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Using 500K Pots Norstrand NP4 / Tonestyler

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by Blues Cat, Jul 21, 2013.

  1. Jul 21, 2013 #1
    Blues Cat

    Blues Cat Payson Fanned Bass Strings Owner Commercial User

    May 28, 2005
    Katy, Tx
    Payson Fanned Bass Strings Owner
    Is anyone using 500K pots with a Nordstrand NP4?
    If so, did you happen to compare the 250K prior to installation?

    I realize the 500K will be brighter and slightly hotter. I'm looking to see if anyone liked 500K better.

    Nordstrand recommends 250k audio pots for volume, blend, and tone for all their pickups btw.

    Thank you
     
  2. Jul 21, 2013 #2
    maurilio

    maurilio Guest

    May 25, 2003
    the only way for you to know it for sure is to try it. In the end it is a very cheap mod.
    I have never tried with a NP.
    The only risk is that the top end might become a little harsh.
     
  3. Jul 21, 2013 #3
    walterw

    walterw Supportive Fender Commercial User

    Feb 20, 2009
    alpha-music.com
    i like 500ks for my stock wind fralin P, makes for a loud, aggressive pickup that really keeps its character in the mix as "P-bass", rather than just mellowing out in the blend to sound like "bass". if i want old-school P tone, i just nudge the tone back to like 7 and there it is. i am a rock player, and i use a somewhat compressed and grindy sansamp tone, which tends to smooth out an attacky bass. as always, YMMV.

    also, you'll wanna use a linear volume and audio tone; with normal clean bass, an audio volume, especially when you start going higher than 250k, will drop off really fast from "10" almost like a switch.
     
  4. Jul 21, 2013 #4
    Blues Cat

    Blues Cat Payson Fanned Bass Strings Owner Commercial User

    May 28, 2005
    Katy, Tx
    Payson Fanned Bass Strings Owner
    Thanks guys for chiming in.

    My plan was to use two NP4's, V/B/ToneStyler Duo 10.

    The Duo 10 is a single tone pot that controls each pickup separately, using different cap values for each one, as I understand it.

    I'm thinking the 500K Volume and Balance might work better helping to bring out more aggressive detail that a balance pot can take away if not executed correctly. Center Balance detent will be no load.
     
  5. Jul 22, 2013 #5
    joelb79

    joelb79

    Mar 22, 2006
    Lansing, Michigan
    I'm gonna suggest a 500k blend, and a 250k audio taper volume. I thought the NP4 was aggressive and extra bright as is. I wouldn't want to open up their resonant frequency too much for my own bass, but 'tis your own.
     
  6. Jul 23, 2013 #6
    Blues Cat

    Blues Cat Payson Fanned Bass Strings Owner Commercial User

    May 28, 2005
    Katy, Tx
    Payson Fanned Bass Strings Owner
    Great responses in this thread, thanks guys.

    Right now after 2 discussions with Don at Stellartone, I'm leaning towards:

    250K Volume/Linear taper (500K is still being considered)
    500K Balance/Linear taper
    Tonestyler Bass 10

    Linear because I don't want everything to happen too quickly in the sweep. If this was a strat or tele, I'd probably go Audio taper on the Volume.
     
  7. Jul 24, 2013 #7
    walterw

    walterw Supportive Fender Commercial User

    Feb 20, 2009
    alpha-music.com
    for balance you want "M/N", which i believe is indeed linear taper. (i wish it wasn't, so the blend panned slowly off of center and only kicked hard to one pickup near the ends.)

    anything other than M/N blend pots and you get a big loss in the center.