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Nordstrand big singles... experiences?

#161
Matt Dean said:
Having owned a number of traditional Js include Fender and Sadowsky, I don't really thing of big singles as a J pickup. In comparison, I think the traditional J pickup sounds thin when compared to the big single.

The tone coming from my vJ4 w/big singles is just a lot thicker and richer... with a wider range of usable tone, and as a result I find myself actually adjusting the tone on my bass from song to song more often now because I find it easier to dial-in different tones that sound really good.
Click to expand...

Amen to that! Well said. I know what you mean. Big Singles are richer and fatter. And it's not fair to really consider them a traditional single coil PU. They are unique and have their own mojo.

Also, I have been amazed that not ONCE in over a year of gigging with my Big Singles, at least two - three gigs per week, I have NEVER heard any noise. None. Never. Really shocks me how quiet they are. Amazing.
 
#162
This is not at all my experience with these pickups. I don't find them to be dark, at all.
I don't find them to be a Pure Jazz pickup at all either; they seem to be more like a 51 Precision single coil....bigger broader frequency response all up and down, but, very even.
I don't think they get very close to a Split-P Precision tone iether, at least not without some substantive eq: they don't have that slight low-mid hump P's are known for.

My 5501 has DC5's with taps for single coil, dual parallel (which does an ok P tone) and dual series-which is much fatter and darker than any J sound. It has a Lakland LH3 preamp, and it's very snappy overall. The DR High-Beams contribute to that, no doubt.

The Valenti Geddy Vee has Big Singles, and a Nord 3 band preamp. I can't say enough about this combination. The preamp is very pure and usable throughout it's entire range. This bass really is closer to a trad J sound than the DC5's, but that should be no big surprise as they really are single coil all the way.

I'll pit either of these basses against axes that cost twice as much or more. Nordstrand rules;)

I would have put the Nord pre in the Lakland, had it been available at the time. The Lakland LH3 is a nice unit and not very colored, the Nord is less colored and not surprisingly a very excellent match with their pickups.

As a reference point on preamps for me, I find the Aguilar stuff fairly un-natural sounding, and that not very much of it's range is usable before it gets ''pillowy or glassy." Sounds nice enough before it does that....Hated the audere, and really couldn't get why people liked that.

hth-alan

snaps:
5501-1-1.jpg


Geddy_Vee004.jpg


If you want P tone, Nord do that very well:
valentipj.jpg







Robear22 said:
They turned my 55-01 into a low end beast. I literally have to turn the highs all the way up or drop the lows to get any clarity out of it. And the mids are outrageous. I think it has something to do with pairing it up with an Aguilar OBP-3 but where this bass shines is when I pull the passive switch. Roll back the blend knob a little and I have bridge grind and growl for days.

DSCF0143.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#165
Robear22 said:
They turned my 55-01 into a low end beast. I literally have to turn the highs all the way up or drop the lows to get any clarity out of it. And the mids are outrageous. I think it has something to do with pairing it up with an Aguilar OBP-3 but where this bass shines is when I pull the passive switch. Roll back the blend knob a little and I have bridge grind and growl for days.

DSCF0143.jpg
Click to expand...

strange. what value are the pots you used for the electronic?
you need 250k for both vols (vol-blend event) and passive tone (if you have one).
BTW, we used Aguilar 3 as a standard pre for a long time before we designed our pre, without any problem you are describing...

M
 
#174
DaveAceofBass said:
What's the advantage of the P neck pickup? How is it different from the Big Split, aside from the shape? Could you use a P neck and a MM bridge? Or could you use a Big Split neck and a Dual Coil bridge?

What are your thoughts and mixing and matching various styles of pickups for sonic advantages?
Click to expand...

I can't see mixing and matching PU's other than a PJ config. With the right PU's, I get plenty of tonal options (in my case Big Singles).

A "P" pick up at the neck position would have its pole pieces under different area's than a Big Split would. I don't think a Big Split was ever considered to be P bass PU in a single casing. It's just a hum cancelling Big Single for all intents and purposes. (and the Big Split sounds different than Big Singles)
 
#179
Actually, they are on the Nordstrand page, jsut no photo:

np5
split coil 5 string precision-type bass pickups

Our twist on a five string P pickup. We angled the poles like we do on our Signature Big Single series of pickups for a couple reasons. We get more room for wire between the magnets and the cover edge, and frankly, we think it looks cool! The result is as close to an authentic P tone in a four string sized cover package and we believe is possible. Roger Sadowsky thinks so too..."

from the NP5 section, here:
http://www.nordstrandpickups.com/bass-pickups/index.shtml
 
#180
Ian Perge said:
my order for two sets of Big Singles must be custom-wound due to their going into EMG 40-sized routes as opposed to their standard Bartolini P2 size
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mmmm Big Singles in an EMG sized shell :hyper: (just a little visual proof that these can be wound to fit an EMG shell)

BigSingles-EmgCoverShape.jpg


I've swapped out and installed many a Big Single pickup for clients, and to date I can't think of anybody who has regretted their choice

all the best,

R
 

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