I installed the Nordstrand 3B 4A in my Roscoe last night and with with just a few minutes of testing my installation I like it better than the Demeter that was in it!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
Interesting. Once I mentioned it here the listing updated and no longer showed as permanently closed. I wonder what yahoo submitted that edit in the first place? I went ahead and update their other contact info while I was at it.
I think the mixed covers lend to its modified vibe. Its a heavily modified gun ! Still has the LTF. It’s just silly good. So I put some Aluminum tele knobs on and dropped a few oz. dig those on a p. She did gain weight with the fender BA but it’s still in the “light” club I think. That was to offset her a hair which fixed the balance. I’d put this bass up in the best of the best. At this level it cannot be “better “ equals maybe but not better. Rock !
The email link from their site still has Gard as the recipient!
They still use 1214 Perry Street, but shipments should go to 1216.
If you guys like the Nordstrand preamp you would love the Nordstrand Starlifter Preamp-DI pedal. It's the closest thing I've found to Studio bass tone in a FOH or IEM tone.
NBD!!! Well, not really, BUT my Pleked Buckeye Burl Roscoe LG is back home (unthawing in the case at the this time!! A brisk 33 degrees!) and I installed the Nordstrand 3B-4A in the Roscoe LG Koa and got it working smoothly!
Roscoe's Rock!!
Roscoe's Rock!!
For you guys that have swapped out the Bart preamp for the Nordstrand, what difference have you noticed?
I’m really liking it over the Demeter Preamp that was in it!!! Lots of tone options over the Demeter, which is a nice preamp if less tone variations is what you are after.
I’m waiting to compare the tone spectrum of my two Roscoe’s, which are about equal in tone woods used in their build.
I talked to BBG today and the version that I ordered on the 10th of Jan (for my Roscoe) is still 6 weeks out. Sounds like Nordstrand is slammed!
I ordered the version with the blend in lieu of vol/vol.
Last edited:
In my Koa/Ash SKB with Bart jazz pickups, I honestly didn't notice a *huge* change swapping in a Nordstrand pre for the Bart. If pressed, I'd say the Nord is ever-so-slightly more mid-scooped when everything is flat. My Nord is a 2-band, and the frequency centers are nice and usable. I use the Nordstrand's tone knob a lot (functions in both active and passive mode), and it's nice to have the active/passive functionality. For example, running the same pedalboard settings, I could more easily tame the high end of slapping and popping with the Nordstrand tone knob compared to the Bart pre's high cut knob. As I mentioned before (and not tone-related), although I didn't really run the Nord in passive mode much in performance settings, it was a great piece of mind to know that I was protected against sudden battery-induced drop-out.
Background for above opinions - Between 2018-2019, 60+ hours of IEM monitoring of bass tone with the Bart pre in a full (gigging) band performance setting, and about the same amount of time with the Nordstrand pre. Same musicians in comperable IEM stage environments around Chicagoland. Various IEM and open-ear church and home use interspersed there, too.
I found it somewhat difficult to do a fair comparison between the two Roscoe basses, since the Bart/Barts has new Roscoe's D'Addario strings and my Nordstrand/Barts has Chromes Flats. Both basses are Swamp Ash with BE Maple fingerboard. The necks are different, in that, the Buckeye has maple/wengee/maple with a walnut wedge. But given those differences, I feel the Nordstrand provides a broader tone spectrum over the Bartolini and lets you dial in a more modern tone!
I like both preamps. I don't think you could go wrong with either or be disappointed swapping out the Bartolini for the Nordstrand.
I do wonder, though, what a Pope Flexcore with Aero pups sound in a Roscoe!!!
Thanks for the info. All that I've been able to compare the Nord pre to was the Fender Elite pre that I replaced.
The difference between the Fender Elite pre and the Nord pre (with the Fender Noiseless Gen III pickups) was totally off the charts. The Nord pre makes that bass sound totally modern and boutique like in tone compared to the very harsh sound of the Fender preamp. And it still has a great passive sound too.
I doubt that I'll find that kind of difference between the Bart 3-band and Nord 3-band in my Roscoe. And since I'm totally loving the sound of the Bart with the added Active/Passive P/P switch and Passive tone control it may be a long while before I actually find out just how different they sound.
I know the strings would be a big difference but do you think the Nordie preamp gives a little more clarity?
Thanks for the info. All that I've been able to compare the Nord pre to was the Fender Elite pre that I replaced.
The difference between the Fender Elite pre and the Nord pre (with the Fender Noiseless Gen III pickups) was totally off the charts. The Nord pre makes that bass sound totally modern and boutique like in tone compared to the very harsh sound of the Fender preamp. And it still has a great passive sound too.
I doubt that I'll find that kind of difference between the Bart 3-band and Nord 3-band in my Roscoe. And since I'm totally loving the sound of the Bart with the added Active/Passive P/P switch and Passive tone control it may be a long while before I actually find out just how different they sound.
The Nord pre does have a 'modern' sound to it. I noticed a huge difference putting one in my stock Carvin LB75 years ago. Less difference swapping it into the Roscoe, though. Removing some of those famous 'Bart mids' leaves more room for highs and lows to shine, if that makes sense.
Right! Particularly on the lower end, neck only pup, the Bart/Barts was very boomy compared to the Nord/Barts, but my comparison was done in a regular 10x12 room. I’m waiting to hear the Nord/Barts in a band setting and in the mix. The modern character and Tone Control of the Nordstrand are what I like best.
Lol
We're just never quite sure that we've exhausted all possibilities to obtain that perfect tone. Always just one more thing to try .........
Last edited:
Lol
We're just never quite sure that we've exhausted all possibilities to obtain that perfect tone. Always just one more thing to try .........
I found my tonal Nirvana with an Audere ProZ preamp coupled with Aguilar DCB pickups. There is no passive tone control in this configuration, but I am totally satisfied without one.
Disclaimer: I'm not a fan of the Barts.
I love the Nordstrand preamp! It helps to bring out the compressed frequencies that the Bart is known for. Also, the boost/cut frequency for the treble is more usable. I don't know the MHz numbers off-hand, but the Bart treble is too high for my taste. The Nordstrand is more "real-world" usable. Also, the bass on the Nordstrand doesn't boom like the Bart does.
I have two Roscoes - a fretless 5 that has the Barts and that works for me, and the Century Standard Plus in my Avatar. That's got Nordstrand preamp and pickups.
