Nordstrand Big Singles vs Aguilar Super Singles - how do they compare?

I'm curious about the noise. Any single coil I've gigged with has been noisy ( unless 2 PU's full on, which is somewhat limiting ), had to change out. Not sure how these could be any different, single coils in a big package? Looking at a Spector with the Aguilars, however leery of the single coils.

 

I don't have experience with Aguilars, but I think I read somewhere that they are more jazzy sounding than Nordstrands. Or, in other words, Nordstrands are somewhat beefier/fatter sounding. Nordstrand also makes jazz pickups in soapbar sizes, I think they are called Jazz Bars or something.

Both companies also make split-coil versions of these pickups, and at least Nordstrand Big Splits sound pretty close to Big Singles IMO.

 

You can get any of the Nordstrand single coils in soap bars. I just ordered some big singles in a EMG 40 housing.

 

I cant give you a comparison to the Aguilar but I can tell you my thoughts on the single coils.
They are not what I expected. I'm not saying they are bad by any means, just that my preconceived assumptions were very wrong.
They dont have as much low end as I expected, much more low mid. The high end is no where near as bright as I thought it would be. These pickups really seem to push the mids.
Output is very good. I can't turn the volume knob up half as much as I did with the bartolinis. They are much smoother than I anticipated as well.
All this being said they sound really good.
As for noise, I have none. Even with only one pickup installed I had zero noise. I can fade fully in either direction and never get a hint of noise. I wasn't expecting that either. The nord dual coils made a tiny bit of noise in single mode but these are silent as the grave.
I like them but im not sure I want them iny main bass. I'm going to try jazz bars next. Nord will put them in soap bar covers for $10 each.

 

Just to clarify - your bass volume control/s is/are not on full volume? Is it a passive or an active system?

The thing is, on a passive bass, you only really get the full tone of the pickup with a volume fully on/open. Otherwise, you kill highs, maybe even some bass too, which would help explain why you find them middy/dull...

But then again, you may simply not like their inherent tone as much. I just thought I'd clarify, because I always thought they were plenty bright...

 

I'm running a John East uni 5 pre. Fully buffered and active. I dont dislike them. They just aren't what I expected out of a single.

 

Just got my big singles

 

I tried out a Spector 5 with Aguilar Super Singles today, sounded great, however either pickup soloed definitely had significant hum. For me personally I would have to change out the PUs if I had the bass. Have not played the Nordstroms, would love to hear 'em

 

Does anyone playing big single with flatwound ?



how is its tone ? I dont find any videos about that on youtube

 

I thought the Nordstrands were rowdier, so that's what I kept.
Trying out either of them in a J I don't own anymore required a copper tape job.
I like single coils, been using them a long time, and I know how to shield a cavity with slug tape and a couple soldered wires.

 

What is slug tape?

 

Copper tape that was cheaper and easier to find in 1988, pre-Internet.