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Nordstrand BigRig Pickups

#41
Wired my BigRig pickups in parallel to get a specific sound for some audition videos. I am left incredibly surprised and pleased with the result. The sound remained thick and warm, but it became a bit more balanced and more growly. I never really care for pickups wired in parallel. These have changed my mind. Will keep them this way for a while to see how I like them in other musical environments. Carey rocks!
 
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#42
emjazz said:
Wired my BigRig pickups in parallel to get a specific sound for some audition videos. I am left incredibly surprised and pleased with the result. The sound remained thick and warm, but it became a bit more balanced and more growly. I never really care for pickups wired in parallel. These have changed my mind. Will keep them this way for a while to see how I like them in other musical environments. Carey rocks!
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:cool::thumbsup:
 
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#45
From the description on the Nordstrand website:

The BigRig is a pickup came about very organically, as a result of a conversation with bassist Alberto Rigoni. A dual 51 P style pickup, one pole per string, was the initial concept, but offset pole pieces are iconic for Nordstrand. What developed is a hum canceling pickup where the coils sense different parts of the string movement and the result isn’t the normal comb filter mode cancellation effect, which can make humbuckers sound kind of one dimensional. The BigRig has a very broad spectrum sound with tons of texture and complexity at the same time. It sounds a lot like a big single coil. Imagine that. Big Single… but hum cancelling.

I've had two basses with Nordie dual coils before. One was wired so that I could split the coils and I always preferred to run it that way -- the top end felt more open and the sound was, to my ear, more natural and more detailed that way, if a little thin/weak compared to running both coils. For that reason, I felt that I'd most likely prefer the Big Singles (or, more likely, Big Splits, to avoid hum) to the DCs. Not saying that I haven't enjoyed basses with big humbuckers before (Musicman basses can be a lot of fun to play, as can MM/J setups on different instruments), but I don't like the "flattening out" of the sound that I perceive from a lot of humbuckers (even if they are also fattening it up).

Anyway, can anyone offer a first-hand comparison of these to Big Singles/Splits? Not just in terms of perceived EQ (fat/treble-y/mid present, whatever), but in terms of clarity, attack, how much detail you can hear? Appreciate any perspective that you all can offer.

Thanks,
Mark

EDIT: The product description compares these to a Big Single, but hum cancelling -- I thought that was the Big Split? If these did sound more like a Big Single than a Big Split does, I'd be surprised -- maybe they are more alike in other ways, though.
 
#46
MarkA said:
Anyway, can anyone offer a first-hand comparison of these to Big Singles/Splits? Not just in terms of perceived EQ (fat/treble-y/mid present, whatever), but in terms of clarity, attack, how much detail you can hear? Appreciate any perspective that you all can offer.

Thanks,
Mark

EDIT: The product description compares these to a Big Single, but hum cancelling -- I thought that was the Big Split? If these did sound more like a Big Single than a Big Split does, I'd be surprised -- maybe they are more alike in other ways, though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking this question Mark, as I am wondering the same thing!!!

I would definitely like to know where the BigRig fall in compared to the Big Singles and Big Splits as well. I have two basses equipped with Nordy dual coils and the are wired with the 3-way split setup (Parallel/single/series). For my fretless, my favorite sound is the bridge pickup in series mode. For my fretted bass however, I play blended to center, and prefer the single coil sound. The parallel setting is nice for fingerstyle, but the single gives the best slap sound (though, still very tame compared to other pickups I've played). I've heard that DC pickups are by nature pretty even-tempered, which is probably why they don't slap like some of my other pickups (dual and single coil jazz style, and even some humbuckers). Both basses are with the Nordstrand 3b preamp, so I didn't know if the sound I was missing was due to the preamp, or just a "limitation" of the pickups. For the new bass project I am putting together, I am thinking the Bigrig, and got some great feedback comparing them with the Singles and Splits from Stew at Nordstrand. However, I too would like to see what experience anyone else has had with them.
 
#47
bassmanmicah said:
Thanks for asking this question Mark, as I am wondering the same thing!!!

I would definitely like to know where the BigRig fall in compared to the Big Singles and Big Splits as well. I have two basses equipped with Nordy dual coils and the are wired with the 3-way split setup (Parallel/single/series). For my fretless, my favorite sound is the bridge pickup in series mode. For my fretted bass however, I play blended to center, and prefer the single coil sound. The parallel setting is nice for fingerstyle, but the single gives the best slap sound (though, still very tame compared to other pickups I've played). I've heard that DC pickups are by nature pretty even-tempered, which is probably why they don't slap like some of my other pickups (dual and single coil jazz style, and even some humbuckers). Both basses are with the Nordstrand 3b preamp, so I didn't know if the sound I was missing was due to the preamp, or just a "limitation" of the pickups. For the new bass project I am putting together, I am thinking the Bigrig, and got some great feedback comparing them with the Singles and Splits from Stew at Nordstrand. However, I too would like to see what experience anyone else has had with them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for bringing that up -- yeah, I'd still like to hear from anyone with firsthand experience with the Rigs vs. the Singles or Splits. I'm curious, meanwhile, what you heard from Stew, if you feel you can share that.

I figured (perhaps incorrectly?) that, while you could split the Dual Coils, that they weren't optimized for "single coil" use, and that the Big Singles, say, would be stronger performers in that regard.
 
#48
I got a tease from my builder today. He will be doing the setup this weekend, then sending it off to me next week. I will do the electronics (also Nordstrand) installation. I'm quite excited to hear the BigRigs :)

f402a6a9-d120-4c69-988f-983ddb77e8c5_zpseq5zj4uk.jpg
 
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#53
kittywithabanjo said:
Hopefully I tend to be on the P only 90% of the time then back pick up and 30% front the rest. Will see if this chages that up. Gonna have a Sadowsky pre as well.
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Cool. I can imagine that sounding big and articulate.

My main bass is a P/J -- almost never have both pickups fully up, but tend to slightly favor one or the other. Lately, I've been playing a fair amount with the P soloed, too -- not something I used to do, but I'm digging it more as I -- not sure if "mature" is the word ;), but, whatever the reason, I'm digging the purity/rawness/un-phase-canceledness of that tone and presentation more.
 
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#54
MarkA said:
Thanks for bringing that up -- yeah, I'd still like to hear from anyone with firsthand experience with the Rigs vs. the Singles or Splits. I'm curious, meanwhile, what you heard from Stew, if you feel you can share that.

I figured (perhaps incorrectly?) that, while you could split the Dual Coils, that they weren't optimized for "single coil" use, and that the Big Singles, say, would be stronger performers in that regard.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a good possibility on the dual coils and their optimization for single coil use. Since the big singles have more of a wind, they would be a lot stronger than the DC's split to single. Definitely explains why they might be a little thin sounding. Not that I don't like them, but they are definitely more polite than I thought they would be when split to single.

Here is what Stew wrote me, comparing some of the pickups:

BigRigs, Big Singles, Big Splits and Fat Stacks have as many similarities as they have differences so I’ll try to sum up.

The Big Singles are Carey’s take on the ultimate J pickup. They use the same magnet load as a J, but the wind and rotated poles draw a lot more information from the vibrating string than a standard single coil J. These are probably the reigning favorite pickup here at the shop.

Big Splits were originally designed to be the hum canceling version of the Big Singles, but because during development and the way the coils are split they have developed their own voice. Where the Big Single is definitely a J variant, the Split has some elements of the P infused. It’s very full and very smooth, so it’s become one of our favorite pickups to recommend for a fretless.

Fat Stacks are really two pickups in one, but the design is not without its compromises. In single coil mode they have some some of what the Big Singles bring but they have a very nice low mid growl. The hum canceling mode has a bit less output (about 3dB) than single coil function with a tone that’s darker, warmer, slightly mid scooped and overall more polite.

The BigRig has been a really exciting development and while it has the organic and dynamic qualities people associate with Nordstrand, its voice is all its own. It doesn’t sound like anything else to my ear and I describe it as the most elegant sounding thing we make. The coils are derived from the Tele-style P, but other than their fullness you won’t really hear the qualities people generally associate with that design. They are gloriously articulate and cover a lot of ground sonically. These are fast becoming a shop favorite. I think if you’re looking for something different you will be more than pleased with the BigRig p-ups. They really are just elegant.

I sent Stew a question today as far as size options with the pickups, but I've pretty much decided those are what I am going with. Of course, now I have to wait 6-8 months for the build to be done to hear what they are capable of!
 
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#56
bassmanmicah said:
That sounds like a good possibility on the dual coils and their optimization for single coil use. Since the big singles have more of a wind, they would be a lot stronger than the DC's split to single. Definitely explains why they might be a little thin sounding. Not that I don't like them, but they are definitely more polite than I thought they would be when split to single.

Here is what Stew wrote me, comparing some of the pickups:

BigRigs, Big Singles, Big Splits and Fat Stacks have as many similarities as they have differences so I’ll try to sum up.

The Big Singles are Carey’s take on the ultimate J pickup. They use the same magnet load as a J, but the wind and rotated poles draw a lot more information from the vibrating string than a standard single coil J. These are probably the reigning favorite pickup here at the shop.

Big Splits were originally designed to be the hum canceling version of the Big Singles, but because during development and the way the coils are split they have developed their own voice. Where the Big Single is definitely a J variant, the Split has some elements of the P infused. It’s very full and very smooth, so it’s become one of our favorite pickups to recommend for a fretless.

Fat Stacks are really two pickups in one, but the design is not without its compromises. In single coil mode they have some some of what the Big Singles bring but they have a very nice low mid growl. The hum canceling mode has a bit less output (about 3dB) than single coil function with a tone that’s darker, warmer, slightly mid scooped and overall more polite.

The BigRig has been a really exciting development and while it has the organic and dynamic qualities people associate with Nordstrand, its voice is all its own. It doesn’t sound like anything else to my ear and I describe it as the most elegant sounding thing we make. The coils are derived from the Tele-style P, but other than their fullness you won’t really hear the qualities people generally associate with that design. They are gloriously articulate and cover a lot of ground sonically. These are fast becoming a shop favorite. I think if you’re looking for something different you will be more than pleased with the BigRig p-ups. They really are just elegant.

I sent Stew a question today as far as size options with the pickups, but I've pretty much decided those are what I am going with. Of course, now I have to wait 6-8 months for the build to be done to hear what they are capable of!
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing that. Lots of good information there (though I'm wondering exactly how to interpret "elegant"). Much appreciated.
 
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#57
MarkA said:
... though I'm wondering exactly how to interpret "elegant" ...
Click to expand...

You and me both, but that's some primo info from Mo, given that I trust his ear. :)

I've been interested in doing a mismatched set in my bass with two P2 routes.. and now I'm pondering a Big Split at the neck position and a Big Rig (perhaps with series/parallel switching) at the bridge position. Gotta get some of this stuff I am ready to let go of on the CLassifieds to fund all of this. :bassist:
 

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