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Double Bass Ergo vs NS Design??
- Thread starter leewon135
- Start date
They're both very different instruments with regard to feel, tone, and electronics.
That said, to compare the two, you'd likely want to match up the Ergo with the NS NXT basses. What are you looking to get out of an EUB?
That said, to compare the two, you'd likely want to match up the Ergo with the NS NXT basses. What are you looking to get out of an EUB?
I've tried both- Ergo felt more like an upright regarding action and string tension and radius- NS to me felt like an electric fretless with way too long a scale length... Just my .02
To be fair, the NS has a 42" scale length which is right in line with a traditional upright bass.
Pat Harris said:
I'm bring fair- fingerboard radius on the NS was almost flat. When I play upright, I need that curvature for some reason, muscular memory if you will.
The NS has traditional upright scale with a fingerboard that felt to my hands... Like a bass guitar. Did not feel like something I could get use to.
The NS Design's upper line has built-in preamp system, and possibly magnetic pickups.
Their NXT line is similar to the Ergo instruments.
I owned an NS Design cello for a decade. I recently made the switch to Ergo.
The Ergo is relatively inexpensive. It's a good base on which to build up the bass you want. I modified the pickup system on mine to match more closely my old NS Design instrument, and added two Baggs GigPro preamps, one for each pickup set, to give me instant access to gain, tone, high pass, phase, and volume. I also had it built to accept the NS Design shoulder mount.
The NS Design instruments have a fancier build. That's a blessing and a curse. I have come to prefer the utter simplicity of the Ergo design. I know that I could field-repair anything on that instrument, short of it cracking down the middle into two pieces (not that that's at all likely) given a soldering iron and an hour of time.
I'm not so sure I could do the same with the NS Design insruments as either a preamp, or the passive electronics, are built into the instrument in a way that's a bit harder to work with On the Ergo, I have preamp problems, I velcro another to the instrument and return the faulty one for repair.
The upper line of NS Design instruments, however, is rather convenient.
It really comes down to personal preference. They can be made to sound quite similar if one wants. I prefer the Ergo as a base for further modifications.
Their NXT line is similar to the Ergo instruments.
I owned an NS Design cello for a decade. I recently made the switch to Ergo.
The Ergo is relatively inexpensive. It's a good base on which to build up the bass you want. I modified the pickup system on mine to match more closely my old NS Design instrument, and added two Baggs GigPro preamps, one for each pickup set, to give me instant access to gain, tone, high pass, phase, and volume. I also had it built to accept the NS Design shoulder mount.
The NS Design instruments have a fancier build. That's a blessing and a curse. I have come to prefer the utter simplicity of the Ergo design. I know that I could field-repair anything on that instrument, short of it cracking down the middle into two pieces (not that that's at all likely) given a soldering iron and an hour of time.
I'm not so sure I could do the same with the NS Design insruments as either a preamp, or the passive electronics, are built into the instrument in a way that's a bit harder to work with On the Ergo, I have preamp problems, I velcro another to the instrument and return the faulty one for repair.
The upper line of NS Design instruments, however, is rather convenient.
It really comes down to personal preference. They can be made to sound quite similar if one wants. I prefer the Ergo as a base for further modifications.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Just out of curiosity, was it an older model? The CR-5M I bought almost two years ago felt pretty close to the Englehardt that it replaced in terms of feel and fingerboard radius (which it definitely has), with exception of no neck heel. Once I put actual URB strings on it and raised the bridge slightly, it was easy to transition, as well as bow on it (which I do about 75% of the time).
The reason I went with the NS over the Ergo (because I was looking at both) was because I didn't want to have to modify it at all, aside from URB strings which I had. The only issue that I've come across is that the 18v preamp goes through batteries fairly quickly in comparison to my electrics; I change these every 3-4 months when I'm gigging regularly with it. Given that I always have a couple of 9v hanging out in my equipment bag, this is a non-issue.
Regardless of which one you choose, I've found that in my area, I get MORE calls because of the EUB than I did when I had the URB. Especially for musical theatre, a EUB is easier to fit in small pit situations and run through the house system over an URB.
