Nordstrand Upgrades to my MVJ4-72!

I put Nordstrand NJ4SE split coils and a Nordy Tone Drop circuit in my Modern Vintage MVJ4-72. Is it just me, or does it sound killer?
nordstrandaudio.com
modernvintageguitars.com

[@BassWhispererTV]

BTW - this was my first video recorded direct out of the Line 6 HX Stomp. I plugged the bass into a clean preamp patch, love how it sounds.

[@stephencshapiro]

Glad to hear the HX Stomp is working out.

[@trevorblair5552]

Glad your back on your channel, your bass sounds great! 😊🙏🏿

[@BassWhispererTV]

I’m going to be doing some more demos coming up for a boutique shop. Stay tuned!

[@richshields6692]

Got that john paul jones sound. So cool

[@BassWhispererTV]

Love JPJ!

[@martinheath5947]

Check out Herbie Flowers. He was a Jazz bass with flats guy who played on so many classic records. He kept the same old set of strings on forever. Rest in peace Herbie

[@BassWhispererTV]

Big fan of Mr. Flowers!

[@SiFi5478]

Rotosound 88 tapes though.

[@Jarvis_aka_UgunnH8This]

Every time I see/hear you play I can tell that those hands have more chops than Bruce Lee. Thank you for your years devoted to this beautiful instrument, Take care and much love from Arkansas

[@BassWhispererTV]

Thanks! I feel like I have “lazy” chops. They only work when they have to.

[@LaurenceMollerup]

The cat- that was my reaction, too! I'm still a Jazz bass guy, after 46 years. We can still be friends, I guess. . . :) (sounds great as always, Ed)

[@BassWhispererTV]

Thanks for not disowning me Laurence!

[@zahirmawji3178]

Awesome mod! I shouted you out on SBL's abysmal G&L video recently - hopefully more people can come see them in action in the right hands ;)

[@BassWhispererTV]

Thanks, I replied to that video 3 times!

[@Murdo2112]

That is a gorgeous sound. My jazz has flats on, and I too almost exclusively use the neck pickup. I'll definitely look into the capacitor switch though, it's like adding a pint of heavy cream to the sound. Dig out a pick and you have instant Joe Osborn.

[@BassWhispererTV]

Oddly enough, I had a pick stuck up in the strings behind the nut the entire time and didn’t know it! I was remiss!

[@Murdo2112]

@@BassWhispererTV Sounds, to me, like the perfect excuse for another video for this bass.

[@BassWhispererTV]

@@Murdo2112Yeah, I need to practice my pick a little…. Kinda rusty.

[@johncook9983]

Hell yeah you’re keeping it! Some great tones with a little more versatility 👍 Recently I am turned onto (once again) the simplicity of the P. But, I crave that for a little bit and then get “bored” and pull out a different one. It’s a sick cycle😔 If I had to commit to a single instrument day in/out in a touring scenario it’d be hard to pick between either a P or a J though.

[@BassWhispererTV]

I get it. But the Jazz neck… mmmm…. Perfection!

[@PaddyMacNabh]

Tasty playing 👍

[@anthonyscaletta2950]

i hear it clearly ed! your right about it sounding the same with tone up all the way..i have been looking to change pups on my jazz bass also, may try them since i want the low end your getting..jazz bass is easier to play if u have small hands like me but that jazz bass sound annoys me..i do like that mowtown type soundthat a p bass could give..

[@BassWhispererTV]

I feel the same. I think these mods are a good choice.

[@garethhjones]

I think the bit of sponge and the flatwounds are having more of an effect than the pickups or the tone control.

[@BassWhispererTV]

Certainly the most significant changes I’ve made, but the Tone Drop is totally worth it!

[@aaronmoore9055]

What type of flats are you using on your jazz bass?

[@BassWhispererTV]

These are Labella 760FS.

[@CNick75]

La Bella’s?

[@BassWhispererTV]

Yes! 760FS (.105-.045 standard gauge)

[@Firewalz]

Also a J.J. fan. I had a similar evolution: Jazz Bass for years, than P bass…..but in recent years favoring Stingrays. Maybe you’ll move onto Stingrays:)

[@BassWhispererTV]

I’ve had soooo many Stingrays! I love them, and in fact… I’m kind of Jonesing for one now, but… I have no legitimate use for one except slapping in my living room.

[@Firewalz]

@@BassWhispererTV Stingrays are not just for Slapping:) imo they do better than a P for dense mix, heavy low end keys/organ, modern genres, etc. Where a P works, a Stingray can to....with some tweaks:)

[@cristianv1078]

The jazz is music for people who appreciate that music, jazz was more popular in the 50s and 60s and 70s but let say the truth isn’t longer a music that people fallow anymore

[@BassWhispererTV]

I don’t disagree, but the title is referring to the Jazz Bass, which is the specific instrument I’m talking about. Thanks for watching.

[@cristianv1078]

@@BassWhispererTV I will say that bass players that we see know they want to be like super famous and do crazy things, but for me bass is the foundation of the music, I still remember a interview of Victor Wooten where he said I feel a little I regret having pursued a solo musical career, which closed many doors for me to groups and gigs with other artists. I happy to see many bass players looking to play a learn jazz and others style of music, I hope that they can came out from online pages and play with someone so they can bring good music back to stages.

[@BassWhispererTV]

@@cristianv1078 This video has nothing to do with playing jazz! I'm talking about the Jazz Bass, a particular model, a specific electric bass that many people play. I appreciate the contact, but... as I said... this is not about Jazz music.

[@UriSala]

Why not just use a p-bass?

[@aaronmoore9055]

I thought the same thing, but you kind need both of them. The Jazz Bass with flats is a killer tone also. Think Bob Marley, early James Brown with Bootsy on bass, Khruangbin, to name a few of my favorites.

[@BassWhispererTV]

I usually do! But I have this amazing Jazz with a beautiful neck that feels so good, it didn’t take much to make it work for me like a P does.

[@grmusica5400]

Joseph Lucky Scott, David Hood, Joe Osborn, Dee Murray, Robbie Shakespeare, Herbie Flowers, heck Paul McCartney too....the list goes on. Jazz w/flats is one of the classic iconic bass sounds--always a little different from a P.

[@admarhermans1]

🎯

[@jermainelong1843]

It sounds different to me even wide open - the drop cap is darker sounding.

[@BassWhispererTV]

Well, I can’t hear it, but I’m sure I’ve lost some high end over the years.

[@jermainelong1843]

@@BassWhispererTV Apparently we all do - something like 1db a year above 10k from 40 onwards. Seriously😬

[@JosephGallagher]

Have you tried a single-coil P-bass pickup on the neck position of a J-bass? I've found it to have so much more character and presence than the usual J-necks Dunno, I just find a J-neck pickup so bland

[@BassWhispererTV]

Hmm, haven’t tried that! I had a ‘51 RI and found the pickup to be oddly bright when left open. I replaced that with a Nordy split-coil version of the pickup because of hum