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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

#881
I saw a video comparing a CR5 Cello with a modified NXT Cello (apparently had an Aguilar Onboard Preamp, 9V installed inside the cavity). As I was reviewing many of the EUB options out there, I ran across the Bunny Brunel EUB and that sounds excellent (as it should for being over $4K). The tech blurb says he worked with Russ Allee to design the electronics so it allows the "pop" and then tone of the note. I have an NXT Omni right now and I do enjoy the tone, but notice it doesn't have that "pop" - perhaps that is more technique than electronics. I am coming from a BG background and have never ventured in the UB world before. I was wondering if there are any brave soles out there that have experimented with a different pickup in the NXT? I do notice a bit more pop when I have my switch in the Arco setting. But since I only have a switch, I can't blend with a knob the Pizz/Arco settings like the CRM basses can. Does the CRM basses have more ability to produce a bit of that pop by blending in a bit of the Arco in with the Pizz position?
 
#883
silky smoove said:
Just ordered a bow (French), quiver, rosin, headphone amp, and the NS endpin stand with K&M body stand kit.

I'll buy a German bow after giving the French a fair shake. I couldn't decide which one to try first so I just flipped a coin.

Nothing like a new instrument to make you immediately run out and buy new gear for your new gear :p
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All of this has been picked up by my wife and is sitting in our living room. I on the other hand am at my office. Sometimes life just isn't fair :smug:
 
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#885
I work for a government agency where personal packages are not allowed to be delivered. Fortunately I have a wife that doesn't discourage gear purchases, and in fact often says things like "You should get the high end model. If you don't you'll just end up selling the cheaper one and buying it later anyway." Translation: Keeper.
 
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#886
Last night was the third gig with my new Hipshot tuners and Obligato strings. Now that they are broken in they are outstanding, stayed in tune really well, sounded great. I am finally getting super happy with my tone and am really comfortable playing the NXT. It now feels more natural than my Fender P.
 
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#887
tfer said:
I use a piece of foam that's about an inch wide and just thick enough to press firmly on the underside of the strings. I can adjust the amount of sustain by sliding it towards the fingerboard.

I also use the traditional strings and love them. I use a Zoom A-3 pedal as a preamp and modeler to get a pretty accurate upright tone.
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I'd also like to give a good recommendation to the Zoom A3. The upright bass modeler works great for both the NXT and the Realist. Having the mike input is handy too. Whenever possible, I like to use the effects input and avoid the amp's preamp entirely.
 
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#888
I am being offered a 2012 NS NXT5 in a trade and since I'm in need of an EUB I am seriously thinking of trading a fretless 5 string electric. I've been looking around the internet for iterations/revisions of the NXT. Does anyone here know whether there have there any substantial modifications through the years that I should know about? Have they all been fitted with the Jackpot-pots since 2009 for instance?

After doing some reading I found that there is quite a lot of "your-mileage-may-vary" when it comes to using the NXT with a regular bass amp. Using it with a separate (piezo) preamp is an option but is what are your experiences with a decent quality amp with a 1 Mega ohm input impedance? I own a Tecamp Puma which has that input impedance and it would be great if I can use the qualities of its tonestack with the EUB.
 
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#889
I'm not sure how the yearly NSDesign modifications have altered the NXT since 2012.

I have one of the Omni NXT models (shorter scale) and I play directly into a GK MB115-ii amp. I do have a ZoomA3 and used to use it with the Omni (it has an upright setting for modeling), but I don't anymore. I was hoping it would simulate the upright pop more, but I don't think it does. The GK has a 1M ohm input and I get a great sound out of it just going straight in with no additional preamps. I wish I had the ability to blend between the pizz and arco pickup selection (on my model, it just has a switch - so it is a one or the other situation). I like the percussion of the arco setting, but the pizz has more sustain. I actually find myself plucking in the arco setting most of the time to get that upright pop-thump sound - it sustains almost enough, it would be nice to be able to mod this to gain a bit more sustain. But it sounds good in the mix of the group. I do have the jackpot engaged and set the tone in the amp.

I really enjoy these basses and my drummer thinks it was a great investment, he loves the sound of it compared to my other electric basses. But again, mine is the shorter scale Omni with a thick set of LaBella Deep Talking flats on it. For the longer scale NXT/CR models, it seems most people on this forum are happiest with the NS Design Traditional strings on there instead of the Contemporary strings (the contemporary strings come on the bass new) - so you will want to know if the party who has it now knows what strings are on it.

If you get this NXT and it comes with the typical NXT stand, I would recommend getting one of the better tripod stands that come with the higher end CR models - they are built much better.
 
#890
HaveBlue said:
Does anyone here know whether there have there any substantial modifications through the years that I should know about?
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Don't know, but I doubt they changed much after being in production. Surely Gollihur would know.

Using it with a separate (piezo) preamp is an option but is what are your experiences with a decent quality amp with a 1 Mega ohm input impedance? I own a Tecamp Puma which has that input impedance and it would be great if I can use the qualities of its tonestack with the EUB.
Click to expand...
I thought it sounded OK into 1 MegOhm impedance but it sounded a lot better with an fDeck HPF / 10 MegOhm buffer in front. The Radial ToneBone devices have a similar high-impedance input buffer and get a lot of love here too. The fDeck HPF is not widely available outside US AFAIK.

I changed to the D'Addario Traditionals on my NXT5. Be aware of two things:
1) It's highly recommended that you upgrade to the Hipshot tuners if you do such a thing. Mine had been so modded by the original owner - it's a popular mod. The OEM tuners are not really up to the task of Traditionals tension.
2) Be aware that the Traditional 'B' will not fit an unmodified NXT5. It's an easy 5-minute fix detailed here:
NXT-5 D'Addario Traditionals B-String through-hole size | TalkBass.com

If you go shopping for Traditional strings, prepare for sticker shock, especially if coming from EBG, and shop around. I got my set from Bass Strings Online. Tell them you're a TalkBass member and you get special pricing. Even with international shipping they may be cheaper than your domestic options.
 
#891
SmokinJazz said:
But it sounds good in the mix of the group. I do have the jackpot engaged and set the tone in the amp.
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That seems to me like the way to go forward as well. I really dig the tonestack on my Tecamp Puma and think especially the 'taste' control is going to do reel well with an EUB.

For the longer scale NXT/CR models, it seems most people on this forum are happiest with the NS Design Traditional strings on there instead of the Contemporary strings (the contemporary strings come on the bass new) - so you will want to know if the party who has it now knows what strings are on it.
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It's completely original. Original everything. I'm 'familiar' with the contemporary strings and don't think they sound bad as long as you don't expect the sound of an acoustic upright. On the other hand, I can't imagine traditional strings providing that sound through an NXT as well. The setting in which I am going to use the instrument is more 'unplugged' than 'classical' or jazzy so I'm very curious to see what the instrument will bring.

If you get this NXT and it comes with the typical NXT stand, I would recommend getting one of the better tripod stands that come with the higher end CR models - they are built much better.
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Is there, by any chance, a shopping list for a drop-in solution which provides an end-pin? I've did some fiddling around on a Landscape Swing Bass 3/4 EUB and I found the endpin and hip-bout solution to be really functional.

ArtechnikA said:
I thought it sounded OK into 1 MegOhm impedance but it sounded a lot better with an fDeck HPF / 10 MegOhm buffer in front. The Radial ToneBone devices have a similar high-impedance input buffer and get a lot of love here too. The fDeck HPF is not widely available outside US AFAIK.
Click to expand...
When I read 1MegOhm minimum input impedance it occurred to me that that would never yield the best result. We can set a man on the moon, but we still can't beat physics. A buddy of mine lives in NJ and is able to ship to the EU. I've read so much positive feedback on the fDeck HPF that I'll give it a try before taking the plunge on something more substantial like an IQ DI or BassBone v2.

I changed to the D'Addario Traditionals on my NXT5. Be aware of two things:
1) It's highly recommended that you upgrade to the Hipshot tuners if you do such a thing. Mine had been so modded by the original owner - it's a popular mod. The OEM tuners are not really up to the task of Traditionals tension.
2) Be aware that the Traditional 'B' will not fit an unmodified NXT5. It's an easy 5-minute fix detailed here:
NXT-5 D'Addario Traditionals B-String through-hole size | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...
Crappy tuners remind me of my former fretless MiM Fender Jazz Bass. Do the Hipshot tuners accomodate the larger gauge strings without a problem or do they also need amending? And do they come in sets of 5?

If you go shopping for Traditional strings, prepare for sticker shock, especially if coming from EBG, and shop around. I got my set from Bass Strings Online. Tell them you're a TalkBass member and you get special pricing. Even with international shipping they may be cheaper than your domestic options.
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Thanks for the tip! Greatly appreciated.
 
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#892
HaveBlue said:
Do the Hipshot tuners accomodate the larger gauge strings without a problem or do they also need amending? And do they come in sets of 5?
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They work fine with the very stout Traditional B right out of the box. Drop-in replacement. There's not a lot of room to work in the pegbox but it is manageable if you are patient. They're standard EBG tuners with the center hole in the shaft. I found long-nose pliers used gently to guide the end of the string into the hole was a help. They come in onesies - just buy 5. Since mine came to me modded I do not know if you need 'bass side' or 'treble side' tuners but someone here surely does. HipShot will know. I also don't know which of the couple-dozen styles & flavors available is the right one...

When I had the strings off (one at a time) I took advantage of the opportunity to rub a bit of Zymöl 'Bridge' onto / into the fingerboard. There's a thousand opinions on how and when to dress a fingerboard. I don't claim what I do is The Way but I like the results. YMMV...

Hipshot:
Bass Machines > Store > Hipshot Products
 
#896
Here it is! I collected it last week. Great instrument, really enjoying it. I like the voicing and the play-ability but I'm not terribly impressed with the performance of the Contemporary B and E string: they have too much sustain and clarity to my liking. I already own a fretless bass guitar to do that :)

Does anyone have first hand experience with the GHS Crossover strings? They are marketed as being an alternative to both Contemporary and Traditional strings and I'm wondering if someone can attest to the fact that they sound somewhere "in between"? I'm not looking to make the NXT into a 5-string copy of the Landscape Swing Bass Standard you see in the back but I could do with a bit less fretless EBG quality to the sound. Wondering if I would be on the right track with the Crossovers.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#897
HaveBlue said:
Does anyone have first hand experience with the GHS Crossover strings? They are marketed as being an alternative to both Contemporary and Traditional strings and I'm wondering if someone can attest to the fact that they sound somewhere "in between"? I'm not looking to make the NXT into a 5-string copy of the Landscape Swing Bass Standard you see in the back but I could do with a bit less fretless EBG quality to the sound. Wondering if I would be on the right track with the Crossovers.
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I can probably help, as I not only designed the Crossovers (with gracious input and guidance from Mark at Gollihur Music) but have been using them on my CR5-M since we started making them.

My original concept was that I wanted a set of strings that sounded like the Spirocores I had on my NS, but bowed a little better (as in, I wasn't always fighting the string). Having used Helicores for over a decade on my URB, I was pretty familiar already with what the NS Traditionals would sound like/react, so copying those wasn't really an option (nor was the Contemporary set because, well, they only lasted fifteen minutes on my bass).

They're ground nickel-iron, which for someone like me that has the magnetic pickups, will notice that they REALLY play well with them, but also sound nice with the piezos. They're a bit "grabby" at first under your fingers, so you'll need to play them in a bit to get a slicker feel. For arco, they are better than the Spiros and Contemporary, but not as nice as the Traditional. I've found a lighter style of rosin works the best (I've been using the Petz rosin from Gollihur Music on mine), and once you get a little base of rosin on the strings, the response is good.
 
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#899
HaveBlue said:
Thanks a lot for your helpful reply Jon, I just ordered a set. Does 'grabby' mean they have a "~pressure-wound" feel to them or are they as smooth to the touch as any traditional flatwound string?
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No. They're groundwounds, meaning that they start life as a roundwound string and then are ground smooth. Due to that process, they initially feel a little grabby/not as slick because of the grinding process. However, after you play them a bit, they do become about as smooth as a traditional flatwound. They just don't start that way.
 
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#900
Jon Moody said:
No. They're groundwounds, meaning that they start life as a roundwound string and then are ground smooth. Due to that process, they initially feel a little grabby/not as slick because of the grinding process. However, after you play them a bit, they do become about as smooth as a traditional flatwound. They just don't start that way.
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I have had the Crossovers on my NXT5 for a couple of weeks now. During the string change I gave the fingerboard a quick once-over with 0000 steel wool, bringing the best out of the wood (which is "not-the-blackest-slab-of-ebony-on-earth" :laugh:). The fit was great; only needed to cut down 2 centimeters on the low B. The initial "grabby feel" was there but was entirely gone after a night of practicing at home.

I only play pizzicato and about a month down the line, I think they are a real improvement over the Contemporary strings because they make the NXT sound more like, but still not like, an electric upright bass. The percussive attack, the solid and tight fundamental tone, the lack of upper harmonics or "brightness", the reduced sustain, slightly heavier gauge, higher tension and great price are reasons I can really recommend them over the Contemporary set. They really are "suitable for those needing both contemporary and traditional sounds" as the GHS website states :thumbsup:
 
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