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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread
- Thread starter dbassnut
- Start date
Hi Guys,
Yep, Obligato's are popular but last about a year.
Helicores are nice too & do last. Mine are about 3 years and still play fine on my acoustic. Not sure how they'd do on the NXT.
Another thing, are the tuners on the NXT & the WAV the same? The tuners on the WAV have a tendency to snap if you install normal strings on them.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=543113&page=17
Thanks,
Yep, Obligato's are popular but last about a year.
Helicores are nice too & do last. Mine are about 3 years and still play fine on my acoustic. Not sure how they'd do on the NXT.
Another thing, are the tuners on the NXT & the WAV the same? The tuners on the WAV have a tendency to snap if you install normal strings on them.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=543113&page=17
Thanks,
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
Tuners are the same. Hipshot UltraLites are an excellent upgrade.
I like the Helicore Orchestra strings on my WAV, they impart a more "URB-like" sound due to their muted and less metallic character; it balances out the solid-body-ness of the EUB. Obligatos are also a very good option.
I like the Helicore Orchestra strings on my WAV, they impart a more "URB-like" sound due to their muted and less metallic character; it balances out the solid-body-ness of the EUB. Obligatos are also a very good option.
Hi Sixandeightstringer,
I currently have Hybrid helicores on my acoustic but prefer the orchestrals better. Will probably get those for my NXT.
One question for you though, did you upgrade your tuners before installing the Helicore Orchestras or are you using the stock ones? Are you using Helicore Orchestra mediums?
Can the stock tuners take the stress of the Helicore mediums?
Thanks,
Dbassnut
I currently have Hybrid helicores on my acoustic but prefer the orchestrals better. Will probably get those for my NXT.
One question for you though, did you upgrade your tuners before installing the Helicore Orchestras or are you using the stock ones? Are you using Helicore Orchestra mediums?
Can the stock tuners take the stress of the Helicore mediums?
Thanks,
Dbassnut
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
I tried another string set on the bass (which I didn't care for) before I changed to the Helicores; I upgraded the tuners pro-actively to the Hipshots when I got the Helicores. I was planning to upgrade the tuners all along, and I figured that I might as well do it when I put a brand new set of $100 strings on the bass, rather than wait... The Hipshots are FAR more confidence-inspiring.
And yes, they are the Orch Mediums.
I have an opportunity to purchase a used wav4 at a really good price, but I have been saving up with the idea of purchasing an nxt. Does anyone have experience with both? I am afraid that if i pull the trigger on this wav4 that I will regret not being patient and waiting till i had the money for the nxt.
Is there an appreciable difference in build quality? What about in tone, electronic components, etc. ?
Is there an appreciable difference in build quality? What about in tone, electronic components, etc. ?
I just got my NXT this week, its my first time with an UB and as far as i can tell its going alright.
the only thing im a little disappointed in is that after playing it for awhile my fingers had a bit of black on them, and we all know what that means.....Ebonization instead of real ebony.
has anyone else got that problem, or is it just me? Id hate to think NS is lying to us about the NXT quality
the only thing im a little disappointed in is that after playing it for awhile my fingers had a bit of black on them, and we all know what that means.....Ebonization instead of real ebony.
has anyone else got that problem, or is it just me? Id hate to think NS is lying to us about the NXT quality
Hi Dauby90, BassBus,
Just check with NS & they replied as follows.
"
Thanks you for bringing this to my attention. The NXT fingerboards are ebony. While I understand folks have reasons to be suspicious, it is unfortunate that accusations like this would be made so casually. Such is life on the web!
I was just at the factory in Prague where all the NXT basses are made, and the set up guys were complaining that the strings were not properly cleaned after grinding, leaving black marks on their fingers. I suspect this is exactly what has happened to Dauby90. We’ll be more careful to be sure the strings are fully cleaned before shipping.
Also, ebony is not always a consistent black color. We do use black die sometimes to tone down light colored areas on the ebony, but this is permanent and should not rub off.
Feel free to share this email with Dauby90 and the talkbass forum."
So it looks like the stain is coming off the strings & not the fingerboard. Hmm. I think if the strings were silver coated & you played them, your fingers would turn black as the silver reacts to the sulfur inside your sweat. Same thing for jewelry.
Anyone have any comments or advice on this?
Just check with NS & they replied as follows.
"
Thanks you for bringing this to my attention. The NXT fingerboards are ebony. While I understand folks have reasons to be suspicious, it is unfortunate that accusations like this would be made so casually. Such is life on the web!
I was just at the factory in Prague where all the NXT basses are made, and the set up guys were complaining that the strings were not properly cleaned after grinding, leaving black marks on their fingers. I suspect this is exactly what has happened to Dauby90. We’ll be more careful to be sure the strings are fully cleaned before shipping.
Also, ebony is not always a consistent black color. We do use black die sometimes to tone down light colored areas on the ebony, but this is permanent and should not rub off.
Feel free to share this email with Dauby90 and the talkbass forum."
So it looks like the stain is coming off the strings & not the fingerboard. Hmm. I think if the strings were silver coated & you played them, your fingers would turn black as the silver reacts to the sulfur inside your sweat. Same thing for jewelry.
Anyone have any comments or advice on this?
Hi Dauby90,
I keep a face towel to wipe the strings & finger board of my acoustic bass after playing to remove any excess sweat, rosin, salive.
.
You may want to do that as well.
I also slide the towel between the strings and the fingerboard when I am not playing as this keeps most curious people from trying to play my double bass.
I keep a face towel to wipe the strings & finger board of my acoustic bass after playing to remove any excess sweat, rosin, salive.
.You may want to do that as well.
I also slide the towel between the strings and the fingerboard when I am not playing as this keeps most curious people from trying to play my double bass.
Welcome aboard!
Moved this to the NXT megathread.
Please read the megathread and come back with more questions if you didn't find your answers already.
Regards,
François
I tried out a NXT5 today while at the Bass Emporium in Austin. I was messing with it for about an hour. I'm currently looking for an EUB to save on wear/tear on my carved bass while playing outdoor gigs in the Texas summer. It's getting hard to justify putting a $$$ instrument in 100 degree weather in direct sunlight for 4 hours to make $100... and I'd like something that can go on the road/fly easier than my upright as well.
When I first started playing, the strings were way too low for my liking. Toward that end, it's very easy to adjust the bridge and raise the string height. Once the strings were higher, I hated the stock strings. The tension is pretty darn low and they are significantly lighter than any DB string. I would really like to try this instrument with an old set of Helicore Pizz strings. Coming from the traditonal UB, I wasn't a huge fan of the 5th string. While the low B sounded better than any low B I've ever heard on a bass guitar, it's one learning curve I don't want to have to mess with. As such, the arching of the strings over the bridge wasn't quite what I was used to. The neck and string spacing did feel quite nice, though. I would definitely invest in some sort of "bumper" device to simulate the heel of a traditional UB. I hated the tripod stand. I just couldn't get comfortable with the instrument. I think the end-pin stand would be a very welcome addition. I plugged right into my AI Ten2 and didn't have any issue getting a hot enough signal, so there likely won't be a need for a preamp. Even with further tone controls, I don't know how much closer you could really get it to sounding like an acoustic UB. The NXT has it's own sound, but with some helicores, higher action, the end-pin stand, and all of the treble rolled off, I think it could be a very good investment.
-Pat
When I first started playing, the strings were way too low for my liking. Toward that end, it's very easy to adjust the bridge and raise the string height. Once the strings were higher, I hated the stock strings. The tension is pretty darn low and they are significantly lighter than any DB string. I would really like to try this instrument with an old set of Helicore Pizz strings. Coming from the traditonal UB, I wasn't a huge fan of the 5th string. While the low B sounded better than any low B I've ever heard on a bass guitar, it's one learning curve I don't want to have to mess with. As such, the arching of the strings over the bridge wasn't quite what I was used to. The neck and string spacing did feel quite nice, though. I would definitely invest in some sort of "bumper" device to simulate the heel of a traditional UB. I hated the tripod stand. I just couldn't get comfortable with the instrument. I think the end-pin stand would be a very welcome addition. I plugged right into my AI Ten2 and didn't have any issue getting a hot enough signal, so there likely won't be a need for a preamp. Even with further tone controls, I don't know how much closer you could really get it to sounding like an acoustic UB. The NXT has it's own sound, but with some helicores, higher action, the end-pin stand, and all of the treble rolled off, I think it could be a very good investment.
-Pat
So I tried one today and was well impressed.
Two issues which would love advice on before I buy one....
1) Pizz sounds great / arco sounds great...but only on the correct switch setting. Does anyone play pizz and arco on the instruments without switch swapping and how do you go about getting a good sound for both?! I play in a band where I do both in most songs without time to pick up the bow and change the switch...and the arco sounds really duff on the pizz setting... but pizz is duff on the arco setting.
2) Has anybody fitted a neck heel to this bass to simulate a real double bass and if so how did you go about it....?
Thanks
Two issues which would love advice on before I buy one....
1) Pizz sounds great / arco sounds great...but only on the correct switch setting. Does anyone play pizz and arco on the instruments without switch swapping and how do you go about getting a good sound for both?! I play in a band where I do both in most songs without time to pick up the bow and change the switch...and the arco sounds really duff on the pizz setting... but pizz is duff on the arco setting.
2) Has anybody fitted a neck heel to this bass to simulate a real double bass and if so how did you go about it....?
Thanks
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
My question exactly; in fact I just asked this of Mark Gollihur (who has been very helpful and forthcoming with info about various mods!). My specific question to Mark was if NSD had indicated any plans to produce a neck heel for the NXT. Mark thought that they might respond to demand, so I say let's get on with the demanding....or hopeful requesting maybe.
I think that if such an item is available for the upper-end models, hell let us pedestrians play in tune also. This is my only real complaint about the NXT, there's no reference point- there is a lot of real estate to have to quess where Eb is......
and I think most of us are dubious at best about the benefit of the fingerboard markers.Anyway, let's start a correspondence campaign to NS and see if they will help us out.
JS
Yes, A neck heel would come in handy. I'm still scrapping towards getting a NXT. Hopefully this option will be available when I have enough dough. The alternative would have to carve one & glue it on but I'm worried about marring an already beautiful instrument with my ham fisted modifications.
