I'm thinking of getting a CR4M (or maybe CR5M) and found a used one locally on Craigslist. Turns out the owner lives close by and we've met before. He is an attorney who did some work for me years ago. He graciously left the bass with me for evaluation.
The bass is old, perhaps 11 years (?) but hasn't been played much. I'm hoping the following details help determine the vintage. The stand is silver chrome (not black like current models), it has two gig bags, one for the bass plus another for the stand, and it has a 3-position arco/pizz switch instead of the continuous dial like current models.
I can't find a manual for this model on the NS Designs website. Help with knowing what the 3 positions of the arco/pizz switch do appreciated. (Not sure what strings are on there, but they bow like crap, so its difficult to tell what the switch does by just trying it.) I think I know what the other 4 dials do, but confirmation would be nice. They certainly are not in the same order as outlined by the current manual.
Other problems:
Help appreciated. Thanks!
The bass is old, perhaps 11 years (?) but hasn't been played much. I'm hoping the following details help determine the vintage. The stand is silver chrome (not black like current models), it has two gig bags, one for the bass plus another for the stand, and it has a 3-position arco/pizz switch instead of the continuous dial like current models.
I can't find a manual for this model on the NS Designs website. Help with knowing what the 3 positions of the arco/pizz switch do appreciated. (Not sure what strings are on there, but they bow like crap, so its difficult to tell what the switch does by just trying it.) I think I know what the other 4 dials do, but confirmation would be nice. They certainly are not in the same order as outlined by the current manual.
Other problems:
- The 4 dial pots are slightly noisy when turned. They were much noisier at first, but have calmed down a lot from just slight use. I haven't opened up the back to blow them out. If this is going to be a problem, how would I know?
- All four strings buzz under the finger, which suggests to me that the fingerboard might need work. The E string is the best of the lot, the G and D strings are not playable. The G string buzzes from A through G#, with the worst buzzing from B through D. The D string buzzes badly from D# through A, then gets better through E, where it calms down to normal.
- The action is really low, which may be contributing to the buzz problem described above. I raised the bridge using the adjustment screws on the back, but I'm afraid to go much further or the set screws will just come out. I might try adjusting the truss rod, but I've never done anything like that - and I don't want to mess up a bass that isn't mine an the moment. The online manual for the current CR series is unclear about which way one turns the truss rod to fix this problem. The action near the nut is still super low. I'm thinking I need to raise the action - which will also give the next more relief. I think that is the right thing to try. Which way do I turn the truss rod screw - CL or C-CL?
Help appreciated. Thanks!
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