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Nordstrand Poly Vox
- Thread starter sikamikanico
- Start date
Of course haha.
I run a set of Big Singles with the Aguilar OBP-3 preamp as 1xVol, 1xBlend, bass, Mid push/pull, and treble. In addition I have a phase switch and a series/parallel switch.
Would there be any complications I should be aware of swapping the big singles out for a set of polyvox or should it just be a standard swap?
Basically just trying to find out if I'm going to have to redo everything or should it be relatively plug n play?
If there are any serious concerns, you might consider simply disconnecting the switches that you don't use?
So quick update! I got the pickups in and got them over to a repair tech with my bass. To be fair to him, my entire band uses his services.
Turns out the guy that built my bass was a bit of a mad scientist and so he wasn't able to figure out what to do with everything since he's going from a 3 wire pickup to a 2 wire.
I'm gonna bring it back to the company that built it because hopefully they can make sense of Dave's wiring.
Update to the update!
He is going to install the pickups and disconnect the two switches that I never use since they are the only custom component of the wiring scheme.
Basically going to have 2 'Sklar Producer Switches' now which is entirely fine by me.
I got a pair of the PVs and I’ve tried them at a few rehearsals. They are quite different from any other pickup I’ve ever tried. They are not bright pickups, which threw me at first. IMHO the defining characteristic of the sound is its incredible clarity. But not the kind of clarity that means lots of defined highs and high mids, they are big and thick sounding. The lows have their own clarity, and I could clearly hear the fundamental of each note through a 10 piece funk band, without having turn myself up loud.
I’m selling the bass I put them into because I don’t get along with the neck. But I’m keeping the pickups to try in something else down the line. They are really cool, but I’m going to have to play them in a few different situations to get a good read on how the sound and feel.
I’m selling the bass I put them into because I don’t get along with the neck. But I’m keeping the pickups to try in something else down the line. They are really cool, but I’m going to have to play them in a few different situations to get a good read on how the sound and feel.
These should be installed exactly the same as the Big Singles. Ignore the fact that you don't have a gray wire.
The routes in the bass I intended to put these in weren't deep enough, and I haven't decided if it's worth it to me to have a local pro fix that up (partly because I'd also have them do setup/Plek on a couple other basses and I've already exceeded my budget for the year).
Reading about the sound. . . yeah, I don't know. The target bass is already "thick" enough, it's got a hardwood combination that means it's got a very solid thick sound and honestly I need some spongier-brighter pickups to offset that. I had Big Rigs in it before, they are nice but also not the right fit probably.
Reading about the sound. . . yeah, I don't know. The target bass is already "thick" enough, it's got a hardwood combination that means it's got a very solid thick sound and honestly I need some spongier-brighter pickups to offset that. I had Big Rigs in it before, they are nice but also not the right fit probably.
That's exactly what he did.
The issue was that the two switches which were a custom install looked like they belonged to the preamp so he assumed that the whole preamp was custom.
We got it all straightened out and I gotta say the absolute insane range of tones I get out of these is mind-boggling
I’m actually kinda curious about the output of the Polyvox compared to the Big Blades. I’m running the Warm and Wooly Big Blades in a couple of basses (which are HOT), so I’m curious how different the output is compared to some other Nordstrand pickups.
Does anyone have any insight?
Very good output from the Poly Vox to my ears, but nowhere near as hot(nor belligerent) as Warm &Wooly Big Blades.
Hello— quick question for anyone who has installed these in a passive setup—I take it these best with 250k pots? Thanks!
I currently run DC5's in parallel in my bass and I love the tones I can get out of them. In general I would describe them as defined, articulate and with a hint of warmth. But the GAS doesn't stop and the Polyvox are very intriguing.
How do the Polyvox pups compare to the DC's? What can I expect from a switch? More clarity?
How do the Polyvox pups compare to the DC's? What can I expect from a switch? More clarity?
I listed my PolyVox 4 35DC sized set for sale if anyone is interested. I was attempting a Justin Chancellor type build with a Spector ReBop. Instead I am parting it all out in the classifieds and will probably also list the ReBop as well.
The PolyVox to me have a pronounced and full low end with a very clear and natural sounding tone.
The PolyVox to me have a pronounced and full low end with a very clear and natural sounding tone.
