triad cab. They sounded great, with solid, even punch across the strings. Based on this one rehearsal, I'd say they sound a little thicker than typical J-bass pickups, especially on the D and G strings, but they still have plenty of clarity. It's not really a vintage J-bass tone, but IMO it's not an aggressively modern hifi tone either. It's just a good, solid, J-bass tone. The string-to-string balance is fantastic, which made playing this bass much more satisfying than it's ever been.

So far, very happy camper with the Big J Blades. My views will probably develop as I use them through other rigs, especially my fairly hifi G-K rig. I'll be using that for a show in late May, but hopefully I'll have an opportunity before then.

They did require minimal routing for the neck pickup to fit, and the pickguard needed some filing too.

 

[NKBassman]

Got my Big J Blades installed in my Sandberg TT-5 (W&W, 20" radius), and fired them up for band rehearsal last night, through an Eden head and SWR Triad cab. They sounded great, with solid, even punch across the strings. Based on this one rehearsal, I'd say they sound a little thicker than typical J-bass pickups, especially on the D and G strings, but they still have plenty of clarity. It's not really a vintage J-bass tone, but IMO it's not an aggressively modern hifi tone either. It's just a good, solid, J-bass tone. The string-to-string balance is fantastic, which made playing this bass much more satisfying than it's ever been.

So far, very happy camper with the Big J Blades. My views will probably develop as I use them through other rigs, especially my fairly hifi G-K rig. I'll be using that for a show in late May, but hopefully I'll have an opportunity before then.

They did require minimal routing for the neck pickup to fit, and the pickguard needed some filing too.

This pretty much mirrors my experience since I first posted in this thread in... 2016! jeeze time flies!
Except I didn't have to do any routing to make mine fit.

 

[shalev98732]

I know its an old thread but how do they compare to emg j or dimarzio model j?

 

[NKBassman]

Completely different vibe from Dimarzio Model J. The Nordy J Blades are much more true to a classic Jazz pickup sound.
I've never used EMGs.

 

[Nedmundo]

My Grateful Dead cover band got scheduled for a show on short notice at a brew pub in NJ, so I got to run the Big J Blades through my G-K rig--a Neo212 IV and MB-500. The bass had a fresh set of DR Pure Blues, 45-125. My impression was about the same as I posted above about the Eden/SWR rig, i.e., thick, punchy, clear J-bass tone. (I think these strings are an excellent match for these pickups too.) Perhaps due to the ceramic magnets, I sense a very slight hint of G&L MFD intensity in these, but they are firmly in the J-bass tone realm. I'm extremely happy with them, as is our BL ("Jerry") who did the installation, and was standing just to my right for the gig. If I played my fours more often, I'd order a Clean & Clear set for my G&L JB. I might do it anyway.

 

[shalev98732]

My Grateful Dead cover band got scheduled for a show on short notice at a brew pub in NJ, so I got to run the Big J Blades through my G-K rig--a Neo212 IV and MB-500. The bass had a fresh set of DR Pure Blues, 45-125. My impression was about the same as I posted above about the Eden/SWR rig, i.e., thick, punchy, clear J-bass tone. (I think these strings are an excellent match for these pickups too.) Perhaps due to the ceramic magnets, I sense a very slight hint of G&L MFD intensity in these, but they are firmly in the J-bass tone realm. I'm extremely happy with them, as is our BL ("Jerry") who did the installation, and was standing just to my right for the gig. If I played my fours more often, I'd order a Clean & Clear set for my G&L JB. I might do it anyway.

View attachment 7487648

nice rig, the usual bar i do gigs for has a gk 800rb and neoiv 4x10, prehaps youre rig is th closest sound what i run there, so you could give me some insight.
anyways, 1st: are those the warm and wooly version in that bass? if so when you get the clean and clear set could you do a comparison.
2nd: how are they with the gk growl compared to other pickups you own?

 

[Nedmundo]

nice rig, the usual bar i do gigs for has a gk 800rb and neoiv 4x10, prehaps youre rig is th closest sound what i run there, so you could give me some insight.
anyways, 1st: are those the warm and wooly version in that bass? if so when you get the clean and clear set could you do a comparison.
2nd: how are they with the gk growl compared to other pickups you own?

Thanks, I'm really liking this rig. The Big J Blades are the Warm & Wooly. If I get the Clean & Clear for my G&L JB, I'll definitely post about them, but the G&L has a slightly darker inherent tone than the Sandberg, because it's alder/rosewood while the Sandberg is paulownia/maple.

I think the Big J Blades do great with the G-K growl. At the show on Saturday, I used the MB-500's boost channel, and got a fantastic thick and slightly growly classic rock type of tone. Two nights later, I played through an older G-K Backline head into an Ampeg cab at a rehearsal studio, and through that rig I didn't like much G-K boost in the signal. I don't know whether that was the head, cab, room, or something else, but it sounded slightly harsh, and dialing down the boost sounded better IMO.

I've tried lots of J-bass pickups over the years, and they've all sounded great through G-K heads and cabs, so I'm not sure how I would rank the Big J Blades in that respect. But I will say they're my favorites out of all the five-string J-bass pickups I've tried, which include stock pickups from Fender, G&L, and Sandberg, and aftermarket pickups from Barden, Aero, and Nordstrand (the Big J Blades and NJ5FS in a Fender). Purely for tone the Aeros are amazing, but the Big J Blades sound fantastic too IMO and they provide vastly superior string-to-string balance.

 

[shalev98732]

Thanks, I'm really liking this rig. The Big J Blades are the Warm & Wooly. If I get the Clean & Clear for my G&L JB, I'll definitely post about them, but the G&L has a slightly darker inherent tone than the Sandberg, because it's alder/rosewood while the Sandberg is paulownia/maple.

I think the Big J Blades do great with the G-K growl. At the show on Saturday, I used the MB-500's boost channel, and got a fantastic thick and slightly growly classic rock type of tone. Two nights later, I played through an older G-K Backline head into an Ampeg cab at a rehearsal studio, and through that rig I didn't like much G-K boost in the signal. I don't know whether that was the head, cab, room, or something else, but it sounded slightly harsh, and dialing down the boost sounded better IMO.

I've tried lots of J-bass pickups over the years, and they've all sounded great through G-K heads and cabs, so I'm not sure how I would rank the Big J Blades in that respect. But I will say they're my favorites out of all the five-string J-bass pickups I've tried, which include stock pickups from Fender, G&L, and Sandberg, and aftermarket pickups from Barden, Aero, and Nordstrand (the Big J Blades and NJ5FS in a Fender). Purely for tone the Aeros are amazing, but the Big J Blades sound fantastic too IMO and they provide vastly superior string-to-string balance.

Hopefully when i get mine theyll cut through thick fuzzy distorted guitars, because the customers in that bar really like doom and aludge metal

 

[Nedmundo]

Hopefully when i get mine theyll cut through thick fuzzy distorted guitars, because the customers in that bar really like doom and aludge metal

For cutting through a dense mix with a more grinding tone, if that's what you want, the Clean & Clear might be better than W&W. I don't know, but you could call or email Nordstrand and ask which they would recommend.

EDIT: Of course strings matter too. I'll probably get a more cutting tone when I try Hi-Beams with my Warm & Woolies.

 

[paulelhierro]

...better ask the customers if they really hear the difference!

 

[shalev98732]

...better ask the customers if they really hear the difference!

With my mtds i do cut through the mix and get compliments on my tone, with my ibanez mdm1605 i dont seem to cut as well through the mix but the compliment are about the looks.
Honestly the saratoga sound wise is like the superstart equivalent to a j so superjazz id say, the mdm is just a modern jazz.