Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

[buffalobillh]

I haven't had to do anything to my stand. Even if I do, I couldn't be happier with the NXT 5.

 

[cheezewiz]

My stand was junk shortly after I got it. I bought the end pin stand and like that much better.

 

[jasonbraatz]

I had a lot of worn hardware / stripped threads on mine that needed to be replaced, but I'd really like the end pin stand.

 

[FSSimon]

I have a stupid question for the group. I just got my new NS NXT last week (Christmas in May...yeah!) When I opened up the gig bag, I found a long, narrow cordura pouch (about 2 feet long, maybe 4" in diameter) velcroed to the inside of the case, parallel to the neck. It's too short for a bow, and besides, the bow case and tripod bag are both on the outside of the bag. Does anybody have a clue what this extra case might be for?

I was wondering about that for a while. I tried my bow and it is the perfect size.

Look:

 

[FSSimon]

Haha fair enough. Gone is the need to thumb position for high notes! I guess I should be more precise. The bowing feel is almost the same, there are no "passes" when it comes to precision and good positioning. A good bow stroke produces a deep and satisfying vibration and note. Poor left hand positioning produces poor results ;-)
(...)

Yeah! I love the bowing on the NXT for those reasons.

BTW, check out this clip of our orchestra with some bowing:

 

[Larry Ames]

I just received my endpin stand for my new NS NXT, and I am, in a word, disappointed. Earlier in this megathread a 5'6" female player complained about the fit of the waist support (bout). I have the opposite problem. I am a 5'11" male, and I adjusted the endpin to playing height (nut at eye level). With the bout arm at maximum height, the waist support hits me about 3" below the belt in a very unseemly and uncomfortable position. Any suggestions? I have tried writing to NS Designs on another issue, and they will not respond to my e-mails.

The endpin stand is highly adjustable. Take a look at the photo below:

1. The "bout" (on the left) which extends against your body is on a hinge that can be adjusted for angle (see "pink" arrows) so it can be level regardless of the angle of the "bout arm"
2. The "bout arm" can be adjusted for angle in a pretty wide swath (the red arrows)
3. Based on the highest practical adjustment, I get approximately 28.5" as a measurement between the top of the bout and the nut of the instrument.

It would seem, if you needed it to be shorter than that due to your height of 5'6", you'd need the bout arm to be longer, or create an alternate method of mounting it to the post (or the bass itself.) The parts appear to be engineered for someone of "average" height, and did not take into account the likelihood of a person of your height playing a 3/4 sized instrument.

In looking at the unit, it seems that there is a huge variance between the highest position (a. in my crude inset drawing) and the lowest position (b.) - but the vast majority of the lower positions are, essentially, useless unless you're over 8 feet tall. The stand could be improved (and more compatible) if the bout arms were a few inches longer - "average" sized players could simply slide the bout down the post using the set screw (blue arrows) to accommodate their position.

I'll send a note to NS Design, I'm sure they will be interested in what we've discovered.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Going by memory here; would you be able to totally remove the bracket that holds the bout, and re-position it on the upper tube? Would make setup and teardown a little more involved, but if it improves your ergonomics of playing, it could be worth it.

 

[bass81800]

I would just like to revisit the topic of a neck heel as it has not been discussed in awhile, according to a search I just did.

As primarily an acoustic upright player, I so miss the reference point. I placed an adhesive dot at that spot, which is OK, but its not as blatant as where the neck meets the body on an acoustic upright. I am just looking at the neck heel on the gollihur music site and thinking, why, oh why, cannot this company make something for the NXT? But, my experience with customer service with them has been less than positive.

Today I decided to take some foam tape and secure it at that area, high enough so that my hand naturally stops at this point, as it would on an acoustic upright. Going to a jazz jam tonight, so see how it works, but think of it as a temporary fix, not very durable in the long run. I so appreciate having this NXT bass for things like jams, but, honestly, I have never played this bass well because that point of reference is not there, Dots and markers help somewhat, but I normally do not play always looking at the fingerboard.

I am really looking at the Eminence as something that would be a better fit, but for now, just asking if anyone has come up with some material or some ideas for use for a neck heel? Seems to me this could be made of some material that had the capacity to attach well to the neck ,be solid enough, and be easy enough to shape so a novice like me.

 

[cheezewiz]

I'm 6-1 and the endpin stand adjusts to me fine.

 

[bass81800]

I just received my endpin stand for my new NS NXT, and I am, in a word, disappointed. Earlier in this megathread a 5'6" female player complained about the fit of the waist support (bout). I have the opposite problem. I am a 5'11" male, and I adjusted the endpin to playing height (nut at eye level). With the bout arm at maximum height, the waist support hits me about 3" below the belt in a very unseemly and uncomfortable position. Any suggestions? I have tried writing to NS Designs on another issue, and they will not respond to my e-mails.

5'6" female here. I really have no answers to this. I ended up selling it. But it think not only one's height needs to be taken into consideration but some people are built with longer trunks or shorter trunks,and, add to this, or their legs are proportionately longer or shorter. I think these factors play a big part in whether the bout is going to work for you.

 

[Stewthebassman]

Okay so I'm trying to practice an adagio with the bow and I'm really missing the big-bodied stability of a double bass. The neck is twanging and bouncing all over the place.

I guess that's an issue when walking effusively during jazz as well :-(

That's it, I'm just complaining.

 

[bertiebeetle]

I am really looking at the Eminence as something that would be a better fit, but for now, just asking if anyone has come up with some material or some ideas for use for a neck heel? Seems to me this could be made of some material that had the capacity to attach well to the neck ,be solid enough, and be easy enough to shape so a novice like me.

Is it possible to modify the NS neck heel to fit the NXT model? Maybe you could use some filler so it fits the different profile.
I did a similar thing from scratch with mine, shaping a neck heel from wood and auto body-filler (!) along with some other pretty extensive mods - see recent post for pics (04/17/13)

 

[agfrag]

Stewthebassman, I had an issue with the stock NXT stand "floppiness" too, and I came up with a solution that was pretty cheap. It's been almost a year, and the stand is holding up quite well, and very little wobble. Here's the post:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f101/ns-design-nxt-megathread-584000/index22.html#post12750401

 

[agfrag]

Oops, I just scrolled down from the post in the link, and I see Stew that you've already read it and commented:

yes indeed, I know if I tried to make one of those I'd probably chop my hand off!

 

[Stewthebassman]

Thank you Agfrag! I remember that post, I even commented that I might chop my hand off if I attempted it.

But actually your instructions are so clear I may consider the project as I really love my NXT!

 

[Stewthebassman]

Oops, I just scrolled down from the post in the link, and I see Stew that you've already read it and commented:

Haha but thanks for reminding me!

 

[Francois Blais]

Is it possible to modify the NS neck heel to fit the NXT model? Maybe you could use some filler so it fits the different profile.
I did a similar thing from scratch with mine, shaping a neck heel from wood and auto body-filler (!) along with some other pretty extensive mods - see recent post for pics (04/17/13)

Would this work?:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Stewthebassman]

Would this work?:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

"Note that this custom heel is designed to fit the profile of the NS Design CR model basses; it is not suited for the WAV4, NXT, EU, or OmniBass. (Trust us, people have tried to fit it to their WAV4 basses, only to be disappointed.)"

Sadly not :-(

 

[bertiebeetle]

"Note that this custom heel is designed to fit the profile of the NS Design CR model basses; it is not suited for the WAV4, NXT, EU, or OmniBass. (Trust us, people have tried to fit it to their WAV4 basses, only to be disappointed.

As I say, are you sure someone with some basic woodworking skills couldn't modify this CR model neck heel to fit the NXT? A bit of sanding or using filler to reshape the profile?

 

[jefff100]

Hey folks, I'm considering a NS EUB, probably the NXT. My main reason for buying is a practice / travel bass. Im mainly an electric player but got into double bass about a year or so ago, took lessons for a while until my job changed. Now I travel allot for work, usually a week to 2 weeks on the road at a stretch at a job site. Looking for something to let me continue to develop my DB chops.

Concerns: the NS design basses have no body, and how does this translate to my full bodied acoustic upright? I've read about the endpin stand, but it seems some have had problems with fit and hardware issues. How about the thumb rest / simulated neck heel? What's the general consensus here?

Thanks

Jeff