NS Design: bridge height

Hannes · #1 05-05-2006, 09:58 AM

hi!

When i use the piezo pickup on my ns design bass (cr) some notes sound dull. I think I have to change the bridge height so that the strings can resonate better. Could this help? I read the instructions on the Ns design homepage, but I'm not sure how much I can change the bridge height. Do I have to be aware of sth. special? How "hight" should the bridge be?

thx!

basmansam · #2 05-05-2006, 07:57 PM

Hannes,
Raise or lower the bridge to the height desired. This wont hurt anything. However, if you detune the strings then adjust the bridge, retune, your stings should sound better for a short time. Sounds like you need new strings.
Sam

greitzer · #3 05-05-2006, 11:58 PM

Hannes -- which model of the NS do you have -- do you have the one that has both magnetic and piezo pickups (CRM)?

Hannes · #4 05-06-2006, 10:19 AM

Yes, it has both!

basmansam · #5 05-06-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannes

Do I have to be aware of sth. special? How "hight" should the bridge be?
thx!

Hannes, I have a US 5 NS Bass, I have raised the bridge to where I can put my finger tips between the strings and the fingerboard. I use Spirocore weich strings thatve been on over 2 years. They still sound good. If you are using the stock strings, they are probably dead. I have never had a problem with the 5th string.
Sam

greitzer · #6 05-06-2006, 12:07 PM

Hannes -- I'm not an electronics guy -- in fact I'm electronically challenged -- but I'll offer a comment and others can correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't believe string height would affect how the piezo pickup performs. I believe the piezo pickup is built into the bridge, which means string height wouldn't matter.

It's the magnetic pickups that would be affected by string height, since they're located directly below each string.

I hear occasional dull notes when I have the arco-pizzicato knob set to arco (bowing) and I play pizzicato. This is different from the magnetic-vs-piezo control. The arco-pizzicato control is the third control knob down. Counterclockwise sets it fully on pizzicato, and clockwise sets it fully on arco. In the latter setting (arco), when I play pizzicato I will occasionally hear dullness -- not quite deadness, but dullness, but this is designed into the instrument to helpl simulate old-time, non-sustaining double-bass sound.

I hope this is helpful and I didn't confuse the issue. Good luck.

Bassoon · #7 05-07-2006, 04:48 AM

Hi!

Changing the bridge height has helped! The strings were to low!