I just ordered a set of these in EMG35 covers for a Warmoth 32" scale build.
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Nordstrand Zen Blade
- Thread starter sikamikanico
- Start date
I can say that replacing the wires on these pickups is quite fiddly.. don't be tempted to shorten then to tidy up and then discover they are too short!!
I finished my Zen Blade / John East Uni-pre 5 install in my SRMS805. What a great combo this is!.
The parallel/spiit/series switching I installed was definitely was worthwhile. Parallel give a clearer, more Hi-Fi type of sound, split mode has plenty of output but doesn't really sound like a single coil,l IMO just a noisier version of the parallel option and series is big-booty party time!.
The tone controls are really very flexible and usable. I can really hear the pickups clearly with less electronic haze than the BEQ3. Small adjustments to the tone controls are all very audible.
Mid sweep is very nice if you want to push the mids or dial out any mud. It has fixed a persistent resonance at about 220Hz that was previously making the sound a bit thick. The treble boost/cut is very usable with a bit of roll-off on the parallel passive tone control, which effectively gives you two band HF adjustment so you can go bright without it getting clacky.
This is really a great combo... Definitely recommend it. The install was a bit of a faff, but I'm so glad I did it - the bass is now back in regular use. It might now be my gigging bass of choice if I want to leave my expensive GB 'special' basses' at home. That's a high compliment indeed.
The parallel/spiit/series switching I installed was definitely was worthwhile. Parallel give a clearer, more Hi-Fi type of sound, split mode has plenty of output but doesn't really sound like a single coil,l IMO just a noisier version of the parallel option and series is big-booty party time!.
The tone controls are really very flexible and usable. I can really hear the pickups clearly with less electronic haze than the BEQ3. Small adjustments to the tone controls are all very audible.
Mid sweep is very nice if you want to push the mids or dial out any mud. It has fixed a persistent resonance at about 220Hz that was previously making the sound a bit thick. The treble boost/cut is very usable with a bit of roll-off on the parallel passive tone control, which effectively gives you two band HF adjustment so you can go bright without it getting clacky.
This is really a great combo... Definitely recommend it. The install was a bit of a faff, but I'm so glad I did it - the bass is now back in regular use. It might now be my gigging bass of choice if I want to leave my expensive GB 'special' basses' at home. That's a high compliment indeed.
I got a question for all the Zen Blade users out there.
I installed mine a while ago, in the recommended standard wiring by Nordstrand(I think its series but I will doublecheck and edit the post), in an all passive VVT setup for my bass.
The pickups while very articulate, they are very low output, especially compared to any other passive bass I have, and they lack some bottom end.
Is this how they suppose to sound or is it something going wrong?
I installed mine a while ago, in the recommended standard wiring by Nordstrand(I think its series but I will doublecheck and edit the post), in an all passive VVT setup for my bass.
The pickups while very articulate, they are very low output, especially compared to any other passive bass I have, and they lack some bottom end.
Is this how they suppose to sound or is it something going wrong?
I believe mine is in series as well and it is on the quiet side... not horrifically quiet but yeah, being in a bridge position, I do have it fairly close to the strings.
Same, I like them very close to the strings. I did not notice a particularly low output that way, even in parallel. I will try and compare them with another bass and report back.
I find they have plenty of lows, especially in series; in fact I sometimes have to cut lows when combining the pickups in series for instance.
I find they have plenty of lows, especially in series; in fact I sometimes have to cut lows when combining the pickups in series for instance.
Curious to know where this comes from
Curious to know where this comes from
They include a diagram with your pickup, I'm assuming that's what he's referring to.
- Jan 2, 2006
- 992
- 3,069
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Curt Mangan Strings, & Formerly Wyn Guitars. RIP Randy!!
Hey Johny, Check my post #183.. I'd call Nordstrand and be ready to send them a your description of the issue, and a pic of what your specific install looks like and see what they say. There's got to be an issue. I get plenty of everything, lows, highs etc. IMHO they are a very balanced pickup, but in no way weak across the frequency spectrum. But though I have a passive switch, I use em active... all the time.
Not sure I follow the question. Do you mean if you are using a 2 pickup configuration or are you referring to the pic in the previous post and referring to the rear coil of a single Zen Blade?
If the it is the first, that would be a matter of taste really. Depending on the pickup location, your strings, EQ, and playstyle; you may not hear a difference between series and parallel. I might be weird but I find the difference more pronounce at the mid/neck position where you are starting with a fuller sound.
Some people can really hear a difference, some find it negligible. You might want to try it wired both ways and see what you like best.
Got a question for you Zen masters. I got a bass with a pair of Zen Blades with an Audere Classic 4 band. I have a toggle switch that is not connected and previous owner had no clue on what it was for. I first thought it was an A/P switch, but don't think preamp can be wired with it. Any suggestions on how to wire it? I read I needed two separate switches for s/p, but didn't want to drill another hole.
Right, you could wire one pickup or the other to be s/p but not both off of a single switch.
Active preamps tend to either have a built in a/p switch/toggle or none at all, since usually you have one of the "active EQ" knobs double as the passive tone knob. Furthermore, the Audere is an all-in-one unit if I recall, so you would be potentially tempting fate trying to put it between the volume and the tone shaping pots so that you could have a volume/blend-only passive option (no tone)...
Perhaps the "safest" mod would be a kill switch before the jack? That's still a guess.
TL;DR - Use it to S/P *one* of the pickups only or possibly as a kill switch.
- Jan 2, 2006
- 992
- 3,069
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Curt Mangan Strings, & Formerly Wyn Guitars. RIP Randy!!
This is off the legacy Audere site.. its either a 3 way mid position switch..
Audere Audio Classic Preamps
or a Zmode switch
Audere Preamps
Thanks for the suggestions guys. Is it okay to have one pickup in series and the other in parallel and if okay, which one should have switch, neck or bridge?
You absolutely can do just one or the other. The only thing to consider is balancing volume between pickups as switching tends to add/cut db.
As far as which one... that is your call. Some might do it on the neck others on the bridge. I think the differences are more pronounced (in theory) on the neck pup but bridge pup positions tend to be divisive for many so having options there might be appreciated.
If you can test both pups in a variety of configurations you may want to do so before committing...
Got my Zen installed, finally, in the bridge position of my SRF700. I’m running it (with the stock Bart in the neck) through an Underhill Bass preamp. The Underhill is filter based, so each pickup has a filter sweep, and an adjustable Q, plus blend and master volume. I highly recommend this pre if filters are your thing!
The Zen pairs very well with this set up. Vey punchy and fat. I wired it in series, cause I wanted an aggressive bridge tone, and boy did I get it! The Bart works well in the neck position, but I have a feeling it’s days are numbered.
The Zen pairs very well with this set up. Vey punchy and fat. I wired it in series, cause I wanted an aggressive bridge tone, and boy did I get it! The Bart works well in the neck position, but I have a feeling it’s days are numbered.
Just an update with the issue of the volume of the pickups. I contacted Nordstrand and they confirmed that actually the Zenblades are their lowest output pickups.
They also confirmed that thanks to their design they have a unique magnetic field and having them closer to the strings somewhat helps with the volume.
My conclusion, Zenblades are low output by design and I personally think an active configuration will probably do wonders with their output. With that said I still play them passive for now, and still love their sound.
Same, no room for a preamp in my little travel bass...
I bought a set directly from Nordstrand and they're both labeled ZenBlade6b. I can't find any indication as to which is bridge and which is neck.
Are they supposed to be identical? or did Nordstrand send me two bridge pickups?
Edit: Just found the 'B' printed on the bottom of both of them. Already waited a few weeks for these pups, fun!
Are they supposed to be identical? or did Nordstrand send me two bridge pickups?
Edit: Just found the 'B' printed on the bottom of both of them. Already waited a few weeks for these pups, fun!
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