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ZenBlade4Set

Nordstrand Zen Blade 4 String Bass Pickups

puzzle bullet iconSOLD AS A SET

checklist bullet iconEXCELLENT ACROSS MANY GENRES

control panel bullet iconWARM, EVEN AND CLEAR

good bullet iconHUM-CANCELLING

measurement tool bullet iconPOPULAR BC SHAPE

split bullet iconCAN BE WIRED SERIES OR PARALLEL FOR DIFFERENT TONES

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
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T.W.
Nice pickups, need a preamp

Pro:
- Look really, really cool. The visual impact of these pickups is substantial. No, it has nothing to do with tone, but c'mon ... it's fun to be cool!
- High quality build, as you'd expect from Nordstrand.
- I'd agree with the "even and clear" assessment ... these are very articulate pickups. Makes up for the "con" items below.
Con:
- More top end than I was expecting. First pickups I've ever played, where I feel the need to turn down the treble. Not "clicky", but lots of high end.
- I put each pickup into a series/parallel/single wiring setup. That was almost useless. I end up just leaving these in series all the time. There's not a big difference in tone going to single or parallel, but there is a significant volume drop. (You'd expect some, but maybe not as much as I got.)
- Not exactly huge output on these. Because of that, plus the top end item above, I highly suggest either installing a preamp on the bass, or using a really good preamp pedal.

empty box iconFREE SHIPPING IN THE USA
configuration iconEXPERT TECHNICAL SUPPORT
checklist iconIN STOCK MEANS IN STOCK

DESCRIPTION

The Spectral Center: a pickup that exists in the Tao of tone. The sidewinding Zen Blade mimics the voice of a sonic Buddha, centering the player on a plane of echoed clarity, while delegating a fluid rip, pop, thump, and groove of articulation. This pickup is balanced, meditative, and at one with the face of the musical universe. From dramatic lines to simple chords, the spectrum of sonic access this pickup has is somehow enlightening, guiding the slap and strum of the player toward the paradigmatic absence and duality pulverizing stillness of samadhi.

Zen Blade’s continuous sensing blade offers a multitude of loyal characteristics: its uncompromising tone refuses the threat of depletion all across the fret board, while its steady impedance gives way to a personality so even and temperate you might just find yourself saying goodbye to your old trusty compressor. One of its finest qualities is that the difference between its parallel and series personalities is subtle, creating a dimension of versatility where the player may comfortably fit their tone in the mix between many different genres—Jazz, Country, and Rock being its best contenders. Wired in parallel, the pickup delivers a broad range of character, with its even, clear, and articulate nature manifesting in its purest form. In series, the aperture narrows, causing the tone to become a bit thicker, a little bit bolder, while still retaining the even and clear quality inherent to the pickup. The lack of fluctuation between the two wiring styles is due to its single sensing blade acting as its only source of impedance, which removes many of the variables that count for the great difference in tone that often occurs when switching a standard dual coil from parallel to series. If ridiculously balanced, warm and reasonable tone is the name of your game, Zen is just the thing for you!

TECH & SPECS

  • Hum-cancelling
  • Classic sidewinder-style pickup
  • Uniform magnetic field with Ceramic bar magnet
  • Flat, slotted, steel blade.
  • Available in black plastic covers
  • 20mm maximum pitch
  • Laser cut bobbins.
  • Wax-potted to contain any unruly frequency that may attempt to desecrate your desired tone.

DIMENSIONS

Size (Bridge & Neck):
3.99” [101.35 mm] Long
1.27” [32.36 mm] Wide

“Nordstrand




WHAT IS THE TONE OF THE NORDSTRAND ZEN BLADE (PARALLEL WIRING) BASS PICKUPs?

This pickup has a great deal of evenness. A polite, non aggressive pickup that has excellent clarity up top without being too bright. Players have mentioned how excellent this pickup is as a platform for a preamp, because of its clarity and evenness - we agree. Our pickups tester’s favorite parallel-wired pickup.

The pickup used for this video is the Zen Blade 5, a 5 string bass pickup pickup. The 4 & 6 string sizes/shapes will sound similar, but not exact as they will use different length magnets. Nordstrand Audio is engineering them to sound as close to each other as possible.

Put on a good set of headphones and check out the audio demo below to hear it for yourself.

As always, keep in mind that these are generalizations. Your experience could be different depending on many factors.


WHAT IS THE TONE OF THE NORDSTRAND ZEN BLADE (SERIES WIRING) BASS PICKUPS?

Despite a touch of top end roll off in the top end, it is safe to say these pickups are quite balanced and clear. A fun pickup to play that our pickup tester (Andy) really liked. Slight peak in the mid range that pushes these forward in a mix, but not enough to sound weird, or bad.

The pickup used for this video is the Zen Blade 5, a 5 string bass pickup pickup. The 4 and 6 string sizes/shapes will sound similar, but not exact as they will use different length magnets. Nordstrand Audio is engineering them to sound as close to each other as possible.

Put on a good set of headphones and check out the audio demo below to hear it for yourself.

As always, keep in mind that these are generalizations. Your experience could be different depending on many factors.

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
0%
(0)
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
T
T.W.
Nice pickups, need a preamp

Pro:
- Look really, really cool. The visual impact of these pickups is substantial. No, it has nothing to do with tone, but c'mon ... it's fun to be cool!
- High quality build, as you'd expect from Nordstrand.
- I'd agree with the "even and clear" assessment ... these are very articulate pickups. Makes up for the "con" items below.
Con:
- More top end than I was expecting. First pickups I've ever played, where I feel the need to turn down the treble. Not "clicky", but lots of high end.
- I put each pickup into a series/parallel/single wiring setup. That was almost useless. I end up just leaving these in series all the time. There's not a big difference in tone going to single or parallel, but there is a significant volume drop. (You'd expect some, but maybe not as much as I got.)
- Not exactly huge output on these. Because of that, plus the top end item above, I highly suggest either installing a preamp on the bass, or using a really good preamp pedal.

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