When I had Mo put ZenBlades in my basses at the Nordstrand shop, he shielded the pickup cavities as well as checking the shielding in the control cavity. I'd recommend that you do that; it made a difference in my basses.
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Nordstrand Zen Blade
- Thread starter sikamikanico
- Start date
When I had Mo put ZenBlades in my basses at the Nordstrand shop, he shielded the pickup cavities as well as checking the shielding in the control cavity. I'd recommend that you do that; it made a difference in my basses.
I believe P2 should fit, but measure yeah…
is the bass noisy? if it is unshielded, I’d take some time to do that too. But check if it’s already shielded, maybe with shielding paint?
is the bass noisy? if it is unshielded, I’d take some time to do that too. But check if it’s already shielded, maybe with shielding paint?
Not noisy. Someone mentioned the H2 pickups don't need shielding, which is why I asked about the Zen Blades.
Zens are HBs. Why do they need shielding? At least for hum.
Because the hum that HBs buck isn't the only kind of noise that is relevant.
It’s always a good idea to use shielding no matter what pickup you’re using.
Are the ZBs really that susceptible to extraneous noise? Bit disappointed if they are.
I've almost never found it necessary, except in really noisy environments with other than SC.
That’s why I think it’s good idea, because I don’t know when I will be in a really noisy environment, except when I do. And I have played in those and the shielding mattered.
Gah, I hate typing on my phone... "60 cycle hum should NOT be an issue..."
Not necessarily more so than some other pickup types. Some pickups generally appear to be better shielded against interference than others. I never thought the Duncan Basslines that the Zen Blades replaced were susceptible either, until I started playing more often with my mobile in my right front pocket. Then I started getting occasional noise in my bass signal, amplified by the active preamp in the bass.
If you don't have a problem, then you don't have a problem. But if you're replacing pickups, you have to take the old ones out of their cavities anyway, and if you're doing that, it probably can't hurt to shield the pickup cavities while you're in the neighborhood.
I will add, the pickup cavities not only need to be shielded, but they also need to be connected to ground or the shielding won't do anything. I typically solder a black grounding wire to the center of each cavity section, and run the wire to the main electronics cavity along with the pickup leads. It's easy to do, just takes a few extra minutes.
This ^ In addition to 60 Hertz hum, there is electrostatic noise from neon lights, computer screens, etc.
I keep my phone in a pouch on my belt. When I play, I have to move the pouch as far back as it will go on my belt and sometimes
put it elsewhere.
- Apr 29, 2003
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- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
My zen blades 6 string set are for sale in the classifieds. Amazing pickups. Some of my favorite of all time, but not quite the right thing for my particular 6er, so I’m passing them on
Not Zens, I know, but Nordy is at it again!
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nordstrand-poly-vox.1643176/
I had Zen Blades installed in my Ibanez SRMS 800 multi scale. Sounds fantastic! Very happy. Can't wait for the
first gig with these pickups April 7.
first gig with these pickups April 7.
