Nordstrand Zen Blade

[rapidfirerob]

It's interesting that for my model Ibanez, it needs Zen Blade 5 pickups. My bass is a four string.
Max of Fat Bass Tone knew right away. We spoke for a long time. He's great. A one man operation
in Maine. He had what I needed in a demo, as in it was in a bass for less than 30 minutes, so I
saved $30.

 

[sikamikanico]

It's interesting that for my model Ibanez, it needs Zen Blade 5 pickups. My bass is a four string.
Max of Fat Bass Tone knew right away. We spoke for a long time. He's great. A one man operation
in Maine. He had what I needed in a demo, as in it was in a bass for less than 30 minutes, so I
saved $30.

I thought that was pretty common on multiscale basses? Gotta adjust for the slant… but it’s also not that rare on parallel fret 4 string basses…

 

[rapidfirerob]

I thought that was pretty common on multiscale basses? Gotta adjust for the slant… but it’s also not that rare on parallel fret 4 string basses…

I got the bass recently and have no other experience with multi scale basses other than trying out a Dingwall at NAMM. I've also
never swapped pickups. I tried calling Nordstrand for information and could never get through to them. Max was great at Fat Bass Tone.

 

[BassBeginer64]

Contact Mo, at Nordstrand, he is the one the the main tech/luthier he has set up a few of my bass's with the zen blades
[email protected]

 

[rapidfirerob]

Contact Mo, at Nordstrand, he is the one the the main tech/luthier he has set up a few of my bass's with the zen blades
[email protected]

Thanks but they're installed and sound great.

 

[primussucks9126]

Does anyone know which wiring diagram I should follow if I want to wire these series/single/parallel?

I've reached out to Nordstrand directly but I'm waiting on a response. My bass already has 2 3 way switches so I just want to make full use of them.

I'm using this one right now just on the neck pickup to test things, and it isn't working. One of the positions gives me no output.

 

[Memnochthebass]

Does anyone know which wiring diagram I should follow if I want to wire these series/single/parallel?

I've reached out to Nordstrand directly but I'm waiting on a response. My bass already has 2 3 way switches so I just want to make full use of them.

I'm using this one right now just on the neck pickup to test things, and it isn't working. One of the positions gives me no output.
View attachment 5397912

That's the same diagram that I used when I installed my Zen Blades and it works perfectly. Maybe a faulty switch? Other than that, I'm stumped.

 

[tom-g]

The first one for the neck pickup
Middle for the bridge pickup.

 

[primussucks9126]

Thanks guys! That's what I assumed, but just wanted to check before I drive myself crazy trouble shooting.

I've got a few other switches on hand that I'll try out.

 

[MovinTarget]

Thanks guys! That's what I assumed, but just wanted to check before I drive myself crazy trouble shooting.

I've got a few other switches on hand that I'll try out.

Depending on the make/style some of those switches can get crippled when soldering pretty easy...

 

[Alex Masters]

You will need to check whether the switches are type 1 or type 2. They differ in that the connections bridged in the middle position are mirrored.

Either will work, but you need to mirror the wiring horizontally if it's a type 1.
See this link for more info, although I think this is for dimarzio pickup leads.

Guitar Wiring Explored - DPDT On-On-On Switch Wiring

You will need to know which wires are north start/end and south start/end. I presume you want the outer coils for neck and bridge in single coil mode?.

I did a visio diagram when I did it for a double jazz pickup set up - I'll upload it when I can.

 

[Alex Masters]

As above, here's a diagram that I put together for my wiring in my double Jazz GB Classic - it shows the wiring for the bridge and neck pickups to give parallel, single, series switching using two type 1 DPDT on-on-on switches. For a 'type 2' switch, the connections (and the link) need to be mirrored vertically. The colours aren't the same as the Nordstrand zen blade (I think), but hopefully it makes it clear - the purple lines show which pins of the mini toggle are connected in each position, so you can see which pins are connected in each position for a type 1 switch.

If you're still stuck, I'll post a photo of the switching for my Ibanez SRMS805 with Zen blades.

 

[Alex Masters]

 

[mrperkolator]

I run my Zen's through an Underhill filter based pre. I wired it parallel for simplicity, and it sounds amazing! And dead quiet.

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.

I’m interested in the sound of these with a filter. Do either of you have sound clips?

 

[wolverinebass]

I’m interested in the sound of these with a filter. Do either of you have sound clips?

Sure. Here's me playing the bass in stereo. Neck pickup is clean and bridge is distorted. Basically, it sounds like an Alembic Series 1.

 

[Johno Dunn]

Sure. Here's me playing the bass in stereo. Neck pickup is clean and bridge is distorted. Basically, it sounds like an Alembic Series 1.

Nice! A little Ox inspired!

 

[wolverinebass]

Nice! A little Ox inspired!

Yeah, it is a bit. I grew up listening to the Who and I'd always wanted that kind of Alembic Spyder vibe, even though I actually have an Alembic Series 1.

The Lusithand filters are great and I think the Nordstrands are about as close to Alembic pickups as you can get without actually cloning them.

Even using the bass in mono is great too. But stereo, one can do all sorts of bonkers stuff.

It works for me, but of course, probably not for everyone.

 

[gingataff]

A few months late, but... The thing to note in the diagram above is the switches are DPTT, not DPDT. This diagram woould probably be better:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1941/7837/files/Dual-Coil-Diagram.pdf?17228588933702652950

 

[tom-g]

A few months late, but... The thing to note in the diagram above is the switches are DPTT, not DPDT. This diagram woould probably be better:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1941/7837/files/Dual-Coil-Diagram.pdf?17228588933702652950

Nope, same switch, same wiring.

 

[epimaster]

I placed one of these in my Dingwall. damn! - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Personally, in the passive realm, I am a total devotee of pup to pup in series configuration. One objection to parallel configuration is the backward pot wiring required - as volume is lowered the pup sees increasing load, which IMO tends to suck away some of the response, especially top end. Another is that the pups fight each other rather than help each other. (Although some players may find this beneficial). A real world experience: Have a beautifully crafted Schecter (Korean made) bass, through neck with binding, passive pups with active EQ, master volume and blend control. Noticed that each end of the blend, sound was crisp, but getting toward the middle, sound became muddy. Changed to series - night and day - honks big time in mid position, much better control of blend throughout. Also added a phase switch, which provides another level of flexibility. My favorite, mostly neck, add a little bridge out of phase, very spicy with lots of harmonics. Planning to upgrade to Zen Blades from stock EMG. It seems that a lot of the imported basses suffer from bad raps due to poor wiring design. Wiring and pups are fixable, poor construction is forever.