So the new(ish) NXTa has a active preamp onboard - does this remove the need for a outside high-ohm preamp or can you plug it right into a DI/amp? Looking to get a NXTa 5 string upright soon...
-carl
-carl
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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread
- Thread starter dbassnut
- Start date
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
Yes, that's exactly what it is - an active buffer circuit to remove the need for external impedance buffering preamps. It doesn't really substantially increase gain, and doesn't have any added active EQ; it's primarily to provide better connection to typical amplifiers.
It can also be bypassed (run the bass in passive mode) by pulling out the push-pull knob.
Thx Mark for chiming in, I know you have a ton of experience with these NS uprights. Does the sound of the NXTa still need a good quality EQ afterwords (pretty common with piezo pickups)?
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
It certainly helps. The bass has a lot of treble, which is common, so I usually roll most of it off (on the bass) to reduce harshness... but a good EQ at the preamp/amp is definitely helpful. So is putting the right strings on it, if you're chasing a more "authentic" sound.
I was tightening my bow that came with my NXT5 and it broke 
Can this be reglued? Should I get a better bow? What are my options?
Can this be reglued? Should I get a better bow? What are my options?
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New string report:
After charting a bunch of tensions and looking at Canadian prices, I was interested in trying a set of GHS Crossovers.
Based on reports about the G strings sometimes breaking during installation, I was careful to soften the break angle at the back edge of the nut, and to use some D’Addario nut lubricant.
I needn’t have worried. I was able to bring the set straight up to concert pitch.
The difference in tone is pretty drastic- my NXT was still on the original strings, which were several years old.
The increase in tension was mild, but noticeable. Even straight out of the packet, the Crossovers have a little more thump than the stock NSD Hybrids.
They felt a little toothy at first, but they are settling in nicely. The finish is actually pretty smooth- on initial inspection, they look like regular flats.
Next up: going to try them Arco...
After charting a bunch of tensions and looking at Canadian prices, I was interested in trying a set of GHS Crossovers.
Based on reports about the G strings sometimes breaking during installation, I was careful to soften the break angle at the back edge of the nut, and to use some D’Addario nut lubricant.
I needn’t have worried. I was able to bring the set straight up to concert pitch.
The difference in tone is pretty drastic- my NXT was still on the original strings, which were several years old.
The increase in tension was mild, but noticeable. Even straight out of the packet, the Crossovers have a little more thump than the stock NSD Hybrids.
They felt a little toothy at first, but they are settling in nicely. The finish is actually pretty smooth- on initial inspection, they look like regular flats.
Next up: going to try them Arco...
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- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,941
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I was tightening my bow that came with my NXT5 and it broke
View attachment 2937807
Can this be reglued? Should I get a better bow? What are my options?
I am sorry to hear that.
Time for a new bow, for sure.
I’m really pleased with the way the GHS crossovers are playing in.
What sounded a bit hollow at first, has settled into a terrific growl. I’m not talking I bout fingerboard noise, but the sound of the open string. Really pleasing, at least to my ear.
I won’t know how they fit into a band context until I get a couple of gigs under my belt. Looking forward to it!
What sounded a bit hollow at first, has settled into a terrific growl. I’m not talking I bout fingerboard noise, but the sound of the open string. Really pleasing, at least to my ear.
I won’t know how they fit into a band context until I get a couple of gigs under my belt. Looking forward to it!
Right now I'm experimenting with a used Fishman PROPLT101 Platinum, but the standard acoustic version, not the bass version. (It was available, so why not?) I'm still playing with settings, but tweaking the notch filter seems to be one of the keys to getting a more URB sound. Anyone else using this model with an NXT4?
I might be in the market for an electric upright. Was thinking about an NS design CR5M or CR4M. I really like that high C for bowing but still have not decided if I like 5 string basses. Have tried a real double bass 5 string for a few weeks but that was just too huge for me. Now I have a real double bass 4 string tuned to ADGC for some years (besides a normal tuned upright).
But these CRM's are hard to come by and also fairly expensive. Is the difference between a CR and an NXT very large? both quality and soundwise?
But these CRM's are hard to come by and also fairly expensive. Is the difference between a CR and an NXT very large? both quality and soundwise?
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
They're not that hard to come by if you know who to ask.
The differences between the NXTa and the CRM models are most easily thought of like this:
Tonally
The basses have the same design and the same Polar Pickup elements. However, the CR model has a built-in full-featured preamp, which includes active tone controls and a blend pot for the Polar system. It also has the EMG-made magnetic pickups, and despite what you might think about EMGs or mag pickups on upright, they're actually quite useful, and can be blended using the onboard blend pot. The NXTa has the flash-rechargeable buffer circuit, which works well for improving impedance buffering so you can get a balanced tone on most any amp - but the controls are passive, with a treble roll-off and a switch to change Polar modes. So tonally the CR is more flexible and capable of a much larger variety of tones. But for the difference in price, you could get a Fishman Platinum preamp, have a bunch more features, and still have more money left over, so there is that.
Fit and Finish
An analogy: Fender makes a "standard" P-Bass, made in Mexico. It's a very nice bass, solidly built, sounds like a P-Bass. You could play one in any professional situation and it would do the job admirably, if a P-Bass is what you need.
That said, if you play one, and then you pick up a Fender American Professional Series P-Bass... you can feel and see the difference.
Likewise, the fit and finish is noticeably nicer on the CR - but who can really tell from more than 5 feet away - and there is more care put into the crafting of the instrument, as you might expect considering the price difference. But both are professional-grade instruments, and can be (and are) used in pro gigging situations.
Hardware
The CR bass comes with nice Schaller German-made tuning machines, the NXTa comes with Asian-made tuners which are - to be blunt - marginally capable. The CR bass comes with the upgraded Tripod stand, which is built like double-braced drum hardware out of steel, and is far more adjustable than the lighter-weight aluminum and plastic stand that comes with the NXTa. (But all the stands and straps and cases are inter-compatible between models, so you can upgrade).
Hope that helps.
Wow! Great help David.
I totally get what you are saying and it was what I suspected. Think I will wait for an used CRM. I know I will want one later If I would buy an NXT now. Now I have to make up my mind if I want a four or five string. Love that high C for arco but not necessarily love five strings.
I totally get what you are saying and it was what I suspected. Think I will wait for an used CRM. I know I will want one later If I would buy an NXT now. Now I have to make up my mind if I want a four or five string. Love that high C for arco but not necessarily love five strings.
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I'm not that familiar with the NS Design instruments, but regarding a 5-string ...
An acoustic upright would limit the bowing angle (angle until you grab a neighbor string by accident) because of the size of the instrument body.
An EUB, specially a solid body one, might be constructed with a stronger bridge top curvature to get the angles of a 4-string, but then the fingerboard needs to get a higher curvature too. And the bowing arm needs to get more extreme positions for highest and/or lowest string.
Because of the increased fingerboard curvature I'm not sure if this could be done (or is already done) with an NS Deaign instrument.
I'm sure Mark can comment on that.
An acoustic upright would limit the bowing angle (angle until you grab a neighbor string by accident) because of the size of the instrument body.
An EUB, specially a solid body one, might be constructed with a stronger bridge top curvature to get the angles of a 4-string, but then the fingerboard needs to get a higher curvature too. And the bowing arm needs to get more extreme positions for highest and/or lowest string.
Because of the increased fingerboard curvature I'm not sure if this could be done (or is already done) with an NS Deaign instrument.
I'm sure Mark can comment on that.
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
The angle is very similar on a 4 and a 5; so bowing is much trickier on a 5, because the same/similar overall arch angle is split into 5 strings instead of 4, it's easier to accidentally double-stop. The NS fingerboard measurements are intended to be similar to "real" double basses so transitions from one to another are easier. So, yeah - short answer - a 5-er is tougher to bow (or, at least, requires more concentration.)
Hmmm....too bad. I was hoping the curvature of the CR 5 string would be more suited for bowing.
Thanks again for the great info!
Thanks again for the great info!
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
NP - FWIW, it is as suitable for bowing as a typical 5-string "real" upright would be.
There are pros and cons with a higher curved bridge. With a standard fingerboard a higher curvature need a thicker fingerboard or the edges have almost no height at all at the end of the board (towards the bridge). Not nice for plucking. Also a lot of work needed to remove the additional wood from the fingerboard and planing it. I have such a 5-string EUB from Clevinger. A bit too much maybe. My acoustic 4/4 is easier (but I made the bridge curvature as large as possible (and unfortunately a little bit too low on the treble (high C) side. Nice to play for a 5-string, less bowing angle than a 4-string, but still nice.
I think for a 5-string an EUB with a traditional and shape able fingerboard and more or less traditional bridge would be easier to modify than an NS Design instrument. But still a lot of work to get there.
The harder you bow the more problems you get with a 5-string because of the smaller bowing angle. If possible try 5-string EUBs but also double basses to get a feel for them.
I think for a 5-string an EUB with a traditional and shape able fingerboard and more or less traditional bridge would be easier to modify than an NS Design instrument. But still a lot of work to get there.
The harder you bow the more problems you get with a 5-string because of the smaller bowing angle. If possible try 5-string EUBs but also double basses to get a feel for them.
I had a 5 string real upright at home for a few weeks two years ago. But I cannot remember how it was for bowing. I know the neck and bass was very chunky and I didn’t like it. It is very hard to find a 5 string NS bass here to try. So I guess it will be a gamble.
I received a new NXTa from Gollihur about 3 weeks ago. It's my first ever EUB, after about 18 months of acoustic upright. I'm loving it in general. Headphone practice means I'm not bothering others in the house as much. The compact form factor means I can carry bass, amplifier, iPad and stand in one trip. The tripod stand means I don't have to find a place to put it when I'm not playing it; I just walk up to it and play it, like a piano! Feedback is a non-issue.
I am having a couple of issues and I could use some advice. I'm using a brand new AI CODA Series 4plus amplifier, also from Gollihur (thanks, Mark). I haven't yet found exactly the right settings to get the sound I want from the NXTa (ideally, as much like an acoustic upright as possible). Is anyone else using this amplifier? What settings do you use? A couple of times the electronics on the bass have gone a bit haywire, resulting in a horribly distorted sound. Once I was able to fix it by just switching the buffer circuit in and out. Once I had to recharge the buffer circuit to get the distortion to go away. The bigger issue I'm having is with the action, especially on the G string and to a lesser extent on the D string. I'm having to use what seems like an inordinate about of finger pressure to avoid buzzing. It seems more pronounced closer to the nut, but that might just be because that's where I play most of the time! I guess I should have a setup done to get it more to my liking. That brings up another question: who do you recommend for servicing the NXTa in the Seattle area? I've taken my electric basses to Mike Lull and I've taken my acoustic upright to Sarah Balmforth, but this seems to be neither fish nor fowl.
I am having a couple of issues and I could use some advice. I'm using a brand new AI CODA Series 4plus amplifier, also from Gollihur (thanks, Mark). I haven't yet found exactly the right settings to get the sound I want from the NXTa (ideally, as much like an acoustic upright as possible). Is anyone else using this amplifier? What settings do you use? A couple of times the electronics on the bass have gone a bit haywire, resulting in a horribly distorted sound. Once I was able to fix it by just switching the buffer circuit in and out. Once I had to recharge the buffer circuit to get the distortion to go away. The bigger issue I'm having is with the action, especially on the G string and to a lesser extent on the D string. I'm having to use what seems like an inordinate about of finger pressure to avoid buzzing. It seems more pronounced closer to the nut, but that might just be because that's where I play most of the time! I guess I should have a setup done to get it more to my liking. That brings up another question: who do you recommend for servicing the NXTa in the Seattle area? I've taken my electric basses to Mike Lull and I've taken my acoustic upright to Sarah Balmforth, but this seems to be neither fish nor fowl.
