We play for ourselves but I think we do play for others too...changing styles can be traumatic to our playing partners.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread
- Thread starter dbassnut
- Start date
The musical director (60 y/o lady) commented at last practice that she loves the sound and also she's glad she can really hear me now behind the 5 cellists. I was glad to hear that.
The young player are great, aren't they? Really dig their entusiasm and their work ethics.
I don't really mind the tuba parts, but the cello parts are real acro workouts.
And the low B string is often handy in those situations.
That's interesting that your Director can hear you now vs. your old DB.
I really do like the low end of the NXT... Will have to go and try it more.
My daughters play flute and alto sax....maybe I'll be in an orchestra with them some day!
I really do like the low end of the NXT... Will have to go and try it more.
My daughters play flute and alto sax....maybe I'll be in an orchestra with them some day!
Hi
I´m a newbie in the EUB World. I play BG and have decided to try out the EUB NS NXT 4. Have ordered it and will receive it on the 1st of December.
Im planning to study:
- George Vance´s progression repertoire (Vols. 1, 2 & 3);
- then go on to Rabbath´s Method;
I would also like to get into Jazz and classic. So I´ll have to deal with both the bow and Pizicatto. It will be a long way, but also a very interesting way. I think!
If you have any ideas about anything for me you might want to share pleas let me know.
I feel I need all the luck because I cannot afford a Teacher.
Thanks
Nuno Guerra
I´m a newbie in the EUB World. I play BG and have decided to try out the EUB NS NXT 4. Have ordered it and will receive it on the 1st of December.
Im planning to study:
- George Vance´s progression repertoire (Vols. 1, 2 & 3);
- then go on to Rabbath´s Method;
I would also like to get into Jazz and classic. So I´ll have to deal with both the bow and Pizicatto. It will be a long way, but also a very interesting way. I think!
If you have any ideas about anything for me you might want to share pleas let me know.
I feel I need all the luck because I cannot afford a Teacher.
Thanks
Nuno Guerra
I know this is a bit counter-intuitive given your situation, but if possible get a teacher to check your bow technique, get your stance right and make sure your pizz technique is also proper. It'll save you a lot of aches and pains. A lot of teachers will gladly give you a lesson that crams all this in if you can't afford regular attendance. That's what I did.
Otherwise, those books are fine - the Rufus Reid "Evolving Bassist" book is a bit more fun and a very good book for taking you all the way to great jazz lines.
Hello all,
I got a question about one of these. Been playing electric bass guitar for a several years but have been looking at getting a double bass for a while. This NS NXT looks more practical for me at the moment though.
Is there any difference in technique from these compared to an acoustic double bass?
Thanks,
Matt
I got a question about one of these. Been playing electric bass guitar for a several years but have been looking at getting a double bass for a while. This NS NXT looks more practical for me at the moment though.
Is there any difference in technique from these compared to an acoustic double bass?
Thanks,
Matt
Well, it doesn't have a D-Neck.. so you can cheat with thumb position and get your "fingering" hand into quite an ugly twist in the upper registers... So you have to kind of imagine (based upon where the two dots signalling D-Position) are so you can switch to thumb position.
I've also seen people do odd things like play with them mounted straight up and down with no lean back - with their thumbs wrapped around the neck like a baseball bat. I don't understand how they play like that without getting severe aches in their hands!
So while there easy to cheat on, it's still worthwhile to apply real double-bass technique to them.
Check out the d'addario bowed youtube channel. Great lessons there on bow technique and hand positions.
The thing about the EUB in this case (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the stock strings (that I have tried in the store) coupled with the amplification make it easier to play than a DB.
Extracting a good sound from my DB requires a strong and accurate left hand, in the right place with a lot of pressure on the string, and a strong right hand plucking.
The left hand strength and accuracy is best achieved through regular bowing practice, that's where one's accuracy and pressure are best revealed. I think it would be hard to duplicate that on the EUB, unless one practices unamplified a lot?
I only know about the DB part of this, not owning a EUB maybe I'm wrong....comments anyone?
Extracting a good sound from my DB requires a strong and accurate left hand, in the right place with a lot of pressure on the string, and a strong right hand plucking.
The left hand strength and accuracy is best achieved through regular bowing practice, that's where one's accuracy and pressure are best revealed. I think it would be hard to duplicate that on the EUB, unless one practices unamplified a lot?
I only know about the DB part of this, not owning a EUB maybe I'm wrong....comments anyone?
HI
I´ve also ordered:
- the book "Intonation Plus" of L. Berryman.
- the Videos "The art of the Bow and the Left Hand"
But wil take a look at Rufus Reid "Evolving Bassist" book that you recomended.
Thanks very much for the advice.
Nuno Guerra
I´ve also ordered:
- the book "Intonation Plus" of L. Berryman.
- the Videos "The art of the Bow and the Left Hand"
But wil take a look at Rufus Reid "Evolving Bassist" book that you recomended.
Thanks very much for the advice.
Nuno Guerra
Stewthebassman said:
What I was told is the NS opens every NXT and sets the action low. This gives exactly the feel you discovered: think that it's easy to play. Not that it's that hard when you put the action back up, but it's more upright like.
Don't fret (no pun intended), if your good you'll figure it out quick enough.
Cheers.
I have and am happy with a WAV4. But after reading this thread, I fear I will develop GAS for an NXT5.
When I got mine I hadn't played with a bow since 1982. I played low brass, BG and DB in high school bands. But I hadn't had any regular access to a DB since graduating. I wanted an EUB to try to get back those lost sounds and skills. It was shocking how little muscle memory lasts that long. I am better than when I took it back up. But I'm still fairly awful.
I'm considering having a luthier make me a D heel for my WAV. I've noticed that imy WAV wants to try to twist when I'm playing. On the DB, the shoulder of the bass pushing against my side prevented that. Is there a technique trick that I'm missing on how to keep an EUB steadier?
And by the way :subscribed
When I got mine I hadn't played with a bow since 1982. I played low brass, BG and DB in high school bands. But I hadn't had any regular access to a DB since graduating. I wanted an EUB to try to get back those lost sounds and skills. It was shocking how little muscle memory lasts that long. I am better than when I took it back up. But I'm still fairly awful.
I'm considering having a luthier make me a D heel for my WAV. I've noticed that imy WAV wants to try to twist when I'm playing. On the DB, the shoulder of the bass pushing against my side prevented that. Is there a technique trick that I'm missing on how to keep an EUB steadier?
And by the way :subscribed
Hello everyone,
Severe GAS for one of these has set in. Unfortunately, I cannot justify buying one of these and upgrading it (hipshots, strings, endpin stand, and maybe even a better bow), without selling my Fender P bass, which I love.
I know that the NXT will work great for jazz, blues, motown, and even some classic rock songs recorded with flats. But I am wondering on how well the NXT can simulate a modern electric bass guitar tone. I'd like to string it with D'addario's Orch. Med. strings, but I am playing through a VT Bass which is very capable of modern bass tones. And though I'd only strive for an electric bass tone 10% of the time, I'd feel much better selling my P Bass knowing that I won't need it.
But, this is only a concern for playing in my bedroom or jamming witrh others, not for a gig... Just once in a while I'd like to play a Rush song or something by the Arctic Monkeys or something, if I was in the mood to rock out with a bit of bite in my tone.
I do believe that if I put the tone knob up to fully open and maybe set it to the "pizzicato" setting that I should get close. But I'm just wondering.
Thanks,
Matt
Severe GAS for one of these has set in. Unfortunately, I cannot justify buying one of these and upgrading it (hipshots, strings, endpin stand, and maybe even a better bow), without selling my Fender P bass, which I love.
I know that the NXT will work great for jazz, blues, motown, and even some classic rock songs recorded with flats. But I am wondering on how well the NXT can simulate a modern electric bass guitar tone. I'd like to string it with D'addario's Orch. Med. strings, but I am playing through a VT Bass which is very capable of modern bass tones. And though I'd only strive for an electric bass tone 10% of the time, I'd feel much better selling my P Bass knowing that I won't need it.
But, this is only a concern for playing in my bedroom or jamming witrh others, not for a gig... Just once in a while I'd like to play a Rush song or something by the Arctic Monkeys or something, if I was in the mood to rock out with a bit of bite in my tone.
I do believe that if I put the tone knob up to fully open and maybe set it to the "pizzicato" setting that I should get close. But I'm just wondering.
Thanks,
Matt
In my opinion, you won't get "there". This bass really has a sound of its own and requires quite a bit of EQ'ing to make it sound like an electric bass. Have you ever used those strings you speak of before? The scale length, the sensitivity of the piezos (with or without a buffer) are really unique in the pizz mode and really don't sound like an electric bass at all. It sounds like a whiny, grindy sort of thing that is really a voice of its own.
Fully open tone settings depending on your amp impedance will get you so many overtones you'll hear all sorts of stuff you normally wouldn't hear with an electric bass or even an unplugged upright.
I haven't sold my electric bass for my NXT... There is just too much material that just doesn't sound right when you try and play it on the NXT if it needs the depth and sustain that a mag-pickup electric bass guitar has. The strings and scale length also have a lot to do with how this thing sounds.
The original (and much more expensive) custom versions have a Mag option - to get you closer to something that is more electric-bass like if you want that.
If you think of the pizz mode as it's own voice, unlike an electric bass guitar, you'll be in a better mindset to push the instrument around in those musical settings you mention.
Dammit... I was hoping to hear the opposite... Looks like several years before I can even consider one of these things then. Anyways, thanks for your honest reply.
I have had the NXT for almost a year now. The bass has exceeded my expectations. Its no upright, but I use it for both arco and piz, spiro weichs, through AI amp.
The end pin has not worked for me. I am only 5'6", female, and I have never been able to get a right fit between the waist rest and having the height of the fingerboard at 1st position approximately equidistant to my eyes.
When I contacted the seller and Steinberger customer service about this, there was no resolution. Steinberger CS went so far as to say that the waist bar is meant to lean against the leg. Really? The promo picture clearly shows the person using the end pin against their waist.
Do any of you lean the end pin stand against your leg? If so, how could this have any stability for you?
The end pin has not worked for me. I am only 5'6", female, and I have never been able to get a right fit between the waist rest and having the height of the fingerboard at 1st position approximately equidistant to my eyes.
When I contacted the seller and Steinberger customer service about this, there was no resolution. Steinberger CS went so far as to say that the waist bar is meant to lean against the leg. Really? The promo picture clearly shows the person using the end pin against their waist.
Do any of you lean the end pin stand against your leg? If so, how could this have any stability for you?
Hmm... my first position is not at eye level... it's about 2 inches above eye level. does this help?
On the other hand:
This is a decent example of where NS kinda falls short when they're thinking about ergonomics. If I lean the waist-brace against my leg it will cramp/charlie-horse within a few minutes. Then there's the question of how to keep it from rolling off the leg - you'd either have to bend it or add a strap to strap it around your leg.
Can you perhaps talk to them about swapping it for the better lean-back stand they have?
Frankie,
Position is eye level to the nut/aka end of the fingerboard before the scroll. Using the endpin with the waist support causes the fingerboard to be way up there. Compared to many of you, I have a short torso. Its not one size fit all.
Contact CS? Already have. Instead of offering either a refund, replacement, or solution, they suggested I lean it against the leg.
Another thing about NS. I have had two problems with the tripod stand. One with a stripped screw in the assembly that holds the bass to the tripod, another with a screw that is supposedly bolted on popping off during a gig at the bottom. Although NS wants me to ship it back to them at my cost for repair/replace, it was more cost effective to go to somewhat local dealer for problem 1 and local hardware store for a temp fix for problem 2. Will be another dealer trip to their machine shop. Not the sturdiest stand.
Position is eye level to the nut/aka end of the fingerboard before the scroll. Using the endpin with the waist support causes the fingerboard to be way up there. Compared to many of you, I have a short torso. Its not one size fit all.
Contact CS? Already have. Instead of offering either a refund, replacement, or solution, they suggested I lean it against the leg.
Another thing about NS. I have had two problems with the tripod stand. One with a stripped screw in the assembly that holds the bass to the tripod, another with a screw that is supposedly bolted on popping off during a gig at the bottom. Although NS wants me to ship it back to them at my cost for repair/replace, it was more cost effective to go to somewhat local dealer for problem 1 and local hardware store for a temp fix for problem 2. Will be another dealer trip to their machine shop. Not the sturdiest stand.
