Nordstrand Big Single Opinions

[PawleeP]

Guys, little dilemma...

I'm looking to give more live to my MIA Jazz Deluxe... the Big Singles wouldn't fit the current cavity though... anybody compared them with the Nordstrand NJ5F ? Anybody has mounted the Big Singles on their jazz enlarging current pickup holes to fit the Big Singles ?

Thanks, Paolo

i might just try to find and then, put some big singles in a jazz.. unless i like running the pups in series, may try that first.. p

 

[Aram]

BS= big splits or big singles? nice of ya'llz to give your recommendations, by the way! p

Singles

 

[PawleeP]

Firstly, at Atrapp's Jazz! One thing I forgot to ask via PM - is that Warmoth's "Dinky J" body? The lines seem a tad too sharp to be the standard model.

It's been great to finally find a thread on pickup I've had questions about (I've searched many a-time, but have never come up with a "Big Single"-specific thread). I have a Spector ReBop 5 DLX FM fretted and fretless duo that I'd like to gut the pups/electronics but I'm not a huge fan of the stereotypical "EMG Sound" and would much rather have something much more single-coil - as an example, my favorite pickups right now are the Lindy Fralins in my Lull Modern 4 and the Aero Type 1s in my Modern 5, and getting a true single-coil as a drop-in replacement for EMG-40 routes wasn't the easiest to find. Finally, I gave a call on separate occasions regarding different issues to the Nordstrand shop, and both Carey and Stew were absolutely wonderful people to speak with. They both took note of the specs of the basses I'd be putting new pups in, and rather than try and "upsell" me to a more expensive set (which a manufacturer has tried to do :scowl: ) they both agreed that Big Singles were exactly what I was looking for and would work the best in my bass... and as Stew claimed, would "absolutely kill in my fretless.

I just about had enough for this project came up, but an emergency Mike Lull Modern 4 came up and managed to divert all my cash flow, but I hope to move forward with this by the Summer. An open question to anyone reading this: what preamp would you recommend to match up with the Big Singles? I'm very much a "set it and forget it" guy in terms of onboard EQ, so I'm thinking an OBP-1 or 2. Who's using what, and what exactly - what are the pros and cons?

Thanks a bunch.

Cool, there are fralin (mike lulls) in this.. will be able to compare the big singles against these, if i can ever can afford a set, or maybe i'll just buy and install one at a time (will prolly change the neck one first)
not sure if 250k or 500k volume pots would be best for the BS's.. p

 

[Stewmc5222]

PawleeP, 250k pots will give you the most organic sound, but use the 500k pots if you're looking for added high end and a slightly more hi-fi sound.

 

[PawleeP]

Hey Andy,

I'm glad you asked -- I was just thinking about replying about this.

I got them in and they're AWESOME. Right now they're hardwired in Series, but I might install a 3-way series/parallel/sc switch. Honestly, though, I have a feeling I'd still keep them in Series, because the sound very close to what I want.

They're a much better match for my sound than the Big Singles were. I found the BS to be very full and clean sounding, and very even from top to bottom, but as I mentioned before I realized they were a bit too 'polite'. I had thought because they were 'overwound' that they would have some nice low-mids and not a lot of highs, but that wasn't the case. Carey really wanted to re-wind them for me, but I didn't want to experiment any more with them...based on descriptions I had read on pickup types, Series-wired DC's seemed like the only thing that would meet my needs.

While the DC's aren't super mid heavy, they are definitely a bit 'meatier' than the BS. Also the highs roll off at a better point for me, and they seem to respond better to both the blend control AND the tone control. The BS were more like subtle coloration when you blended or adjusted the tone, and with the DC's you can get more of a range of sounds.

I don't really want to write a full review until I have gigged with these yet, but I should have some recordings of them soon, so I will post a link when they're complete. So far, I'm very optimistic though.

-Aram

what are dual coils?
with all due respect, i thought this thread was about big singles..
just was curious about what "dual coils' was referring to though.
thanx, p

 

[PawleeP]

It is a Dinky J, and I installed an Audere three band on this bass. I have also had BS's in this Roscoe with the Bartolini/Roscoe 3 band pre... they sound great with both pre's!

View attachment 1283413

has anyone tried the big singles tilted (but the other direction)?
thanx, p