Hey Jonathan, I have been waiting for this comparison and appreciate it. For me the Novak is my choice for blues which is what I play mostly. I have a 2008 MIJ Mustang with True Custom Shop p'up but I am going to spring for the Novak. Thanks!
I like the Novak the best. I'm listening through my laptop, playing through a boss katana air, so my speakers are mediocre at best . Do you think a mustang bass is "better" with the traditional single pickup or a P/J setup?
Thanks for watching! I love how you put "better" in quotations because it really would come down to taste. This is what I mean: The smaller mustang style pickup sounds different than a P pickup. It has a different midrange character and the frequency response is different (more narrow bandwidth). This is neither a good/bad/better thing, it's just sonically different. I have found that in certain situations, a mustang pickup cuts better cause there's less going on. But if one is wanting more broad range fidelity, than a P might be a better choice. The PJ configuration has never been my thing, although I can appreciate how the bridge J could add definition to the note and sound. Most bridge J pickups in a PJ set are not humcancelling and if they're not matched output-wise, there is often a loss of volume when using both together. In my personal PJ Mustang (a 1st gen), I've disconnected the J altogether and I'm just running the P. So i'm a bit biased. But I'm planning a PJ shootout series, to be shot soon!
@@jonathanwong458music it's true, beauty is in the ear of the beholder. I'm giving thought to doing the same thing to my Ibanez mikro bass that you did to your PJ bass. Disconnect the j pickup, then I can upgrade just the P pickup. It'll only cost half as much also! I was considering saving up to get a nice mustang but to tell you the truth, the deal-breaker for me is that now I've gotten used to having 22 full frets. And yes, I use them all when noodling! 😆 So I think I'll make a project of upgrading the electronics and perhaps the tuners of my mikro. Guess I'll have to go back and watch a couple more your videos now.
I tested out a few different P pickups in both my bronco and mini P series. Lots of good P pickup options out there now. In my PJ basses, I left the actual J pickup screwed in for the esthetic, but electrically, the P goes from its volume pot to the tone pot. The J is completely out or the circuit and desoldered. Wires coiled and taped to avoid accidentally grounding out. I think it sounds more open this way.
@@jonathanwong458musicI was never impressed with the little mustang pickup till I tried a longscale bullet bass, which was the model that replaced the mustang in the early 80s, punchier and fuller than a mustang but still articulate...I went the pj route for my mustangs and upgraded the bridge pickups to fender noiseless which I've done 3 times and they always seem to pair well with fender's 60s reissue splitcoil pickups, but anything higher output like a quarter pounder or a dimarzio and I end up with poor volume balance
Tough choice . . . NG on the Duncan, love the fat tone on the Novak but the Nords have more articulation to my ears, sort of depends on the genre; fx, I'd use the Novak's for Motown, etc.
Yeah! Thanks for watching! I like the articulation and high mid definition on the Nordys too. I like the Novaks on my Schecter with flats! Good time for variety!
novak fat for me i like the deep sound it reminds me alot of the tone from Nirvana nevermind album a deep raw sound more like a driving bass sound that cuts through the mix.
Hey Jonathan, just letting you know I have discovered a new or new to me Canadian pickup manufacture called Corrigan Pickups in Toronto. check them out. Cheers from Etobicoke 🍺🇨🇦
Love your videos Jonathan!
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the comparison! I’m glad you did this one.
I just installed the NM4 in my classic vibe Squier mustang. Wow. Big difference and I love it
Thanks so much for watching!! Enjoy the Nordys!
Same! Came across a new CV Orange one and i think it will benefit from a pickup upgrade
Head to head, the Nordstrand will sound bigger and more P bass like in comparison to the stock Squier CV pickup. Thanks for watching!
Good video.
The D'Addario XL Nickels are actually nickel-plated steel.
Thanks for watching!
Hey Jonathan, I have been waiting for this comparison and appreciate it. For me the Novak is my choice for blues which is what I play mostly. I have a 2008 MIJ Mustang with True Custom Shop p'up but I am going to spring for the Novak. Thanks!
Right on! I had fun making this series. I kept the Novaks for my Schecter.
Thanks for watching!
Jonathan, to my ears I preferred the beefy tone of the Novak Fat pick ups. They would be my choice.
Nice! Thanks for sharing your preferences and for watching!
Great video, very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks so much for watching and for your encouragement!
Thank you so much for the comparison!
You’re welcome! Thx for the suggestion and thx for watching! Hope it was useful.
@@jonathanwong458music Yes, it was useful and interesting :)
Awesome to hear. Peace!
Thanks for the review !!!👍
My pleasure! Thanks so much for watching!
I too like the Nordies in this bass with the round wounds.
Right on! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for watching!
I like the Novak the best. I'm listening through my laptop, playing through a boss katana air, so my speakers are mediocre at best .
Do you think a mustang bass is "better" with the traditional single pickup or a P/J setup?
Thanks for watching!
I love how you put "better" in quotations because it really would come down to taste. This is what I mean: The smaller mustang style pickup sounds different than a P pickup. It has a different midrange character and the frequency response is different (more narrow bandwidth). This is neither a good/bad/better thing, it's just sonically different. I have found that in certain situations, a mustang pickup cuts better cause there's less going on. But if one is wanting more broad range fidelity, than a P might be a better choice.
The PJ configuration has never been my thing, although I can appreciate how the bridge J could add definition to the note and sound. Most bridge J pickups in a PJ set are not humcancelling and if they're not matched output-wise, there is often a loss of volume when using both together. In my personal PJ Mustang (a 1st gen), I've disconnected the J altogether and I'm just running the P. So i'm a bit biased. But I'm planning a PJ shootout series, to be shot soon!
@@jonathanwong458music it's true, beauty is in the ear of the beholder.
I'm giving thought to doing the same thing to my Ibanez mikro bass that you did to your PJ bass. Disconnect the j pickup, then I can upgrade just the P pickup. It'll only cost half as much also!
I was considering saving up to get a nice mustang but to tell you the truth, the deal-breaker for me is that now I've gotten used to having 22 full frets. And yes, I use them all when noodling! 😆
So I think I'll make a project of upgrading the electronics and perhaps the tuners of my mikro. Guess I'll have to go back and watch a couple more your videos now.
I tested out a few different P pickups in both my bronco and mini P series. Lots of good P pickup options out there now. In my PJ basses, I left the actual J pickup screwed in for the esthetic, but electrically, the P goes from its volume pot to the tone pot. The J is completely out or the circuit and desoldered. Wires coiled and taped to avoid accidentally grounding out. I think it sounds more open this way.
@@jonathanwong458musicI was never impressed with the little mustang pickup till I tried a longscale bullet bass, which was the model that replaced the mustang in the early 80s, punchier and fuller than a mustang but still articulate...I went the pj route for my mustangs and upgraded the bridge pickups to fender noiseless which I've done 3 times and they always seem to pair well with fender's 60s reissue splitcoil pickups, but anything higher output like a quarter pounder or a dimarzio and I end up with poor volume balance
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Tough choice . . . NG on the Duncan, love the fat tone on the Novak but the Nords have more articulation to my ears, sort of depends on the genre; fx, I'd use the Novak's for Motown, etc.
Yeah! Thanks for watching! I like the articulation and high mid definition on the Nordys too. I like the Novaks on my Schecter with flats! Good time for variety!
novak fat for me i like the deep sound it reminds me alot of the tone from Nirvana nevermind album a deep raw sound more like a driving bass sound that cuts through the mix.
Right on! Thanks for watching and commenting! Nevermind was such a great album.
Hey Jonathan, just letting you know I have discovered a new or new to me Canadian pickup manufacture called Corrigan Pickups in Toronto. check them out. Cheers from Etobicoke 🍺🇨🇦
That's awesome! I'll have to check them out. Thanks for sharing!
#23_🇺🇸
Thanks for watching!