Double Bass Eminance, Alter Ego, or NS?

[DoubleMIDI]

Some over here think the messenger is the best solution you can find, but I have never seen one. And I think they are no longer manufactured.

The vibrating top is important for arco. The string starts much easier with a vibrating top. The top can be from a resonance chamber (which is always too small for a earthy double bass sound) or it could be a thinner piece of wood where the bridge is located on that vibrates better than the thick solid body itself (like on some MK models that even have a kind of easily accessible soundpost).

 

[Jakemo]

Thanks Double Midi

 

[martinc]

BrianRost: I am wondering how the NS is different from a regular passive or active electric bass. Is it the pickups? Or the ability to play the NS in a vertical position?

 

[equill]

I am wondering how the NS is different from a regular passive or active electric bass. Is it the pickups? Or the ability to play the NS in a vertical position?

It's a different instrument. Seriously. Same as any other EUB - it's as similar to an EB as a double bass is to an acoustic bass guitar, for all the same reasons.

There's some crossover where you can play the same thing in (approximately) the same way on EUB and EB, but that's the exception more than the norm.

 

[jthisdell]

I've had a NXT4 for about four years. Some very good pluses to it, though of course not a perfect replacement for a DB. It does have a 42" scale, it would be impossible for me to play it horizontally. I believe the Omni and WAV lines have shorter (BG) scales. As such the string behaves much like a DB and the string attack, sustain and decay are very similar to a db. I have the older NXT4 model so it needs a preamp with a 10megohm input. I believe the a models eliminate (or at least reduce) that need. The Contemporary strings that come on them standard are very bright, I opted to upgrade the tuners which allowed me to use Obligatos which work well on the instrument. They are pretty "dead" strings but pair well with the NXT IMHO. It is highly transportable, I have carried mine in my Miata a ton of times. The gig bag is adequate but you need to use some care in slinging it around. I am OK with the tripod. I think Ned was trying to design an instrument that BG players could pick up and adapt to pretty easily and I think he achieved that. I gigged with it within 4-6 weeks but it was not easy. It became much more natural after 3-4 months. I have no illusions that i could easily transition to DB, I think that will be another big learning curve. But it has allowed me to play in bluegrass and gypsy jazz bands and it felt right at home in both of these genres. If I were to do it again I'd like to look at an Eminence, but that is another price point and would not be as transportable (less of a problem if you don't drive a Miata to rehearsals and gigs.) best.

 

[Jakemo]

I believe that I started this thread. Since then I've had an opportunity to buy a Yamaha 200, and am enjoying it.

 

[equill]

I believe the Omni and WAV lines have shorter (BG) scales.

The WAV EUBs are full (3/4) scale.

Now that I check, though, the Omni line also has WAV, NXT and CR models, which is probably where that confusion comes in - those things are the same scale as a BG, but shaped like an EUB.

 

[jthisdell]

I believe that I started this thread. Since then I've had an opportunity to buy a Yamaha 200, and am enjoying it.

Just because you started it doesn't mean you get to end it

The Yamaha looks interesting, like an NS but with an endpin, active electronics, body shaping panels, a proper heel position and a hollow chamber. But very portable like the NS. How does it sound and play?

 

[Jakemo]

I like it. It's a lot easier to play then my acoustic.
it sounds real good, though I don't know if it's the equal of the alter ego.