Nordy Bigman4?

[dukeorock]

Heck yeah! It really is an amazing pickup...

I agree. It's a great hybrid of things to me. Clear and open, but quite full sounding. My tech was a little confused on how to wire it...apparently in series you can only have one volume? I'd be fine with that if I could have two volumes in parallel, I'm thinking, since I never run them both full. Never run both pickups full with any two pickup bass, because of phase. Does that make sense?

 

[Joshua]

Interesting, but my wiring is pretty rusty. One volume in series is correct to my knowledge, but you should be able to have a second volume for parallel like you'd have in a jazz bass with that option. So both volumes would work in parallel but only one of them in series.

But I do run my 2 pickup basses with both wide open at times. Favoring a pickup definitely happens as well, but can't say I don't run them full blast sometimes!

 

[dukeorock]

Interesting, but my wiring is pretty rusty. One volume in series is correct to my knowledge, but you should be able to have a second volume for parallel like you'd have in a jazz bass with that option. So both volumes would work in parallel but only one of them in series.

But I do run my 2 pickup basses with both wide open at times. Favoring a pickup definitely happens as well, but can't say I don't run them full blast sometimes!

Very cool, thank you! I really am curious about series with the single pickup...I'm also considering installing a second one, so...heck, I dunno! The setup on that bass isn't dialed yet, so I may just have the tech do a series/parallel switch to see if I only want the one pickup!

Any chance you could describe the difference in tone for you when you run series?

 

[songwriter21]

The Big BladeMan looks intriguing too, should I ever decide to try to get near the Wal vibe (which I love!). Need to stumble into the right bass for that kinda build up.

Since this parts bass I have is routed for a MM pickup, I got a Bigman in that shell. It's at my techs place waiting for an install and general setup. I should get it early next week

Get one of these guys' preamps, and you don't need to shell out a small mortgage for a Wal!

Invalid Link Removed

And there are these pickups, too:

Super Quad Pickup

 

[Joshua]

Wow - tough one, but I'll try. Single coil is the easiest to describe; the pickup is in the 'Ray position and it's the bridge side that is active in single coil mode, so it pretty much sounds like a hyped up J bass bridge pickup. The Big Single is (imo) pretty much "more" of everything that a standard J single coil pickup brings. Parallel is basically Stingray. Kinda scooped with plenty of lows and highs. The ebony board probably adds some brightness, but you can tell the pickup ain't hurting in that department either. Series is bigger and bolder than Parallel, with more mids and less extended high end. Kind of angry sounding if that makes any sense, but the overall bridge positioning/fretless thing makes for a good amount of growl as well. More gain in Series too, so I have to roll volume a hair down to match parallel or single coil.

Does any of that make any sense?

 

[dukeorock]

Wow - tough one, but I'll try. Single coil is the easiest to describe; the pickup is in the 'Ray position and it's the bridge side that is active in single coil mode, so it pretty much sounds like a hyped up J bass bridge pickup. The Big Single is (imo) pretty much "more" of everything that a standard J single coil pickup brings. Parallel is basically Stingray. Kinda scooped with plenty of lows and highs. The ebony board probably adds some brightness, but you can tell the pickup ain't hurting in that department either. Series is bigger and bolder than Parallel, with more mids and less extended high end. Kind of angry sounding if that makes any sense, but the overall bridge positioning/fretless thing makes for a good amount of growl as well. More gain in Series too, so I have to roll volume a hair down to match parallel or single coil.

Does any of that make any sense?

Sure does! Gonna have to give that a spin! Thank you

 

[somebrains]

I didn't even think about fretless use.
Series would be perfect, tons of power on tap.

 

[Joshua]

Indeed! And credit where credit is due; it was Karl Hoyt (@hoytbasses ) who hipped me to the pickup. He recommended it and we went with it!

 

[dukeorock]

Got to test drive the Bigman at a rehearsal tonight. Brought another bass I'd been messing around with along, but the band preferred the parts bass with the Bigman. It really did sound good! Definitely sounds like a J bass, but more. Now I really want to try it in series! First run in a band situation was very positive

 

[somebrains]

Got to test drive the Bigman at a rehearsal tonight. Brought another bass I'd been messing around with along, but the band preferred the parts bass with the Bigman. It really did sound good! Definitely sounds like a J bass, but more. Now I really want to try it in series! First run in a band situation was very positive

BM puts a hood scoop and flames on the J sound.
I'm really interested in what you think when you try out more selections.
You have the ability to hear your Bm and come back to us with different cabs or cab ideas.
First thing when I was in series...."I need 10's like right now".

Also, I think I'm going to run my Electric Blue into a power amp bc I really wanna mess around with semi parametric EQ and build out a library. I think thru an amp BM's are like a tight overlap cam swap where you can just put your foot into your motor and it keeps going, a valve spring change and you get even more out of it.

A quick solder job and you can setup whatever you want.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1941/7837/files/MM-Wiring-Diagram-1.pdf?17228588933702652950

Kinda note down what you have right now to use later.
I didn't and I ended up with both inner coils in single mode.....which was a really interesting humbucker.
It's somewhere documented on my phone or something.

 

[somebrains]

Wow - tough one, but I'll try. Single coil is the easiest to describe; the pickup is in the 'Ray position and it's the bridge side that is active in single coil mode, so it pretty much sounds like a hyped up J bass bridge pickup. The Big Single is (imo) pretty much "more" of everything that a standard J single coil pickup brings. Parallel is basically Stingray. Kinda scooped with plenty of lows and highs. The ebony board probably adds some brightness, but you can tell the pickup ain't hurting in that department either. Series is bigger and bolder than Parallel, with more mids and less extended high end. Kind of angry sounding if that makes any sense, but the overall bridge positioning/fretless thing makes for a good amount of growl as well. More gain in Series too, so I have to roll volume a hair down to match parallel or single coil.

Does any of that make any sense?

Describing parallel and series is where I don't have an equivalent.

I'll grab my Stingray to A/B to the $$, and yeah the BMs are really big in everyway. There is a bite to the BM, with definition that is very complex bc there's so much of it.

The Ray is easy, you know what they sound like.
The $$ I'm using both BMs a lot.
Take it into a gear shop and everyone looks over like "*** is that?".

Parallel is nice, I specifically wandered into a place that had an old Mesa 215 with EV 15l's. I used the new Fender tube head and a Genzler 800. The 90's warm mid thing was there. Big attack was there when I switched heads.

I tried out a heritage 810 with a GK fusion 500 and an SVT heritage in series. Holy rock explosion. Series is loud and satisfyingly scooped. It's an Alnico pair of pickups so the permanent edgy ceramic sound that's hard to shape isn't a problem.

BMs have made amp and cab matching more of a priority.
I'm trying to find the edge of them, bc they seem to have a way higher toque curve than what I've used or installed in the past.

People talk about passive pickups having essentially unlimited headroom compared to an active setup.
Well, I might have to go try a poweramp and see how deep the BMs can dig before they flatten out.
I already know that in parallel the "gobs of golden compression" thing is the richest and most complex I've tried so far.

 

[Joshua]

"Definition" and "bite" are excellent descriptive terms for the BigMan! When we consider that the pickup is two uber hyped singles coils crammed into a single shell, those terms make perfect sense.

And if it helps, I'm using a Bergantino IP setup, which is pretty much "my bass only louder". For sure, the character of the pickup comes screaming through, and that's a great thing.

 

[dukeorock]

"Definition" and "bite" are excellent descriptive terms for the BigMan! When we consider that the pickup is two uber hyped singles coils crammed into a single shell, those terms make perfect sense.

And if it helps, I'm using a Bergantino IP setup, which is pretty much "my bass only louder". For sure, the character of the pickup comes screaming through, and that's a great thing.

Agreed! I've never been a J person. I hear plenty of folks who sound amazing on em, but I'm not one of them. Bought 3 different and really great J basses, but none of em took

Now the Bigman has a J 'thing' for sure, but whatever the added fairy dust is on these totally works for me

 

[somebrains]

The J for guys that need a lot more J than usual.
It's a great P that's made out of 2 J's without hitting the wall really hit PS stumble over.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Get one of these guys' preamps, and you don't need to shell out a small mortgage for a Wal!

Invalid Link Removed

And there are these pickups, too:

Super Quad Pickup

I couldn't find if he sells the preamp or just in his basses.. do you happen to know?

 

[somebrains]

Looks like his preamps are ready to ship worldwide.

Someone buy one of these, someone else get an Audere, I'll buy the Noll you can sweep everything, and we compare our findings.

 

[spiritbass]

This is the Pickup Police. Step away from the basses. You guys are having WAY too much fun with this pickup!

But seriously, I love the tones you were producing with your humble parts bass and the Big Man, @dukeorock ! I can only imagine how good @Joshua's custom fretless sounds. I have only recently introduced my ears to the delights of AlNico Nordstrand pickups (NP-4a and Big Split). Carey's got something special going on with his angled pole piece designs.

 

[spiritbass]

Count me in as a BigMan user, I've got one in my Karl Hoyt 4 string fretless:

View attachment 2814846

Wired series/parallel/single. The 3 options offer a buttload of versatility and while I find myself in series most often, I couldn't pick a fave.

I learned just the other day that not all people find spalted wood attractive ( ), but I am not one of them. Beautiful bass, brother!

 

[dukeorock]

This is the Pickup Police. Step away from the basses. You guys are having WAY too much fun with this pickup!

But seriously, I love the tones you were producing with your humble parts bass and the Big Man, @dukeorock ! I can only imagine how good @Joshua's custom fretless sounds. I have only recently introduced my ears to the delights of AlNico Nordstrand pickups (NP-4a and Big Split). Carey's got something special going on with his angled pole piece designs.

Thanks! I got that parts bass specifically to try out different things. I'm really glad I stumbled onto the Bigman and Nordy pickups in general. Dealing with the folks over there has been such a pleasure too! I can get behind a company like this

 

[Joshua]

I learned just the other day that not all people find spalted wood attractive ( ), but I am not one of them. Beautiful bass, brother!

Many thanks! I love spalted maple, but mostly prefer more standardized finishes. This is my only specialty topped bass. And Karl makes an amazing instrument, for sure.

Full disclosure, however; I am a J guy through and through! I've got a phenomenal Jaco tribute made from USA Custom parts with Lollar pickups, a 90s Hamer Cruise with SD Antiquity IIs, and a Suhr Classic J Pro (the Suhr is on order). The goal of the Hoyt bass with the BigMan was as a bit of a homage to Les Claypool. I don't play like him at all, but he is one of my faves and I wanted to add a real unique fretless to my humble collection.

And on that note, I played the bass at length last night and can only reiterate how happy I am with it, and specifically how great it sounds (not how great I sound!). Single coil is serious J bridge pickup tone, parallel is full bodied clarity, and series is just nasty. I found myself mostly in series because it's brute force is kind of intoxicating, but all the tones are great.

Word of warning to @dukeorock on series though, it can be a bit of a shock the first time you hear it. Lotta stuff going on in that tone!