Big J-Blade 4 Set (Warm & Wooly)

Description

The Big J-Blade is single coil Jazz-style pickup, with a continuous sensing blade offered in two different winds to provide the style of tone specific to the individual player. One wind provides a “warm and wooly” tone, while an alternate wind provides a “clean and clear” tone. Plus, as proven by our original Big Blades, no more worries about making sure the pole pieces line up with your strings.

Features

Two uniquely different winds

A striking and aggressive appearance

Uniform magnetic field blade design - no worries about pole spacing

Available in 4-string, 5-string, 5-string Fender and 5-string long cover.

19mm maximum string pitch, works for most basses

Blade radius designed for even output in most basses – custom radius versions available soon.

Features

Hi,
Just a quick note of thanks for the clear unbiased advice, for answering my (stupid) questions patiently without making me feel like an imbecile and the speedy delivery - in short, brilliant service!

Having been still using the original pickups in my 1976 Fender Jazz, I must say that the Nordstrand NJSVs have transformed my bass - just as you suggested it would.

I've now got a lovely even tone, and in the two gigs we did over the weekend I had no need to tweak the EQ, I could simply run with it off. No doubt as time goes by, I may decide that a few tweaks will be beneficial - but at the moment I'm one happy bunny!

Many thanks again, and no doubt we'll be doing business again....!

Best wishes,
Bruce - Cadgwith, Cornwall

Fralins vs. Nordstrands - From Jay at Blueberry Bass in the USA

The eternal question....what are the differences between Fralin and Nordstrand pickups! I have probably been asked this question a hundred times (if not more), and since I have already given a hundred answers (if not more), I thought that this blog would be the perfect place to post a general overview of some of the similarities and differences between these two boutique pickup manufacturers. I have posted similar comments and opinions on various on-line forums, PMs, and e-mails over the course of the last few years, but hope that this will serve as a resource for those who may be thinking about upgrading the pickups in their bass or basses and would like a little clarification on the issue.

First and foremost, both pickup brands are excellent. Even though I am a Nordstrand dealer and am not a Fralin dealer, I would not even try to make the argument that Nordstrands are far superior to Fralins and that one should ONLY buy Nordstrand pickups. Not only would that be completely irresponsible on my part, but it also would not be true. I think that BOTH pickup lines are excellent. Up until relatively recently, when Carey Nordstrand decided to make his pickups available to the public, Fralins were widely regarded as one of the premier after market pickup options available. I routinely spec out Mike Lull basses with Fralin pickups and readily recommend them to customers of mine who order custom Lull basses through Blueberry Hill where I think that Fralins would be appropriate for the type of tone they are looking for. The bottom line is that, while there are differences between the two brands that many players feel are significant, both pickup lines are excellent, and I like both pickups lines a great deal. But...let's talk about some of those differences.

Speaking in very general terms here, both pickup brands are essentially shooting for the same goal, but each takes a slightly different approach. Both Fralins and Nordstrands (whether we're talking about single coils, hum-canceling jazz pickups, MM-style pickups, split-P pickups, etc.) are attempting to recreate the sound of vintage bass pickups from the 1960's and 1970's. Both use alnico V magnets and traditional pickup winding materials and techniques. While Fralins are handwound, Nordstrands are "simulated hand wound". In the case of Nordstrand pickups, the master pickup for each model was handwound by Carey and then the process by which that pickup was made was coded into a winding machine that reprocess the handwound pattern. Many vintage purists and pickup enthusiasts believe that a handwound pickup sounds more sonically pleasing due to the way that the scattered windings impact the upper frequencies reproduces by the pickup. But...when you handwind a pickup, every one will be just a little bit different. By creating a "master", Carey has chosen the precise characteristics of a single pickup that he feels captures the ultimate tone for that one model. By using a simulated handwound process to make that pickup, he can now reproduce that handwound pickup over and over again, retaining the sweet tonal properties of the handwound master, but ensuring that there will be no deviation from pickup set to pickup set. Being able to make more sets faster and with precision accuracy over time yields a more consistent result. In other words, everyone knows exactly what they're getting right out of the box!

So, now that we know how pickups from the different brands are made...how do they SOUND? In my experience, Fralin P and J pickups tend to have a very "raw" tone to them. I have used this descriptive term a lot, and am seeing other Fralin owners use the same term in posts on on-line bass forums to describe the tone that they perceive from Fralin pickups as well. I tend to like this "rawness" in certain situations, but the effect tends to also create a bottom end that is a little loose and open. Again...this can be a good thing, depending on what you are looking for. The entire line makes for a great approximation of what vintage pickups sounded like 40 or 50 years ago, but they definitely have their own flavour.

The Nordstrands, by comparison, tend to have a very full, balanced sound from top to bottom. They have great string-to-string balance, and they also tend to have a tighter, fuller bottom end. As with the Fralins above, whether or not these traits are desirable depend on what you, the individual, perceive as "good tone". I have received a lot of feedback indicating that players really like the midrange punch and sweet high-end response of the Nordstrand line, and many players also appreciate the balanced nature of the pickups as well, with the tighter low end standing out as a positive attribute that a lot of players appreciate. Whereas the Fralin pickups have a more rough, "raw" edge to them, the Nordstrands also tend to be very warm, but without losing clarity and detail. Many vintage pickup companies lose the plot by over winding pickups too much and by trying to make them too "warm" sounding. The end result is often a mid-heavy, muddy pickup that lacks low-end punch and detail. This seems to be where the Nordstrands really excel...they deliver vintage warmth without losing detail and clarity.

Shipping

Estimated shipping costs - prices can vary so please contact us; Prices are Bass Guitar shipping, standard service (express shipments POA) We can also offer express shipping on most routes for an extra cost.

Mainland UK - £12

N Ireland - £20

Rep of Ireland - £20

Highlands/Islands UK - from £25

EU (Mainland) Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium Spain, Portugal, Italy. Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands- from £40

Europe outside EU - Norway, Switzerland, Gibraltar - £55

EU (Islands) - Malta, Cyprus - £75

EU (extended area) £40, Finland (some areas), Sweden (some areas)

Australia - £135

Canada - £100

Hong Kong - £135

Egypt - £140

Israel - £135

Iceland - £60

Japan - £135

New Zealand - £160

Serbia - £100

Singapore £135

South Korea - £150

South Africa - £150

Thailand - £130

Turkey - £60

USA Mainland £100

Overseas Sales

Overseas sales can be offered at a Tax Free rate.

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