Probably. I don’t know what you have or your conception of how wind types affect the sound.
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Nordstrand BigRig Pickups
- Thread starter 3rdcurve
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- Apr 18, 2008
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There’s no way I would put a Big Split at the bridge position. Sweet spot maybe, P position sure, but not at the bridge. Especially if my tonal goal was “fat and round”.
I tried that years ago on a build, with pickups in approximately the Thunderbird positions. “Shrill” is a good word to describe the tone I got. And “shrill” is never a tone that I would aim for. That bass got Lace Alumitones instead.
I made the exact same mistake this past year. I had another bass in which I was experimenting with different pickups. I tried another pair of Big Splits. I got the same result.
I do think the Big Splits would do well in the Rickenbacker positions. I have another bass with Big Blades in the Rick positions, and it’s pretty wonderful.
If the Big Rigs have more girth than the Big Splits, then I need to try them!
I tried that years ago on a build, with pickups in approximately the Thunderbird positions. “Shrill” is a good word to describe the tone I got. And “shrill” is never a tone that I would aim for. That bass got Lace Alumitones instead.
I made the exact same mistake this past year. I had another bass in which I was experimenting with different pickups. I tried another pair of Big Splits. I got the same result.
I do think the Big Splits would do well in the Rickenbacker positions. I have another bass with Big Blades in the Rick positions, and it’s pretty wonderful.
If the Big Rigs have more girth than the Big Splits, then I need to try them!
Yep. And you can still coil tap them into parallel mode, just more optimized for series.
Steve Aurajo and Carey Nordstrand recorded some demos comparing BigRigs to BigBlades. It’s not exactly what you are deciding between, but would be worth a watch if you haven’t seen it already.
Would a BigRig and BigBlade mix well together? Or would the BigBlade completely take over the BigRig? If you did mix them, what position for each? I like the tones in both of the videos. I've already ordered a BigRig that will be delivered in a few weeks. I plan on swapping between bridge and neck and seeing how I like it, then I'll order a second BigRig or I might do something to get a wider variety of tones like adding a BigBlade to it. Both will be wired to a series/parallel switch. (This is for an SRF705 fretless.)
- Apr 18, 2008
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Well the Big Blade is a single-coil, so you can't use a series/parallel switch.
Unless you meant running both pickups through a series/parallel switch?
Unless you meant running both pickups through a series/parallel switch?
- Apr 18, 2008
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In my (admittedly limited) experience, all Nordstrand pickups have a healthy output, so I think it’ll be fine from an output perspective. The real question is whether you like their tones in your bass, both separately and together.
If you’re going to mix then I’d go with Big Rig and Zen Blade. Both pickups are hum-cancelling and could be equipped with series/parallel switches. Output levels between the two should also be compatible. The series position for either pickup will be louder, but with less treble detail.
The folks at Nordstrand recommended the Big Rig (neck) and Big Split (bridge), and there were some past positive post about the combination earlier in this thread. So I am hoping there is some validity in all that. Stating that I am already accepting that I may need to swap out if I don’t love the tone. Fat, warm and round is the primary sound I am going for, but I expect to get that mainly from my neck pickup. For my bridge pickup I want it to bring out the harmonics and articulations of each note, and also drive some mids without sounding to tight or trebly. That’s why I think moving it a bit further from the bridge may work well.
Just my $0.02: I wish I'd gone down the route you're thinking about going down. I had a pair of BigRigs in my previous bass and found the bridge pickup lacked the sort of presence and general heft that I wanted. Stew from Nordstrand recommended the the BigRig/ Big Split combo you mentioned here and I really wish that's what I'd gone with.
Per your comment about wanting a "fat, warm and round" sound, I certainly think you'll get that with the BigRig in the neck position. With my previous instrument, I played with the neck soloed most of the time and I was absolutely in love with the sound (I paired the pickups with some La Bella tapewounds and they worked so well together - definitely in that fat, warm and round zone). The BigRigs have that vintage P-Bass thing going on in spades, but they feel more articulate to my ears, which is positive IMO.
- Apr 18, 2008
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Oh definitely try it if you want! Lots of people are fond of putting a fat-sounding pickup in a fat-sounding location, and a thinner-sounding pickup in a thin-sounding location. That’s the classic PJ recipe, which plenty of people rave about. Apparently the idea is that the neck pickup is the “meat” of the sound, and the bridge pickup adds some “spice”.
Not for me though. I prefer the opposite - a fat-sounding pickup at the bridge, and a clear-sounding pickup at the neck.
I generally prefer that too. Humbucker at the bridge and something with a narrow aperture at the neck to get more fundamental a wider response
Thanks for your 2 cents! That is helpful and makes me optimistic. Do you happen to remember the measurements of the placements of both pickups?
I use LaBella tapewound on my acoustic fretless Guild B-30 and absolutely love them. Perfect string for that instrument. Have never tried them on one of my electric basses. Going to start with Thomastik flats on my new build and go from there. Assuming they will sound fantastic with the Big Rig and Big Split combo.
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I have a big split in the bridge of a jazz and love the articulation. Thinking of putting a big rig in the neck position to replace an NP4-A (P pickup with the diagonal poles).
Has anyone compared an NP4 to a Big Rig? I like the NP4, it's just a little dark and soft sounding.
Has anyone compared an NP4 to a Big Rig? I like the NP4, it's just a little dark and soft sounding.
I'm not 100% sure on the spacing. The bass was a Fodera Matt Garrison Imperial; the pickup spacing is in between a 60s and 70s bass (the neck pickup ends up being slightly further towards the neck), but I don't have the specific measurements.
Is your jazz bass bridge Big Split in the 60s or later position?
Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to give you a review of the Big Split (Bridge) and Big Rig (neck) set up.
Here's an example of my bass when it had a BigRig neck and a Big Split bridge. It's a brighter (although not too bright) and tighter pickup than the BR for sure.
Keep in mind that this is with roundwound strings. Different strings will make a big difference.
Keep in mind that this is with roundwound strings. Different strings will make a big difference.
