Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

[Rumblejohn]

I just made the switch to traditionals, with the Hipshot tuners.

I am quite happy with the sound, arco is great, pizz is nice and "thumpy".

And thanks for the help from SixandEightSlinger.

John

 

[contrabajisimo]

Same here. I did the installation this morning.
The hipshots' holes are just a tiny bit bigger. But still, big strings and heavy gauge might be a concern for the B string. Also, unlike Mark's Wav4, the tuners don't end up being tilted backwards.

Really glad. They feel very solid. I think they might pay for themselves in avoided trouble and broken strings.

I purchased mine there:
Link

It looks good, doesn't it?

The hipshot tuner is on the left, and the stock NS Design tuner on the right.

has anyone thought of or attempted to put real double bass tuning machines on a 4 string NXT bass? is that even possible given the headstock dimensions?

found these on eBay, for 1/2 or 1/4 size basses:

 

[Stewthebassman]

Has anyone read that there is an addition to the volume/tone controls called the JackPot? It's mentioned on the think NS website that models would ship with these after September 2011. Just wondering if Bob G. has this updated version in stock.............ALSO if it makes a huge difference.

NXT Double Bass

"The NXT bass now incorporates NS Design's innovative JackPot™ potentiometer in its volume and tone controls. Conventional passive volume and tone controls work by siphoning a portion of the output signal to ground, and continue to hold back a portion of the pickup's signal even when turned up all the way. The JackPot incorporates a rotary switch that disengages the ground when turned fully clockwise, sending 100% of the instrument's signal to the amplifier. The result is a fuller, richer tone, with more power, detail, and overall intensity."

 

[hermanVB]

I'm expecting my NS design NXT 4 later this week.
Took my firts upricht steps on a STAGG EDB.
I really like playing on this thing.
So different from normal bass playing.
But I wanted something better now and I hope I did well bying the NXT.

What amps do you use to amplify?

Got a pretty decent Roland DB500 bass amp at home.
I love this thing with my passive precision bass.
Wonder what it wil do with the NXT.

It has a LOW impedance input, 300k Ohms which I use for the passive bass.
And it has a HIGH impedance imput at 1 M Ohms.
Read somewhere that that is suitable for piezo pickups and active bass guitars?

 

[dbassnut]

Hi Herman,
Does your NXT come with the JackPot?
Mines the old one that doesn't have it.

Amps - I'm currently using the old Roland Cube 60. Input jack at high.
Settings
Volume = mid
Bass = 1
Frequency = 4~5
Level = -1
Treble = 0

Setting on the NXT
Volume = mid
Tone = mid
Arco mode

I'm going for a more acoustic sound & prefer the arco sound when you pizz as it's closer. The pizz mode is great as well but I don't use it much.

 

[hermanVB]

Never heard of the jackpot.
This is what I've found on the NS web:
The JackPot is standard equipment on all NXT basses and cellos as of September 2011So I guess it's fitted on the one I've ordered last week?
It's the last sunburst version in stock at the ditributer in Holland.

I recently tried a Cube 100 to replace my DB-500.
I do not need high volume and wanted a lighter rig to drag along.
But it did not please me at all!
Tone-wise it is nothing compared to a DB-500.
I tried and I tried ,but I could not get the sound I wanted out of it.
Didn't even come close to what I expect from a good amp.
So I sold it shortly after and found me another 2nd hand DB-500.
I only put in an extra 50€ for the switch, so I'm pleased.
I will never sell it again I think.

It works brilliant with my EDB and EB.
Sounds warm and full ,even at low volume.
Weighs enough but still doable at 23 kg.

 

[Stewthebassman]

I'll contact Bob G. and ask if the JackPot is shipping and let y'all know.

 

[Stewthebassman]

So the good folks at Golihur Music say that their amber NXTs are shipping with the JackPot, the blacks might not have it.

Apparently it doesn't make much difference!!

Mystery solved

 

[jasonbraatz]

That's Racist.

Seriously though, I have my new-to-me NXT5 en route right now, should get it Friday. I'm pumped! I'm assuming I'll want to get the endpin stand for it as I used to really lean into my old upright, but I'll wait a bit on that one.

 

[Stewthebassman]

Haha.

Been thinking about the endpin stand too. I think being liberated from the huge shoulders of my UB may actually be nice....plus not having to hold it up and wrap myself around it in the tiny corner some venues give me to play in....

 

[Mark Gollihur]

So the good folks at Golihur Music say that their amber NXTs are shipping with the JackPot, the blacks might not have it.

Apparently it doesn't make much difference!!

Mystery solved

To clarify; all of our amber 4-bangers have them, but some of the black 4 string NXTs and some of the (both color) fivers were in our stock before the Jackpot addition. If you definitely want one with a Jackpot, we can arrange it. We were also sent "dealer jackpot conversion kits" which are - to be honest - rather complicated for all but the most electronics-savvy folks, and we're not permitted to send them out to customers per our dealer arrangements.

What's the diff? It's pretty much the ability to go "no load" - kind of like the guys who wire their P-Bass pickup direct to the output jack, bypassing volume and tone controls. The jackpot essentially gives you the option to do that with the turn of the volume knob (it "clicks" into no-load position).

Personally, I wouldn't use the feature myself, as it would precludes me from making any tonal or volume adjustments at the bass. But if you're using outboard gear, and don't mind not having a volume control, it changes the tonal vibe of the bass (though whether it changes it in a "good way" is purely subjective - it depends on your personal taste.)

Hope that helps.

 

[Stewthebassman]

Cool Mark, thanks for the clarification!

 

[buffalobillh]

Seriously though, I have my new-to-me NXT5 en route right now, should get it Friday. I'm pumped! I'm assuming I'll want to get the endpin stand for it as I used to really lean into my old upright, but I'll wait a bit on that one.

Well... did you get it?

 

[jasonbraatz]

I got it, and haven't put it down. Or, well, stepped away from it, I guess?

The stand is chintzy and wiggles around more than I expected when I'm bowing with vibrato, but I'm surprised at how well it holds up when cranking pizz.

I couldn't ask for anything more tonally. Switch up, roll off the tone knob just a touch into my AG500 / GS112...perfect. The bow tone is really nice too although I need to build up a little bit of rosin (or maybe get my bow rehaired, it's been a while) and bowing a low B rules.

Love it.

 

[buffalobillh]

bowing a low B rules.

It redefines the saying "...that low B kills!"

 

[banjoboy]

I just took delivery on a new NXT 4. I play upright in a bluegrass band. I bought the NXT for a little change in pace. Also, I drive a Mini and it make it difficult for my wife to go to gigs with me. Anyway, I'm a little disappointed in the sound, but I'm sure that there is some tweaking I can do. Here's my set up:

1. NXT with stock strings.
2. Gallien-Krueger MBSIII

I'm sorry to ask some of these questions, and I think some of this has been covered ad-nauseum, but OMG, there are so many posts on this thread, and all I've managed to do is confuse myself.

1. Strings - As mentioned above, the stock strings are on the bass. The G and D strings are especially bright sounding. I do have a set of Helicore Hybrid Lights that have never been used (a friend gave them to me when he decided he didn't like them on his acoustic up right). What strings would you recommend given my current set-up? Will the Helicores work, or will they give a similar sound as the stock strings given they are light gauge? I'd like to get best acoustic sound possible (wouldn't we all).

2. I don't know a lot about pre-amps. Do I need one, given that I have a GK? What pre-amp would work best with my current set-up?

3. Sorry to be so basic, but I've never had to deal with truss rods. I want to raise the action, so I guess I need to tweak the bridge, but what does adjusting the truss rod do?

Thanks for any suggestions. Again, sorry as much of this has been covered.

 

[buffalobillh]

I put on D'Addario NS Traditionals, and now it sounds very fat and thumpy, but has some sustain. If you want a traditional upright type of sound, these bring it. I recommend a preamp or some sort of line boost. I got away from a preamp and put an ELX LPB 1 line boost with my tuner and a Boss 7 band EQ (to fine tune a room/stage) in a pedal board to clean up my stage and make it more convenient. You may prefer a preamp like a Fishman BII or a Fishman Pro. I am now playing through a GK MB212, but I would not go without a preamp or line boost of some sort. YMMV. My gear is light, convenient, powerful, and the sound is as close to upright bass as it's going to get. HIGHLY pleased.

 

[Stewthebassman]

Okay guys, well, I really really have an Amber NXT 4 string on the way!
Gonna play it with my jazz pianist Mom this weekend. I'll be playing through a Phil Jones FlightCase BG-150, and I'll bring my Fishman Pro EQ also, see what I can dial up!

 

[hermanVB]

Got mine about a week ago.
Very pleased with it.
It's a well crafted instrument and it's a joy to play.
I'm sort of re-discovering bass playing.
It has the Jackpot, but I don't see this as a big advantage.
If I want to keep the option of adjusting volume when playing ,it will never be in the fully open position anyway.

Just wondering if changing the stock strings to NS traditionals would make a big difference in sound?

Not sure what these stock strings are?
Seems somewhere inbetween round- and flatwound.
Got the tone knob turned down fully, meaning they are a bit too bright to my tast.
I prefer it to sound as close to an accoustic upright as possible...

 

[Francois Blais]

These strings are made by D'Addario.
Changing them for the traditionals would certainly make a difference.