Official Nordstrand Acinonyx Cat bass club

[melodiaopus]

Is the V2 3 pickup version not closer to your sound?

Just a personal view but I see the Cat bass as a vehicle for the Nordstrand Cat pickups. If the V2 doesn’t do it, wouldn’t you be better looking for a short scale, lightweight Jazz bass, if that is the sound you are after? Fender Japan short scale, or spec up a Maruszczyk Elwood (they do a chambered version), or a Vox Starstream 2S (even Artist version if you can afford it).

That’s a good point, but I’d rather not spend a thousand dollars where I could probably get a solid sounding thunderbird pickup that fits in the Acinoynx

 

[monsterthompson]

That’s a good point, but I’d rather not spend a thousand dollars where I could probably get a solid sounding thunderbird pickup that fits in the Acinoynx

Not to be argumentative, but $1,000 ignores any sales proceeds from a v1 you could roll into a v2 (unless you planned to keep both). Selling can be a pain though. You'd be out $100+ in shipping if you couldn't find a local sale.

 

[Johnny Alien]

My experience with the Acinonyx bass has unfortunately not ended well. If anyone wants the following items hit me up. I have a brand new parchment pickguard I got from Nordstrand and a brand new set of GHS short scale Balanced Nickel. I will let them go for less than what you can get them for from the source.

 

[melodiaopus]

Not to be argumentative, but $1,000 ignores any sales proceeds from a v1 you could roll into a v2 (unless you planned to keep both). Selling can be a pain though. You'd be out $100+ in shipping if you couldn't find a local sale.

Yeah, I’d like to keep it and just put new pickups in it. That’s the path of least resistance really. I’d hate to get rid of the bass, when it could be just a simple fix of swapping out the pickups.

 

[Greywoulf]

Yeah, I’d like to keep it and just put new pickups in it. That’s the path of least resistance really. I’d hate to get rid of the bass, when it could be just a simple fix of swapping out the pickups.

Aat 's surprising to me as one of the main things I like about the Acinonyx Cat (besides it's size) is it's cool pups. I even had my luthier install Nordstrand's replacement Mustang pups when the Squier one's failed...
Oh well, nothing it seems varies so much among bassists as does one's appreciation of 'tone'. I guess I should be at least somewhat grateful sometimes for my hearing loss (and correcting aids), as now most BG tones sound pretty good to me! (~As long as there's not too much damn twangy ~treble!!)
But then nothing ever sounds as good to me as the sounds emanating from a full classic size double-bass! ~!!

 

[SoniaMara]

Aat 's surprising to me as one of the main things I like about the Acinonyx Cat (besides it's size) is it's cool pups. I even had my luthier install Nordstrand's replacement Mustang pups when the Squier one's failed...
Oh well, nothing it seems varies so much among bassists as does one's appreciation of 'tone'. I guess I should be at least somewhat grateful sometimes for my hearing loss (and correcting aids), as now most BG tones sound pretty good to me! (~As long as there's not too much damn twangy ~treble!!)
But nothing ever sounds as good to me as the sounds emanating from a full classic size double-bass! ~!!

Yep, it's all very personal.

 

[Michael Vee]

Yep, it's all very personal.

Sonia, is Nordstrand selling many of the CatPups so far? Do you know what kind of basses buyers are putting them into at all?

 

[SoniaMara]

Sonia, is Nordstrand selling many of the CatPups so far? Do you know what kind of basses buyers are putting them into at all?

I've heard there are catstangs floating around out there.

 

[SoniaMara]

I've heard there are catstangs floating around out there.

Sonia, is Nordstrand selling many of the CatPups so far? Do you know what kind of basses buyers are putting them into at all?

I also know there is one particular builder that purchased some. I havent seen them in use tho.

 

[OtherLisa]

I've heard there are catstangs floating around out there.

HAH I'd be in that for the name alone.

 

[Michael Vee]

I've heard there are catstangs floating around out there.

@SoniaMara - What is a Catstang? Routing a Mustang body pickup area for the rectangular CatPup?

 

[George Gillis]

Just received my Acinonyx V1 bass from Music City Live/Pitbull Audio through Reverb. I know this is old news to all of you but I love this little guy. I own a 1968 Dan Armstrong prototype, a Fender Wildwood Coronado of the same year, and also a USA Fender Mustang Performer that I made active with an Audere preamp. They're all totally different animals but the Cat Bass is the biggest surprise as far as fat tone and playability. Quality control gets a B but I wouldn't change anything on it except maybe get some GHS flatwounds down the line. I'm posting this for all the newbies who wonder if this bass is worth getting. BTW, I almost bought a gig bag from Nordstrand but they wanted $60 to ship a $99 bag. Obscene! I had a Levy's Deluxe guitar gig bag from Sweetwater and discovered it fits the Acinonyx like a glove. 25mm padding with accessory pockets. Twenty dollars more but free shipping.

 

[monsterthompson]

I had a Levy's Deluxe guitar gig bag from Sweetwater and discovered it fits the Acinonyx like a glove. 25mm padding with accessory pockets. Twenty dollars more but free shipping.

Fantastic info. I have a GruvGear Gig Blade that's bigger than I need for the Cat, but it works with my other basses too, so no real complaints.

 

[Greywoulf]

@SoniaMara - What is a Catstang? Routing a Mustang body pickup area for the rectangular CatPup?

My CV60's Mustang has had it's small Fender/Squier pup split sections replaced by Nordstrands. They're close to the same size as the smaller Mustang pups and are just about drop-ins... The original pup failed on my Stang and the local luthier installed Nordstrands for only $30 more than a generic type, so I said why not? They sound good and I'm pleased with them...
~So voila -not exactly a Catstang, but certainly a Nordstang?
I'm thinking you could certainly replace a Mustang's split style pup with a single V1 Cat's square model, but you'd have to do some fancy routing to fit it..

 

[Greywoulf]

Just received my Acinonyx V1 bass from Music City Live/Pitbull Audio through Reverb. I know this is old news to all of you but I love this little guy. I own a 1968 Dan Armstrong prototype, a Fender Wildwood Coronado of the same year, and also a USA Fender Mustang Performer that I made active with an Audere preamp. They're all totally different animals but the Cat Bass is the biggest surprise as far as fat tone and playability. Quality control gets a B but I wouldn't change anything on it except maybe get some GHS flatwounds down the line. I'm posting this for all the newbies who wonder if this bass is worth getting. BTW, I almost bought a gig bag from Nordstrand but they wanted $60 to ship a $99 bag. Obscene! I had a Levy's Deluxe guitar gig bag from Sweetwater and discovered it fits the Acinonyx like a glove. 25mm padding with accessory pockets. Twenty dollars more but free shipping.

Real nice bag. I have an $80 Gator Jazzmaster Guitar bag that also fits the Cat very well and has good padding too, but it's not as nice looking nor as protective as that Levy you have...

 

[SoniaMara]

Real nice bag. I have an $80 Gator Jazzmaster Guitar bag that also fits the Cat very well and has good padding too, but it's not as nice looking nor as protective as that Levy you have...

Gator manufactures our bags! Levi and Gator are owned by the same co.

 

[melodiaopus]

Yeah, I’d like to keep it and just put new pickups in it. That’s the path of least resistance really. I’d hate to get rid of the bass, when it could be just a simple fix of swapping out the pickups.

After more research, with cost of custom pickups and then possibly having to modify the bass it might get closer to the $1000 mark. I think the V2 option seems to be the balance I'm needing. I think I'll try that and see if that fixes the issue I'm having with the V1.

@SoniaMara Any plans to have a Sonic Blue option for the V2 ??

 

[SoniaMara]

We are locked into the colors we have unfortunately.

 

[Johnny Alien]

I support going the V2 route but just as a note with the swimming pool route on this bass I don't think there would be much modifying beyond the pickguard. Its hard to say how the default tone settings would work for other pickups though. It was designed with the stock set in mind.

Can anyone measure the stock saddle width for me? These have a 17mm string spacing at the bridge right? I assume the saddles are slight under that then.

 

[SoniaMara]

Yeah, I’d like to keep it and just put new pickups in it. That’s the path of least resistance really. I’d hate to get rid of the bass, when it could be just a simple fix of swapping out the pickups.

a note... from mo: We are not convinced that you will get the tone you are looking for in either of these choices. A real honest answer... courtesy of Nordstrand!