Nordstrand offers bass guitar pickups designed specifically to suit 4, 5, and 6-string basses in single coil, split coil, and dual coil configurations. Their signature pickups include their Big Split pickup with its massive size, muscular Big Single pickup with its dual coil technology and unique Fat Stack configurations.
Nordstrand’s tone chasing obsession has produced the NP4A bass guitar. Boasting an incredible spectrum of tone that any regular P-bass could only dream of reproducing, it stands as testament to Nordstrand’s dedication.
Alnico III
Alnico III magnets are an iconic bass pickup material. Boasting weak magnetic pull and carrying less string vibration than more powerful alnico II and V magnets, Alnico III magnets make an excellent choice for neck pickups that tend to carry more vibration or bridge pickups where sound compression occurs. Jazz bass guitarists may also appreciate Alnico III magnets’ clear tone that doesn’t boomy under high gain situations.
Nordstrand’s NP4A bass pickup utilizes the classic P-bass design with an angled pole piece to deliver a range of tones that will appeal to almost any precision-style player. Ideal for blues, country and rock music styles; use its tone knob to find one that suits you! The NP4A provides full bass tone with plenty of string sustain; its treble is subtle with just a hint of scoop; while individual notes offer musical characterful playing experiences.
This set of bass pickups includes both neck and bridge NP4A models as well as black covers (exposed pole pieces). The former features alnico III magnets for warm, bright tones ideally suited for blues while wide F-spacing makes an impressionistic P-style sound possible. Both pickups are also hum-cancelling to eliminate 60Hz hum interference!
Nordstrand’s bass humbucker, the HB5, combines the classic Alnico III magnet tone with wider F-spacing of their best-selling AC2 bridge humbucker for an unrivalled blend. This combination creates a bass that excels both for blues and heavy metal, boasting plenty of bottom end while maintaining sweet yet clear high gain treble notes that don’t become boomy under increased gain settings. Furthermore, its vacuum wax potted construction helps prevent any unwanted squeal under increased gain settings – another advantage over many competitors.
Big Single
If you’re in search of a single-coil bass guitar pickup with an impressive sound and dynamic range, look no further than Nordstrand Big Single. Boasting a large magnet and coming both neck and bridge positions for added versatility, this pickup fits most Fender Jazz basses while producing powerful and dynamic sounds to cut through any mix with no noise or feedback issues.
Finding the appropriate bass guitar pickup is essential to creating your desired tone and style. While there are various kinds of basses on the market, each with their own distinct sound – one popular style is humbuckers which produce deep tones while simultaneously cutting back on feedback noise and feedback loops; however, keep in mind that humbuckers may also weigh more than other pickup types, potentially impacting playability of your instrument.
The J-style bass pickup first gained popularity among early rockers like Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane. Since then, its use has become ubiquitous across genres that require an assertive bass sound. Slap players such as Larry Graham are fans of it as are funk maestros like Mike Dirnt of Green Day and Nate Mendel from Foo Fighters – who all rely on its distinctive tone.
At your local music store, you’ll be sure to find a wide range of bass pickups for every need and budget. Passive or active setups alike should easily meet them; just read up on any that require more maintenance before purchasing one!
Another key consideration when purchasing a bass pickup is choosing between passive or active power. Passive pickups provide more dynamic effects while active pickups offer higher gain levels while still remaining clear and require an external power source like 9v batteries to function effectively.
Selecting the appropriate bass pickup can make an enormous impactful change to both tone and overall feel of an instrument. When making this decision, keep your playing style and genre of play in mind; for instance, metal genre players might benefit from adding mid-range frequencies into their tone to improve playback.
Dual Coil 5
The Dual Coil 5 bass pickup is ideal for musicians searching for a versatile tone. Featuring two coils in its design, its tight fat bottom combines with vocal-like midrange articulation, while its wide open top end adds clarity and detail – perfect for jazz or rock music and both passive or active setups.
This pickup features a Soapbar-style housing, which resembles bars of soap, commonly found on 5-string basses. It comes equipped with both single- and dual-coil designs, featuring exposed or unexposed pole pieces; dual coil is slightly warmer than single coil; both variants provide ample punch and clarity, but there’s something special about their dual coil counterpart. Plus, its vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic noise caused when string is struck and shielding prevents feedback and static issues!
One of the most widely used pickups for bass guitar is a P-Bass style pickup, a single coil pickup divided into two halves by four magnetic slugs for each string that are staggered for optimal sound balance and range. These types of pickups are great for jazz or funk music styles and can be placed either neck position or bridge position for use.
Humbucking pickups are another highly popular bass pickup style. Equipped with two opposing magnets that produce opposing magnetic forces, humbucking pickups can be configured in parallel or series configuration to produce powerful bass soundscapes suited for heavy metal and rock music genres. You can even adjust its intensity with volume control for precise bass sound performance.
when selecting a bass guitar pickup, it is crucial that you consider its overall tone. Your selection can have a dramatic impact on how the instrument sounds; therefore, it is vital that you research all available options prior to making a purchase decision. Once you’ve found your perfect pickup, enjoy playing your favorite songs!
Fat Stack
As its name implies, the Fat Stack bass guitar pickup from Nordstrand is an ingenious proprietary design. Crafted using traditional bi-pole magnets twisted in an unusual direction to create larger magnetic apertures which capture more harmonic content from each string and produce fuller tones both bold and dark in tone.
Tone is determined largely by your bass itself, its preamp and your playing style; however, bass pickups also play a vital role. A set of high-quality pickups can turn any ordinary instrument into something truly exceptional; Nordstrand bass guitar pickups may cost more than they should but deliver quality signals that can be tailored specifically to meet your needs.
Nordstrand Audio is a family owned business founded by bass designer and luthier Carey Nordstrand. Over time, Nordstrand Audio has earned a reputation for modern designs rooted in tried and true methods, such as their line of single coil, dual, and quad coil pickups for 4-string basses – as well as offering preamps and pedals.
One of their most beloved pickups is the Big Single humbucker pickup, featuring an enormous single coil contained within a soapbar cover and designed to produce extreme sound purity. As soon as this monster turns on it roars with all-out fury while unleashing waves of sound!
The Big Single features an enormous magnet load, enabling it to fill its entire bobbin and form a super-packed coil with more wind power, creating massive bass waves. Although not a traditional J-style single coil, bassists still appreciate its tonal characteristics.
The Big Single can fit seamlessly into various basses due to its standard 19mm string spacing and coil tap feature, enabling easy switching from its hum-canceling stacked configuration into single coil mode for single-coil clarity and punch. This feature can especially prove helpful in basses originally equipped with humbuckers but seeking something with more clarity and punch such as Big Single.