Nordstrand BigRig Pickups

[Kano2864212]

Would that work if it's wired with a blend? Right now the bass is passive Vol Blend Tone.

 

[rojo412]

You could put a series/parallel push/pull on the volume and tone each, then use the switch as a master series/parallel for both pickups if you wanted. I've done that before and it's very functional. Like a passive boost switch.
And yes, it can be done with a blend. I have it running like that in a bass that I currently have with those pickups.

 

[Kano2864212]

That's a good idea, thanks!

 

[Bassworship1]

Played my new Custom Devon with the Nordie BigRigs with coil taps this Sunday for both services and it was simply perfection. These are some of the best sounding and smoothest playing pickups I've ever heard. Every note is clear, authoritative, and smooth. Had people come up to me after service that have never complimented my playing saying I sounded really good.

 

[MarkA]

Played my new Custom Devon with the Nordie BigRigs with coil taps this Sunday for both services and it was simply perfection. These are some of the best sounding and smoothest playing pickups I've ever heard. Every note is clear, authoritative, and smooth. Had people come up to me after service that have never complimented my playing saying I sounded really good. View attachment 3359444 View attachment 3359445 View attachment 3359446

Cool. Nice looking bass, by the way.

How did you run the coil tap switches?

Re. the pickup positions, can you clarify those? Neck pickup looks to be about in a Precision Bass position (maybe aligning with the center of the coils, maybe with the center of one or the other, maybe just close?). Bridge pickup -- 70s Jazz position? Closer to the bridge? I'm curious as to the placement -- did you have any special reasoning in mind for it, or is it just what the builder did? -- and what effects you note.

Danke -- and congrats!

 

[Bassworship1]

@MarkA

The pickups are in the 70's position. I find that the clarity in this position is great for a full band mix. I also had him do the series parallel only for each pickup as I really don't care for single coil tone much. He also does something I love on his pickups as he installs a gain control on each pickup to match the volume output of switching between the series and parallel so there isn't a jump or drop in volume. Devon is one of the best electronic installs I've ever seen with his attention to detail and tidiness. Here is a picture of the gain controls in the cavity area.

 

[MarkA]

@MarkA

The pickups are in the 70's position. I find that the clarity in this position is great for a full band mix. I also had him do the series parallel only for each pickup as I really don't care for single coil tone much. He also does something I love on his pickups as he installs a gain control on each pickup to match the volume output of switching between the series and parallel so there isn't a jump or drop in volume. Devon is one of the best electronic installs I've ever seen with his attention to detail and tidiness. Here is a picture of the gain controls in the cavity area. View attachment 3359568

Thank you! That is indeed one of the tidiest control cavities I've seen -- and the idea of including a gain adjustment to match levels in serial and parallel modes is brilliant.

To clarify, when you say that the pickups are in 70s position, are you referring only to the bridge pickup, or, perhaps, referencing from the front coils of the pups? Looking at the center-lines of the pups, they appear to be closer together than 70s Jazz spacing, but perhaps that's my eye playing a trick on me.

For reference, an image I've seen pop up in a few places on TB (here in a post by @Hopkins, from another thread):

The MM pickup in the bridge paired with a J pickup has been done and is a usable combination. If you split the MM so the bottom coil is active you will get pretty close to coping a 60s Jass type sound. If you go with a 3 or 4 coil MM pickup, and a split Jazz pickup you will be noiseless in all positions.

View attachment 2483119

Thanks again!

 

[BunchyMutt]

@MarkA

The pickups are in the 70's position. I find that the clarity in this position is great for a full band mix. I also had him do the series parallel only for each pickup as I really don't care for single coil tone much. He also does something I love on his pickups as he installs a gain control on each pickup to match the volume output of switching between the series and parallel so there isn't a jump or drop in volume. Devon is one of the best electronic installs I've ever seen with his attention to detail and tidiness. Here is a picture of the gain controls in the cavity area. View attachment 3359568

that is a beautiful sight

 

[BunchyMutt]

Played my new Custom Devon with the Nordie BigRigs with coil taps this Sunday for both services and it was simply perfection. These are some of the best sounding and smoothest playing pickups I've ever heard. Every note is clear, authoritative, and smooth. Had people come up to me after service that have never complimented my playing saying I sounded really good. View attachment 3359444 View attachment 3359445 View attachment 3359446

If you have the capability to whip up some quick sound clips demonstrating the bare minimum (e.g. open strings then fretted notes higher up on neck, both, and bridge pickups) I think we'd all appreciate it

 

[melloncollie]

Anybody using these for more aggressive rock styles? Looking for a tone with a good amount of grind but still with a lot of body. These are very interesting but I feel like I haven’t heard many reviews based around that sound profile.

 

[Jared Lash]

Thank you! That is indeed one of the tidiest control cavities I've seen -- and the idea of including a gain adjustment to match levels in serial and parallel modes is brilliant.

To clarify, when you say that the pickups are in 70s position, are you referring only to the bridge pickup, or, perhaps, referencing from the front coils of the pups? Looking at the center-lines of the pups, they appear to be closer together than 70s Jazz spacing, but perhaps that's my eye playing a trick on me.

For reference, an image I've seen pop up in a few places on TB (here in a post by @Hopkins, from another thread):


Thanks again!

My assumption is that the outer coils of each Big Rig pickup (front coil of the neck pickup and back coil of the bridge pickup) are in the 70's jazz positions.

Really great looking bass.

 

[Jared Lash]

Anybody using these for more aggressive rock styles? Looking for a tone with a good amount of grind but still with a lot of body. These are very interesting but I feel like I haven’t heard many reviews based around that sound profile.

The Nordstrand guys describe these as "elegant" and "hi-fi but with a lot of character" and I think that nails it. Used in the neck they are like a modern, more refined Pbass.

For something aggressive I'd look at the Big Blades or the Big Singles.

 

[Bassworship1]

The Nordstrand guys describe these as "elegant" and "hi-fi but with a lot of character" and I think that nails it. Used in the neck they are like a modern, more refined Pbass.

For something aggressive I'd look at the Big Blades or the Big Singles.

I see that description as spot on. These pickups aren’t overly aggressive and would be what I call thick, clear, and smooth. They definitely have plenty of character but not aggressive like the Big Bkades or Big Single basses I’ve owned. I probably still like the Nordstrand DC pickups best but these are a very close 2nd for me.

 

[John D Harris]

I see that description as spot on. These pickups aren’t overly aggressive and would be what I call thick, clear, and smooth. They definitely have plenty of character but not aggressive like the Big Bkades or Big Single basses I’ve owned. I probably still like the Nordstrand DC pickups best but these are a very close 2nd for me.

Do you usually prefer the DC's in Series mode for a more full, yet still balanced tone for general finger-style playing?
Or what?
[Sorry for going OT.]

 

[Bassworship1]

Do you usually prefer the DC's in Series mode for a more full, yet still balanced tone for general finger-style playing?
Or what?
[Sorry for going OT.]

Actually I do run the DC’s and the Big Rigs in Series probably 90% of the time as I mostly fingerstyle. It has such a fat finger tone that way and still has clarity and punch to every note. I had one bass where he done the single coil selection on the DC’s and didn’t care for it much.

 

[John D Harris]

Might be a subtle difference, but now I'm wondering about a DC bridge pup with a Big Rig neck pup - 70's spacing.

 

[melloncollie]

The Nordstrand guys describe these as "elegant" and "hi-fi but with a lot of character" and I think that nails it. Used in the neck they are like a modern, more refined Pbass.

For something aggressive I'd look at the Big Blades or the Big Singles.

Thanks for getting back to me. These pickups have been fascinating to me for a while and I’ve liked the demos I’ve heard but based on everybody’s experience my time might be better spent elsewhere.

 

[Toptube]

Anybody using these for more aggressive rock styles? Looking for a tone with a good amount of grind but still with a lot of body. These are very interesting but I feel like I haven’t heard many reviews based around that sound profile.

While I think you could certainly use these for that, you might be better suited with Zen Blades. Those have most of the punch and balls of the Big Blade, but with a little more refinement. Big Blades are huge, but kind of blunt. I found them lacking a bit in note definition. My B-string in particular, sounds way better with Big Rigs.

However, Big Rigs in series mode do have some juice. Yet, they are oh so sensitive. Makes you want a bass with each pickup in it!

Big Splits might be the perfect middle ground. Big and Toothy grind. Good definition, but a nice dark body.

 

[melloncollie]

While I think you could certainly use these for that, you might be better suited with Zen Blades. Those have most of the punch and balls of the Big Blade, but with a little more refinement. Big Blades are huge, but kind of blunt. I found them lacking a bit in note definition. My B-string in particular, sounds way better with Big Rigs.

However, Big Rigs in series mode do have some juice. Yet, they are oh so sensitive. Makes you want a bass with each pickup in it!

Big Splits might be the perfect middle ground. Big and Toothy grind. Good definition, but a nice dark body.

I’ve got big blade man pickups in my reverend thundergun and your description of the big blades is interesting. The bigblademan at least in my experience doesn’t suffer from lack of definition. But I do have the in parallel right now. No switches.

 

[Toptube]

I’ve got big blade man pickups in my reverend thundergun and your description of the big blades is interesting. The bigblademan at least in my experience doesn’t suffer from lack of definition. But I do have the in parallel right now. No switches.

Maybe its just my bass!