Nordstrand Acinonyx - Does this retro cat push the right buttons? - LowEndLobster Review
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
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Hey everyone! Today we're reviewing the brand new Nordstrand Acinonyx. This is a new import model from the renowned pickup manufacturer Nordstrand. Styled as an homage to the Goya Panther, this cat features a really unique selector system for the pickups and tone controls... But does this bass push the right buttons? Let's find out!
Edit: Messed up some of the labeling... you get the gist ;P. Go with it! ahahaha
Big thanks to Dom @ ThirdFloorGuitars for setting up my instruments. You can find him at www.thirdfloorguitars.com
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A good friend (who’s a professional musician), has one and I immediately got one. Just a couple things; 1. It is NOT a toy! The fit, finish, and playability of the bass are second to none! 2. At a gig how often are you changing the tone on your bass? Adding pedals, yes. You will find the two or three tones that work for you and stick with them. Most often I switch between tones when using a pick or fingers. It can be a little tricky depressing all four buttons to put the p/u in series, but, it’s my preferred setting. I just change the tone. 3. Carey Nordstrand is a long time luthier and p/u building, I have complete confidents in ability and willingness to back up his products. 3a. As far as the floating p/u goes, I’m sure that was a considered choice of a master builder. 4. My neighbor is a semi-professional musician (has a day job), plays in three bands and uses an Ibenez 5 string fan fretted bass. He loves my Cat Bass. He says it’s so easy to move around on, it’s like driving a Ferrari!
5. Yes, it sounds great with flat wounds.
You are the only bass demo/review player who is allowed to talk before and after playing. You actually have something to say interesting. Enjoyed it lobster 🦞
Thanks Lew :)
Did anyone ask for this? No
Did I expect it? No
Do I need this? No
Do I want it? Yes.
I'm in love with the vintage vibe with the tape recorder super imposed into the bass even though it sounds and seems kinda impractical 😂
Haha thanks Hetul! Glad you liked it! It's a very unique instrument that came out of left field, for sure :). Fat tone for daaaays.
@@LowEndLobster it is an interesting instrument with a very menial 16 tones seems a great purchase for someone like me who uses a P Bass has 1 whole tone..........which literally works for anything but that's besides the point
I actually dig this. In a world where we probably have 2-3 other eq points in our signal chain, having some quick options for tweaking at your fingertips makes sense. Not to mention it really sounds good.
Thanks Kirt! Yeah the tones on this thing are FAT. These are rounds on here too. There is some practicality in the buttons for sure for on the fly tone switching, I just wish we were given some more analog control.
@@LowEndLobster I totally get that, but I'm running my basses through a TC Electronic SpectraDrive which has a 4 band EQ and then, if I'm jamming, into an amp with EQ controls as well, so in some ways, to me, it simplifies things, but I totally get what you are saying, and I agree about having doubts about the longevity of the switches. Do you get any "click" in the signal when you change? its hard to tell since the mic pics it up so well...
@@kirtfulcher6288 No electronic click, only audible from my lapel mic luckily.
Agreed, the buttons allow quick access to a set tone, and we can tweak from there. I like the buttons.
I don’t know if your question about where the idea came from; if I recall correctly it was Juan Alderete who made the initial request that got this ball rolling, specifically because he was hoping for a higher quality version of the Goya Panther.
My Acinonyx is ordered (finally) and will be on its way soon!
I own one of these basses, and it's awesome! Luckily, the switches are time tested (used on a high end studio compressors since the 80's and still functioning today). I highly recommend trying this bass out for yourself. I have no problems playing this out at any gig.
OMG thank you for doing a comprehensive review of the button combinations!
As someone who you mention as "wanting this specific bass", I appreciate being able to see a more critical review. Though the wiggly pickups would annoy me, I want to get it now more than ever!
Thank you! That's what I was going for :) Hope you get your hands on one!
Good demo and review. Thanks for the honesty. Much appreciated.
Thanks Mark :)
After watching 10 other great reviews about this bass, I didn't like this one because I didn't hear what I wanted to hear. But watching your other videos made me relaized, you have good points, and you know what you are saying. So I gave myself one more week, to think about buying this bass. I did. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! I try to be honest and express all of my opinions both positive and negative :). I buy all my basses and try to approach things from a consumer point of view and I try to avoid biasing because of a brand name. Unaltered audio and unaltered opinions :)
Yep, I like the idea of hitting a button and having a consistent tone dialed in right away. From what I heard, I can tell that I can pretty much dial in on my amp any extra tone shaping I want. I don't tend to fiddle with my tone very much, and what I'm hearing is all good sounding. I'll probably be set-it-n-forget-it, so I'm not worried about the buttons much.
Of course, the good tone may just be how good LEL's playing is!
Thanks Rod!
That is so quirky, I love it!👋🦞
Thanks boomer! :D
Not sure about the buttons in terms of longevity, but they offer all the tones I would personally need and I think it sounds fantastic.
I agree, not sure about the longevity of the buttons if this is a regular gigging bass, but if I’m honest, I would buy this for my own enjoyment and occasional light gigging. Seems like a great bass and it’s up at the top of my current wish list.
BTW Lobster, I just stumbled across and absolutely KILLER demo of the REAL Goya Panther Bass by Janek Gwizdala if you or anyone else cares to check it out. What's so amazing is all of the unique sounds he gets out of it w/o changing the setting on the pedal, but by changing up his playing style.
Ooooh! Thanks for the heads up bflo!
Awesome video,thanks lobster 🦞
Thanks!
Wow! What an incredible bass! I want one!
Yeah, this is by far my favorite bass you've demo'ed.. Nothing sounds like the passive short scale bass with the old switch style tone. There's a reason they were sold out for a while.
And you're demos are great. No matter the bass you play they always sound like you are playing them. Tone is in your hands brother!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed this :)
Wasn’t sure what to expect but it’s been added to my list of potential vintage/flats compliments to my jazz. Wiggly pickups and button longevity aside seems pretty rad to me.
Thanks! Yeah very fat oldschool tone that would work great with flats.
LowEndLobster the jack Casady probably still reigns supreme but it’s nice to have options. I’m a broke college student so I’m not exactly ready to fork over dough for a specialty sort of bass, or any bass really. I really like Peavey T-40s as well but I feel like putting flats on it would sort of do a disservice to its versatility
Saw this on janek's channel, but i love seeing even more of it!
Thanks James!
Seems to be a pretty nice sounding bass. Leo's L-2000 nails the versatility card IMO, but some of these sounds remind me of it. Cool review, man. ♦️⚔️♦️
Thanks Steve! Hoping to try out some G&Ls in the future.
I gotta say I really like the tone of the bass as represented here. 30.7"-scale is an interesting choice.
Thanks Sam! Yeah this thing had a lot of big tones in a small package.
It sounds fabulous.
You shouldn't worry about the quality and longevity of the switches, they're the same time tested switches from the 1176 so yeah, they'll last!
Thanks! Good to know. What's the 1176?
@@LowEndLobster It's a studio compressor.
My fav: both pickups in series, tone 1 (the 13th option). I bet it would sound great with flats. (You can add a thumb rest.)
Thanks! Yeah this thing would def rip with flats.
I have flats on my Cat bass, and it does indeed sound great!
What a cute bass, so tiny
I saw a guitar or bass(don’t remember ) on Dave’s world of fun stuff that had buttons above the strings, it was from 60s or 70s and seemed like a very bad idea.
Thanks Ras! I personally hate buttons below the neck pickup moreso like the jaguar (and talman). Those get in the way of my slappin! These buttons are at least out of the way for the most part, so I'll give it that :).
Thanks for the honest assessment. Way too many reviewers of all kinds of gear come across as sponsor-/gear-hungry shills who either don't have an honest opinion or fear upsetting anyone's feels. You review was respectful to the builder but also to the players shelling out the bucks for the gear, which we ultimately want to put to work. The V2 Acinonyx sounds better and more versatile to my ears, at least from the few demos I've found. Would love to hear your take on that one. Cheers!
Great review as usual! I am really considering a version two. How about a cat Strat review?
Seems you intended to demonstrate the bridge pickup, but neck pickup kept coming, but you already previously demonstrated the bridge pickup first
great review!!
Thank you!
I’d prefer a wider neck but apart from that I wouldn’t mind one. The buttons would be fun and allow for a quick change. 50’s tones from it are nice too.
Thanks Pwo! I need to revisit this bass
terrific T-shirt!
Thank you!
Cool bass with some killer tones. I typically like vintage basses with the highs rolled of a bit but I thought that the comparable settings on this bass were a bit muddy for my tastes. I love the idea of the tone buttons more than the practicality
Thanks Keith :)
All those buttons would be great for spaceship gigs (you've got my number NASA) and the loud button "CHONK" is chonky. Despite the buttons, that bass has great vintage tones with just enough mud and thump. Both pickups in series with tone 3 was my fav (cops a great Pino tone). I would pass on this but it might work in a studio setting.
Great comment DW! I agree. I love the buttons from a nostalgic/fun perspective, but just put some on a fidget cube for me or something haha.
Great review. Would love to watch read hear your take on the Acinonyx V2 where the buttons are replaced by a tone knob and an additional pickup!
In a Pavlovian response, I automatically click “like” as soon as I hear “salutations crustaceans “...
Interesting bass. I never knew such a thing existed.
Tone buttons? I don’t know if I’m a supporter of those yet.
Thank you :)
I am a supporter of configurations being by individual button/switch (buttons seem more elegant approach), like the Fender Strat series (I can't recall thename right now) that replaced a 3 or 5 way switch with buttons to run split/combos - but they are down by your tone knobs and you get more room by your volume control, which to me is smart.
I want a big red button on my guitar I can slap when it's time to shred because rock pose number 47 is better with that sort of showmanship lol but otherwise yeah
With the placement of the tone switches I'd be concerned about accidentally hitting one and changing my tone in the middle of a song when playing live. I don't necessarily have a problem with the switches themselves, just the placement. Otherwise I think that bass sounds really nice, every single combination had a full usable tone. And, personally, I kinda dig the quirkiness of it. I could really see myself getting one if I woke up one day to find myself in a band playing 60s covers.
Thanks Michael! I definitely agree that all the tones were very usable. These should come with a tie die shirt ;P
Weird headstock design, but the rest of the bass is beautiful, and 6:01 i really love that tone, sounds kinda Rickenbacker. Nice demo!
Pd: i have a question, what string gauge do you usually use on your basses?
Hey Ruben! Thank you :). I usually use standard 45-105 for my 4 strings, and will do a 125 or 130 for the B (usually 125). I use MJC Ironworks strings primarily, with LaBella and TI for flats.
Sounds good. Both pickups in series. Still not for me. I have a hard time with short scales anyways.
Thanks Klay!
About the less sit well pickups, I believe place the thicker, wide and high density foam under each pickups side do help. Just guess......
Yup, I agree with you.
Man - there are so many great basses out there I have been unaware of. The Panther has a great growl - weird about the pickups! Have you tried any Maruszczyk basses? Have a good one Lobster!
Thanks Robert! I have not but I have seen a lot of them and they look amazing! Really want to get my hands on one :). You too my friend!
@@LowEndLobster Same here! A guy in my local area has a tele style bass (their "Jake 55 4p" model I think) that looks pretty cool :)
This sounds sweet! It doesn't seem to have any forearm bevel though... Looks a bit awkward. Nothing an angle grinder couldn't fix.
Thanks Moigle!
I'd settle for button 4 for the mid scoop and a regular tone knob alongside a volume control for each pickup! Why limit the tone options? Otherwise it's really cool design and good for a short scale Ric type sound. Nice review man.
Thanks Martin! I got a lot of flack from some nordy fans for not digging the buttons. I understand this was supposed to be a homage to a bass with buttons like this, but I always review basses on every day usability. Though the tones here are solid, I totally agree that an actual tone knob and some more analog controls would allow this thing to reach its potential.
The headstock looks so odd. The low pass tone also sounds super synthy. Just to brag, I just got this peavey T-40 from ‘87 and I think it’s the heaviest instrument I own, but it sounds soooo sick.
Thanks Gavin! I agree, the headstock is odd. That T-40 sounds awesome! I've been wanting to try one of those boat anchors out, I hear they've got tone for days :). Enjoy it!
LowEndLobster the only thing is you have to be carefully when restringing the A string, because if you cut too much off before you wind, it won’t get a good enough angle and it ends up sounding dead, found out from experience lol
Nieoczekiwanie dobrze brzmi ten basik😃👌
Don't get me wrong, not a bad bass. Construction and versatility are good. But, price-wise, well if you are after a vintage bass sound, you can buy an old, real vintage Japanese bass like Teisco. Much of them are simpler basses, not too many buttons, but can give you a real vintage tone for a way, way cheaper cost.
Great comment Tony! 100% Agree.
@@LowEndLobster Hi! I love your videos, sir! No exaggeration, no commercial, no post eq, etc. You are an honest person, musician, and UA-camr. So many ppl -including me can't find reviews about these kinds of affordable vintage brands. Especially 60's and early 70's Teisco, Silvertone, etc. If you can find and do some reviews about them, man you can end the problems of too many vintage addicts. GBY and your family, your loved ones. Many thanx Lobster!
That's a great idea! I've never considered that. Thank you for the suggestion, I'll definitely consider that as an additional avenue for content in the future
I hate when pickups move around! The only thing I find that will stop them from moving is a piece of foam under the pickup. I too will ride my finger on a pickup for confront that drives me crazy when I can’t.
Right? Most pickups will use foam or foam and springs... Seems like a silly omission.
Interesting, I remember guitars with a slew of buttons like that.
A recent instrument? Genuinely curious... for tactility reasons... *click*
Guitar hero guitar
@@LowEndLobster I'm thinking mid-70s when I was in high school. Don't recall any basses, just several solid body electrics from overseas.
Short scales don't fit me very well. It's interesting, it has some nice tone options, but not for me. As always great review and playing.
Thanks Jason!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds reminiscent of the Mosrite bass from the 60’s.
I hear the P'ups are now available either as a single or pair, I would like to hear those P'ups in another Bass
Besides the buttons and pup mounting, what about the longevity of that ultra slim neck? Too bad...I LOVE the way it sounds, esp in Series!
That's a great question. I ended up returning this bass due to shipping damage. I hadn't seen anyone complain about neck stability, but I did see some stuff about the buttons
@@LowEndLobster Exactly. wo reinforcement rods I would be concerned about warping, twisting, etc.
Why do I like this channel so much?
:)
It sounds pretty good, don't know if it sounds like the Goya! I've been listening to a lot of Abe Laboriel from the good old days lately.
I've honestly never heard a Goya, didn't even know they existed before I found out about the Acinonyx. Love me some Abe! Thanks for commenting :)
@@LowEndLobster I just looked at a video of Abe playing one and it has a PJ configuration and I don't see all the buttons. Either he customized it or it's the copy that Valley Arts built him, maybe an updated version.
@@joffyjazz I know that there's a US built version of it as well, no what he's playing honestly.
Nice review on this unique “Walkman-ish button” bass guitar. Sound sweet and warmth, but I think she able create BITE voice if the third“ roll off tone” button replace with more upper mid and treble setting. Possible make series mode sound better attack.
Thank you! I appreciate your well said comment
Sorry I am late. Nice job but they missed the style point where they replace the buttons with a midi footswitch or a built in gesture controller.
There were a couple original USA built that made it to market somehow
ua-cam.com/video/DhnqfNBrJLw/v-deo.html
Points off for not including an eject button ;P
Sounds pretty good. There are lots of sonic options.
Is it a short scale bass? It looks tiny!
Thank you for the great review.
Thanks! Yes, it's 30.7" scale.
The shape is somewhat unconventional, especially the headstock, and so are those buttons. I do like the colour. The sound is damn good, but your amp and of course your hands are also big factors.
Have you tried Maruszczyk basses yet?
Thank you! I have not, but I plan to at some point.. they look AMAZING!
@@LowEndLobster The quality is pretty awesome as well. Better than Fender, according to some guys in the talkbass forum.
@@MrClassicmetal My good friend has one for sale... my clicking finger is itchy ;P
@@LowEndLobster I have a short scale Elwood model. Let me tell you, this thing is so good it left me scratching my beard! Elite craftsmanship!😁👍🏼
And the price is ridiculously low! You're getting a custom made instrument for less than $1500 !!!
At last a bass with loads of buttons! I grew up with cheap supermarket guitars with loads of buttons!!
I didn’t like the slap tones on this.
Thanks Ray! Yup, buttons galore :)
Send it to me I'll give all the fucking action it can take
A toy ? I VERY strongly disagree. I really enjoy your channel and your reviews but IMO you are flat out wrong about this one. Mine is high quality build and top notch tones. I don't worry about the buttons at all. It's my favorite bass of any scale.
So, where can I get one?
Nordstrand! :) I don't think they're selling through dealers or shops, just direct through them I believe
Sweet bass if I see one more fender copy I’ll puke
Now say ACINONYX 10 times fast😂😂😂😂 kool bass though
Ass-in-onyx ;P... Pokemon fans- :0
Buttons buttons buttons, everyone's gotta have buttons the cool kids all have buttons.
I have a couple guitars with the extreme opposite for configuration - the tone knob actually has a humbucker to single coil split at 7. 7 and above are single coil, and these Peavey blade humbuckers SCREAM but aren't *quite* icepicky - but they can get there...and below 7 you're in smooth humbucker mode and most people who've tried both for any length of time actually seem to prefer the split/coil cut being in the tone knob as opposed to a split switch, which probably keeps you from using like the one mode in the old Peaveys that will go in through the ears and really cause some brain cells to literally shred to bits...you can actually program that6 unusable, unnecessary, unwanted mode out by what they did with the tone control and it actually really seems to work well so far for me, but I've been unable to stop my bass binging so I haven't dug into the electronics to fully A/B everything to my satisfaction yet on some of my more recent 6 string solid body ... uh ... tenor (?) electric guitars. What register are standard 6 string guitars anyhow? Never really thought about it till I had to really speak to both in a bass guitar context so I can't just say guitar anymore, really. I mean, I have to keep it straight lol
Now those particular buttons? They actually look like they should be the icons for a Gretsch Chet Atkins Super Axe with a Boss Loopstation built into it. I am suddenly becoming intrigued by pickguard mounted things as there's a lot of space under there sometimes. If I strapped a NuTube to the pickguard floating in open space it would be some crazy quacking microphonic platypus on a trampoline thing with a throat deeper than Linda Lovelace...ha ha ha
It's also a stealth reverse headstock doing a 1+3 but it's straight-pull from the pegs, like an arrow and the headstock shape does a good job of making it look natural to the eye where a lot of people (even myself) still struggle with a 1+3 standard reverse headstock just out of a innate sense of golden spiral lol...this instrument would be amazing for a 6 string bass conversion ala Fender VI. Get some nut stock from whoever and use a low zero-fret type temporary nut until you find the right strings for that pickup combination/body resonance, then cut ya a nut (and news flash, most classical instruments don't even glue their bridges down, so you can live with nuts that aren't glued for a while if they fit in the slot properly.
Yeah, short scale basses always feel a little rubbery to me (I'd get a travel rubber stringed one lol, they sound fine ha ha ha) but it occurs to me that short scale 4 strings should be really ideal for 6 conversions as long as you match up the string timbres with the responsive part/usable dynamic range of the instrument itself. If you're going full active, you don't even have to care about that, just make em what you want. I like my unplugged tones though. It's sort of like how to check the quality of the paint base before you start blending in pigments. I also like feeling physically coupled with my instruments, so if a wood is lower mass it better have some damn resonance with the human body or it's not going to work for me. Stick with good woods and I haven't been disappointed so far.
You can change everything on an instrument but honestly if you feel like you have to change the wood to get it where you want it, you've just opened up a whole new set of challenges ha ha ha
Also
1. I can't stop jamming Simen Borven's Leprous playthroughs. It happens frequently on often occasions, until I learn them well enough I cAn dO iT mYsELf :-)
(I also jam Baard's playthroughs, because, Baard) :-)
ua-cam.com/video/0lUVKD0brmQ/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/B-XnBAvmqhE/v-deo.html
1. a. I will disagree with anyone who is trying to convince me that music is dying and everything I might ever want to listen to has been done and is old and I should get used to it. LOL listen closer...to the world...at your fingertips...
2. I just learned about the existence of a three pickup Ric...4004LK and there seems to be a BUNCH of three pickup variants of 4000 series, which puts Kilmister squarely in with Sheehan. Well now. Hello interesting timbre tools..
3. "Lovingly nicknamed the "Cat Bass” in the workshop" There is a "The Cat" bass Aria made a while back. Maybe they were shooting for those tones. You can still pick those up for like a couple bills USD, and they're basically the low end cliff butron models - instead of set/through neck, they're bolt on; instead of colored hardware trim, you get nickel; etc. Most people it seems have the pickup replaced in them and then are selling them for the price of upgrades, which implies the husks are of no value - what usually happens is people take the stock/factory electronics out because that's a great chunk of the heart/soul of an instrument, particularly a vintage one where nearly every manufacturer was still trying to make different humbuckers, to differentiate, instead of grab crap off the shelf in yet another race to the bottom in yet another over commercialized industry.
I always save your comments for last ;P. " but it occurs to me that short scale 4 strings should be really ideal for 6 conversions as long as you match up the string timbres with the responsive part/usable dynamic range of the instrument itself." THIS IS WHY I LIKE YOU, YOU MADMAN
@@russellzauner Just checked out these vids! Thanks for sharing :). The captions on the dog cracked me up ahaha. Such a nice tone from the P bass!
Too many darn buttons...does have some good sounds, hard to remember what button you pressed..
Agreed. The click is satisfying, but not something I want on an instrument honestly. A pen, maybe hahaha. Especially considering the function of 8 buttons can be had with two knobs and gives you many more "in between" tones and flexibility. Imagine being able to control individual pickup volumes and pickup tones on this thing? a V/V/T/T setup would be killer... but I also understand that they wanted to do the whole Panther thing.
Uh... suddenly my jazz bass feels super simple. It's a toss-up as to which has more buttons: that bass or any given control panel on the bridge of the starship on your (friggin' awesome) shirt.
Thank you! ahaha "Lt. La Forge, set tone to mid scoop. ENGAGE!" ;P
@lowendlobster, at ua-cam.com/video/WYEgtdbpnvs/v-deo.html it still says you are on the neck pickup on scree where you are playing the bridge pup solo'd ;)
DAMNIT! ahahaha
@@LowEndLobster SORRY!
Ya know, im not feeling this one. Its a great bass, for the right person. All the interface switches just don't do it for me. Some of the sounds are just beautiful, but I can't get over how they are done
That's how I feel. Objectively it's a solid great sounding instrument, but the interface doesn't do it for me either.
OpTIon pARaLYsis.... cool sounds tho
Thanks Suds!
Yaaaaaasssssssssssssssssssssss
:)
So many people where hyping this up with its looks but I don't really like it but what do I know I like BC Rich's and schecter riots
Yep, I agree. They really did hype the hell out of this thing. Tons of marketing, almost overkill IMO. It's a cool instrument but hardly anything groundbreaking.
@@LowEndLobster as the person working the marketing, I'm stoked you think it was overkill. Gotta get the word out, you know! --S
@@NordstrandAudio haha, thanks for replying! I mean, you're not wrong, so many great basses have been killed for lack of marketing. I guess if someone's talking about it, you're doing a great job! Regardless of my opinion of the marketing, you guys got the word out and that's a win.
@@LowEndLobster I'm actually surprised you thought it was overkill. So I'm serious that I was glad you thought so. I mean, we always feel like we aren't doing enough! #allpublicityisgood?
"Failed product!"...
I have two bass guitars with two different types of Nordstrand pickups in each one and I adore them but...
Carey Nordstrand should do the following:
1. Stop making bass guitars.
2. Continue to produce high quality pickups for bass.
3. Leave Bass production alone forever.
3.
Sounded better than expected....but Headstock shape..I'm out. Buttons, double out.
Thanks! I agree, it sounded much better than I expected but the quirks didn't win me over.
Nope
XD
Strange bass more a toy less bass thin sound .sorry for me something missing keep on grooving improvise and more good things
Thanks Ram! I got a lot of shit for this hahahaha but I stand by my review