Nordstrand BigRig Pickups

[Matt Power]

@nonohmic and @Matt Power (and anyone else really!)

Been pondering the Big Rigs for a single pickup fretless. How drastic is the difference between the parallel and series sounds?

I don't know...waiting on my pickups! But for fretless, if you want a huge sound, check out the Polyvox! Massive Wal-like sound.

 

[nonohmic]

@nonohmic and @Matt Power (and anyone else really!)

Been pondering the Big Rigs for a single pickup fretless. How drastic is the difference between the parallel and series sounds?

For fretless I could see using series vs single coil would be awesome. A fat rich Jaco sound in series, then get a little more vintage in SC mode. To me it’s a noticeable difference and worthwhile, but I don’t have a ton of experience with dual coils.

 

[Lonnybass]

@nonohmic and @Matt Power (and anyone else really!)

Been pondering the Big Rigs for a single pickup fretless. How drastic is the difference between the parallel and series sounds?

Not drastic - series gives it the typical extra heft, and I've found that it's especially useful for the bridge pickup as it is relatively hi-fi smooth and detailed sounding on its own.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Yeah, it’s a quasi-necrothread!


Ddawg, how would you compare the Big Rig in series to the split coil P, since you’ve got both posted here?

I ordered a set of BigRigs in P2 size for a project, but they took forever to arrive, so I ended up using different pickups for that bass. I ended up using the BigRigs in a couple other basses.
The bridge pickup was paired with the P-pickup in my Mike Dirnt bass. The bass has 3 push-pull pots for series-parallel switching for each pickup and when combined . I really like both the series and parallel tones of the BigRig in the bridge position, and it blends well with the P-pickup. I have a similar PJ-bass with a Big Single in the bridge position, but I like the BigRig more.
I installed the neck BigRig in a homemade Tele bass along with a Fender Super 55 split coil. The BigRig is closer to the neck than a standard P-pickup since I optimized the alignment of the pole-pieces. The bass has 3 push-pull pots for the BigRig series-parallel, then both pickups series-parallel, and then an inline capacitor on the bridge pickup (like a RIC). The tone of the BigRig in series gets a little heavy on the bass side, but it tames down when adding the bridge pickup. The BigRig in parallel sounds great on its own and combined with the bridge pickup.
If I had to hard wire the 2 coils of BigRigs, I would probably run series at the bridge and parallel at the neck.
I agree with other comments here about BigRigs playing nice with others and being careful with the alignment of the poles.
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[Matt Power]

The Big Rigs arrived, but in the meantime waiting for them to be produced, I sold the bass they were going to go in! So...anyone want to buy an unopened 4 string set?
For real...

 

[nonohmic]

Ha dang. That’s a shame

 

[John D Harris]

I've gone round and round with which Nordstrand P2 sized pickups would best suit my tone jones (as well as my Cort B5 Element).

I think the most versatile would be the Dual Coil 5 (Series optimized), but I no long really need the versatility that I use to need.

So I'm now torn between the Big Rigs and the Zen Blades.

Is there anyone here that has used both of those pickups and could give me some tone guidance?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sikamikanico]

I've gone round and round with which Nordstrand P2 sized pickups would best suit my tone jones (as well as my Cort B5 Element).

I think the most versatile would be the Dual Coil 5 (Series optimized), but I no long really need the versatility that I use to need.

So I'm now torn between the Big Rigs and the Zen Blades.

Is there anyone here that has used both of those pickups and could give me some tone guidance?

Thanks in advance!

Not quite my experience, but the guy I bought BigRigs from switched to Zen Blades and I think he said they sounded smoother. That’s also been my impression based on videos and reviews.

 

[John D Harris]

Not quite my experience, but the guy I bought BigRigs from switched to Zen Blades and I think he said they sounded smoother. That’s also been my impression based on videos and reviews.

Thanks for the info!

The design concepts of the both models appeal to me for different reasons.

I need to check out some good videos of both.

 

[5StringPocket]

I’ve had both and to my ear the Zen Blades are a bit more clear and smooth while the Big Rigs have more harmonic richness and some P-bass vibe. They are two different flavors of good. What kind of tone are you after? I prefer the Big Rig character but other players with different preferences might choose the Zen Blades.

 

[John D Harris]

I’ve had both and to my ear the Zen Blades are a bit more clear and smooth while the Big Rigs have more harmonic richness and some P-bass vibe. They are two different flavors of good. What kind of tone are you after? I prefer the Big Rig character but other players with different preferences might choose the Zen Blades.

Thank you so much for the info!

Clear, but warm; smooth, but dynamic; balanced up to about 7kHz (though, I usually roll off (LPF) the high frequencies above 4kHz).

There is a tricky area in the upper bass to low mids where I like the tone to be throaty, without getting the whole band mix blurry, but I think if its tone is balanced overall, I can handle that with EQ.

I hope all that makes sense.

 

[John D Harris]

I’ve had both and to my ear the Zen Blades are a bit more clear and smooth while the Big Rigs have more harmonic richness and some P-bass vibe. They are two different flavors of good. What kind of tone are you after? I prefer the Big Rig character but other players with different preferences might choose the Zen Blades.

I wonder how they would play together with a Big Rig for the neck pickup and the Zen Blade for the bridge pickup?

 

[5StringPocket]

I wonder how they would play together with a Big Rig for the neck pickup and the Zen Blade for the bridge pickup?

That might work. I’d wire them both series. There is still plenty of detail but I found the signal weak and lacking fullness with individual pickup coils in parallel.

 

[John D Harris]

That might work. I’d wire them both series. There is still plenty of detail but I found the signal weak and lacking fullness with individual pickup coils in parallel.

You're talking about both pickups (the BR & the ZB)?

I haven't found a pickup that I like in parallel (except playing with a pick or slapping (and I'm not much of a slapper)).

 

[5StringPocket]

You're talking about both pickups (the BR & the ZB)?

I haven't found a pickup that I like in parallel (except playing with a pick or slapping (and I'm not much of a slapper)).

Yes. Different blends between those pickups would be interesting.

 

[DDawg]

Yeah, it’s a quasi-necrothread!


Ddawg, how would you compare the Big Rig in series to the split coil P, since you’ve got both posted here?

The Big Rig in series sounds a lot different than a split coil P. It has comparable low end, but the mids are more dominant and focused higher. I find it a little too honky in the neck position so I usually run it in parallel, which is more like a SCPB but not as punchy. Series in the bridge position is similar but not as drastic, and it blends well with the split P - stronger than a PJ setup, more like a double P. The volume difference between parallel and series is huge, so I need to compensate with the individual volume controls. Parallel seems weak compared to series, but if I adjust the volumes accordingly, I find that I usually like the parallel sound better, and series seems like a touch too much.

 

[nonohmic]

I've gone round and round with which Nordstrand P2 sized pickups would best suit my tone jones (as well as my Cort B5 Element).

I think the most versatile would be the Dual Coil 5 (Series optimized), but I no long really need the versatility that I use to need.

So I'm now torn between the Big Rigs and the Zen Blades.

Is there anyone here that has used both of those pickups and could give me some tone guidance?

Thanks in advance!

I haven’t used the zen blades but the big rigs are great. Front single coil can really cop a SCPB, and in series they have a ton of modern fat presence. My favorite is front pickup on single coil mode and dial in a little of the bridge in series. Great forward bass tone with a bunch of single coil growl character.

 

[John D Harris]

I haven’t used the zen blades but the big rigs are great. Front single coil can really cop a SCPB, and in series they have a ton of modern fat presence. My favorite is front pickup on single coil mode and dial in a little of the bridge in series. Great forward bass tone with a bunch of single coil growl character.

Thanks for the input - the more data, the better decision I'll hopefully make.

 

[nonohmic]

The Big Rig in series sounds a lot different than a split coil P. It has comparable low end, but the mids are more dominant and focused higher. I find it a little too honky in the neck position so I usually run it in parallel, which is more like a SCPB but not as punchy. Series in the bridge position is similar but not as drastic, and it blends well with the split P - stronger than a PJ setup, more like a double P. The volume difference between parallel and series is huge, so I need to compensate with the individual volume controls. Parallel seems weak compared to series, but if I adjust the volumes accordingly, I find that I usually like the parallel sound better, and series seems like a touch too much.

I’ve avoided parallel just cause it sounds weak but I’ll go back and dial up the volume. Test things out again.

 

[Matt Power]

Once again, I have a brand new set of 4 string Big Rigs available if anyone was interested...