Easy to use, original, and sonically immaculate, these preamps provide players with an uninhibited musicality derived from Carey Nordstrand’s own personal design. 

• INFO
• LAYOUT
• TECH
• MEDIA
• MUSINGS

• With an ideal feature set facilitating their great sound, these units have become popular with high end bass builders who love to install them as standard OEM preamps on their top level instruments. Given that they are available in multiple prewired configurations, these preamps have become extremely popular upgrades for basses at all levels of quality.
  
  Artists: Vivian d'Souza, Fernando Vallin, Paulo Roberto Diniz Jr, Will Birckhead, Travis Carlton, Scott Pazera
• 3B-3 (1 Pickup - 3 Band -- 3 Knob, 1 Switch):
  Volume w/Active-Passive Push-Pull -- Push-Pull Mid -- Treble/Bass Stack
  
  3B-4a (2 Pickup - 3 Band -- 4 Knob):
  Volume/Volume Stack -- Tone w/Active-Passive Push-Pull -- Push-Pull Mid -- Treble/Bass Stack
  
  3B-4b (2 Pickup - 3 Band -- 4 Knob):
  Volume/Tone Stack -- Blend -- Push-Pull Mid -- Treble/Bass Stack
  
  3B-5a (2 Pickup - 3 Band -- 5 Knob):
  Volume w/Active-Passive Push-Pull -- Blend -- Treble -- Push-Pull Mid -- Bass
  
  3B-5b (2 Pickup - 3 Band -- 5 Knob):
  Volume w/Active-Passive Push-Pull -- Blend -- Tone --Push-Pull Mid -- Treble/Bass Stack
• 3B-3 wiring diagram
  
  
  3B-4a wiring diagram
  
  
  3B-4b wiring diagram
  
  
  3B-5a wiring diagram
  
  
  3B-5b wiring diagram
  
  

  Overall gain is 0 to 15db by a trim pot on the circuit board.

  Bass +/- 12db @ 50Hz

  Treble +/- 12db @ 4khz

  Midrange +/- 12db @ 1k and 400Hz

• Below are impressions and anecdotal thoughts gathered over the years. Some are our own and some are from customers.

  • Transparent
  • Boost and cut is not overly-aggressive
  • Mid boost is in the upper mid-range compared to other preamps
  • Treble boost is in the lower treble range compared to other preamps
  • Ability to adjust the overall output of the active signal