Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

[jthisdell]

I put an inexpensive clip-on piezo transducer under the bridge of my NXT 4. I listened to it through the 1/4 jack included on it. It didn't sound too bad...actually, I think if I fiddled around with it a little, I could get it sounding okay. Which inspires a question....Given that I am not all that wild about the NXT's onboard piezo, what are my options in terms of getting a better sound, either with an add-on pickup or some other modification?

Like Mark above, what pre are you using? IMHO the NXT does better with a pre with a 10meg ohm input and also a good, more hifi speaker cabinet. I use the Bassbone OD and occasionally I'll forget to null out the second channel and engage the high z input and I'll be scratching my head going "why does this sound like crap?" Then I'll remember and it makes a huge difference.

 

[buffalobillh]

You need to plug it into a preamp just like you would an upright bass.

What rig are you running it through?

 

[Pilgrim]

Has anyone tried an Art Tube MP as a preamp? It's listed as 870K ohm, so clearly not in the desired range for an NXT. But I happen to have one on hand and no other option until I can acquire something with more impedance.

I sometimes use it with my Applause AE-40 acoustic/electric bass with a piezo pickup and it definitely improves the sound.

 

[Francois Blais]

You have nothing to lose trying.
Let us know the outcome!

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Has anyone tried an Art Tube MP as a preamp? It's listed as 870K ohm, so clearly not in the desired range for an NXT. But I happen to have one on hand and no other option until I can acquire something with more impedance.

I sometimes use it with my Applause AE-40 acoustic/electric bass with a piezo pickup and it definitely improves the sound.

I have a Tube MP.

Don’t use it in front of the NTX without something else as a buffer. The “clack” from the low impedance and the loss of low end will drive you nuts.

I just did a recording session with my NXT last night- it absolutely sounded foul going straight into the “Hi-Z” input on a Focusrite audio interface, like I needed to cut my fingernails.

It sounded better with the Diamond Bass Comp in front of it (2 MegOhm), and MUCH better through the FDeck HPF pre (10 MegOhm)...

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Uprightaholics, I need your help:

I need to ditch the stock NXT Hybrid strings for something with less sustain.

I’ve been fighting the sustain for months, and as much as I like it for some situations, it doesn’t work for walking bass lines. I just did a recording session last night, and the engineer was pulling his hair out.

However, I’m an old fart, and can’t afford to damage my hands. My budget is extremely tight, as well.

Is there an affordable low-tension set that will more or less mimic the soft feel of the stock strings, and give me more thump?

If not, what other methods have people used to damp the strings?

 

[jthisdell]

I just did a recording session with my NXT last night- it absolutely sounded foul going straight into the “Hi-Z” input on a Focusrite audio interface, like I needed to cut my fingernails.

There is "High-Z" and then there is "Higher-Z"

 

[jthisdell]

Uprightaholics, I need your help:

I need to ditch the stock NXT Hybrid strings for something with less sustain.

I have not had much success in dampening the strings. Too much dampening and it affects your intonation, too little and I did not see enough of a decrease in the sustain. I have had Obligatos on mine for 2+ years and are generally happy with them, good thump, not too much sustain, fairly soft on the fingers. Have used them for bluegrass and gypsy jazz (should think they would be good for other jazz as well). I have to admit I do not have all that much experience here, have used the NS Contemporary (ugh) and Traditional (better) strings and then the Obligatos. Unfortunately these may not fit your budget though. They have lasted pretty well. They do not get a lot of love around here though, as one put it, "Of course they last a long time, they are dead to start with! How would you know when they are really dead!" But IMHO which is limited they work well on the NXT.

 

[kulit17]

Folks, I'll be joining the group. Just won an Ebay auction for an NXT4. NS Design NXT4 double bass, Free bow and upgraded strings included | eBay

congrats, but silly question here... i see the ebay list title and listing model says its NXT4...... but descriptions states WAV4..... did you verify with the seller which exactly is it?

 

[Pilgrim]

congrats, but silly question here... i see the ebay list title and listing model says its NXT4...... but descriptions states WAV4..... did you verify with the seller which exactly is it?

Excellent question, but it's listed as an NXT both in the auction heading and in the specs. The WAV mention appears to be in text copied and pasted from the NS website.

Of course, I'll be careful to check.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Is there an affordable low-tension set that will more or less mimic the soft feel of the stock strings, and give me more thump?
If not, what other methods have people used to damp the strings?

I use a small (1.5" x 5") chunk of open-cell foam just above the bridge, along with D'Addario Traditionals strings on my NTX-5. If you can blow through it, it's open-cell; if you can't - it's not... It's frequently used as packing material for light but delicate items such as microphones. It's typically dark grey. It's usually flat on one side and bumpy on the other. The 'hill-and-dale' side goes against the body, flat side against the strings.

If it's affecting the intonation, it's too thick or too tall - but give it a few days to settle in before deciding.

 

[Neon Scribe]

I use a small (1.5" x 5") chuck of open-cell foam just above the bridge, along with D'Addario Traditionals strings on my NTX-5. If you can blow through it, it's open-cell; if you can't - it's not... It's frequently used as packing material for light but delicate items such as microphones. It's typically dark grey. It's usually flat on one side and bumpy on the other. The 'hill-and-dale' side goes against the body, flat side against the strings.

If it's affecting the intonation, it's too thick or too tall - but give it a few days to settle in before deciding.

Can you post a photo?

 

[Pilgrim]

The use of foam is common in bass guitars - many people experiment with different densities and types of foam. The stuff they use for weatherstripping is a pretty good match to the foam that is on the underside of the bridge cover on my 1963 P-bass. Over time, if left in place the foam will depress slightly from string contact and not press as hard as it first did.

If it helps, this is the foam from my 1963 P - you can get a pretty good idea of its density. You can see how it compresses over time.

Others have used strips of fabric woven between the strings to dampen the string ringing.

I think that in both cases, there may be some crossover utility of this concept between the BG and EUB.

 

[Pilgrim]

Well, the NXT is here. Had to wait an extra day to pick it up at USPS, which is fine with me as I'm just as glad it wasn't sitting on the front porch all afternoon. It already has the Daddario 610 strings on it, which are fine with me - I'm a flats player in the BG world and these feel good.

I've been scouring my music closet for a preamp and found one that's at tolerable - a Behringer BDI21 that I haven't used in about 5 years. It has a 1 MegOhm input, so at least it's in the ballpark for a compatible preamp. For reference in case someone searches the thread, the Art Tube MP didn't cut it for the NXT. Too thin, not enough sound modification. Clearly the impedance issue prevents it from working as desired.

The good news is that the Behringer BDI21 actually provides a respectable upright sound with a little control tweaking. I'm pretty happy with it for now, although I may try something a step up.

I may not have played an upright bass on a regular basis since 1974, but the neck feels comfortable and familiar. I'm playing around with settings on the preamp and generally having fun with it. If I keep this up I may have to remember how to tape my fingertips! (And after a half-hour of playing, my left hand needs a break.)

And since pix are required....

 

[Spanky123]

I put an inexpensive clip-on piezo transducer under the bridge of my NXT 4. I listened to it through the 1/4 jack included on it. It didn't sound too bad...actually, I think if I fiddled around with it a little, I could get it sounding okay. Which inspires a question....Given that I am not all that wild about the NXT's onboard piezo, what are my options in terms of getting a better sound, either with an add-on pickup or some other modification?

Thanks for the replies, sorry for my late response. It is the passive nxt 4 plugged into a genz benz shuttle with an HPF-pre and a Sansamp bass di. I think my outboard is fine. The weak link, it seems to me, is the built-in piezo. I am surprised that this thread does not have some clever mod....

 

[tfer]

Thanks for the replies, sorry for my late response. It is the passive nxt 4 plugged into a genz benz shuttle with an HPF-pre and a Sansamp bass di. I think my outboard is fine. The weak link, it seems to me, is the built-in piezo. I am surprised that this thread does not have some clever mod....

That’s odd. The piezo in mine is flawless.

I use a Zoom A3 as my preamp on the piezo setting, and it works wonderfully.

 

[jthisdell]

The weak link, it seems to me, is the built-in piezo. I am surprised that this thread does not have some clever mod....

The "clever mod" most cited here is to find a pre that works for you.

There was a thread elsewhere talking about piezos and the need for high impedance inputs on a pre. Aged Horse went into a long explanation why most piezos do not need higher than 1meg ohm. Obviously he has never played an NXT!

 

[Pilgrim]

Agreed - there are any number of posts in this thread (I erad all 53 pages) discussing preamp input impedance. Check specs on your preamp. Sansamp's owners manual for the Bass Driver DI doesn't have input impedance listed. If impedance is less than 1 MegOhmM at the input, find one greater that 1 Meg Ohm. I found that the cheapie Behringer BDI21 will work, but this week I will test another option....a Valeton Loft FP-10 with 3.3 MegOhm input impedance. The price was right, and I got Valeton to respond to an inquiry about input impedance because they don't publish that spec in their product documentation.

 

[gravesbass]

Fishman Platinum Stage Preamps work well with NXT's. I have a NXT5 and use the Fishman. Works great!

Fishman Platinum Stage EQ/DI Analog Preamp

You can find them used for $100.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I haven’t opened mine up, but I imagine the passive wiring harness is why the NXT needs such a high preamp impedance.

Most piezo setups have a single element wired straight to a buffer preamp. In the NXT, you’ve got separate arco and pizz elements wired to a switch, passive volume and tone controls, plus whatever instrument cable(s) you use to connect it to the preamp.

Ideally, we’d all put a good buffer right inside the cavity, before the volume and tone controls...