Fat Bass Tone
BigBlade6NeckCC45
6-STRING BLADE-STYLE SOAPBAR PICKUP
BARTOLINI® P4 OR EMG® 45 HOUSING
WARM & WOOLY OR CLEAN & CLEAR VOICING
NECK AND BRIDGE VERSIONS AVAILABLE
FREE SHIPPING IN THE USA
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The Nordstrand Big Blade 6 is a powerful, modern-sounding single-coil soapbar pickup designed for 6-string basses. Its distinctive continuous blade design creates a uniform magnetic sensing field, delivering strong articulation and a full, authoritative voice without relying on individual pole pieces for string alignment.
Available in Warm & Wooly (W&W) and Clean & Clear (C&C) voicings, the Big Blade lets you choose between a thicker, darker sound with pronounced mids or a more balanced, open response. Both versions use ceramic bar magnets and Nordstrand's distinctive blade construction. Choose from Bartolini® P4 or EMG® 45 housing shapes, with separately selectable neck and bridge positions.
Each pickup is sold individually. For a complete two-pickup setup, select one neck and one bridge pickup in the housing shape and voicing you prefer. You can also mix voicings between positions to tailor the sound of your bass.
Pickup Size:
4.68" [118.75mm] Long
1.27" [32.36mm] Wide
Choose this housing when your bass uses the corresponding Bartolini® P4-size pickup route. Confirm the mounting details and actual cavity dimensions before ordering.
Pickup Size:
4.52" [114.81mm] Long
1.51" [38.35mm] Wide
Choose this housing when your bass uses the corresponding EMG® 45-size pickup route. The P4 and EMG® 45 shapes are not interchangeable without confirming fit.
Warm & Wooly (W&W): The darker, thicker option, with a pronounced midrange character and a full-bodied response. This is the voicing to consider if you want weight, warmth and plenty of personality from your 6-string bass.
Clean & Clear (C&C): A more balanced and open voice with greater clarity and definition. This is a strong choice when articulation and separation are priorities, particularly for players who want their extended-range bass to retain clarity across the strings.
Nordstrand rates Warm & Wooly at 3/10 for tonal brightness and 7/10 for midrange emphasis, compared with 5/10 and 6/10 for Clean & Clear. Both receive an 8/10 dynamics rating, while Warm & Wooly has slightly more tonal coloration.
Both voicings retain the powerful, modern character of the Big Blade design. As always, these descriptions are generalizations. Your experience will vary depending on your bass, strings, electronics, amplification, setup and playing style.
There are eight available combinations. First choose the housing shape that fits your bass, then your preferred voicing and pickup position. Each selection is for one individual pickup, not a complete set.
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Warm & Wooly is darker and more mid-forward, while Clean & Clear has a more balanced, open response. Both share the Big Blade design and its strong dynamic character.
Choose the housing that matches your existing pickup cavity. The Bartolini® P4 shape measures 4.68" × 1.27", while the EMG® 45 measures 4.52" × 1.51". Measure your existing pickup and cavity before ordering; the housing names alone do not guarantee compatibility.
No. The Big Blade 6 is a single-coil pickup. Its continuous blade provides uniform magnetic sensing across the strings, but it should not be confused with a dual-coil humbucking design.
No. Each option is one individual pickup. For a complete pair, order a neck and bridge pickup in the appropriate housing shape and preferred voicing.
Not necessarily. Nordstrand specifies a maximum string pitch of 18mm. Check the string spacing at the pickup locations, as well as the housing dimensions and mounting arrangement, before ordering.