*HOW TO ORDER THESE PICKUPS FROM NORDSTRAND* I've been getting a lot of questions and concerns about how to correctly order the Nords, so this is what you have to do! Go to the Nordstrand website Add BigSplit5 P2 to your cart Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart Paste this text into your customer invoice notes: "CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS"
I had an SR755 that had the Bartolini Mk1's and an SR1306 with the Nordstrand Big Singles and I hands down liked the Bartolini's more. I can see the appeal of the Nordstrand for the average player's tone needs, but I loved the Bartolini's more because they were very tonally flat. This allowed my very diverse playing style and techniques be the element that squeezed out the tone elements. I kind of describe it like the difference between studio monitor speakers and a normal 2.1 home stereo. The studio monitors may sound more flat and boring, but the quality of audio that comes out of them is more consistent and transparently accurate across the board.
Wow, thanks so much for checking the vid out! I agree, the Nords really brought out a lot of high end which was what I was after. Love your channel, cheers!
The Norstrand is definitely has more treble while the Bartolinis are more deep and have a cleaner tone. I don't think that one is better than the other, it's a matter of taste. I prefer the tone of the Bartolinis because i like the deep low bass and i use no treble at all so they suite me better.
To my ears the Nords have a more pronounced midrange than the Barts, while the Barts sound a little more hi-fi and scooped by comparison. Both pickups sound good IMHO; its really just a matter or musical preference and application. And I like the bass itself for the look, the sustain, and how it seems to respond well with both sets of pickups. Excellent comparison, thanks for posting.
IMO the key to great tone from the Barts is in the midrange EQ control! I have a BTB 456QM and hated the pickups until I started cranking the boost on the midrange.
I picked up this bass due to a pinched nerve in my shoulder - I cant stand and play my jazz deluxe for more than 30 min without my left hand getting numb - so I put the money into this - and I have been having a hell of a time getting my tone dialed in. I was just about to trade it in when I came across your video. This is the fix! Thanks. I have been playing for many years - but I have always kept it simple - I manage not to get all fetishie about gear - so it never ever occurred to me to swap out pickups. I know - I just dont have the patients for all of it. Id rather make music.
I also had issues with that locking jack. I never have a need for it since I loop my cable through my strap, and it was way too tight and frustrating to unlock anyway. So I just popped the jack out and ripped out the red tab, works great now! Btw those Norstrands sound great, gonna have to get myself a pair. Thanks for the comparison video
That sounds like an awesome upgrade! How do you like it? When it comes to scale length, I personally don't mind the 35" on the low B. For me and my applications it seems plenty stable! But this is coming from a guy who loves lighter and looser strings (They Sound Better 😂)
@@rl-ub9hx I personally never have owned a Dingwall, but I have to say this EHB has been my go to bass since I got it. So comfortable! I love how slim and fast the neck is.
great comparison VDO : ) i feel like Bartolini have more Bass and low end but Nordstrand have natural sound and so good when you play with multi dynamic. it's look like Bartolini have little tiny Compress on sound when you play multi dynamic
Bartolini is probably the oldest name in after market pickups. Big history and name. Their pickups are still muddy IMHO. Nordstrand is the clear choice here. TY for demonstration. GJ!
Just wanted to say, this is exactly what I needed. I bought an Ibanez with Nords, but had second thoughts because of the price. I was thinking maybe the Barts would sound just as good (to me!), but I love the clarity of the Nords. Thanks for your help!
Thanks for sharing this, I have an EHB1005SMS (the short scale version of this) and it was very cool to hear the differences in the pickups. I'm not stoked with the stock pickups on mine for the same reasons you mentioned. The lead jack has taken a bit to get used to and it's still isn't that easy to press (I thought it might have loosened up a little with more use). Cheers!
I love the Nordstrand Pickups, but I'm picking up the six string EHB with Nords, so I went with the Aguilar DCB replacement pups. The stock Bartolini pups are super muffled and dull. Great video.
Good test. I had the BH2s on an SR505e and though they sounded fine on their own, when recording i found them to not cut through enough and were indeed too muddy, Now I have some Nordstrand Zen Blades which are so sweet
I have modded my Multiscale Soundgear (SRMS 805), with US Barts and a four band EMG preamp (lows, highs and two parametric mids). It is very versatile, the BH2 are known to be muddy, wiring them in parallel fixes this problem.
Yeah great demo bro. Both are good. Ns way more treble and agression but I prefer the barts they seem fatter and smoother, more suited to my tastes and what I play.
Yes! I think the barts absolutely have their place in the right hands and application. I don’t think one is better than the other, it really all depends on your use case. I’m happy you found this helpful!
Awesome comparison, just what I was looking for. I want that P-bassy, if needed Jazz-bassish tone in a modern, lightweight, ergonomic package along with a thicc B-string. What I'm absolutely not willing to do is shell out an extra 500$ more for a bunch of obscure wood for an electric instrument along with the Nordstrand pickups that I actually want and can install post purchase. Optimal situation would be if they sold it without pickups or two editions for us woodatheists :)
Wood atheist's😂 I love it! Appreciate the kind words as well. This is my favorite bass I've owned in terms of both feel and sound. The Nords really did the trick for me and can't recommend the swap enough. I don't think you can beat this quality for the price!
I had a 1505MS briefly, the nordstrand pickups sound excellent, but the finish on the top is like watercolor paint. It flakes off very easily. Even on the supposedly brand new one I ordered, i could already see wear from playing. They also don't fill the wood grain on the back of the body, so it grabs your tshirt when you're holding it to your body. I think the 1005MS is a much better value.
I bought the ehb 1265ms mainly because of the gorgeous woodgrain finish. It still uses the same electronics and the Barts... Anyway, I was wondering if you've tried playing around with the plugs on the preamp at all? One will give an extra gain boost and the other will swap the frequencies back to the classic ibanez tones instead of the newer more natural tones
So I can tell you the reason I personally swapped the pick ups was to get the bass to sound more like a jazz. If a P bass is the sound you're after, or even heavier distortion sounds I think the barts are a great option!
@@mattmelodymusic May I Ask You? I wanna buy EHB 1265MS But I don't like these BH2. Any NS multiscale 5-string NS pups will fit? I wanna go with NS Dingwall they r making and put them there
@@xx2 So you have to contact Nordstrand directly. Her is what I was told when I did. Go to the Nordstrand website Add (pick up of your choice) P2 to your cart Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart Paste this text into your customer invoice notes: CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS To my knowledge if you tell them these specs they can build you the pick up you want that will fit in this bass.
@@mattmelodymusicI meant to add to my previous comment... I really appreciated your approach to the pickup comparison in your video. Ie the way you played simple lines, comparing each neck and bridge pickup. It made it very easy to hear the differences between the pickups.
Nice! Looking at multi scales and seeing if I want this bass. I switched my Epiphone Thunderbird bridge pickup with a Nord Dingwall one. For sure helps cutting through distortion and a less muddy sound. Will consider this if I find a good deal.
Weird the Bartolini’s sound a lot brighter on my SR505 even in passive no eq. Not sure if I’d want brighter pickups then these I’d have to scoop the highs too much on my rig.
Pickups in EHB1005 also sound darker than in SRFF805 (same preamp) despite being the same construction according to Bartolini. Seems like they are very dark.
Well.... While I actually like both pickups, kinda comparing apples to oranges here since the Barts are dual coils and the Nords are single coils. Still a good comparison though.
Totally true. These are two structurally different pick ups. It really isn’t a fair comparison! I suppose I just wanted to compare what you would get stock from the two different models. Thank you for the kind words!
@@kkchristy ah shit, my fault lol, thanks for the correction. They do give a good description for the actual tonal character on their site though, like a hybrid P/J pickup. So like instead of a split P config, split bass and treble strings, it's 2 whole J pickups staggered next to each other. That's fuckin cool lol. I do have the US Bart CBC pups in my 6 string Ibanez multi scale right now with 3 way switches on each, but I'd love to try a Nordstrand setup eventually with some sorta quick connect wires to just swap them out whenever lol. Especially how the bridge allows quick string changes. Sorry for the story lol
Unfortunatly, I can’t speak on how a Dingwall neck profile compares to this bass as I have never tried one. I can say that the Ibanez neck profile is one of the comfiest I have ever played. Between the roasted finish and the oval / D curve it’s a breeze to play. The neck is pretty thin, and pretty flat.
So unfortunately you need to order these directly from Nordstrand with a very specific request. Here's how you do it: Add BigSplit5 P2 to your cart Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart Paste this text into your customer invoice notes: Per email with Nick - CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS Let me know of any further questions or concerns. This comes directly from Nordstrand customer support
Have you experienced any issues when replacing the pickups? They are the same size, but as far as I know barts are mounted on 2 screws and nords are mounted on 3. I want to buy ibanez sr505e-bab cause I love the color and replace bartolinis with nords just like you did, but I am a bit unsure if the mounting screw are going to be an issue
For me, after I specified to Nordstrand the dimensions and spec of the pickup I wanted, I was able to perfectly swap it without any further modification.
I notice you have a few different external monitors and studio monitors. Did you experience any hum or audible noise from all the electronics you have? I recently added an external monitor to my set up and I have been going the worst buzz/hum from my studio monitors. Did you do anything to fix it?? that is, if you encountered this issue as well?
Usually if you are getting noise from your studio monitors it means that your audio interface is receiving dirty power. For me all of my studio equipment is run through a power conditioner, which has helped me keep my monitors noise free! Depending on your audio interface I would recommend trying different outlets, or if it is a usb interface, It could be a grounding issue. Try a ground usb ground loop eliminator, Just some thoughts!
So these are still 5 string pick ups, but they have wider spacing to accommodate the bass being a multiscale. There was a similar question in this comment thread and I have explained in detail how to order the pick ups of your choosing from nordstrand, and what information to include. They have to build these pick ups custom.
For anyone not able to buy new pickups (or not willing to, one simply doesn't pay 1300$/€ for DEAD pickups -not even half that, which I paid for mine-), the BH2s come wired in series, BUT they can sound like a damm normal pickup when you wire them SINGLE COIL. Not parallel, as scoopDEAD as series, just zingier (while still no mids/hi-mids to be heard). Correct color code is in this guy's video... th-cam.com/video/QZeHJvZzFEE/w-d-xo.html Also the VariMid onboard treats the single coils signal WAY better (no compression/distortion going on, which I was getting, when boosting bass/mids too much with the stock series wiring). Choose whichever coils you prefer for tone. I used the neckside coils of both pickups, which don't even hum cancel with each other when both are on, still have the same (negligible) hum level I had with them in series. This is my EHB1005MS's neck pickup in single coil. I might get better pickups down the road, but this way at least it can sound not far from your average Jazz Bass, I mean, USABLE... th-cam.com/video/fU6zdMXmAzY/w-d-xo.html
Been eyeing this model , im looking for a bass that sounds good and doesnt take up alot of space. You feel its worth the price point? Its 1900 in canada
I love this bass all around, I certainly recommend it to anyone. I'd bet you could find a better price than 1900 Canadian, if you look around some, I bet you could find some for 1600 - 1800!
How does everyone like the 33 scale on the high strings? I think shorter scales sound best on the high strings but I haven't been able to try this bass
I did not, I was asked a similar question recently here in the comments and as long as you specify that you would like the pick ups made exactly to spec you will be fine. The exact process and directions for ordering the pick ups is listed in the comments here somewhere.
Bartolini for me al day. Those Nordy's have to much upper midrange to my ears. Barts are much flatter on eq. But of coursre, this is my personal preference on tone!
Hi Yar: Here's how you do it: Go to the Nordstrand website Add BigSplit5 P2 to your cart Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart Paste this text into your customer invoice notes: Per email with Nick - CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS Cheers
@@mattmelodymusicif it’s not too much to ask, you may want to pin this comment or put it in the description. I accidentally ordered the wrong pickups not realizing the pole orientation and sizing were so unique to the EHB. It’s 100% my fault of course, but I didn’t see this info anywhere else so I’m sure I’m not alone.
@@mattmelodymusic It's all good, lesson learned! Your video did help me immensely with the decision to swap pickups though, I love my EHB but the tone is certainly tough to work with. Looking forward to getting those 'strands in there.
So I personally messaged a few different shops that were selling the bass, and just mentioned that I was interested but "the guitar was slightly out of my budget". Most shops will probably turn you down, but in this case, they had asked me what I was willing to offer. Of course, you have to be reasonable and respectful, and because of that I was able to get the price down. It's hit or miss, but you never know unless you try! Best of luck.
Yep, it's all in the pickups and fingers... You can make a squire sound like a custom shop if you have great pickups/electronics and great technique. I hate the tone wood snobs, ITS NOT REAL!
wood has everything to do with tone.. sustain and "voice". If that is not true.. then make a Bass out of pine, cedar.. oak... mahogany( my favorite).. pick yours and listen to the difference
*HOW TO ORDER THESE PICKUPS FROM NORDSTRAND*
I've been getting a lot of questions and concerns about how to correctly order the Nords, so this is what you have to do!
Go to the Nordstrand website
Add BigSplit5 P2 to your cart
Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart
Paste this text into your customer invoice notes: "CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS"
I had an SR755 that had the Bartolini Mk1's and an SR1306 with the Nordstrand Big Singles and I hands down liked the Bartolini's more. I can see the appeal of the Nordstrand for the average player's tone needs, but I loved the Bartolini's more because they were very tonally flat.
This allowed my very diverse playing style and techniques be the element that squeezed out the tone elements. I kind of describe it like the difference between studio monitor speakers and a normal 2.1 home stereo. The studio monitors may sound more flat and boring, but the quality of audio that comes out of them is more consistent and transparently accurate across the board.
Great video man! The Nords definitely have everything that the 'barts' lack.
Wow, thanks so much for checking the vid out! I agree, the Nords really brought out a lot of high end which was what I was after. Love your channel, cheers!
@@mattmelodymusic Yeah I think the Aguilars are about just right - not too much nor too little of character and highs.
I personally don't feel either of them lack anything. There just both different.
The Norstrand is definitely has more treble while the Bartolinis are more deep and have a cleaner tone. I don't think that one is better than the other, it's a matter of taste. I prefer the tone of the Bartolinis because i like the deep low bass and i use no treble at all so they suite me better.
Definitely agree man.
To my ears the Nords have a more pronounced midrange than the Barts, while the Barts sound a little more hi-fi and scooped by comparison. Both pickups sound good IMHO; its really just a matter or musical preference and application. And I like the bass itself for the look, the sustain, and how it seems to respond well with both sets of pickups. Excellent comparison, thanks for posting.
Totally agree with your analysis! Thank you for the kind words as well! All the best.
IMO the key to great tone from the Barts is in the midrange EQ control! I have a BTB 456QM and hated the pickups until I started cranking the boost on the midrange.
I picked up this bass due to a pinched nerve in my shoulder - I cant stand and play my jazz deluxe for more than 30 min without my left hand getting numb - so I put the money into this - and I have been having a hell of a time getting my tone dialed in. I was just about to trade it in when I came across your video. This is the fix! Thanks. I have been playing for many years - but I have always kept it simple - I manage not to get all fetishie about gear - so it never ever occurred to me to swap out pickups. I know - I just dont have the patients for all of it. Id rather make music.
So happy that I could help! Rock on!
I also had issues with that locking jack. I never have a need for it since I loop my cable through my strap, and it was way too tight and frustrating to unlock anyway. So I just popped the jack out and ripped out the red tab, works great now!
Btw those Norstrands sound great, gonna have to get myself a pair. Thanks for the comparison video
You are welcome and thank you for checking it out! I might have to rip the tab out of my jack too 🤔
super thorough! The different pickups sounds really good!
Thanks so much Jake!
Nice review! Swapped my bartolinis to dingwall NG-3 pus and that was a total gamechanger! The only negative point is the scale length 😅
That sounds like an awesome upgrade! How do you like it? When it comes to scale length, I personally don't mind the 35" on the low B. For me and my applications it seems plenty stable! But this is coming from a guy who loves lighter and looser strings (They Sound Better 😂)
so you're THAT guy! Do you really miss the scale length vs dingwall? I had my EHB and a Droc and loved how comfortable and fast the EHB was.
@@rl-ub9hx I personally never have owned a Dingwall, but I have to say this EHB has been my go to bass since I got it. So comfortable! I love how slim and fast the neck is.
Great video! Also you have a very calming voice - love that
Thanks so much for your kind words! Very happy that you enjoyed the video 😊
great comparison VDO : )
i feel like Bartolini have more Bass and low end but Nordstrand have natural sound and so good when you play with multi dynamic.
it's look like Bartolini have little tiny Compress on sound when you play multi dynamic
I totally agree!
Bartolini is probably the oldest name in after market pickups. Big history and name. Their pickups are still muddy IMHO. Nordstrand is the clear choice here. TY for demonstration. GJ!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
I am going for the 1506, your video convinced me even more of the Nords. If it only came in this nice colour
So happy you found this helpful! And yes, I love this sea foam green!!
Just wanted to say, this is exactly what I needed. I bought an Ibanez with Nords, but had second thoughts because of the price. I was thinking maybe the Barts would sound just as good (to me!), but I love the clarity of the Nords. Thanks for your help!
I'm happy that you found this helpful!
Y son simple bobina ....! O doble fina !
Thanks for sharing this, I have an EHB1005SMS (the short scale version of this) and it was very cool to hear the differences in the pickups. I'm not stoked with the stock pickups on mine for the same reasons you mentioned. The lead jack has taken a bit to get used to and it's still isn't that easy to press (I thought it might have loosened up a little with more use). Cheers!
Thanks so much! Happy that you enjoyed the video and the comparison! Cheers!
Did you happen to do a swap? I’m looking at the same bass and same pickup swap here
I did not... not yet@@HappyChillmore
I love the Nordstrand Pickups, but I'm picking up the six string EHB with Nords, so I went with the Aguilar DCB replacement pups. The stock Bartolini pups are super muffled and dull. Great video.
That’s fantastic! After all is said and done, let us know how you like it!
Good test. I had the BH2s on an SR505e and though they sounded fine on their own, when recording i found them to not cut through enough and were indeed too muddy, Now I have some Nordstrand Zen Blades which are so sweet
Thats awesome to hear!
I have modded my Multiscale Soundgear (SRMS 805), with US Barts and a four band EMG preamp (lows, highs and two parametric mids). It is very versatile, the BH2 are known to be muddy, wiring them in parallel fixes this problem.
Yeah great demo bro. Both are good. Ns way more treble and agression but I prefer the barts they seem fatter and smoother, more suited to my tastes and what I play.
Yes! I think the barts absolutely have their place in the right hands and application. I don’t think one is better than the other, it really all depends on your use case. I’m happy you found this helpful!
Awesome comparison, just what I was looking for.
I want that P-bassy, if needed Jazz-bassish tone in a modern, lightweight, ergonomic package along with a thicc B-string. What I'm absolutely not willing to do is shell out an extra 500$ more for a bunch of obscure wood for an electric instrument along with the Nordstrand pickups that I actually want and can install post purchase. Optimal situation would be if they sold it without pickups or two editions for us woodatheists :)
Wood atheist's😂 I love it! Appreciate the kind words as well. This is my favorite bass I've owned in terms of both feel and sound. The Nords really did the trick for me and can't recommend the swap enough. I don't think you can beat this quality for the price!
@@mattmelodymusicyou put nord big split 5s in? I’m seeing they are p2 sized and I read you need to have p4 sized pickups to put in.
Yup... Bartolini for me👍
Great comparison. Thank you.
Great video, I actually prefer the simplicity of the Barts, but can see why people go to the Aguilar DCB pickups as well
I had a 1505MS briefly, the nordstrand pickups sound excellent, but the finish on the top is like watercolor paint. It flakes off very easily. Even on the supposedly brand new one I ordered, i could already see wear from playing. They also don't fill the wood grain on the back of the body, so it grabs your tshirt when you're holding it to your body. I think the 1005MS is a much better value.
I bought the ehb 1265ms mainly because of the gorgeous woodgrain finish. It still uses the same electronics and the Barts...
Anyway, I was wondering if you've tried playing around with the plugs on the preamp at all? One will give an extra gain boost and the other will swap the frequencies back to the classic ibanez tones instead of the newer more natural tones
I haven't! That is interesting, I'll have to mess around with some of the different configurations, I appreciate the insight!
Just purchased one of these, however everyone seems to agree that pickups should be swapped. Good demo
So I can tell you the reason I personally swapped the pick ups was to get the bass to sound more like a jazz. If a P bass is the sound you're after, or even heavier distortion sounds I think the barts are a great option!
@@mattmelodymusic I just thought the bartos were too flat and dull, however I'll wait till I actually play it to make a decision.
@@mattmelodymusic May I Ask You? I wanna buy EHB 1265MS But I don't like these BH2. Any NS multiscale 5-string NS pups will fit? I wanna go with NS Dingwall they r making and put them there
@@xx2 So you have to contact Nordstrand directly. Her is what I was told when I did.
Go to the Nordstrand website
Add (pick up of your choice) P2 to your cart
Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart
Paste this text into your customer invoice notes:
CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS
To my knowledge if you tell them these specs they can build you the pick up you want that will fit in this bass.
@@mattmelodymusic thanks for the info!
those Nordstrand pickups sound 100x better in my opinion.
@@stevebadachmusic I agree I like them much more!
Excellent video and comparison
Great video, thanks. I was surprised to find I prefer the Barts. If I want to sound like the Nords I can just use the Bridge pickup.
I can get behind that! Depending on what you are going for I think the Barts really have a lot of potential
@@mattmelodymusicI meant to add to my previous comment... I really appreciated your approach to the pickup comparison in your video. Ie the way you played simple lines, comparing each neck and bridge pickup. It made it very easy to hear the differences between the pickups.
@@gregellevsen5280 thanks so much! Really happy that you enjoyed the comparison and found it easy to interpret!
Nice! Looking at multi scales and seeing if I want this bass. I switched my Epiphone Thunderbird bridge pickup with a Nord Dingwall one. For sure helps cutting through distortion and a less muddy sound. Will consider this if I find a good deal.
Weird the Bartolini’s sound a lot brighter on my SR505 even in passive no eq. Not sure if I’d want brighter pickups then these I’d have to scoop the highs too much on my rig.
I have the same bass and I agree
Pickups in EHB1005 also sound darker than in SRFF805 (same preamp) despite being the same construction according to Bartolini. Seems like they are very dark.
They certainly are on the darker side. They do however have a good warmth to them in my opinion!
@@mattmelodymusic They are very good in high gain applications as they do not produce buzzy trebles and have solid mid range.
Well.... While I actually like both pickups, kinda comparing apples to oranges here since the Barts are dual coils and the Nords are single coils. Still a good comparison though.
Totally true. These are two structurally different pick ups. It really isn’t a fair comparison! I suppose I just wanted to compare what you would get stock from the two different models. Thank you for the kind words!
@@mattmelodymusic oh yeah, definitely still sound good
The Big Splits are actually split-coil humbuckers. Norstrand also sells single coil versions as Big Singles. Rock on!
@@kkchristy ah shit, my fault lol, thanks for the correction. They do give a good description for the actual tonal character on their site though, like a hybrid P/J pickup. So like instead of a split P config, split bass and treble strings, it's 2 whole J pickups staggered next to each other. That's fuckin cool lol. I do have the US Bart CBC pups in my 6 string Ibanez multi scale right now with 3 way switches on each, but I'd love to try a Nordstrand setup eventually with some sorta quick connect wires to just swap them out whenever lol. Especially how the bridge allows quick string changes. Sorry for the story lol
have you played a Dingwall how is the neck profile on that compared to a dingwall thinner thicker the same?
Unfortunatly, I can’t speak on how a Dingwall neck profile compares to this bass as I have never tried one. I can say that the Ibanez neck profile is one of the comfiest I have ever played. Between the roasted finish and the oval / D curve it’s a breeze to play. The neck is pretty thin, and pretty flat.
@@mattmelodymusic i messured out my dingwall the ibanez seems to be a bit thinner with they are about the same the ibanez nut is smaller too
I love your EW&F T-shirt!
Thank you so much!
Do the big split 5s fit into the Ibanez with no issues?! I keep reading different things.. thanks!
So unfortunately you need to order these directly from Nordstrand with a very specific request. Here's how you do it:
Add BigSplit5 P2 to your cart
Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart
Paste this text into your customer invoice notes:
Per email with Nick - CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS
Let me know of any further questions or concerns.
This comes directly from Nordstrand customer support
Have you experienced any issues when replacing the pickups? They are the same size, but as far as I know barts are mounted on 2 screws and nords are mounted on 3. I want to buy ibanez sr505e-bab cause I love the color and replace bartolinis with nords just like you did, but I am a bit unsure if the mounting screw are going to be an issue
For me, after I specified to Nordstrand the dimensions and spec of the pickup I wanted, I was able to perfectly swap it without any further modification.
I notice you have a few different external monitors and studio monitors. Did you experience any hum or audible noise from all the electronics you have? I recently added an external monitor to my set up and I have been going the worst buzz/hum from my studio monitors. Did you do anything to fix it?? that is, if you encountered this issue as well?
Usually if you are getting noise from your studio monitors it means that your audio interface is receiving dirty power. For me all of my studio equipment is run through a power conditioner, which has helped me keep my monitors noise free! Depending on your audio interface I would recommend trying different outlets, or if it is a usb interface, It could be a grounding issue. Try a ground usb ground loop eliminator, Just some thoughts!
Great video ! question : are the replacement pickups a 6 string size ?
So these are still 5 string pick ups, but they have wider spacing to accommodate the bass being a multiscale. There was a similar question in this comment thread and I have explained in detail how to order the pick ups of your choosing from nordstrand, and what information to include. They have to build these pick ups custom.
I put a set of big blade 5s in my build, which wrap did you get? Clean and crisp or warm and wooly?
Interesting! The Big Split 5s actually don’t have that as a configurable option, so I can’t say as to which I would choose!
For anyone not able to buy new pickups (or not willing to, one simply doesn't pay 1300$/€ for DEAD pickups -not even half that, which I paid for mine-), the BH2s come wired in series, BUT they can sound like a damm normal pickup when you wire them SINGLE COIL. Not parallel, as scoopDEAD as series, just zingier (while still no mids/hi-mids to be heard). Correct color code is in this guy's video... th-cam.com/video/QZeHJvZzFEE/w-d-xo.html
Also the VariMid onboard treats the single coils signal WAY better (no compression/distortion going on, which I was getting, when boosting bass/mids too much with the stock series wiring). Choose whichever coils you prefer for tone. I used the neckside coils of both pickups, which don't even hum cancel with each other when both are on, still have the same (negligible) hum level I had with them in series. This is my EHB1005MS's neck pickup in single coil. I might get better pickups down the road, but this way at least it can sound not far from your average Jazz Bass, I mean, USABLE... th-cam.com/video/fU6zdMXmAzY/w-d-xo.html
Been eyeing this model , im looking for a bass that sounds good and doesnt take up alot of space. You feel its worth the price point? Its 1900 in canada
I love this bass all around, I certainly recommend it to anyone. I'd bet you could find a better price than 1900 Canadian, if you look around some, I bet you could find some for 1600 - 1800!
I tried out an EHB and put off by the awkwardness of the locking jack
How does everyone like the 33 scale on the high strings? I think shorter scales sound best on the high strings but I haven't been able to try this bass
I personally love it; I think it is the perfect tension for the D and G string personally!
I wish the 1505ms came in solid finishes so I didn’t have to deal with pickup swap 😅
You and me both!!
Did you have to route anything out to put the new pickups in or were they the same size?
I did not, I was asked a similar question recently here in the comments and as long as you specify that you would like the pick ups made exactly to spec you will be fine. The exact process and directions for ordering the pick ups is listed in the comments here somewhere.
@@mattmelodymusicalright thank you!
BH2 are actually way better when wired in parallel.
Bartolini for me al day. Those Nordy's have to much upper midrange to my ears. Barts are much flatter on eq. But of coursre, this is my personal preference on tone!
Did you have to drill new holes for the pickup swap out?
I did not have to!
How difficult was it to order the Nordstrand Big Split 5 with the correct dimensions to be put in this bass?
Hi Yar:
Here's how you do it:
Go to the Nordstrand website
Add BigSplit5 P2 to your cart
Add Custom Option 2 ($40 for customization of two pickups) to your cart
Paste this text into your customer invoice notes:
Per email with Nick - CMT3 spec, P4 shells, reverse pole rotation, wide spacing for EHBMS
Cheers
@@mattmelodymusicif it’s not too much to ask, you may want to pin this comment or put it in the description. I accidentally ordered the wrong pickups not realizing the pole orientation and sizing were so unique to the EHB. It’s 100% my fault of course, but I didn’t see this info anywhere else so I’m sure I’m not alone.
Wow, so sorry to hear this!@@henrymerker
@@mattmelodymusic It's all good, lesson learned! Your video did help me immensely with the decision to swap pickups though, I love my EHB but the tone is certainly tough to work with. Looking forward to getting those 'strands in there.
How did you get the deal on this bass that you mentioned? Did you just ask them to drop $200 off the price and condition it for you?
So I personally messaged a few different shops that were selling the bass, and just mentioned that I was interested but "the guitar was slightly out of my budget". Most shops will probably turn you down, but in this case, they had asked me what I was willing to offer. Of course, you have to be reasonable and respectful, and because of that I was able to get the price down. It's hit or miss, but you never know unless you try! Best of luck.
Can you please put the link for that Nordstrand pick up.
what strings were yous using? thnk
Yep, it's all in the pickups and fingers... You can make a squire sound like a custom shop if you have great pickups/electronics and great technique. I hate the tone wood snobs, ITS NOT REAL!
Totally agree!
not true at all.
i wasnt a fan of that lock either.. but its useful! i love it now
The jack lock is starting to grow on me too! It is actually such a smart and useful concept.
The nords definitely sound better, but I personally think the 1505 just looks ugly
Honestly the main reason I’m getting the 1005 and just switching out the pickups if I don’t like the sound. Ends up being cheaper anyways.
wood has everything to do with tone.. sustain and "voice".
If that is not true..
then make a Bass out of pine, cedar.. oak... mahogany( my favorite).. pick yours and listen to the difference
somebody did do a head to head comparison of all the "tonewoods" here on youtube, and the results were surprising (spoiler: there was no difference)
About 0% of sound comes from wood.