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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread
- Thread starter dbassnut
- Start date
I have a question. Is there a way to record the NXT so that it sounds anything like a plucky, percussive upright?
I have a folk songwriter who I'm writing some bass lines for and that's what he's asking for....but I sold my upright and I'm having trouble recording anything near that simple plucked tone......
Anybody?
I have a folk songwriter who I'm writing some bass lines for and that's what he's asking for....but I sold my upright and I'm having trouble recording anything near that simple plucked tone......
Anybody?
What strings do you use on the NXT?
Orchestral strings, like Kaplans for instance, have a more thumpier pizz tone than, say, Spiros.
Orchestral strings, like Kaplans for instance, have a more thumpier pizz tone than, say, Spiros.
I'm using the NS Traditionals.
I just did another take, I ran the bass with the "deader" of the two switch settings through my preamp, through the interface into the computer. Wasn't too bad. I also "plucked" the strings more, instead of playing them as if it were a real upright...
I'm emailing the take to my writer, see what he thinks.
I just did another take, I ran the bass with the "deader" of the two switch settings through my preamp, through the interface into the computer. Wasn't too bad. I also "plucked" the strings more, instead of playing them as if it were a real upright...
I'm emailing the take to my writer, see what he thinks.
Higher action, roll off the tone knob, arco mode, and have them put a mic on the fingerboard. Even without it being an acoustic instrument you get a nice bit of percussive sound you can mix in.
Hey Jason, that's the ticket....I was thinking of miking it but didn't know how, that should do the trick! I'll let you all know how that goes...
I'm subbing for a big band for several rehearsals and two gigs. Had first rehearsal last night. In the full band setting, I'm finding I'm not getting the same definition on the A and E strings and also the output seems less on those strings as well. I turned my volume up and sort of laid off a bit on the D and G strings and played normally on the A and E strings. I'm using NS Traditionals. Any suggestions to even out the output across the fingerboard? Thanks.
I purchased a 5 string NXT and an AI Coda in the past couple weeks to supplement my UB and replace my Ampeg B15N . I have been practicing with the new stuff at home for a few days and tonight was my first rehearsal with the jazz sextet I play with. They all loved the set up and the sound. It all fits in my trunk and I can move everything in one trip from the car to our rehearsal space.
I bought my UB in 1965 and will never give it up completely but I have to say the NXT is fun to play, easy to lug around, and the paring with the AI amp is a wonderful setup. We practiced for about 4 hours straight tonight and I am not nearly as wiped out as I normally would be on my acoustic bass. I must say that the pizz setting on the NXT has me baffled as it sounds very electronic to me using either the AI or my Ampeg. The arco setting seems to work quite well either with or without a bow and give a much truer sound in my opinion. Given the going rate for jazz sextets in New Hampshire it may take me until the end of the next century to break even but I am very pleased with both the NXT and the AI. Thank you to the many folks that post here and whose advice I took in buying the new toys.
I bought my UB in 1965 and will never give it up completely but I have to say the NXT is fun to play, easy to lug around, and the paring with the AI amp is a wonderful setup. We practiced for about 4 hours straight tonight and I am not nearly as wiped out as I normally would be on my acoustic bass. I must say that the pizz setting on the NXT has me baffled as it sounds very electronic to me using either the AI or my Ampeg. The arco setting seems to work quite well either with or without a bow and give a much truer sound in my opinion. Given the going rate for jazz sextets in New Hampshire it may take me until the end of the next century to break even but I am very pleased with both the NXT and the AI. Thank you to the many folks that post here and whose advice I took in buying the new toys.
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
I kind of feel the same way about that Polar pickup. I was glad to find that I preferred the sound in one position for both arco and pizz - it's less hassle to not have to flip the switch when you pick up the bow.
- Jul 20, 2005
- 881
- 76
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Samuel Shen Basses, NS Design, D'Addario Strings
I kind of feel the same way about that Polar pickup. I was glad to find that I preferred the sound in one position for both arco and pizz - it's less hassle to not have to flip the switch when you pick up the bow.
Same here. Rarely, if ever, do I use the pizz position.
I took a small square of an IBM adhesive label (for envelopes) and stuck it on the back of the neck at the heel position; it doesn't stick out like a heel, but I can feel it with my thumb as I slide up the neck and know I am at the D or A on the first or second strings.
I got the endpin, but don't really care much for it. The tripod seems ideal for me--I can just stand there (or sit on my bar stool, and play the thing, much less tiring than manipulating the instrument with my body.
I'm sort of at the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm 6'6" and I found that even with the tripod fully extended, the bass was just a little too low. I can get a much better extension with the end pin, which I can balance quite well. You can adjust the bout arm up or down - in my case up quite a bit as I have long legs. It's not quite as intuitative as a regular bass, but my issue with the tripod, other than height, was that I was used to having the bass coming to a stationary me vs. me having to come to a stationary bass. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's sort of how it felt. FWIW, I play pizz style almost exclusively, so I'm not sure if I'd feel differently if I played a lot of arco.
On an earlier comment, I also almost always use the arco setting. The pizz setting sounds too much like a fretless bass guitar.
On an earlier comment, I also almost always use the arco setting. The pizz setting sounds too much like a fretless bass guitar.
Looks like I scored a gig in a pit orchestra for a community theater show, which is great, but I will probably need to be as low as possible. Does anyone have tips on siting on a chair or low stool and bowing an NXT? My legs are getting in the way and the tripod only goes so low. Thanks.
Sorry, I don't post much here, and don't know how to start a new thread.
But I'm desperate. My NXT sounds really distorted!! I'm not over driving any amp, I've tried it with several amps, with and without pre amp, my cables are fine, etc.
It sounds like I've got a dead battery - but the NXT doesn't HAVE a battery, right? I bought it used thru the mail and I think it always sounded this way since I got it.
If you have my ideas, please ignore my poor talkbass technique and let me know! Thanks.
But I'm desperate. My NXT sounds really distorted!! I'm not over driving any amp, I've tried it with several amps, with and without pre amp, my cables are fine, etc.
It sounds like I've got a dead battery - but the NXT doesn't HAVE a battery, right? I bought it used thru the mail and I think it always sounded this way since I got it.
If you have my ideas, please ignore my poor talkbass technique and let me know! Thanks.
There's no battery. Does it go away if you flip the switch?
Also, I've realized the endpin stand works much better once you give up and put it right underneath your gut instead of against your side like a "real" upright. I kind of dig it now - I just need to work on not locking out my knees.
Also, I've realized the endpin stand works much better once you give up and put it right underneath your gut instead of against your side like a "real" upright. I kind of dig it now - I just need to work on not locking out my knees.
Do you use a preamp? If your amp doesn't have an input impedance of at least 1 MOhms, the high loading of the amp input might distort the sound a bit.
Turn the pots a lot, maybe the contact is bad.
It might be that a piezo is broken, which can lead to a distorted signal.
Passive piezos don't like volume and tone pots, the sound is better without them.
The switch is OK, since it only changes the polarity of one of the pickups.
Even connecting two passive piezos in parallel doesn't sound good (they might be connected in series, I don't know).
Turn the pots a lot, maybe the contact is bad.
It might be that a piezo is broken, which can lead to a distorted signal.
Passive piezos don't like volume and tone pots, the sound is better without them.
The switch is OK, since it only changes the polarity of one of the pickups.
Even connecting two passive piezos in parallel doesn't sound good (they might be connected in series, I don't know).
