I am ordering a sadowsky standard 4 w/ash body & maple neck. I am not sure what pickups come as stock now. Would anyone tell me your experiences w/Nordstrand NJ4 single coil pickups?
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Nordstrand Pickups
- Thread starter stefanofailla
- Start date
Not exactly the answer you're looking for but I have recently installed a set of NJ5 on my Metro MV5 (ash/maple). If you PM me your e-mail address (and promise that you won't make fun of my playing) I can send some sound samples comparing the two.
IMHO the difference is there but subtle at best. When soloed Nords are slightly more airy and "vintage", while Sadowsky HCs are tighter, but that difference easily gets lost in the mix. That kinda confirms my belief that given two quality pickups, most of the tone comes from the wood.
Has anyone tried the nordstrand DCs with a sadowsky pre.? I just purchased the Nordies DC (parallel) and am trying to decide what pre to go with. Right now its between the audere and the aggie. Any thoughts?
I have been thinking about trying NJ5s in my RV5. But most of the time I like the sound and talk myself out of it. Sometimes the neck pickup has an ugly grunt to it that I would like to fix. But I really like the bridge pup.
As far as I know, Sadowsky does not use NJ4 pickups. He does use Big Singles.
I've played Sadowsky's with their own proprietary pickups (both single and h/c) and the Big Singles (to my ears) brought out exactly what I was looking for.
Obligatory photo..
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The NJ5 Carey made for me (along with his team), is just wonderful - plays effortlessly, and sounds absolutely fantastic!!
I went for a totally passive layout in order to retain that vintage "open" jazz bass sound - I have to say, the sound is just what I hoped for.
The pickups I used were straightforward single coil units. We went down this route in order to ensure the bass had that readily identifiable "jazz bass" sound from the outset. This one has a n ash body with a bird's-eye maple fingerboard.
Me with the bass outside London's Houses of Parliament
I went for a totally passive layout in order to retain that vintage "open" jazz bass sound - I have to say, the sound is just what I hoped for.
The pickups I used were straightforward single coil units. We went down this route in order to ensure the bass had that readily identifiable "jazz bass" sound from the outset. This one has a n ash body with a bird's-eye maple fingerboard.
Me with the bass outside London's Houses of Parliament
HI
I have 5 Sadowsky's. Two have the Sadowsky humcancelling set, one has the Sadowsky single coils(fretless) and two have Nordstrand Big singles. All 5 have a Sadowsky preamp. They all sound yummy!!. The Nords have a bit more output, and less scooped in the mids. The Sad's sound better, to me, when slapping. All just plain rock!! Roger actually recommended I get the big singles my last two basses. My style is mostly finger funk and he knew they'd be perfect for me. Agressive, loud, punchy. Pm me if you want more talk
Rob
I have 5 Sadowsky's. Two have the Sadowsky humcancelling set, one has the Sadowsky single coils(fretless) and two have Nordstrand Big singles. All 5 have a Sadowsky preamp. They all sound yummy!!. The Nords have a bit more output, and less scooped in the mids. The Sad's sound better, to me, when slapping. All just plain rock!! Roger actually recommended I get the big singles my last two basses. My style is mostly finger funk and he knew they'd be perfect for me. Agressive, loud, punchy. Pm me if you want more talk
Rob
I consider Big Singles in a different category - I may be wrong, never tried them (I have a Fat Stack set waiting to be installed on a Lakland though), but the discussions here make them look like they're different from a single-coil J pickups just like a P pickup is different. Therefore I am guessing it has different tonal characteristics. Not to mention that Marcus' bass above looks damn beatiful.
I still insist that the sonic difference between Sadowsky HCs and Nordy J-sized singles is minimal IMHE, especially in a band setting. Still, I am just a meat and potatoes player and soloists may differ.
I still insist that the sonic difference between Sadowsky HCs and Nordy J-sized singles is minimal IMHE, especially in a band setting. Still, I am just a meat and potatoes player and soloists may differ.
I had Paul Turner's Nordy VJ5 and the sound was good, but totally different from what I am used to on a jazz bass - that's why I had Carey make me the Surf Green job I showed earlier.
The Big Singles have a muted top end to their sound, so you don't get that high end clink you hear with the normal style jazz units. If you have a deeper sound in general, then those pickups may be suitable for you?
The Big Singles have a muted top end to their sound, so you don't get that high end clink you hear with the normal style jazz units. If you have a deeper sound in general, then those pickups may be suitable for you?
