I just got an NS EU 5 string. Great instrument. But out of the box there were a number of issues. First, I was losing the 'E' string - literally no output on that one string. Once I realized that the balance controls are swapped on the EU vs. the CR (oops!) and it wasn't a piezo glitch (couldn't really be anyway) but a magnetic pickup issue, I got courageous enough to take a look. So I popped the back and saw the modular connectors from the EMG pickups to be loose on the preamp board. Moving those into position fixed the cutting out 'E' string.
Next, I found that when I pivoted the bass on the NS Strap system, it was crackling and distorting. Same problem when touching my cable next to the input jack. Occasionally, I got distortion on all notes. Changing batteries didn't help. I changed cables, but no help either. Then I sprayed Caig's DeOxit D5 through the input jack socket on the bass (careful to do this with the back plate off so the excess spray can be caught by a rag) and plugged in the jack several times to clear it. Crackling and distortion fixed. Note: Has anyone noticed that Caig's ads and website are starting to read like a bottle of Dr. Bronners Castile soap?
One other suggestion...I changed the OEM cheap-o batteries for 9v Ultralife Lithium batteries. They are about $8 each and available from
www.partsexpress.com. I don't know if it was my imagination, but I thought the higher notes sounded fuller and had less of that 'new string overbrightness'. Anyway these batteries are reported to last as much as 5x longer than an Alkaline, so I guess they're worth it.
Did I say it's a great bass! It is.
