Double Bass NS Design NXT Megathread

[crocau]

Any idea whether NS Design will update the NXTa line at NAMM next week? They’re like 10 years old, and I’d hate to pull the trigger on one only to find they are outdated (and/or cheaper) in 10 days...

What would be the improvement justifying an update ? Adding a preamp was nice, now what would be the next NXta ??

 

[monkeyland]

I also have a pre A NXT. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have that preamp built in but the bass does just fine as is. I’ve spoken to the NS parts department and there not much $$ or labor involved in upgrading.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

I also have a pre A NXT. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have that preamp built in but the bass does just fine as is. I’ve spoken to the NS parts department and there not much $$ or labor involved in upgrading.

And honestly, the money is better spent on an outboard preamp. The "preamp" that's in the NXTa is really just a buffer, not truly a full-blown active preamp. It still has a passive treble roll-off, just like the passive NXT and the WAV, and the controls are fully passive. The buffer is useful, but I wouldn't hack up an existing NXT just to add it; I'd spent $150-200 on a good outboard preamp that would include better, active EQ, phase controls, gain controls, a DI, and other useful features.

YMMV, etc.

 

[monkeyland]

And honestly, the money is better spent on an outboard preamp. The "preamp" that's in the NXTa is really just a buffer, not truly a full-blown active preamp. It still has a passive treble roll-off, just like the passive NXT and the WAV, and the controls are fully passive. The buffer is useful, but I wouldn't hack up an existing NXT just to add it; I'd spent $150-200 on a good outboard preamp that would include better, active EQ, phase controls, gain controls, a DI, and other useful features.

YMMV, etc.

I have not done any research on it since speaking to the guy at NS but I was under the impression that no “hacking” would be needed, but you would know better than I. Is that not accurate?

 

[Mark Gollihur]

I have not done any research on it since speaking to the guy at NS but I was under the impression that no “hacking” would be needed, but you would know better than I. Is that not accurate?

"Hacking" was, perhaps overstating. I remember the old Jackpot option actually required replacing almost everything from the pickup leads on - new capacitors on the pots, at least one of the pots is replaced, etc. In this case, it might just be a module and a replacement pot (push-pull) and maybe it's less invasive. I don't know. But I still think that the ROI is small, IME.

 

[rknea]

And honestly, the money is better spent on an outboard preamp. The "preamp" that's in the NXTa is really just a buffer, not truly a full-blown active preamp. It still has a passive treble roll-off, just like the passive NXT and the WAV, and the controls are fully passive. The buffer is useful, but I wouldn't hack up an existing NXT just to add it; I'd spent $150-200 on a good outboard preamp that would include better, active EQ, phase controls, gain controls, a DI, and other useful features.

YMMV, etc.

Mark...in your humble opinion, which outboard preamp do you use and/or recommend?

 

[Zbysek]

And honestly, the money is better spent on an outboard preamp. The "preamp" that's in the NXTa is really just a buffer, not truly a full-blown active preamp. It still has a passive treble roll-off, just like the passive NXT and the WAV, and the controls are fully passive. The buffer is useful, but I wouldn't hack up an existing NXT just to add it; I'd spent $150-200 on a good outboard preamp that would include better, active EQ, phase controls, gain controls, a DI, and other useful features.

YMMV, etc.

Exactly.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Mark...in your humble opinion, which outboard preamp do you use and/or recommend?

Most any good name acoustic pre (with a high-impedance input) will be good; 1 Megohm or better, 5-10 is ideal. Fishman's Platinum Stage, Platinum Pro. Headway. LR Baggs Para DI. Grace Design's BiX or ALiX. Those are a few I'm familiar with because we sell them. There are good options aplenty!

 

[eyvindwa]

Most any good name acoustic pre (with a high-impedance input) will be good; 1 Megohm or better, 5-10 is ideal. Fishman's Platinum Stage, Platinum Pro. Headway. LR Baggs Para DI. Grace Design's BiX or ALiX. Those are a few I'm familiar with because we sell them. There are good options aplenty!

A bit off topic, but is this also needed/recommended for a CR series Omni Bass, would you say?

 

[Mark Gollihur]

A bit off topic, but is this also needed/recommended for a CR series Omni Bass, would you say?

Not off topic, really. The electronics in the NXT/NXTa OmniBass are pretty much identical to those of the full scale bass. So yes, all suggestions apply to both.

 

[DanielW]

Most any good name acoustic pre (with a high-impedance input) will be good; 1 Megohm or better, 5-10 is ideal. Fishman's Platinum Stage, Platinum Pro. Headway. LR Baggs Para DI. Grace Design's BiX or ALiX. Those are a few I'm familiar with because we sell them. There are good options aplenty!

I use an EBS Microbass II. I think I got the advice in this thread, or at least in this forum. Takes 10 mOhms, sounds lovely. Has a proper FX loop as well. Recommended by Stanley Clarke for double bass, according to this thread: Stanley Clarke & EBS Microbass II Pre Amp/Pedal - Any Doublers Use It?.

 

[eyvindwa]

Not off topic, really. The electronics in the NXT/NXTa OmniBass are pretty much identical to those of the full scale bass. So yes, all suggestions apply to both.

Hmm, that's good info. I thought that since the CR omni was active this was not needed. Thanks

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Hmm, that's good info. I thought that since the CR omni was active this was not needed. Thanks

Oh, well poop. I didn't see that you specified "CR."

No, the CR Omnibass (and CR model EUB) has a true active preamp with a blend, active bass and treble. You don't need outboard gear for it. Sorry for the oversight.

 

[whatsgood]

I have an Nxt. I use a headway preamp into a Mackie powered can. It sounds really good—better than my playing. Gives you useful options for input impedance, high pass filter, 4 band e and much more.

 

[Sid Fang]

I use an EBS Microbass II. I think I got the advice in this thread, or at least in this forum. Takes 10 mOhms, sounds lovely. Has a proper FX loop as well. Recommended by Stanley Clarke for double bass, according to this thread: Stanley Clarke & EBS Microbass II Pre Amp/Pedal - Any Doublers Use It?.

I've been using one of these for years as my home studio preamp for electric bass guitar. It also worked great with my first-generation NXT - but I like the Fishman Platinum Pro a little better for it. I actually saw the lack of a built-in pre as a *good* thing - cheaper, and allows evolution of the rig.

 

[DanielW]

I've been using one of these for years as my home studio preamp for electric bass guitar.

Yes, sounds great with electric bass guitars as well. Both through a proper power amp and cab, and at home on low volume through Genelecs.

 

[Zbysek]

I use an EBS Microbass II. I think I got the advice in this thread, or at least in this forum. Takes 10 mOhms, sounds lovely. Has a proper FX loop as well. Recommended by Stanley Clarke for double bass, according to this thread: Stanley Clarke & EBS Microbass II Pre Amp/Pedal - Any Doublers Use It?.

Me too..as well as Broughton HPF DI...

 

[LowDownHawkeye]

What would be the improvement justifying an update ? Adding a preamp was nice, now what would be the next NXta ??

I don't know, I don't (yet) have one. I can imagine that there might be opportunities for an improved pickup, or improved preamp, or improved built-in battery. Or a new/different set of product lines that brings the CR-style mag+piezo pickup closer in price to where the NXTa is right now.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

I don't know, I don't (yet) have one. I can imagine that there might be opportunities for an improved pickup, or improved preamp, or improved built-in battery. Or a new/different set of product lines that brings the CR-style mag+piezo pickup closer in price to where the NXTa is right now.

Well, I'll be at the NAMM show this week, and I have a meeting with NS Design and will probably be shooting the s&%* with Ned, so I'll let you know if they have anything on the horizon.

 

[Hendricks97]

Going to NAMM is on my bucket list but I don't know how it's ever going to happen