Nordstrand Big Rig users...

[Bassworship1]

I'm at the end of my Custom build Devon and having a set of Wood covered Big Rigs installed. My builder is offering to wire them any way I want with wither a Series-Parallel or Single COil selection for from and Back of each pickup if that makes sense. I wanted to hear from those who have installed Big Rigs and see if you had coil taps and what sounded best with these pickups. I will be using a Nordstrand 3 band preamp with a Vintage tone control that will work for active and passive mode.

 

[Jeff Moote]

I like them best in parallel, though series sounds great too. Single coil mode is awesome and I think you'd want the possibility so I'd go for series/parallel/outer SC switching if you have that option.

 

[Bassworship1]

I like them best in parallel, though series sounds great too. Single coil mode is awesome and I think you'd want the possibility so I'd go for series/parallel/outer SC switching if you have that option.

I’m actually going to request that he does that.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

If you're going the custom route, you might as well have as many options as possible. Here is Nordstrand's own diagram for series/single/parallel:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1941/7837/files/Dual-Coil-Diagram.pdf

 

[Isotonic]

Damn, that is a beautiful bass!

 

[Basehead]

That is some high-quality stuff right there....looks amazing. Would love to hear some sound clips when you have it.

 

[Bassworship1]

@Basehead
I wound up buying another bass he was working on just like the Buckeye he is finishing for me as well. It will have the same setup with coil taps for the Big Rigs. This is a rare oiece if Lacewood Afzelia he had out back.

 

[Isotonic]

Very nice, congratulations.

 

[Basehead]

Holy smokes! YOU'RE KILLING ME WITH THOSE PICS.....

 

[BearClawProduct]

I like them best in parallel, though series sounds great too. Single coil mode is awesome and I think you'd want the possibility so I'd go for series/parallel/outer SC switching if you have that option.

quick question about the big rigs. I have one in as my neck pickup and the existing super double in the bridge position. How does it sound as a bridge pickup? I’m debating putting two of the big rigs in my next project and was curious before I paid the extra money. Thanks

 

[LowWay]

I love my big rig equipped custom so much I’m doing another one as a fretted version.

I think they’re great pups. Mine also has a piezo bridge and I’m using a richter preamp.

sounds amazing.

And with the sweepable mods, piezo blend, and mini toggles for the single/parallel/series switching, plus a passive tone knob, that’s 8 knobs and 2 switches, yet is very intuitive and easy to dial in.

 

[DDawg]

quick question about the big rigs. I have one in as my neck pickup and the existing super double in the bridge position. How does it sound as a bridge pickup? I’m debating putting two of the big rigs in my next project and was curious before I paid the extra money. Thanks

This thread has a lot of great opinions on the BigRigs. https://www.talkbass.com/posts/27995599/
The BigRigs are one of my favorite bridge pickups for a PJ bass. Works well in either series or parallel, so adding switching for this would be the best option. But if I was hard-wiring it, I would go for series coils. In the neck position, I would hard-wire them in parallel.

 

[nonohmic]

I like them best in parallel, though series sounds great too. Single coil mode is awesome and I think you'd want the possibility so I'd go for series/parallel/outer SC switching if you have that option.

I love my big rig equipped custom so much I’m doing another one as a fretted version.

I think they’re great pups. Mine also has a piezo bridge and I’m using a richter preamp.

sounds amazing.

And with the sweepable mods, piezo blend, and mini toggles for the single/parallel/series switching, plus a passive tone knob, that’s 8 knobs and 2 switches, yet is very intuitive and easy to dial in.

View attachment 5308839

Does single coil mode in a BigRig sound like a sole 51P bass pickup would? With the associated growl etc.?

 

[LowWay]

It might. It’s hard for me to tell for me since I have it on a fretless with tapes. Plus it’s a 30”. Not sure what a 30” 51 P bass with tapes sounds like.