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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

#241
I'm seriously considering getting one of these NXTs, and I hope to use my standard tuning, CGDA, on it. ... My question is: Will these fit on an NXT? Will any modifications be necessary? Thoughts?
Click to expand...


You would probably have to file the E-string nut slot, just as Francois said, but I foresee no problems, otherwise. The bass has an adjustable bridge and an adjustable truss rod for tweaking, just in case tension is a little different with your tuning. You'd have to wind the strings around the bottom of the bass and thread them into the keyhole slots on the back, but the bass is designed to do that - no sweat.

Also, with a low C string, you'll likely want to upgrade the tuning machines, just to be safe - you can read back in the thread about the common "drop-in" replacement choice, Hipshot Ultralites (3/8" post). Not an absolute necessity right off the bat, but if the NXT bass has a weakness, that's it.

FYI, Pirastro makes an Obligato set tuned to fifths as well, and I find that the Obligatos impart a more "acoustic" tone to the solid-body NXT bass.
 
#242
Mark,

How do your obligatos hold up? Seems to be a fairly sharp angle the strings have to wrap around. I've considered guts and oblis or straight zyex, but the NS Trads install so easy and play well, and I don't have any concerns about the strings breaking. Could you offer more on the oblis, etc.?

Thanks!
 
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#243
buffalobillh said:
Mark,
How do your obligatos hold up? <snip>
Click to expand...

Obligatos, as compared to other strings, often don't last as long, at least not from a practical standpoint. I haven't heard of anything specific to the NXT (haven't been told they deteriorate faster on the NXT than on a "real" bass) but they have a rep, generally speaking, of not having as long a life as some other options. They tend to get "dead" quicker. On the NXT, which is a pretty "live" instrument, it may be less of a problem, but I don't have long-term experience with them (my WAV4 wears Helicore Orchestra strings). But they sound great on the bass.

Side note: Winding the low E is a little tricky with the stock tuners, but it can be done.
 
#244
I put on the Hipshot Ultralights a while back and have been extremely pleased. I had gut/oblis on my kay, and the oblis were nice. The NS Traditionals on my NXT have lots of thump, and not as much sustain as other strings, but they do have a little more sustain than I'd prefer for what I do. That's not a complaint at all. When I play different styles/gigs, the sustain works well. I can get Zyex very reasonably priced, but the Oblis are kind of expensive for mere experimentation, but that's part of the quest.

I may try gut G & D on it just for grins when I have a little dough. Anyone experimented with that?
 
#245
Here is a mugshot of me practicing my NXT for a Christmas Cantata. I find that the sound when bowed seems to be much more to my liking than when I pizz. (Maybe because I'm more used to my acoustic double bass).
Instrument set up with D'Addario Helicores, Amp is a Roland Cube 60. No preamp.
 

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#246
After having mine for about 6 months now I find the arco mode is better for pizz than the so-called "pluck" mode on the NXT... I'm running an NXT 5 with well-worn-in strings as they came from the factory and they've settled nicely. When I first bought it, it was so bright and twangy it took a lot of tone-control and finger pressure modulation on the fingerboard to keep it from quacking loudly...

Now, it's pretty well perfect!
 
#247
Hi Frankie,
Yes, I agree with you on that. I actually pizz with the selector set to arco mode instead of pizz mode. The sound is fine but of course it can't compare with the warmth of an acoustic. However, bowing in arco mode, the sound is quite good, even without a preamp.
My settings on the NXT when I play is usually, Tone : Mid, Vol : 3/4 & sound selector at Arco.
Pizz with the selector set to "Pizz" mode gives a sustain much longer than what I'd prefer making it sound more like an electric bass instead of a double bass so I rarely use it.
Settings on the amp, Volume : 5, Treble : 4, Mid : 4, Bass : 6, Freq : Mid. Jack input on high.
 
#249
Here's clip I did real quick today. Just testing the iPad2 with the iRig and Garage Band.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Here's also a bowed clip I did with the NXT5 going to my now dead Backtrack from line6.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Both clips use a preamp. (fishman b-II). Pickup in arco mode. D'addario orchestrals strings.
 
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#251
sixandeightstringer said:
Obligatos, as compared to other strings, often don't last as long, at least not from a practical standpoint. I haven't heard of anything specific to the NXT (haven't been told they deteriorate faster on the NXT than on a "real" bass) but they have a rep, generally speaking, of not having as long a life as some other options. They tend to get "dead" quicker. On the NXT, which is a pretty "live" instrument, it may be less of a problem, but I don't have long-term experience with them (my WAV4 wears Helicore Orchestra strings). But they sound great on the bass.

Side note: Winding the low E is a little tricky with the stock tuners, but it can be done.
Click to expand...

I have my Wav4 strung with obligato's for about one and a half year now, and they have been used a lot. They have lost al ot of top end in the first moths, but that's no problem at all on the WAV. The sound just evolves more to a gut like sound that compensates for the piezo sharpness.
 
#253
A woodworking-bluegrass-musician-friend made this nifty ebony protector / string guard for my NXT. I just put on a set of Helicore 3/4 scale medium tension strings and looking forward to less sustain than the stock factory strings. If you are interested to ask my friend to make a string guard for your NXT DB, PM me. I think his price would be reasonable.

Got to go plug in now!
 
#256
Just ordered a NXT4. Always wanted to get to a URB at some point and due to a bad rotator cuff injury I'm getting there earlier than I planned.

This thread has enough resources about the NXT to get me as far with it as I think I'll need to go (tuners and eventually strings), but I'm looking for some resources on URB technique. Are there any websites or especially good books to recommend? I'll likely get lessons quite soon, but I'd like to noodle away a bit before.

edit: Found this in the Jazz Technique forum (newb technique link).
 
#257
pilmat said:
Just ordered a NXT4. Always wanted to get to a URB at some point and due to a bad rotator cuff injury I'm getting there earlier than I planned.

edit: Found this in the Jazz Technique forum (newb technique link).
Click to expand...

Oh hey, glad to hear... I think you'll enjoy it... just remember to give the strings a good workout for a few months (be sure to detune and retune it to get those strings stretched and less clicky). Also, you'll likely be getting one with the new Jack-Pot click-off-ground pot instead of the standard volume pot.

Enjoy!
 
#258
Any suggestions on where to be able to try out one of these basses without having to order one first? I'm seriously considering selling an Elrick 5-string BG that I don't get much use out of and using the proceeds to pick up an EUB, but I don't actually want to sell anything if I'm not going to like the EUB options in the price range I'm willing to spend...

The NXT 5 seems like it's probably the best bet for me, but no one stocks these things that I've been able to find, even though I'm in a music-heavy market (Boulder-Denver-Fort Collins). Did you guys mostly just decide to take the plunge and order one?
 
#259
orbix said:
The NXT 5 seems like it's probably the best bet for me, but no one stocks these things that I've been able to find, even though I'm in a music-heavy market (Boulder-Denver-Fort Collins). Did you guys mostly just decide to take the plunge and order one?
Click to expand...

I haven't asked Dan about the NXT in particular, but Link Removed is opening next Saturday near Boulder. I've been emailing him back and forth, he seems like a good guy and it sounds like he's going to have some pretty nice gear. Maybe we'll both get lucky and he'll have an NXT in stock... I've wanted to check one out for a while too.

Another option is to order from someplace like Musician's Friend. They have a pretty liberal return policy. You can return something if you don't like it, you just pay shipping.

5sg.
 

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