- Apr 18, 2008
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- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Yes, this is a brand new thread for a build-off that happened three years ago. For whatever reason, Scoops decided to take the build-off over to TDPRI. Here’s my original build thread over there: Winter Build-Off 2021 - Five By Five
This is a ten-string double-course bass. 32” scale, set-neck, walnut and cherry. The woods are gorgeous (if I do say so myself).
Final build off pic:
But - the pickups I found underwhelming. Delano makes amazing stuff, for sure, but on this bass, meh. I stuck the bass in a closet and moved on. I got it out a handful of times, and every time, meh.
So today I decided to do something about it.
I have waaaaay too many pickups in my collection. Among them is a pair of Nordstrand Big Blades (Wild & Wooly). These are large enough to cover the string spread, and large enough to cover the routes from the Delanos. So let’s do it!
De-strung and de-bridged, Delanos removed. Clamp down the template:
First pass is just a few mm deep, to set the shape and give the bearing something to ride on.
Then we take it down to depth. Blue tape protects the finish.
Check the fit, lightly sand the edges, install and solder, and reassemble.
Everything still works, so that’s good.
Does it sound better? I think so. Perhaps I should have recorded before & after, but I didn’t. I think I perceive more fullness and more output. I’ll have to spend some time comparing against my other instruments.
This is a ten-string double-course bass. 32” scale, set-neck, walnut and cherry. The woods are gorgeous (if I do say so myself).
Final build off pic:
But - the pickups I found underwhelming. Delano makes amazing stuff, for sure, but on this bass, meh. I stuck the bass in a closet and moved on. I got it out a handful of times, and every time, meh.
So today I decided to do something about it.
I have waaaaay too many pickups in my collection. Among them is a pair of Nordstrand Big Blades (Wild & Wooly). These are large enough to cover the string spread, and large enough to cover the routes from the Delanos. So let’s do it!
De-strung and de-bridged, Delanos removed. Clamp down the template:
First pass is just a few mm deep, to set the shape and give the bearing something to ride on.
Then we take it down to depth. Blue tape protects the finish.
Check the fit, lightly sand the edges, install and solder, and reassemble.
Everything still works, so that’s good.
Does it sound better? I think so. Perhaps I should have recorded before & after, but I didn’t. I think I perceive more fullness and more output. I’ll have to spend some time comparing against my other instruments.
