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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

#581
I am generally happy with my purchase of an NXT 4-string. As far as I can tell the only thing that the more expensive CR model offers that I may end up missing is the complexity of tone which the more sophisticated CR electronics offers. Particularly in the midrange, which is often where the real character of an instrument comes from. I am basing that judgment on fairly slim evidence: the CR recordings availalbe on youtube, some of which may have received a lot of help from post production.

Two questions: what reasonably priced outboard gear might I look into for tweaking the midrange of my NXT, and are there any internal modifications possible to the NXT to enhance its tonal capabilities?

Much appreciated.
 
#582
Any of about a dozen acoustic instrument preamplifiers (outboard) - some designed specifically for bass instruments, others for more general purposes - could do the job. Which one you choose will depend largely on your budget, needs, preference for size/portability, and desires for extra "bells and whistles." Just adding the impedance buffer of such a preamp may improve the tone substantially (or not - tone is pretty subjective) but most of the preamps offer 3 or 4-band EQ's. Some even feature semi-parametric mids, which could really help you "dial in" the frequencies that need tailoring.

I'm personally quite familiar with the options from Link Removed, DTAR, K&K Sound, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], Link Removed, and LR Baggs.

As for "internal" modifications, you could look into either gutting the electronics from an external preamp and mounting it into the cavity of the bass (probably a "4" on the scale of difficulty from 1-5) or look at some pre-made internal preamps used for Electric-Acoustic Bass Guitars. I've seen them on eBay, but they're usually really cheap and pretty chintzy, which questionable specs. K&K does make some internal preamps as well, perhaps one could be special-ordered for you and you could figure out an internal mount for one.
 
#584
I have played around with my sound a fair bit. I play through a Phil Jones Flightcase, 150 watts. It has a great EQ which shapes the tone nicely, and have not been able to notice the difference between the PJ and the Fishman EQs that I own and have tried.

Using the NS traditional strings gives me plenty of mid, well it's just right for me!
 
#585
Thank you for the suggestions, Mark, Brady, Stew. I own a Sansamp Bass Direct, which I am happy with, though I think it was designed primarily with the electric bass guitar in mind. It is great for scopping and lower-mids. subtle upper-mids are what I am looking for I guess, and I have not found what I am hoping for. Perhaps it may need to be addressed elsewhere in my signal chain. I will look into the suggestions you all posted. Much obliged.

Also, I have the original strings the bass came with. Just for reference, can someone tell me if the factory set has a name? I assume they are not NS traditional strings.
 
#586
Ok it's a second hand WAV4, not a NXT - Got it about a year ago and been working on a few add-ons.

All done pretty cheaply - I recycled an old mic stand for parts, shaped some laminated pine, and with a little 'inspiration' from the Yamaha Silent designs, it's now a bass that is very DB-like to play (and attracts a lot of comment and some interesting names!).
I converted an old speaker stand into a separate stand for it. The whole thing now unbolts and folds up into a reinforced golf travel bag, which works well as a flight case as well.
Cheers
Bertie
 

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#588
A friend has lent me a WAV4 that I am loving. I ordered a NXT4 from my local dealer. I ended up not buying the NXT as I found it was not a nice as the WAV4. The sound of the NXT was thin and tinny. The response of the bass was uneven with a big spike on B on both A and G strings. The WAV has a great sound, solid and acoustic with the tone turned all the way down. I love the sound and the NXT was not able to get close. The strings are different and I think are stock for each model. The WAV4 has flatwound strings with blue silk, the NXT has not quite flatwound with different coloured silks.

Did I happen on a dud NXT? or do they all come out of the box like this?

I really want to buy an NS Design bass, at this point I do not know what to do.

Does any one have a suggestion for getting a good instrument?
 
#589
The designs of the bass and the pickup are virtually identical, and the woods - and fit and finish - used on the NXT are superior. That could actually be an initial drawback if you're aiming for authenticity; since the NS basses are tightly constructed and are solid-body instruments, their habits lean towards a more electric sounding bass (more sustain, more string detail, that sort of thing.) Better woods, better construction might enhance that sustain, whereas the goopier poly finish and the less stringent QC on the WAV might provide what some consider to be a less "brash" sound. Just a theory.

Find out what strings are on the WAV. If they're the original strings, they're an exceedingly cheap set of Chinese-made strings (I actually still have some stock replacement sets, believe it or not!) that I don't like any more than I like the Contemporary strings which come stock on the NXT (which, to my ear, are too bright and "electric" sounding.) But the strings on the WAV, if they're original, are now several years old and have been "played in" to a point where they're more darkened up (not so "zingy" as new) which will probably get a more pleasant sound to many players.

Additionally, the player you borrowed the bass from may have made adjustments to the instrument, allowing more "upright-style" technique. NS Design sets up the NXT basses before they are shipped to dealers, and they set them up with VERY low action. Too low, IMHO. (It's probably to bolster the confidence of the electric bassists who try the bass when it's on display at your local guitar superstore.) To get that "big" URB sound, the strings need enough clearance to be plucked with vigor - and enough room to "bloom" without buzzing against the fingerboard. I raised the action a little on my WAV4, and that alone improved its sound quite a bit, because I could PLAY it more like a real URB. Maybe that's what your friend did as well?

Just a few thoughts to consider...
 
#590
Thanks for the reply Mark, I talked to the owner of the WAV4 and I think you are right, the action has been raised, I think on your advice.

I got a reply from NS, they think the pickup may have a problem too, they are going to see about getting the NXT4 back to take a look. I am in Canada so the chain to NS is a bit long, hopefully they will be able to help.
 
#591
Hey guys, thanks for all the research I needed to pull the trigger on a new NXT. ? Should I just go ahead and order the NS strings with the bass? Or should I wait? I can't stand zingy strings on my BG.!! I use flats on all of them except my acoustic. Also has anyone received one that didn't need any adjustments? Everyone's different but thought I'd ask. Thanks again for all of your great, informative posts. Especially Mark and Stew. Oh yes!! I'm ordering from Mark.
 
#595
cdbrewer99 said:
Thanks Buffalo B, you have been a big help as well. Stock strings as well?
Click to expand...

My stock strings were zingy also. I put NS Traditionals on it, and that was the ticket. If I were playing modern jazz or what we call around here "straight ahead jazz," I'd probably opt for the NS Contemporary strings or Spiros, etc. The Traditionals (play pizz on arco setting, not pizz setting) sound great. More sustain than upright (NXT is a solid body instrument), but I find that my technique unconsciously adjusts for that to make it sound like what I hear in my head.

Hope that helps.
 
#596
Hi All
I'm still mystified why so many NXT players seem to recommend playing pizz with the arco setting on this forum. I've been playing my second-hand WAV4 for almost a year now, and unless something changed with the pickups on the NXT model, playing pizz on the arco setting just sounds like a very compressed ugly sort of tone. Yes, I can see it's a sort of toppy, thwacky, thumpy tone that might suggest a DB kind of texture if it's down in the mix with a band, but to me it sounds more like a cheap DB with a bad pickup!
I think the trick with pizz setting is to roll off most of the highs with the tone control (I usually play with it zero to about a third) and adjust the EQ with yr preamp, especially boost the low-mids a little. The only hassle is swapping between pizz and arco as I do, because of the volume drop from arco to pizz. I use a different volume/EQ setting on my foot pedal for that.
That's my two cents worth anyways.
Cheers
Bertie
 
#597
I play with the highs rolled completely off. I simply can't get the same thump and articulation on the pizz setting as I can on the arco setting. I will say that I haven't been displeased at all with the sound. I'm trying for a real old-school Bob Moore type of sound, and it does well. I don't discount technique as being a factor in differences in results from player to playerand the need for different settings. We all have to find what works. Out of respect, courtesy, and not being unwilling to try new things, I might do some experimenting on pizz with the SL900 I'm now using and report back.
 
#599
cdbrewer99 said:
Hey guys, thanks for all the research I needed to pull the trigger on a new NXT. ? Should I just go ahead and order the NS strings with the bass? Or should I wait? I can't stand zingy strings on my BG.!! I use flats on all of them except my acoustic. Also has anyone received one that didn't need any adjustments? Everyone's different but thought I'd ask. Thanks again for all of your great, informative posts. Especially Mark and Stew. Oh yes!! I'm ordering from Mark.
Click to expand...

Glad to be of help!

I found the stock strings were too zingy, as mentioned. Once installing the traditionals the bass felt like home, so yes, you might as well get the Trads right away.
 
#600
Everyone has been a tremendous help........just one more ?. I play a 5 string BG. Should I get a 5 string NXT? I have very little experience with URB playing and I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. I have been playing a 5er for 5 years. Any ups? Any downs? (eww that's two more ?s)thanks in advance.
 

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