JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
I far prefer the big splits. Big single are very void of mid range. The splits have everything they're missing. They're just too overwound.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Nordstrand Big Singles... I'm not digging the tone
- Thread starter SpeakerBoxxx
- Start date
Since you're in SoCal, you could just go to there shop in San Bernadino for a surprise visit 
Lately there calls and emails have been on the decline. I've had people I know try calling but no answer, till they went on here and made a thread about having been sent the wrong pickups they ordered to which one of the workers at Nordstrand responded
I have no beef with Nordstrand, I love there pickups and preamps. Just wish they can do better with communication like they were before.
Lately there calls and emails have been on the decline. I've had people I know try calling but no answer, till they went on here and made a thread about having been sent the wrong pickups they ordered to which one of the workers at Nordstrand responded
I have no beef with Nordstrand, I love there pickups and preamps. Just wish they can do better with communication like they were before.
D
Personally I like the tone I get from Nordstrand Big Singles but I've also had some issues with it. The problem is the INSANE magnetic drag from these pickups. I don't think I've ever used any other bass pickups that pulled so hard on the strings. The result was unacceptable fret buzz and weird "out of tune" chorus-like overtones with the pickups at what I would consider normal height. Basically the condition guitar players refer to as Stratitis. The three pickups on Strats can cause lots of problems if the pickups are too high (if they're alnicos, Strat's with ceramic bar magnet pickups don't have this problem). I lowered my Big Singles a bit and now they sound great.
I'm not sure if this applies to your situation or is helpful at all but if you haven't tried this already you might want to adjust the Big Singles a bit lower than you would with most pickups. The sweetspot between "fretbuzz+weird overtones" and "weak, anemic tone" is extremely narrow with these pickups in my experience.
My experience with the Big Singles is with the 5-string version but I suspect the 4-string version must have the same issue (although the B-string did seem to be the most affected).
I'm not sure if this applies to your situation or is helpful at all but if you haven't tried this already you might want to adjust the Big Singles a bit lower than you would with most pickups. The sweetspot between "fretbuzz+weird overtones" and "weak, anemic tone" is extremely narrow with these pickups in my experience.
My experience with the Big Singles is with the 5-string version but I suspect the 4-string version must have the same issue (although the B-string did seem to be the most affected).
Your big singles are basically fat vintage jazz pickups in an "easier to route" bigger shell. So you either like like that tone or you dont. String choice is often critical when pairing with a specific pickup type. You could try a string change and a passive tone / blender / volume option to see if it's the basic tone that you are looking for.
The great news with Nordstand pickups is that their larger shells make pickup swap outs a breeze and you can easily drop in another pickup (P bass, Humbucker etc) without expensive and messy re-routing.
The only issue you may find with the Norstrand portfolio of pickups is that they cater for the modern looking, but retro sounding pickups. They all use Alnico magnets. If you want something brighter, then Barolini might be the way to go....thankfully Nordys use the same Bartolini humbucker shell sizes! So drop ins are a comparitive breeze.
The great news with Nordstand pickups is that their larger shells make pickup swap outs a breeze and you can easily drop in another pickup (P bass, Humbucker etc) without expensive and messy re-routing.
The only issue you may find with the Norstrand portfolio of pickups is that they cater for the modern looking, but retro sounding pickups. They all use Alnico magnets. If you want something brighter, then Barolini might be the way to go....thankfully Nordys use the same Bartolini humbucker shell sizes! So drop ins are a comparitive breeze.
I have a similar experience. I'm a fan of single coil pickups in general, but I don't really like the sound of my Ibanez SR with Big Singles. Maybe in a FSO they would sound better.
Heck if I know...it should sound markedly unnatural, that's for sure.
My 2012 SR 1405 (second-hand) came to me with the Big Splits, not the stock Big Singles. Apparently, the original owner was of the same impression. Mulling over whether I should pull the stock pre and install an Audere.
Riis
I feel your pain.
I bought a SR2600 because I trust Ibanez and I had heard great things about the Nordstrands. I find them to be mediocre at the very best.
I'm not modifying. I'm moving it along.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,024
- 1
- 31,755
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I love Big Singles - in the right bass.
In the wrong bass, they can be shrill.
Remember, the pickups are just one ingredient in the total recipe.
Can you post a photo @SpeakerBoxxx ? I'm wondering if yours are placed too close to the bridge.
In the wrong bass, they can be shrill.
Remember, the pickups are just one ingredient in the total recipe.
Can you post a photo @SpeakerBoxxx ? I'm wondering if yours are placed too close to the bridge.
This right here ^
OP, there's a reason many people suggest Audere first for preamps. I've had them in 3 basses and never regretted it. It's a very usable set of frequencies (the 3-band IME) and the prices are great considering what you get. I'd also be interested to hear how the Big Blades sound compared to the Big Singles, as I wasn't THAT impressed on the last Ibanez I played with them.
skyline_01
Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
i've only played big singles in ibanez SR1600 basses. on one setting, they were thin to me. on the others, they were amazing.
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
I have a set of Nordstrand NP4 (their basic P set) and I like them. I was looking at a set of those big singles, but I had another bass with blade pick ups in them, and I could not abide. I like @micguy's suggestion - try them passive. A preamp may not be needed for those big singles.
Yep...I would trial them sans OBP preamp while on the bench. I'm a little murky as to whether we have a questionable install, a pickup set that doesn't fulfill the OP's expectations, or a mis-match between the pickups and preamp (...don't play nicely together). Looking forward to the follow-up!
Riis
Had big splits in one of the Ibanez EHB fanned fret models I tried out- there was definitely a lot of issues. The reverb thing was due to the pickups being mounted with springs- they are not supposed to be mounted with springs, according to Nordstrand. I called them about it, they told me to switch to foam, which took care of that. But they had a somewhat hollow sound, and some rattle issues. Talked to Nordstrand about it, they said sometimes players would affix the covers with epoxy. These issues were the same in both active and passive modes. At that point, I just went ahead and gutted the instrument and replaced the pickups with Bartolini and used a John East preamp. All the issues were gone after that. The whole process I went through is well documented in the EHB club.
Last edited:
+1. That way also you can play the field on outboard preamps if you want to. My philosophical opposition to onboard preamps is that they force you into getting married to a certain combination of bass, pickups, and preamp. Go passive and you could run a Darkglass or a Nordy Starlifter, pretty much on the opposite end of the tone spectrum - even with both together on a board if you want.
But this post wasn't really about the pickups, with which I have no experience. I do have NJ5s in my jazz bass, there is precisely nothing wrong with them.
Last edited:
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Ok they are my favorite pickup BUT I like them in series with a bigger lower mid going on and a fullness that I'm not sure you can completely dial in with EQ.
If you use both pickups all the time then you might want to give that a shot.
Warning, you output will be louder.
Cheers
Thanks for all of the responses, I'm not going to give up on these pickups just yet. Jazz single coils are my favorite tone and I'm sure there's something out of the ordinary going on here with my setup. I like the idea of pulling out the preamp and running this setup passive. It's about the only thing I haven't tried. It will take me at least two weeks before I get the time to do this, but I'll report back with my findings.
I dont know if it helps but give them time. Practice with your band, different live situations. Sometimes find the sound takes time.
Pickups are just one part of the chain. Before you ditch them, try settings on the rest of the chain that you wouldn't normally use. You might not find the tone you were hoping for, but you also might find great sounds that you weren't expecting.
I also second the "take it to a sharp tech" and "talk to the manufacturer" approach. I was an avid pickup swapper for many years and my pickup-related problems went away when I started doing those things instead of trying to troubleshoot everything myself.
I also second the "take it to a sharp tech" and "talk to the manufacturer" approach. I was an avid pickup swapper for many years and my pickup-related problems went away when I started doing those things instead of trying to troubleshoot everything myself.
