All of the above for certain. You could also try cutting as much of the mid frequencies as you are happy with as acoustic instruments have considerably less mids than solids. That is where a pramp would come in handy.
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Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread
- Thread starter dbassnut
- Start date
All of the above for certain. You could also try cutting as much of the mid frequencies as you are happy with as acoustic instruments have considerably less mids than solids. That is where a pramp would come in handy.
1. Ok, I've increased the string heights from 2.5mm for G & 4.5mm for E to 9mm for G & 9mm for E. Does help a lot. One question though, I'd like the string heights to be higher but am not sure what is the maximum string height for the NXT.
2. Not changing the strings yet.
3. Using Arco mode.
2. Not changing the strings yet.
3. Using Arco mode.
I got my NXT5 last week. Love it. The tonal range. The comfort, portability. I use a fishman bII preamp, a must. And yes, black dust on the strings (no big deal).
I changed the strings this morning for a set of d'Addario helicore orchestals medium.
I was not able to install the low B. The string is too big to be inserted in the tuning peg. Tried for an hour to get it to hold somehow. Sweaty palms...
I guess I will hold on to the extra B string until I decide whether to change the tuning peg of not. Any suggestions appreciated.
The NXT5 stock strings are of lighter gauge, have lots of substain and fretless mwah. Their arco response is quite good. Consistent tone accross all strings. Fair amount of growl too. More of a hyvrid sound between a bass guitar and an URB. Fine by me.
The helicore orchestrals do a good job in bringing the NXT5 closer to a double bass sound. More thump on the attack. Superb bow response. Still some mwah. Substain is more reasonable. Higher tension too, but the tuners hold well.
I also used a piece of plastic to cover the bottom of the instrument to prevent the strings from damaging the wood.
In conclusion, the NS design strings aren't that bad, really.
And please, some suggestions about the b string.
edit: typos
I changed the strings this morning for a set of d'Addario helicore orchestals medium.
I was not able to install the low B. The string is too big to be inserted in the tuning peg. Tried for an hour to get it to hold somehow. Sweaty palms...
I guess I will hold on to the extra B string until I decide whether to change the tuning peg of not. Any suggestions appreciated.
The NXT5 stock strings are of lighter gauge, have lots of substain and fretless mwah. Their arco response is quite good. Consistent tone accross all strings. Fair amount of growl too. More of a hyvrid sound between a bass guitar and an URB. Fine by me.
The helicore orchestrals do a good job in bringing the NXT5 closer to a double bass sound. More thump on the attack. Superb bow response. Still some mwah. Substain is more reasonable. Higher tension too, but the tuners hold well.
I also used a piece of plastic to cover the bottom of the instrument to prevent the strings from damaging the wood.
In conclusion, the NS design strings aren't that bad, really.
And please, some suggestions about the b string.
edit: typos
Latest update, will be installing my old Helicore strings on the NXT this week. Even though the existing NXT strings are decent, I find that they are a little too light for my liking.
Before I install the helicores though, I'd like some advice from you guys. Is it advisable to trim off some of the string at the end? Just worried about over wrapping the tuning posts if the string is too long.
Thanks,
Hi Simon,
Could you take a photo of the tuning posts so I can see how you wrapped the strings around them?
How much string did you trim off?
I'm also planning of placing a piece of felt instead of plastic at the sharp corner at the bottom of the bass so the strings doesn't cut into the body there, similar to what you did.
Thanks,
dbassnut
Could you take a photo of the tuning posts so I can see how you wrapped the strings around them?
How much string did you trim off?
I'm also planning of placing a piece of felt instead of plastic at the sharp corner at the bottom of the bass so the strings doesn't cut into the body there, similar to what you did.
Thanks,
dbassnut
Hi dbassnut,
Here's the picture. Stock B string, new helicores.
See, I did a tiny micro scratch on the head between the B and E tuning posts. So be more carefull than me about that, mate!
I changed one string at a time. I engaged the new helicore in the hole and stretched the old stock NS string along it to have an idea of the lenght I needed to leave. I cut the rest with a long nose plier.
Simon
Here's the picture. Stock B string, new helicores.
See, I did a tiny micro scratch on the head between the B and E tuning posts. So be more carefull than me about that, mate!
I changed one string at a time. I engaged the new helicore in the hole and stretched the old stock NS string along it to have an idea of the lenght I needed to leave. I cut the rest with a long nose plier.
Simon
Hi all-
I have an NXT 4 string that I absolutely love. I stopped playing DB after high school (when I no longer had a school provided instrument) and the EUB has been a great way to get back into that side of things after a 13 year layoff.
I've noticed a popping sound when I pluck the A string. It sounds kinda like a pre-amp being overloaded. Any thoughts as to what this may be? Will a change of strings help? It could be a technique issue, but it's only on the A, the other strings are fine.
Thanks,
Dave
I have an NXT 4 string that I absolutely love. I stopped playing DB after high school (when I no longer had a school provided instrument) and the EUB has been a great way to get back into that side of things after a 13 year layoff.
I've noticed a popping sound when I pluck the A string. It sounds kinda like a pre-amp being overloaded. Any thoughts as to what this may be? Will a change of strings help? It could be a technique issue, but it's only on the A, the other strings are fine.
Thanks,
Dave
Hey Dave,
12 hours after I installed my set of helicores, I had a similar sound to what you describe, but on the D string. Kind of a rattle. I could hear it even with the bass unplugged. A quarter turn counter-clockwise on the truss rod to add just a bit more relief fixed it. It also opened up the E string a little bit. You could also try raising the bridge.
Simon
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the advise. I finally got the D'Addarios Helicores installed & the sound was pretty close to that of my double bass even with out a preamp. Just have to make sure that you use a bass amp that has a high 'impudence' input
. which my Roland Super Cube-60 has. However, a preamp would be nice so that's next on my list.
Hopefully I can get a used one here in Penang.
Thanks,
Adrian
Thanks for all the advise. I finally got the D'Addarios Helicores installed & the sound was pretty close to that of my double bass even with out a preamp. Just have to make sure that you use a bass amp that has a high 'impudence' input
. which my Roland Super Cube-60 has. However, a preamp would be nice so that's next on my list.Hopefully I can get a used one here in Penang.
Thanks,
Adrian
I've been playing the WAV some time now. For the first few years, i pretty much only played my WAV with the arco sound - using both fingers and the bow. I do mostly what you might call "experimental music" and "Free Jazz". There are quite a few recordings in circulation with me on the WAV. The most recent being (this is not a plug) "Coming Together" available on the MussoMusic label. I use the WAV (as well as the NxT) with a Link Removed I've found that with the preamp, i can dial in a sound that is somewhere between the 'pizz/arco' switch and get a sound that works great for both techniques (with the switch in the 'arco' position). Your milage may vary (as well as your appreciation of my sound). Anyway, check out my MySpace and other resources for examples of the bass played both arco and pizz with the switch in the 'arco' position.
This year, i've started switching between the two sounds as i'm finding the pizz position more interesting and useful in some situations. I had the pleasure of gigging with my first NxT this July in London (thanks Bass Centre!). It's an amazing instrument. Quite different from the WAV. So i'll be getting an NxT and holding onto my WAV. One big difference i noticed was in the sustain while playing pizz in the 'arco' postion on the NxT. The WAV has more sustain when played pizz in the 'arco' postion.
Great basses!
JPW
About the arco to pizz changing. I play in a music school string orchestra. We play pieces which call for quick changes of technique. I have a bow quiver. Got it from an ebay seller. Bob "all hail" Gollihur has them too.
My quiver is attached to my tripod. The handle of the bow is right next to the switch and knobs of my NXT5. I can flip the switch, ajust volume if needed, and pull out my bow really quickly.
I'm the fastest draw in town!
Here are two mugshots of my "quick draw quiver". You can see the switches are right beside the bow handle. Really convenient.Hi Simon, Would really like a mug shot of your quick draw rig.
It is this exact same quiver: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Notice the silk-like material on the inside of the quiver.
Still, I sometimes play a few pizz notes with my bow still in hand, just waiting for a suitable passage in the song to put down the bow: gotta be careful though not to aim outside the quiver when you throw down the bow or else... crack!
It's quite adjustable and it leaves ample room for pizz technique.
What do you think? Tell me what you come up with. Pictures would be nice too!
regards,
Simon
Attachments
Here are two mugshots of my "quick draw quiver". You can see the switches are right beside the bow handle. Really convenient.
It is this exact same quiver: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Notice the silk-like material on the inside of the quiver.
Still, I sometimes play a few pizz notes with my bow still in hand, just waiting for a suitable passage in the song to put down the bow: gotta be careful though not to aim outside the quiver when you throw down the bow or else... crack!
It's quite adjustable and it leaves ample room for pizz technique.
What do you think? Tell me what you come up with. Pictures would be nice too!
regards,
Simon
I hold my bow when i play pizz as i'm playing arco pretty much most of the time.
JPW
Has anyone strung their NXT 4 in BEAD tuning? I've started to do this to my EBGs, and have wondered if anyone has tried this. If I bought one, I would be interested in doing this. I did have to file out the v-grooves in the nut a little for the larger diameter strings on my EBGs. I expect you'd have to upgrade the tuning machines.
Hi everyone....as I live in the UK, I had to get my NXT here rather than from Bob Gollihur....for obvious reasons. Therefore I haven`t benefitted from Bob`s suggestion/advice sheet on the NXT. Would anyone out there who has this sheet be kind enough to e-mail me a copy at: [email protected] ?
Thanks in anticipation. By the way, I think it`s a great instrument and it has allowed me as a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer (wrist/hand based) to return to playing the double bass as opposed to the bass guitar......many thanks Ned, if you read this!
Thanks in anticipation. By the way, I think it`s a great instrument and it has allowed me as a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer (wrist/hand based) to return to playing the double bass as opposed to the bass guitar......many thanks Ned, if you read this!
Just had a response on this one (see above) from Mark Gollihur. Very impressed. Wish we had a dealer like those guys in the U.K......excellent plus plus!
You are right about the tuning machines. I have an unused B string sitting around to give away if you are interested...
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