I still can't believe I got talked into that. The Tyler was amazing. Eh...we live and we learn. I still have some great tools to work with.
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Nordstrand BigRig Pickups
- Thread starter 3rdcurve
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- nordstrand pickups
I added the BigRig to the neck position of this Kiloton 5 and really like how it has enriched the tonal mix:
G&L Club Part 7
G&L Club Part 7
My brand new build incorporates BigRigs wired to independent switches for series/parallel/single. I’m still getting the hang of the wide range of adjustability between the pickups and the Nordy preamp.
What strikes me after a couple days of playing is just how detailed it is. I think the word “elegant” really does describe it well…a richness of character that is readily apparent. Sort of like if you’ve ever heard your own voice through a really nice high-end mic preamp setup and studio monitors. It’s still “you,” but not like you are used to hearing yourself. Really digging these things!
What strikes me after a couple days of playing is just how detailed it is. I think the word “elegant” really does describe it well…a richness of character that is readily apparent. Sort of like if you’ve ever heard your own voice through a really nice high-end mic preamp setup and studio monitors. It’s still “you,” but not like you are used to hearing yourself. Really digging these things!
Question for Bigrig users -How critical is the string spacing?
Installed one on a semi hollow 5, but my spacing was off by half a mm (to be clear, I’m sure it’s my fault). Most of the string balance is workable, but the B is half the volume of the other strings. Would another Bigrig with correct spacing solve the issue, or should I move on to something else?
Installed one on a semi hollow 5, but my spacing was off by half a mm (to be clear, I’m sure it’s my fault). Most of the string balance is workable, but the B is half the volume of the other strings. Would another Bigrig with correct spacing solve the issue, or should I move on to something else?
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I did. They offered to build a new pickup under warranty, which was very generous. I’m just curious if I should take my lumps and move back to a bar magnet pickup before I ask them to go through that effort.
Some pickups are more forgiving, but I think the BigRig is fairly critical…though as with most pickups, I expect the pole pieces (and coils below) being too narrow is a much bigger issue than if they are too wide.
Do you have the ability to reposition the bridge without shifting the outer strings off the neck?
May as well do it. Its free.
And I think you will find a lot of joy in a properly fitted BigRig.
I had this same thing happen and I replaced it, which made a lot of difference. The guys at Nordstrand were incredible: their customer service is every bit as good as the products they create!
Big Rigs are interesting - it took my mind a while to wrap itself around why they work the way they do. In the vertical plane, but sets of pole pieces are under the strings, so for the vertical part of the strings' motion, they work like any other dual coil pickup, with a big suckout (dip) at the frequency where the coil spacing is half a wavelength (it's different on every string, so I can't give you one answer as to what that frequency is).
For horizontal morion, however, the pole pieces are on opposite sides of the string - at the frequency where the dip is in the vertical plane, the output is at a maximum in the horizontal plane. As strings generally vibrate in a helical motion, this neatly avoids some of the comb filtering that results from coil spacing on a dual coil pickup, hence the "detailed" comments. If the string spacing doesn't match the pickup, this trick doesn't work - if the pole pieces are pretty much equidistant on either side of the string, you lose this unique quality. So, measure your sting spacing (at the bridge) and order precisely what you need.
I have Big Rigs on 3 different basses - one in the bridge position, one as an only pickup in the neck position (P-ish, but both halves of the pickup are at the same position, so we neatly avoid the arguments about regular versus reversed), and the third is the only pickup in a mid position instrument (kinda like a Ray, but the pickup is in the bridge position of a Rickenbacker (long story)). All 3 work well, albeit with different strengths in each position, and different strings on each bass - these pickups really let you know what your strings sound like, which is great...once you find the right strings. I have 3 different kinds of strings on these 3 basses, so giving an exact answer on what the pickups sound like is...well, lets just say they sound like the strings.
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I've got an Ibanez Fretless SRF705 (EADGC) that I was going to put a pair of BigRigs on, but after reading this thread and listening to a few videos, I'm kind of liking the idea of a BigRig on the neck and a BigSplit on the bridge. Did anyone go that direction and love it? Or did you revert back to a combo of BigRigs?
I plan to put in switches (push/pull pots) to go between series/parallel and any other modes I can extract from them.
I plan to put in switches (push/pull pots) to go between series/parallel and any other modes I can extract from them.
I am quite happy with the BigRig in the bridge (and neck) position of my Bordwell fretless, and I usually have the blend panned all the way to the bridge pickup. And to be honest, even though I have series/parallel switches for each pickup, they are in series mode 98.5% of the time...
For me, these were made for series mode.
It costs more, but they will make a custom narrow aperture BigRig, which I feel is a much better bridge pickup. It just has more attack, and blends perfectly with a standard BR neck pickup when switching to series.
These are still my favorite pickups
It costs more, but they will make a custom narrow aperture BigRig, which I feel is a much better bridge pickup. It just has more attack, and blends perfectly with a standard BR neck pickup when switching to series.
These are still my favorite pickups
I am in the process of a custom build 5 string bass. Have ordered a Big Rig (N) and Big Split (B). I am trying to determine best location for both pickups. Custom build is 34” scale and 24 frets. On my Fender Elite Jazz V (primary bass) I find my bridge p/u too tight sounding and not full/round enough. I find myself setting my blend usually around 75% neck. For my custom build I am considering moving the Big Split Bridge p/u further from the bridge. Perhaps setting my Big Rig neck pickup closer to the neck as well. Wanting warm and fat lows, articulate, round, and punchy mids and clear, full and tubey highs. Any thoughts/feedback on locations for these pickups is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
