I can't speak to the NXT series, but the preamps in the CR series could do with a lower output impedance. While they can be considered "buffered" for the purposes of a bass amp, the output impedance is too high to satisfactorily drive a 10K input, such as a interface or desk.
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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread
- Thread starter dbassnut
- Start date
Mark yourself fooled. They have transitioned to a material called Richlite, which, to my understanding, is a type of phenolic. Nevertheless, it’s a good material (the phenolic on my fretless is doing quite well, and I’ve had it about two years with rounds).
I’ve always wondered where people get this foam for their basses. I searched “open cell foam” on amazon and I found lots of different materials from different manufacturers for supposedly different purposes. Can you tell me what exactly you bought?
IME, you don't buy it, you 'repurpose' it ;-)
I've found it being used as 'cushioning' in any number of packages, especially delicate electronic stuff.
The important thing is that it be soft and conformant. Something like a weatherstripping foam could work.
I like my 'found' open-cell since I had a lot of it, it was paid for, and it's easy to work with a household serrated knife.
You want it to fit snugly under the strings, but not so firmly that it affects intonation. Just a slight vibration damper.
I'd suggest starting with too much and then trim until you get what you want. It is 'to taste' and its job is to reduce sustain. If you trim too much, cut another chunk and be more gradual. Some early electric basses came with felt mutes - same principal.
My standard source for 'industrial materials' is McMaster-Carr McMaster-Carr
Wow, then they've really done a good job. Let's see if I still don't notice in a few years, but so far I'm happy. I admit I've checked the NS Design website to be absolutely certain.
The only thing that irks me about this is that the UK distributor, as opposed to NS Design themselves, specifies the fingerboard as "hand-graduated ebony".
What is the rest of your rig? IMHO the pre, cab and amp are very important. A pre with a high z 10megohm input is helpful as is a hpf and a very good hifi cabinet. I found these to be more useful than any effects.
- Jul 19, 2000
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- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
Hey, I'm here!
The straight dope: the best any EUB could hope to achieve, would be to sound like a double bass with a pickup on it (through an amp). Since the NS Design basses are tightly constructed and are solid-body instruments, their habits lean towards a more electric sounding bass (more sustain, more string detail, that sort of thing.) That's why darker, quicker-decaying strings -- like the Traditionals -- help make it sound a bit more "authentic." There are other options that might work even better for you - Pirastro Obligatos are quite good like this, since they have a gut-like vibe and a less "taut" feel. They have low B and High C strings available, too.
One other thing that might help - NS Design sets up the basses with VERY low action. Too low, in my humble opinion. (It's probably to bolster the confidence of the electric bassists who try the bass when it's on display at your local guitar superstore.) To get that "big" URB sound, the strings need enough clearance to be plucked with a bit of vigor, with the meaty side of your finger, like a "real" bass. Playing with your fingertips, bass-guitar-style, will sound like... well, a bass guitar. So the strings will need enough room to get that "bloom" without buzzing against the fingerboard. I raised the action a little on my personal bass, and that alone improved its sound quite a bit, because I could PLAY it more like a real URB.
Like my sig says - "the sound" comes from your fingers. ;-)
You're probably not going to make it sound exactly like an upright, but you should be able to get within spittin' distance.
Currently, I am using a Gallien Krueger MBE 150 with the Radial Bassbone OD- I am doubling and play traditional electric basses over half of the time.
I would love to get a little closer to an acoustic sound with the NXT and am definitely going to try the open cell foam but would love any other suggestions.
Hey, I'm here!
The straight dope: the best any EUB could hope to achieve, would be to sound like a double bass with a pickup on it (through an amp). Since the NS Design basses are tightly constructed and are solid-body instruments, their habits lean towards a more electric sounding bass (more sustain, more string detail, that sort of thing.) That's why darker, quicker-decaying strings -- like the Traditionals -- help make it sound a bit more "authentic." There are other options that might work even better for you - Pirastro Obligatos are quite good like this, since they have a gut-like vibe and a less "taut" feel. They have low B and High C strings available, too.
One other thing that might help - NS Design sets up the basses with VERY low action. Too low, in my humble opinion. (It's probably to bolster the confidence of the electric bassists who try the bass when it's on display at your local guitar superstore.) To get that "big" URB sound, the strings need enough clearance to be plucked with a bit of vigor, with the meaty side of your finger, like a "real" bass. Playing with your fingertips, bass-guitar-style, will sound like... well, a bass guitar. So the strings will need enough room to get that "bloom" without buzzing against the fingerboard. I raised the action a little on my personal bass, and that alone improved its sound quite a bit, because I could PLAY it more like a real URB.
Like my sig says - "the sound" comes from your fingers. ;-)
You're probably not going to make it sound exactly like an upright, but you should be able to get within spittin' distance.
Thanks Mark you are the Buddha in this world- when I first bought the bass I read your recommendations and set the string height up and soon after went with the traditional strings.
I have even set the string height on my electrics up to give me more consistency and think it improves the overall sound on those as well.
It took me a while to learn to play without using just my finger tips and again it really helps with the sound.
I often hear it sounding like a traditional upright when it is not being played through an amplifier. I get that I am never going sound like Ron Carter’s bass without some significant sampling but again I was just hoping there might be something that I might not have heard of.
I probably will try the Pirasto Obligatos in the future.
Once again thank you for responding and for your support of this thread.
Well that all sb good (I also use a Radial Bassbone OD). Next step would be strings. I tried the NS Traditionals and found them much better than the Contempraries and later went to the Obligatos that Mark mentioned.
I've been thinking about getting new strings (been using the Traditionals since I got it in February, but I don't love the sound). I was looking at the Obligatos, but now I'm thinking about trying the Fifths set. Has anyone here tried a fifths tuning (CDGA, an octave below cello) on their NS? Mark, I know you sell that set; any thoughts on fifths?
EDIT: I mainly play pizz jazz, but I love bowed classical bass. I'm not a great or experienced player, but the idea of the extended range just really interests me.
EDIT 2: I've also heard that the Evah Pirazzis are kind of like an updated version of Obligatos (a tiny bit punchier, less rolling, more durable). Has anyone compared the two directly, especially on these EUBs?
EDIT: I mainly play pizz jazz, but I love bowed classical bass. I'm not a great or experienced player, but the idea of the extended range just really interests me.
EDIT 2: I've also heard that the Evah Pirazzis are kind of like an updated version of Obligatos (a tiny bit punchier, less rolling, more durable). Has anyone compared the two directly, especially on these EUBs?
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I suppose there won't be many who have tried that, not least because the Evah Pirazzi are fairly pricey, in particular if you add a fifth string. My MK Classic will come with them, so the best I can offer you is to give you a comparison between NS Traditionals on the NXT5a vs Evah Pirazzi on the MK Classic once the latter is built (I expect it to arrive end of September).
In case you haven't checked it yet, the Invalid Link Removed has both the Obligatos and Pirazzis, so you can at least get an impression what they sound like on an acoustic double bass.
Well, that sucks.
I bought a set of Zyex 3/4 Light strings from Gollihur, and they delivered it to me quickly (great service, Mark!). I don't know how compatible these strings are with the NS basses, though. After getting the strings in, I started to install them. Even with using the back panel inserts for the regular-length string, the G was still REALLY long. I got about 1.5 loops around the tuner before the metal started wrapping around it, and at around 2 wraps (string tuned to somewhere around a sharp-ish F, about 1.5 half steps too low), the string popped. It broke completely! It was within the peg box, right at the tuning head, so I'm sure it wasn't a burr or sharp edge. I called Gollihur and left a message, and I'll give D'addario a call during the week when they open.
I bought a set of Zyex 3/4 Light strings from Gollihur, and they delivered it to me quickly (great service, Mark!). I don't know how compatible these strings are with the NS basses, though. After getting the strings in, I started to install them. Even with using the back panel inserts for the regular-length string, the G was still REALLY long. I got about 1.5 loops around the tuner before the metal started wrapping around it, and at around 2 wraps (string tuned to somewhere around a sharp-ish F, about 1.5 half steps too low), the string popped. It broke completely! It was within the peg box, right at the tuning head, so I'm sure it wasn't a burr or sharp edge. I called Gollihur and left a message, and I'll give D'addario a call during the week when they open.
OMG
That sucks! If they send you a replacement, maybe you can stack some washers against the string anchor? Doesn't seem like there is much room back there to give you much more than an inch, but that might do it.
Did you not cut some of the string off? It probably broke from winding too much onto the tuner
Yeah, I cut some string length off. Like I said, I ended up with about two wraps around the tuner.
Update: Mark is a great guy, if there was any doubt. I spoke to him and the issue has been taken care of. Still might not recommend the Zyex for this bass, though.
