I'm sure this is nothing new to most around here, but I have usually stuck with Fender pickups ("Original" 62, PV'63, older stock American Standard pickups) but have also branched out a little and briefly had an EMG GZR (didn't like it) and have raved about the SD SPB-1.
I picked up an older American Standard Precision that has a Nordstrand NP4 in it. All I can say is this thing is a monster. It's super clanky and WAY too bright with the tone wide open, but roll the tone back about 70%-75% and this pickup shines and turns into a growly, grindy, percussive, punchy beast. I play through a Rumble 500 V3 210 combo, and sometimes put an Ampeg SCR-DI in front of it for a different flavor and sweet baby Jesus, this pickup just plain rocks.
Interestingly enough I'm more into the old school thump, and my other P bass has an SPB-1 with GHS precision flats, and the NP4 is pretty much the opposite of that, BUT with that said, by rolling back the volume a bit and messing with the tone knob you can get a convincing "old school" sound that thumps but also retains this tight, super punchy characteristic in the low end that hits you in the chest without getting muddy. Th SPB-1 has a nice bottom end and isn't muddy either, but it just seems to lack the thunderous punch that the NP4 has.
Definitely not knocking the SPB-1 at all, and just using it for comparison since that's what I'm used to. I'd also take the NP4 over the GZR and PV'63. The NP4 just has SOMETHING going on in the low end. Thunderous while still remaining tight and punchy while also retaining a usable "vintage" tone, but also think it shines for the player who wants a more modern sound and plays with a pick (I play with my fingers 99.9% of the time).
Basically what I'm trying to say is the NP4 is a ridiculously versatile pickup. I would have no problem using this pickup when I play old school country tunes where I want a more muted, thumpy tone, but could also see this pickup being at home in a punk band where the bass player uses a pick and wants that punchy, grindy clang that hits you square in the chest (the bands Unsane and The Jesus Lizard come to mind). I know this is all purely one person's opinion, and we all have different tastes, opinions and what we want to hear, but I'd say this is a pickup that would satisfy a LOT of players, and would be a great choice for the P bass player who only has one bass, or for someone who wants a very versatile pickup that can cover a lot of different tones/genres.
I picked up an older American Standard Precision that has a Nordstrand NP4 in it. All I can say is this thing is a monster. It's super clanky and WAY too bright with the tone wide open, but roll the tone back about 70%-75% and this pickup shines and turns into a growly, grindy, percussive, punchy beast. I play through a Rumble 500 V3 210 combo, and sometimes put an Ampeg SCR-DI in front of it for a different flavor and sweet baby Jesus, this pickup just plain rocks.
Interestingly enough I'm more into the old school thump, and my other P bass has an SPB-1 with GHS precision flats, and the NP4 is pretty much the opposite of that, BUT with that said, by rolling back the volume a bit and messing with the tone knob you can get a convincing "old school" sound that thumps but also retains this tight, super punchy characteristic in the low end that hits you in the chest without getting muddy. Th SPB-1 has a nice bottom end and isn't muddy either, but it just seems to lack the thunderous punch that the NP4 has.
Definitely not knocking the SPB-1 at all, and just using it for comparison since that's what I'm used to. I'd also take the NP4 over the GZR and PV'63. The NP4 just has SOMETHING going on in the low end. Thunderous while still remaining tight and punchy while also retaining a usable "vintage" tone, but also think it shines for the player who wants a more modern sound and plays with a pick (I play with my fingers 99.9% of the time).
Basically what I'm trying to say is the NP4 is a ridiculously versatile pickup. I would have no problem using this pickup when I play old school country tunes where I want a more muted, thumpy tone, but could also see this pickup being at home in a punk band where the bass player uses a pick and wants that punchy, grindy clang that hits you square in the chest (the bands Unsane and The Jesus Lizard come to mind). I know this is all purely one person's opinion, and we all have different tastes, opinions and what we want to hear, but I'd say this is a pickup that would satisfy a LOT of players, and would be a great choice for the P bass player who only has one bass, or for someone who wants a very versatile pickup that can cover a lot of different tones/genres.
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