Nordstrand Dual Blade Neo VS Aguilar DCB pickup

Which and why

  • Nordstrand Dual Blade Neo

    Votes: 12 63.2%

  • Aguilar DCB

    Votes: 7 36.8%
  • Total voters
    19
CaneyBoniface

CaneyBoniface

Feb 17, 2015
265
86
4,551
Malaysia
#1
Hey there, I'm Caney from Malaysia. I just thinking about this two pickup, i have view many video at youtube and read some thread about those pickup and still confuse which one i should get to replace my Ibanez stock pickup P2 size. maybe with a pair preamp too.
Can tell me reason why and advantage of both pickup. Thank You.
 
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#4
When you say you are looking for a "match", you'll have to be more specific. In terms of size, it looks like we're talking EMG sized buckers, so I think either would work, but take measurements and compare them against specs. In terms of sound, you will need to say what you are looking for, or be more specific in your questions. Otherwise, you will just get our opinions. I like DCBs better.
 
#5
sikamikanico said:
When you say you are looking for a "match", you'll have to be more specific.
Click to expand...

I agree. That's the difficult thing about trying to provide advice to someone on an internet forum. I've heard bass tone that I think sounds awful that others think is wonderful. For example, while he's a prolific player, Jaco's bass tone always sounded too thin and "burpy" to me, but some folks think it's the best thing ever. Then there is James Jamerson, who in my opinion has great tone...and that was from a stock Fender bass, with horribly high action, using thick dead flats, running into old tech gear. If you found the "Funk Machine" in a pawn shop you'd probably pass it by because I'm sure it played like crap.

That said, I do tend to gravitate more toward pickups that have a thick bottom and are very warm. I do like some upper mids and treble so my tone isn't all mud, but I like it more to fill out the sound, not to really be noticed. I have Nordy's in my two active basses and in both of them I have VERY little EQ used. Typically I add a wee bit of bass (which is a 40hz on both of my onboard pre amps as well as my outboard pre I use for passive basses). I leave everything else flat. The Nordy's sound fantastic! Their NJ series of J pickups are amazing. The attention to detail is such that they bevel the edges of the magnets so they feel better if you brush your fingers across them. They also radius their magnets across the pickup so you get more even tone. It's just the little details that set them apart.

Carey Nordstrand is a member here, and he will pop in from time to time. Some of his folks are on here too. You can always reach out to them with any questions. They will also custom make you some pickups with different spacing if you require that.
 
#11
IMO the deciding factor in this decision would be if you wanted to split the Pups. You can't split the DCB's. I have a Bass with the DCB's and it sounds great. How can you lose either way?
 
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#12
Bump. I'm interested in the Duo Blades and would like to know more since there isn't much about it (especially sound clips) on the internet. I'm more interested in how they sound compared to the Nordy Dual Coils and Bart CB dual coils / Bart MMs.
Just in case OP hasn't seen it yet, here's an old thread about the Duo Blades. There are a few sound clips.
 
#18
To my ear they sound "fuller". A nice round bottom end. Not overboosted or anything...still sounds like a Jazz bass. For example, nearly every Jazz bass I've ever played always sounded thin and lifeless until you put some EQ on it. The Nordy jazz pickups sound good as is and don't need much of anything.
 
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#19
chadhargis said:
To my ear they sound "fuller". A nice round bottom end. Not overboosted or anything...still sounds like a Jazz bass. For example, nearly every Jazz bass I've ever played always sounded thin and lifeless until you put some EQ on it. The Nordy jazz pickups sound good as is and don't need much of anything.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
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