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Double Bass EUB 4 or 5 string for latin music?
- Thread starter gsandorx
- Start date
I have NS Design NXT4. I don't feel any need to "upgrade" to 5 stringer as the sound of this particular EUB is very thick, especially when plugged into 10Mohm input.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
It depends. Most of the latin tunes I've played (and a lot of what I've heard) do not require a 5st, as many of the players are using a standard URB. If this music genre is the only thing you'll be using the bass for, I wouldn't get a 5st version.
If you see yourself using the low B on other projects, it wouldn't hurt to get it.
If you see yourself using the low B on other projects, it wouldn't hurt to get it.
I play the NS NXT 5 Upright. The neck is the same dimension as the 4 so yeah the strings are closer together. I'm OK with the fact that I play a crossover instrument. I enjoy the low voicings I play with the 5. I'm constantly using especially the Eb, D, Db, and I don't want to deal with drop tuning. But you can't go wrong with the NXT4. Great sounding bass.
Yeah, I already bought the NXTa 4 strings... hopefully it'll be a good bass 
Yeah, I already bought the NXTa 4 strings... hopefully it'll be a good bass
Happy NBD!
How do you like the instrument?
But can you dance with a stick bass?
P.S. Of the stick basses, the NS NXT are my favorites.
P.S. Of the stick basses, the NS NXT are my favorites.
Saw a seminar @ Spokane Falls Community College with Poncho Sanchez. As I recall, the bassist was running an Azola 4. I'd bet the NS sounds wonderful... would like to study more latin rhythms one day... have fun!!
So, after some issues with Guitar Center, they offered me the same model but 5-string for the same price of an open-box 4-string model (it turned out that I had originally ordered an open box 4-string with a heavy discount, but that bass had already been sold, so as a good faith gesture, they sold me the 5-string, brand new). This one is strung with a low B. Not bad, as I play 99% a 5-string bass guitar, so I'm used to dealing with a low B.
It has excellent build quality (I used to have a Stagg upright bass and it felt really really cheap). The action and the tension are great to me. Of course, less tense than an acoustic upright bass, but I'm ok with it. I don't want to get hurt, and as a primary bass guitar player with little time to learn the upright, I'd rather use the skills I already have in my hands to get going as fast as possible. I'm not interested right now in playing acoustic anyway.
However, I haven't been able to get a good "baby bass" sound, which is key for salsa/latin music. I'm not sure if it's my technique (which is not good at all and I'm working on it) or because of the stock D'Addario strings. I'm getting more a mix of a fretless bass guitar... sort of. It does sound better than my bass guitar with the few salsa tunes I've tried, though. There are folks on Youtube with the same upright bass getting the sound I'm looking for. If anyone knows the trick, pls, let me know
Happy new year to everyone!
It has excellent build quality (I used to have a Stagg upright bass and it felt really really cheap). The action and the tension are great to me. Of course, less tense than an acoustic upright bass, but I'm ok with it. I don't want to get hurt, and as a primary bass guitar player with little time to learn the upright, I'd rather use the skills I already have in my hands to get going as fast as possible. I'm not interested right now in playing acoustic anyway.
However, I haven't been able to get a good "baby bass" sound, which is key for salsa/latin music. I'm not sure if it's my technique (which is not good at all and I'm working on it) or because of the stock D'Addario strings. I'm getting more a mix of a fretless bass guitar... sort of. It does sound better than my bass guitar with the few salsa tunes I've tried, though. There are folks on Youtube with the same upright bass getting the sound I'm looking for. If anyone knows the trick, pls, let me know
Happy new year to everyone!
What variant of the D’Addario do you have?
They come in two variant, and I bet you have the contemporary.
You want the Traditionals.
How to tell them apart?
String Sets: NS Electric Traditional for NS Design Electric Upright Basses NS610 at Gollihur Music - Double Bass, Upright Bass, String Bass Specialists
As for technique, plucking the strings with more finger meat will give a more DB-like tone than plucking with the finger tips.
They come in two variant, and I bet you have the contemporary.
You want the Traditionals.
How to tell them apart?
String Sets: NS Electric Traditional for NS Design Electric Upright Basses NS610 at Gollihur Music - Double Bass, Upright Bass, String Bass Specialists
As for technique, plucking the strings with more finger meat will give a more DB-like tone than plucking with the finger tips.
i think the traditional baby bass sound has a lot to do with the pickup, which is very unique and kind of an engineering mystery...So, after some issues with Guitar Center, they offered me the same model but 5-string for the same price of an open-box 4-string model (it turned out that I had originally ordered an open box 4-string with a heavy discount, but that bass had already been sold, so as a good faith gesture, they sold me the 5-string, brand new). This one is strung with a low B. Not bad, as I play 99% a 5-string bass guitar, so I'm used to dealing with a low B.
It has excellent build quality (I used to have a Stagg upright bass and it felt really really cheap). The action and the tension are great to me. Of course, less tense than an acoustic upright bass, but I'm ok with it. I don't want to get hurt, and as a primary bass guitar player with little time to learn the upright, I'd rather use the skills I already have in my hands to get going as fast as possible. I'm not interested right now in playing acoustic anyway.
However, I haven't been able to get a good "baby bass" sound, which is key for salsa/latin music. I'm not sure if it's my technique (which is not good at all and I'm working on it) or because of the stock D'Addario strings. I'm getting more a mix of a fretless bass guitar... sort of. It does sound better than my bass guitar with the few salsa tunes I've tried, though. There are folks on Youtube with the same upright bass getting the sound I'm looking for. If anyone knows the trick, pls, let me know
Happy new year to everyone!
Yes, I think I have the contemporary strings... I'll see if I can change the strings... but as @shwashwa said, maybe the true baby bass sounds is more related to the pickup.. I know the KK baby basses sound very thud...
First strings, then pickup.
I play salsa on a (5-string) Clevinger EUB with two bridge foot pickups which are basically cut piezo discs sandwiched in wood and a 10 MegOhms two-channel blending impedance buffer (all home made).
Strings are Spirocore Weich 3/4 (would like a bit lighter strings sometimes).
Not the Baby Bass sound, but with some left hand control for tone length very useable. Action height is similar to an acoustic DB.
If you want a Baby bass sound get a Baby bass with Spirocore Solo 4/4 or be prepared to mimic a bit with playing technique which works more or less.
I changed the leg to be straight, not angled which works better with bowing. But that does not influence the sound.
A standard pickup might work better with more damped strings, arco strings or synthetic core. For the Clevinger the recommended strings by the manufacturer are Pirastro Obligato (synthetic core).
I play salsa on a (5-string) Clevinger EUB with two bridge foot pickups which are basically cut piezo discs sandwiched in wood and a 10 MegOhms two-channel blending impedance buffer (all home made).
Strings are Spirocore Weich 3/4 (would like a bit lighter strings sometimes).
Not the Baby Bass sound, but with some left hand control for tone length very useable. Action height is similar to an acoustic DB.
If you want a Baby bass sound get a Baby bass with Spirocore Solo 4/4 or be prepared to mimic a bit with playing technique which works more or less.
I changed the leg to be straight, not angled which works better with bowing. But that does not influence the sound.
A standard pickup might work better with more damped strings, arco strings or synthetic core. For the Clevinger the recommended strings by the manufacturer are Pirastro Obligato (synthetic core).
I've got an NXT 5 that I just love, and I've used it for Brazilian jazz gigs where it sounded great in the mix. The arco/pizzicato (polarity) switch makes a big difference in the tone, and a lot of the time I prefer the arco setting even when pliaying pizz. It sounded OK run straight into my bass rig, but a Fishman floor pre-amp made for a big improvement - the old NXTs were passive-only, and the pickup has a VERY high impedance. Not as necessary with the active NXTa, but maybe a good idea if you're trying to get more control over your tone.
In regards to your original question, it depends upon the style of Latin music you are playing. Some have a lot of Low B action and a NS Design would work perfectly.
I used to play one of the original US series NS Design 6-strings. FYI, the current EU series is made to the same spec. The sound was very smooth, with super long sustain and almost no thump on the front end of the notes. The notes sort of bloomed out of the instrument. The low B was fabulous with a really strong fundamental. I really loved playing this instrument for certain tunes. But it wasn't great for everything.
Since you want a sound more like a Baby Bass, I don't think the NS Design is a good choice for you. My NS Design sounded a lot like a fretless bass guitar, except it it had even more sustain and produced noticeably stronger fundamentals. I think NS Design basses have a very unique and incredible voice, but it don't think they are very good for emulating an upright or Baby Bass. Best to embrace what they do well, instead of being frustrated by trying to force them to do something they are not well suited for
Here's an NXT5 video
In contrast, all of the Baby Basses I have heard were darker and the notes decayed fairly quickly. I love the groove in this recording and the Baby Bass sounds fabulous.
Since you are interested in KK, check out the videos on this page:
KKBabyBass Kristal
I used to play one of the original US series NS Design 6-strings. FYI, the current EU series is made to the same spec. The sound was very smooth, with super long sustain and almost no thump on the front end of the notes. The notes sort of bloomed out of the instrument. The low B was fabulous with a really strong fundamental. I really loved playing this instrument for certain tunes. But it wasn't great for everything.
Since you want a sound more like a Baby Bass, I don't think the NS Design is a good choice for you. My NS Design sounded a lot like a fretless bass guitar, except it it had even more sustain and produced noticeably stronger fundamentals. I think NS Design basses have a very unique and incredible voice, but it don't think they are very good for emulating an upright or Baby Bass. Best to embrace what they do well, instead of being frustrated by trying to force them to do something they are not well suited for
Here's an NXT5 video
In contrast, all of the Baby Basses I have heard were darker and the notes decayed fairly quickly. I love the groove in this recording and the Baby Bass sounds fabulous.
Since you are interested in KK, check out the videos on this page:
KKBabyBass Kristal
It took me awhile, but I found the Latin style (meringue) that I thought an NS Design might work with.
FYI here is the title track and track listing for Elvis Crespo's Suavemente which was certified platinum in the US. Of course I am certain these recordings were played on bass guitar, but they would probably sound fabulous on an NS Design EUB as well.
FYI here is the title track and track listing for Elvis Crespo's Suavemente which was certified platinum in the US. Of course I am certain these recordings were played on bass guitar, but they would probably sound fabulous on an NS Design EUB as well.
