Sadowsky HumCancelling versus Single Coil pickups. (Clips inside)

[Fran Diaz]

I recorded some clips to A/B HC and SC pickups.

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Details and clips on the link.

 

[pstyle]

interesting.
The single coils do seem to have a little nicer tone.
But what is the annoying hi pitched buzz-like sound thats following ur playing?

 

[ElMon]

I recently made the switch, and though the difference is somewhat subtle, that subtlety amounts to a HUGE difference to my ears. More lows, cleaner highs, more responsive dynamics, and so little hum that its not even really a big factor. Next thing in order is a VTC.

 

[Fran Diaz]

I did the recording without realy hearing what I was playing. Do you know when you're on stage and you can't hear yourself at all? That's almost the way I recorded this. The 788 is a PITA to burn a song to CD so when I heard the weird noise in the morning it was too late.

 

[momo]

cool link, thanks

 

[ptidwell]

Thanks Fran,
I talked to Carey Nordstrand a couple of weeks ago about putting his NJ5 single coils in my Sadowsky MV5. My sad has the VTC, however I didn't consider checking on the availability of the Sadowsky single coils. Carey has a six week wait for his single coils.

 

[Mr_Dave]

... and though the difference is somewhat subtle, that subtlety amounts to a HUGE difference to my ears. More lows, cleaner highs, more responsive dynamics, and so little hum that its not even really a big factor...

+1

 

[Figjam]

The single coils do sound a bit better but its quite close. In a band setting the difference is probably negligible.

 

[DocBop]

The singles have a slightly more bottom, I;m not hearing the highend change. Recording it would be heard, but not live.

 

[ElMon]

The singles have a slightly more bottom, I;m not hearing the highend change. Recording it would be heard, but not live.

Its not that there's any MORE highend necessarily, just a different response IMO.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The difference is subtle, so I would probably go hum cancelling even though the single coils sound a little better. It's really close though.

 

[Alistair R]

Quite interesting. Yes they are very close sounding. I swapped the HC's for single coils as soon as I ordered my Sadowsky. Just think they're a little better.

Frandiaz: You've got two NYC's exactly the same just with the different pickups??!?! Bleh!

 

[tthor]

I've done the same experiment with my MV5 and in a live situation I could not tell the difference, except for the slight buzz from the singles. Maybe it's just my older ears!

 

[ptidwell]

So, since no one commented on my post above. Then it doesn't sound like I will get any big noticeable differences, whether I go Nordstrand or Sadowsky pickup. I have to wait on the nodies, but not the sads. I do however want to drop in the singles as opossed to having the HC's. Hopefully I will discover what ElMon discovered, subtlety amounting to a huge difference to my ears as well.

 

[Alistair R]

So, since no one commented on my post above. Then it doesn't sound like I will get any big noticeable differences, whether I go Nordstrand or Sadowsky pickup. I have to wait on the nodies, but not the sads. I do however want to drop in the singles as opossed to having the HC's. Hopefully I will discover what ElMon discovered, subtlety amounting to a huge difference to my ears as well.

I'd go for the Sads. Don't have to wait, sound great. Never tried a Nordstrand, but I can't imagine them making that much of a difference over the Sadowsky singles.

 

[ptidwell]

I'd go for the Sads. Don't have to wait, sound great. Never tried a Nordstrand, but I can't imagine them making that much of a difference over the Sadowsky singles.

That's what I'm thinking, Carey is local to me but he asked me to go through a dealer to get the pickups and he would put them in. When I contacted BassX the back order is six weeks, and there may need to be some tweaking on the route. So I think the Sads will do just fine.
Thanks

 

[jokerjkny]

awesome!

frankly, IME, for slap, nothing beats the humcancelling pickups. they seem to bark and kick in that lower end that fits my thumb style perfectly. the singles do feel good for fingerstyle stuff, but i'm just as happy w/ the humcancelling.

 

[marc40a]

The singles have a slightly more bottom, I;m not hearing the highend change. Recording it would be heard, but not live.

I'm hearing more lows w/ the HC's. The low mids sound thicker.. the notes have more gravity.. they seem to settle.

the singles sound quicker to me... more of vocal quality.

 

[Stox]

Wow! Thanks for that, I was considering swapping out to single coils on my UV70 and to be honest I dont think its necessary for me after listening to that. I thought the neck pickup on the singles sound nicer but a prefered the hum canceling for the slap - sounded 'fatter'. You would not hear the difference live and in a recorded mix in anything other than a prominent bass solo the difference would be neglible.

Thanks, you just saved me some time and money!

 

[Fran Diaz]

Frandiaz: You've got two NYC's exactly the same just with the different pickups??!?! Bleh!

yeah, ...

...I was moving between two different places and I couldn't carry the bass with me all the time, so I bought two and I ordered them with different pickups to hear the difference by myself...I'm thinking about letting one go 'casue I'm visiting NYC soon and I want to order something different and I don't really need more than 2 Sadowskys (until I go back to fretless )