Nordstrand DC VS Aguilar DCB

Nordstrand DC or Aguilar DCB

  • Nordstrand DC

    Votes: 13 22.0%

  • Aguilar DCB

    Votes: 46 78.0%
  • Total voters
    59
G

Geoff_tcf

Mar 22, 2016
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#1
Just can't choose between the two... Unfortunately I have no chance to try these before purchasing :(
Will be pairing it up with an OBP-3 / Audere Pro Z. Will use it for various genres of music from jazz to funk to rock to prog-metal. What would you guys choose? :)

Aguilar DCB:
Pros - I like its tone more than the Nordstrands (according to the very few sound clips/demos for the Nords)
Cons - Although it is already quite versatile, but since they can't be wired single/series/parallel, it might be less versatile than the Nordstrands?

Nordstrand DC:
Pros - I guess it should be more versatile? Since it can be wired to provide single/series/parallel
Cons - Very few clips/demos on the net, does not sound as good as the DCB to me.

Thanks!
 
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#7
mmbongo said:
Don't forget Delano and Bartolini, both of which make dual coils that are easily wired series/single/parallel.
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Thanks for the suggestions! I have looked into both brands and Barts, even the classic bass series pickups sounds too "smooth" to me and . While I cant find much sound reference for the Delanos but from the few i could find it sounded a bit harsh (and reminds me a little bit of EMG dual coils). Would love to hear any differing opinions :)
 
#11
You might want to know - Dual coil pickups are usually wound to sound best in either series or parallel; unfortunately, you can't really get "the best of both worlds".

As Carey Nordstrand himself says in their description of their dual coils -
"These pickups are available in two different versions. One set is designed to be wired in parallel, and the other in series. The reason we do this is that a pickup that is made to sound good wired parallel will usually be too hot and dark sounding if wires in series. So, we put less wire on a series dual coil than a parallel dual coil. In general, a pickup wired in series will have a fuller and fatter midrange with a subdued high end than a pickup wired in parallel, which will typically have more highs and a deeper low end with a cleaner midrange. Series pickups also have more output than parallel pickups. Parallel pickups are generally a better choice for a split-able installation, as there will not be the gain loss associated with series pickups."
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So you may not get quite as much versatility as you'd assume from a parallel/series/single switchable dual coil.
 
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#12
I have DCBs in both of my basses made by Drake custom basses, they sound incredible. It's a sound that works for me. More P bass'ish.

The Nord DCs have more of a single coil tone in comparison. If that's the type of tone you prefer it's probably the better choice.

What I wouldn't do if I were you is choose based on versatility. Go with you think fits your sound the best.
 
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#13
FingerDub said:
Have you considered EMG DC's? I don't have any experience with the Nordstrands, but I prefer their tone to the Aguilar DC's which sound a tad more polite to me. Anyway, you may like the tone and be able to wire them the way you want.
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jcerio said:
EMG DC pickups and depending on the knob layout either the BTC/BTS system (2 band EQ) or the BQC/BQS system (3 band EQ) That will do whatever you want.
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Thanks for the suggestion guys I really appreciate it, but I tried a Spector bass with those in it and didnt really dig it, haha
 
#14
BruceWane said:
You might want to know - Dual coil pickups are usually wound to sound best in either series or parallel; unfortunately, you can't really get "the best of both worlds".



As Carey Nordstrand himself says in their description of their dual coils -


So you may not get quite as much versatility as you'd assume from a parallel/series/single switchable dual coil.
Click to expand...

Actually this is one of my major concerns... Thanks for your input. Maybe I should really focus on either series or parralel
 
#15
peterpalmieri said:
I have DCBs in both of my basses made by Drake custom basses, they sound incredible. It's a sound that works for me. More P bass'ish.

The Nord DCs have more of a single coil tone in comparison. If that's the type of tone you prefer it's probably the better choice.

What I wouldn't do if I were you is choose based on versatility. Go with you think fits your sound the best.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, mind elaborating more on the Nord DCs? Thanks!
 
#17
peterpalmieri said:
There are a number of threads that talk about the Nord DCs. I'm not much for describing tone in words. But you also have to consider if you want the ones wound for series or parallel and accept the draw backs to the other if you want series, parallel and single coil operation
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I'm super excited to finish a Gecko wide 5 up and running with some DCBs I picked up here- will run it with an OBP3 in a Ken Smith/Cirrus pup placement. I'm hoping it will be absolute bump city compared to the clarity of my Delano equipped Gecko 6 .

I'd never heard the P analogy in my endless research of DCB pups but that is def. the sound I'm going for!
 
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#18
Brother Goose said:
I'm super excited to finish a Gecko wide 5 up and running with some DCBs I picked up here- will run it with an OBP3 in a Ken Smith/Cirrus pup placement. I'm hoping it will be absolute bump city compared to the clarity of my Delano equipped Gecko 6 .

I'd never heard the P analogy in my endless research of DCB pups but that is def. the sound I'm going for!
Click to expand...

Here are a bunch of gigs captured with my Go Pro both electrics have DCBs

Live with the Go Pro - YouTube
 
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#20
Off track, but I'm only doing this because there's not much info about the big rigs yet, but any thoughts about how the DCBs compare to the new Nordstrang BigRigs?
 
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