They absolutely work well with filter based pre’s! I run mine through an Underhill Bass pre (filter and Q for each PU), and the results are amazing.
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Nordstrand Zen Blade
- Thread starter sikamikanico
- Start date
Loved this experiment so I added a couple more PBass tones, and made it into a playlist, if you're curious. All made with "no bass" tracks so you're really only hearing the Zen.
Who said you can't get vintage tones with an active multiscale 5er?
Who said you can't get vintage tones with an active multiscale 5er?
I've been continuously amazed by how versatile these pickups areI think they are a fantastic foundation to build upon, and I believe this is a case where "neutral" is great, because you can have them become so many different things.
I've had lots of fun trying to replicate classic tones!
Here's an experiment : neck pickup in series, tone rolled back to 1/3, low mids boosted, highs and lows slightly cut, straight to Scarlett 2i4, some compression and a bit of distortion added (the cheap Audacity ones).
Did I nail this P bass tone, in your opinion?
tasty!
As I'm about to get a bass with Zen Blade pickups and Lusithand filter preamps, how did you wire the pickups? Series or parallel? Did you wire them both ways to compare?
I noticed a few pages back that parallel is listed as default on the wiring instructions from Nordstrand.
Just trying to get some real world experience if possible.
from MO: def NOT Parallel
Mine are wired parallel with a similar pre, and I love it! YMMV
I think maybe two different uses of "parallel" are being conflated. I believe the default for the Zen Blades is that each pickup is wired in series internally (unless requested otherwise), but the two pickups are wired with each other in parallel. Which would make sense, as it's pretty much the standard for two-humbucker instruments.
But some here have wire the Zens parallel 'internally'.
Of course. But from talking with Mo at Nordstrand, intrapickup series wiring is the default starting point unless, as I said, requested otherwise. Doesn't mean parallel can't or even shouldn't be done.
Being somewhat ignorant here, is Mo a gentleman who works at Nordstrand? Also, as a commercial user, do you work at Nordstrand?
I'm talking about the internal wiring of the pickups, just to be clear. Not what comes afterwards in the preamp section.
For further clarity, the bass is going to be stereo much like an Alembic Series 1, with one Lusithand filter and volume per pickup.
Yes, he is.
Cool. As noted, it's perfectly possible to get each Zen Blade wired in parallel internally, but you do have to ask for it. You can also install a switch that permits either series or parallel usage, which might be another option worth considering. I was just pointing out that the default is series, so if you order without specifying, that's what you're likely to get.
Since this is a Zen Blades thread, I might as well mention that this coming Monday, I'm going to the Nordstrand shop in Redlands to have Mo install a set of Zen Blade 6s and a 3-band preamp in my fretless Shuker! He did the exact same operation on my Shuker's fretted twin 2 years ago, and I've been very happy with the result (replaced old Duncan Basslines).
My Serek Midwestern 2 5-string has Zen Blades, and I’ve been very happy with the tone!
From your previous post,
...it is exceedingly rare for individual pickups, vs some internal combination of coils, to be wired in series, so unless someone specifically says otherwise, it's almost always safe to assume that a pair of pickups are wired parallel.
I don't know about exceedingly, but yes, rather rare; however, not unknown. If you look at post #253, the poster claims to have done exactly that--namely, wired the pickups in series with each other.
By "intrapickup" wiring (as opposed to "interpickup") I of course meant the wiring within the pickup itself. Which, again, is series by default, per Nordstrand, but can easily be switched to parallel.
#253 is me, and I approve this message
I usually like them internally wired in series, especially when soloed, but when wired in series with each other I like it much better when they are internally wired in parallel. Might have to do with the pickup placement, setup and playing style as well.Those pickups sound great in both modes anyway
Seems like as good a time as any to post another picture of my Zen Blade-equipped Martin Keith hollow body Elfin 5. This one has extra-wide spacing at the bridge and nut (my preference), so it's actually using a 6-string Zen Blade....
