modern bass pickups

Please see the How do I pick a Music Man style pickup for my bass? if you need help deciding which pickup you need.

mm4.2

humbucking (dual coil) 4 string Music Man®-type bass pickups

This pickup is an accurate reproduction of an early pre-Ernie Ball® Music Man® pickup. It uses the same wire, the same magnets, and has the same DC resistance. As a result, it sounds just like the early Music Man® basses that are so widely coveted. Includes black cover (exposed pole pieces).

mm4.4

humbucking (quad coil) 4 string Music Man®-type bass pickups

The MM4.4 is the pickup to use if you want all the switching options. Each row of magnets is actually 2 coils (2 magnets each), so the pickup can be split and remain hum cancelling in any configuration. Front coil, rear coil, series, parallel... This pickup has all the basses covered ;-)

mm5.2

humbucking (dual coil) 5 string Music Man®-type bass pickups

A 5 string version of the otherwise identical MM4.2, itself an accurate reproduction of an early pre-Ernie Ball® pickup. It features Alnico V magnets and heavy Formvar wire for an authentic punchy, growly, and inherently fat tone. The MM5.2 is a dual coil pickup that can be wired series, parallel, or single coil (split-able). Includes black cover (exposed pole pieces).

The industry never really adapted a standard for this style of pickup, and as a result we have at least 3 different spacing and cover combinations:

  1. Soap-bar shape with no ears and narrow spacing. These have a rectangular cover and narrow spacing that will work on original MusicMan® five string basses.
  2. Larger shape with ears and wide spacing. These will fit Lakland® and other basses with wider spacing.
  3. Larger shape with ears and narrow spacing. These will fit OLP® and other basses with narrow spacing.

 

mm5.4

humbucking (quad coil) 5 string Music Man®-type bass pickups

The MM5.4 is the 5 string version of the MM4.4 and is split in similar fashion, except that it has a 2 string coil (B and E) and a 3 string coil (A, D and G). The pickup can be split and remain hum cancelling in any configuration. Front coil, rear coil, series, parallel... This pickup has all the basses covered, and is particularly suited to a Lakland installation where the 3 way switch selects front, rear, or parallel coils.

who is using nordstrand pickups?

In search of tone that inspires: just some of the fine builders and musicians who depend on Nordstrand Pickups as a critical starting point for the signal chain that is their musical voice. View the list.