I opted for the silent j pickup (Nordstrand) in the bridge. Sounds great! Funky as ....Well you know what I mean. It pairs really nice with the P5.
rp
Here's a couple of more pics
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The Nordy Club
- Thread starter Bernie Connors
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I opted for the silent j pickup (Nordstrand) in the bridge. Sounds great! Funky as ....Well you know what I mean. It pairs really nice with the P5.
rp
Here's a couple of more pics
BigMikeW
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Now that's Not fair! Details!!!! ...Did you see my Vj5 in progress? Chances are it's not to any stage where you would recognize it. But boy would that ever light me up! Ok ..Patience isn't my strong suit. So I amuse myself by being annoyingly active on this Nordy Club thread to help pass the time. Looking forward to your report BigMike!
ptidwell
Commercial User
Mike,
Saw Carey over the weekend at the LA GTG, he's got some happening stuff going on right now. FYI, Last month I ordered a Olympic White VJ5 with a PJ/JJ configuration. Carey is routing the neck pickup for a jazz and reverse P with quick connect. Pearloid pickguard for the JJ and Tort for the PJ. Since you are a fan of the PJ5 with a reverse P thought I let you know you don't have to go to NYC to get one. They can be built out here in the 909.
BigMikeW
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What exactly did you order. I am driving back home now.
Yeah, we talked about that!
I ordered an Ash/Maple VJ5 from Scott Pazera in Trans-Coral Blue with Birdseye Maple FB/White Blocks/Binding. Gary
Did you opt for the single NJSV sized Jazz PU, or a Fatstack/Big Split/Big Single? With all this PJ talk, I am considering making Nordy #2 a PJ5 (Reverse P) . But I would go for No blocks/Binding on this one and I might still go with something like a Fatstack or Big Split in the bridge position.
Hey BigMike! You back yet with any news on the happenings at Carey's shop? I keep watching the "What's new" area on his website for a new update. Seems like he posts those about once a month or so. Gary
Mike did you get to hear the Nordy P/J 5? If so what did you think of his P5 tone? Let me know. But first let Gary know if you saw his bass.
rp
rp
ptidwell
Commercial User
Gary,
I went with the Split coil NJ5's, the reversed P is a NP5. I also opted for the pearl block and bindings, Alder body and brazillian rosewood board.
ptidwell
Commercial User
Bernie,
How do you think I feel 7 weeks out
This probably best identifies how I feel
Carey brought a couple of VJ5's to the LA GTG, I didn't even touch them. I would have exploded from GAS.
I can only imagine what you're going through right now! This bass will be amazing...Bernie,
How do you think I feel 7 weeks out
This probably best identifies how I feel
Carey brought a couple of VJ5's to the LA GTG, I didn't even touch them. I would have exploded from GAS.
BigMikeW
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Sorry for the massive delay in getting back to you guys. I got tied up with kids and wife when I got home.
So, I went to see Carey today. Let me first say that Carey is such a nice guy. I mean really pleasant, didn't rush me, took his time and is just a great guy. Genuine and honest were things I kept thinking.
Stew on the other hand.
Nah! Stew was great too. Very quiet and calm demeanor. Very different from my type A personality. LOL
Just loved meeting these guys.
Carey took about an hour showing me stuff and talking to me about the pickups. He really took the time to explain the tonal differences between his NJ5's, the FatStacks, Big Single and the Big Splits.
Of all the pickups, I preferred the NJ5 Single Coils best. BUT, that is solo'd and not in my normal Modern Country enviro. THough I love them I think they'd be too aggressive in that type of supporting role.
I will say this though. Those are hands down the best Jazz pickup I have ever heard and man were they aggressive. Very growly and forward. Lots of bite. If that is your thing BUY A SET ASAP!
I saw and heard Tom's bass with the Fat Stacks. Very nice. I played Carey's Sherwood Green VJ5 with the Big Splits. That seems to be the ticket I think for me. More forward and biting than the Fat Stacks but still big and full. It should paly the supporting role well and at the same time provide great definition and punch to the notes.
I took my Sadowsky Ash/Maple PJ5 for Carey to check out. He dug the tone.
I am still shocked at the weight of the VJ5's. Both of my PJ5's weight right around 8.5 - 8.75 lbs. Perfect for me. Both are chambered bodies. Carey's VJ5 is not chambered, full size jazz and still weighed about the same. That just shocked me.
Only downside I se right now, and this is just a personal thing, is the neck width and profile. I guess my hands arent' as small as I thought because Carey's necks are thinner and a hair narrower than the Sadowsky 5er necks and I think I prefer the bigger Sadowsky neck.
We'll see. Carey was kind enough to let me borrow HIS Shwerwood Green VJ5 for a week or so to see if it'll work for me. I hope it does because that is the ONLY CON I can find.
The fit and finish is amazing. He showed me a Candy Apple Red 5er like Toms (with all the knobs) and I could not find a flaw anywhere on it. Just amazing. And no, it wasn't done by Pat Wilkins. That surprised me too.
I found out that the preamp I heard in the J5 at the Bass Exchagne was the OBP-3 and NOT the Audere. That madea lot of sense because I do not like the Aguilar preamps at all.
I heard the Audere and it is very nice. Like Carey points out, it sound like your passive tone just boosted. There isn't that high end push that you get froom some preamps. I liked it a lot.
Got to hear Carey's preamp and really liked that as well. Defintely a winner so far. Very rich tone. We also discussed some other "Nordstrand" preamp possibilities but I will let Carey talk about that if he goes forward.
We talked about his P5 pickup afeter hearing the Sadowsky P. I was happy to hear what he said about its tone. I didn't get to hear one but I am intrigued to hear what it sounds like.
So as of right now it is a "let's see if I can play this neck" thang. I have bad tendinitis and today my left hand was aching. Makes me play like crap. (Thanks for not laughing to hard Carey and Stew).
I will say this though. The necks are incredibly fast and very solid. Like I said, for me it'll just be a matter of if I will be comfortable playing a neck that is a lot thinner than the Sadowsky necks.
We'll see over the next week. If it works for me, I may be ordering a PJ5 Reversed P and a VJ5 with Big Splits. Preamp? Not sure right now. My heart still lies with that sadwsky tone so my first option is the Sadowsky pre. BUT that Audere and Carey's sounded great too. We'll see.
Gary - Didn't see your bass man.
Here is Carey's bass he let me borrow. What a guy.
Link Removed
So, I went to see Carey today. Let me first say that Carey is such a nice guy. I mean really pleasant, didn't rush me, took his time and is just a great guy. Genuine and honest were things I kept thinking.
Stew on the other hand.
Nah! Stew was great too. Very quiet and calm demeanor. Very different from my type A personality. LOLJust loved meeting these guys.
Carey took about an hour showing me stuff and talking to me about the pickups. He really took the time to explain the tonal differences between his NJ5's, the FatStacks, Big Single and the Big Splits.
Of all the pickups, I preferred the NJ5 Single Coils best. BUT, that is solo'd and not in my normal Modern Country enviro. THough I love them I think they'd be too aggressive in that type of supporting role.
I will say this though. Those are hands down the best Jazz pickup I have ever heard and man were they aggressive. Very growly and forward. Lots of bite. If that is your thing BUY A SET ASAP!
I saw and heard Tom's bass with the Fat Stacks. Very nice. I played Carey's Sherwood Green VJ5 with the Big Splits. That seems to be the ticket I think for me. More forward and biting than the Fat Stacks but still big and full. It should paly the supporting role well and at the same time provide great definition and punch to the notes.
I took my Sadowsky Ash/Maple PJ5 for Carey to check out. He dug the tone.
I am still shocked at the weight of the VJ5's. Both of my PJ5's weight right around 8.5 - 8.75 lbs. Perfect for me. Both are chambered bodies. Carey's VJ5 is not chambered, full size jazz and still weighed about the same. That just shocked me.
Only downside I se right now, and this is just a personal thing, is the neck width and profile. I guess my hands arent' as small as I thought because Carey's necks are thinner and a hair narrower than the Sadowsky 5er necks and I think I prefer the bigger Sadowsky neck.
We'll see. Carey was kind enough to let me borrow HIS Shwerwood Green VJ5 for a week or so to see if it'll work for me. I hope it does because that is the ONLY CON I can find.
The fit and finish is amazing. He showed me a Candy Apple Red 5er like Toms (with all the knobs) and I could not find a flaw anywhere on it. Just amazing. And no, it wasn't done by Pat Wilkins. That surprised me too.
I found out that the preamp I heard in the J5 at the Bass Exchagne was the OBP-3 and NOT the Audere. That madea lot of sense because I do not like the Aguilar preamps at all.
I heard the Audere and it is very nice. Like Carey points out, it sound like your passive tone just boosted. There isn't that high end push that you get froom some preamps. I liked it a lot.
Got to hear Carey's preamp and really liked that as well. Defintely a winner so far. Very rich tone. We also discussed some other "Nordstrand" preamp possibilities but I will let Carey talk about that if he goes forward.
We talked about his P5 pickup afeter hearing the Sadowsky P. I was happy to hear what he said about its tone. I didn't get to hear one but I am intrigued to hear what it sounds like.
So as of right now it is a "let's see if I can play this neck" thang. I have bad tendinitis and today my left hand was aching. Makes me play like crap. (Thanks for not laughing to hard Carey and Stew).
I will say this though. The necks are incredibly fast and very solid. Like I said, for me it'll just be a matter of if I will be comfortable playing a neck that is a lot thinner than the Sadowsky necks.
We'll see over the next week. If it works for me, I may be ordering a PJ5 Reversed P and a VJ5 with Big Splits. Preamp? Not sure right now. My heart still lies with that sadwsky tone so my first option is the Sadowsky pre. BUT that Audere and Carey's sounded great too. We'll see.
Gary - Didn't see your bass man.
Here is Carey's bass he let me borrow. What a guy.
Link Removed
Awesome report Mike! Wow. What an opportunity!
Glad you resolved the Preamp question. (So that was an Aguilar OBP-3 that didn't work for you. That makes more sense.) Seems people either really like the Aggies or not at all. I chose the Audere Pre with passive tone. It should rock, and I am even more glad I chose it after reading your report. I love the extra gain and onboard tonal flexibility that an active pre offers, opposed to just having a passive tone control only.
Can you describe the tonal differences between the Big Splits versus the FatStacks in any more detail? I like Pickups that have excellent punch and clarity, but can growl with a fat burpy Jaco tone. (always funny trying to describe tone with words isn't it?) I do like aggressive PU's.
I am closer to spec'ing the Big Splits as the PU's that go in my VJ5 that is in the oven.
I wonder which bridge PU Carey favors or recommends when paired with his NP5? The NJ5? Or a Big Single/Big Split perhaps?
I didn't really expect you would see my Vj5 yet. Thanks anyway. I'm guessing it hasn't, and won't go be in paint for a while longer. I ordered it the end of April. So it's still early.
From what you described of the neck Profile, I know I'm going to love it. I've always thought the Sadowsky profile on their 5'er was just a bit chunky for me. Not bad, but a bit deeper "C" than what I'm used to.
Keep us posted on the sounds of that Green VJ5. In fact, post sound clips if you can!!! Does it have the Big Splits? Which Preamp is in it? Thanks again. Gary
Glad you resolved the Preamp question. (So that was an Aguilar OBP-3 that didn't work for you. That makes more sense.) Seems people either really like the Aggies or not at all. I chose the Audere Pre with passive tone. It should rock, and I am even more glad I chose it after reading your report. I love the extra gain and onboard tonal flexibility that an active pre offers, opposed to just having a passive tone control only.
Can you describe the tonal differences between the Big Splits versus the FatStacks in any more detail? I like Pickups that have excellent punch and clarity, but can growl with a fat burpy Jaco tone. (always funny trying to describe tone with words isn't it?) I do like aggressive PU's.
I am closer to spec'ing the Big Splits as the PU's that go in my VJ5 that is in the oven.
I wonder which bridge PU Carey favors or recommends when paired with his NP5? The NJ5? Or a Big Single/Big Split perhaps?
I didn't really expect you would see my Vj5 yet. Thanks anyway. I'm guessing it hasn't, and won't go be in paint for a while longer. I ordered it the end of April. So it's still early.
From what you described of the neck Profile, I know I'm going to love it. I've always thought the Sadowsky profile on their 5'er was just a bit chunky for me. Not bad, but a bit deeper "C" than what I'm used to.
Keep us posted on the sounds of that Green VJ5. In fact, post sound clips if you can!!!
Does it have the Big Splits? Which Preamp is in it? Thanks again. GaryBigMikeW
Inactive
- May 25, 2005
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- Banned by TB Administration for refusal to account for funds
Awesome report Mike! Wow. What an opportunity!
Glad you resolved the Preamp question. (So that was an Aguilar OBP-3 that didn't work for you. That makes more sense.) Seems people either really like the Aggies or not at all. I chose the Audere Pre with passive tone. It should rock, and I am even more glad I chose it after reading your report. I love the extra gain and onboard tonal flexibility that an active pre offers, opposed to just having a passive tone control only.
Can you describe the tonal differences between the Big Splits versus the FatStacks in any more detail? I like Pickups that have excellent punch and clarity, but can growl with a fat burpy Jaco tone. (always funny trying to describe tone with words isn't it?) I do like aggressive PU's.
I am closer to spec'ing the Big Splits as the PU's that go in my VJ5 that is in the oven.
I wonder which bridge PU Carey favors or recommends when paired with his NP5? The NJ5? Or a Big Single/Big Split perhaps?
I didn't really expect you would see my Vj5 yet. Thanks anyway. I'm guessing it hasn't, and won't go be in paint for a while longer. I ordered it the end of April. So it's still early.
From what you described of the neck Profile, I know I'm going to love it. I've always thought the Sadowsky profile on their 5'er was just a bit chunky for me. Not bad, but a bit deeper "C" than what I'm used to.
Keep us posted on the sounds of that Green VJ5. In fact, post sound clips if you can!!!
The Big SPlits sound similar to Single coils but not quite. Still a very, very nice tone. Man, if you want agressive, get teh NJ5 Singles. WHOA! Rip your headoff growl and bite. The Big Splits are definitely tamer.
So far, after playing Carey's bass for a few hours tonight, a/bing it with my Sadowsky, I still prefer the beefier neck. Carey's is a "soft V' as he described it to me over the phone before I went out there.
I like to feel like I can "wield" the neck and really grip it. Har dto expalin. So far, I feel like I am babying the neck on the Nordy. Calm down Carey I don't mean I am going to choke the shite out of it. Not yet anyway.
Adrian told me he preferred the smaller neck and thinner profile. It is definitely FASTER than the Sadowsky neck. For guys like Adrian, Stew, Mike Fredericks, etc... having that fast neck would be a plus. For guys like me who play more of a supportive, yet fluid, role... fast isn't necessarily where I want to live.
We'll see. I won't play J4 necks because they feel like Telecaster necks in my hands. This has that kind of thang. Just hoping I can get use to it.
Other that, it really kicks ass. But for me the neck is probably the most important factor. More testing to go.
G'nite.
I have to say that I find the Nordy VJ5 neck profile to be the nicest I have EVER played, so I guess it's "horses for courses", huh?
The Nordy profile just fell into my hands and felt like an old friend from the start - I didn't have to readjust my playing at all when I first picked up the bass. As for the Sadowsky - I find that a bit cumbersome, and the edges aren't rolled as nicely as on the Nordy (plus, isn't the fretwork on the Nordy just wonderful?)
As for the pickups - I would go for the aggressiveness of the single coils also - I find the split pickups lack that midrange "bark" you associate with the Jazz sound. However, the final decision as to be your own, based upon the sound you prefer, plus the needs of your instrument in your own musical setting - happy hunting!!
The Nordy profile just fell into my hands and felt like an old friend from the start - I didn't have to readjust my playing at all when I first picked up the bass. As for the Sadowsky - I find that a bit cumbersome, and the edges aren't rolled as nicely as on the Nordy (plus, isn't the fretwork on the Nordy just wonderful?)
As for the pickups - I would go for the aggressiveness of the single coils also - I find the split pickups lack that midrange "bark" you associate with the Jazz sound. However, the final decision as to be your own, based upon the sound you prefer, plus the needs of your instrument in your own musical setting - happy hunting!!
- Apr 3, 2003
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+1 So, Mike, did the Fat Stacks have anything over the Big Splits, or are the Big Splits better in every regard? I mean, while Carey has my bass, now would be the time to consider a swap. On paper, I would have thought that the Big Singles or Big Splits would be the pups for me, but man, I loved those Fat Stacks.
Tom.
Nobody going for a four string huh... :hmmmmm
I wish I could have spent more time with the white bass Scott has. Oh well.
I wish I could have spent more time with the white bass Scott has. Oh well.
adrian garcia
In Memoriam
- Apr 9, 2001
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- Endorsing Artist: Nordy Basses, Schroeder Cabs, Gallien Krueger Amps
I'm going for the singlecoils on the upcoming Nordy, Mike. Glad you liked them. From what Carey told me, they would fit the bill with what I am trying to achieve with the second Nordy. Wish I could have met you out there!
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