Palatino VE-500 vs. NS WAV4: Which should I get?

ElectricShema · #1 07-06-2009, 02:49 PM

Hey everyone. I'm a 22 year old bassist of about 14 years, been playing jazz since middle school, but its taken me this long to really get to where feel like I'm severely lacking as a player in my college jazz band because I'm not playing upright. Just electric.

Anyways, I've got a scholarship now, so money isn't as big a deal as it used to be. But I need an electric upright; both to play with my college big band, college jazz combo, and in my own band in clubs around town. I've pretty much settled upon two EUBS: the Palatino VE-500 & the NS WAV4.

From what I hear, the Palatino has the acoustic upright feel and look (which is really what I want, to practice on a lot) but everyone has been talking about all the mods you have to do on it to make it work like the charm its claimed to be after all this work. I've heard it has a fairly realistic sound, but you gotta really rip the thing apart to get it there.

On the NS WAV4 side, it has the tripod stand (which is nice, because I'd be switching between it and my Fender Jazz midset and I wouldn't have to worry about leaning it up against something), but I've heard the sound isn't as desirable (more like a fretless than an upright) and it doesn't look like it would feel much like an upright.

Can anyone who has played both (or preferably owned both) tell me which would be my best bet? I'm getting short on time before my fall semester starts up and my director is freakin' out with excitement that I'm finally able to upright.

Thanks
-Ken

JtheJazzMan · #2 07-06-2009, 07:08 PM

If youre looking at the WAV, see if you can get the endpin stand as well. IMO the tripod stand is no good when youre standing up, its ok if you have a high stool to sit on. The end pin is much better when standing up. On the issue of tone, youll get all kinds of weird opinions. The WAV isnt going to sound like a fretless BG, unless it has mag pickups on it

**Francois Blais** · #3 07-06-2009, 08:02 PM

Hi Ken.
FYI, I just deleted the two other posts you did on the WAV4 and Palatino megathread.
That was unnecessary cross-posting of the same question at three different places at the same time.
Hope it doesn't bother you, and this standalaone thread is the best thing IMO.

Best regards,
François
EUB forum co-mod.

ElectricShema · #4 07-07-2009, 06:44 PM

It's cool, I was just hoping to find more people who could shed some light on the situation. I'm really torn between the NS WAV4 or the Palatino VE-500. One day I'm thinking "Ok, the Palatino it is." and then I'll see something else and be thinking "Nevermind, I'm going with the NS WAV4". Everyday is different.

So, if you have ANY insight, PLEASE SHARE!

JtheJazzMan · #5 07-07-2009, 06:51 PM

Simply pick the tone and feel you like best!

ToneRanger · #6 07-30-2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectricShema

It's cool, I was just hoping to find more people who could shed some light on the situation. I'm really torn between the NS WAV4 or the Palatino VE-500. One day I'm thinking "Ok, the Palatino it is." and then I'll see something else and be thinking "Nevermind, I'm going with the NS WAV4". Everyday is different.

So, if you have ANY insight, PLEASE SHARE!

Well, of all the EUB's I've played, there were only two that I really didn't like... yep, those two!
Like they say, the Palatino seems to come up OK if you do the necessary replacements & mods to the rubbish parts. Not sure you can do much with the WAV - I could get lots of different tones from the one I played, but none of them very usable. I've heard some horror stories about build quality as well. The local importer told me their first batch were OK but they sent the second shipment back and refused to sell any more until quality control improved.
I'd suggest saving for the NS-4 (lovely bass) or something like an Azola.