• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I

Status
Not open for further replies.
#381
cairomike said:
Bob's a very helpful guy, but you might find the import taxes push the price up considerably. I got mine from Thomann ( http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html ) in Germany they have it for around £670 with free shipping.

Mike
Click to expand...

Yeah, the import taxes are an absolute PAIN, I got mine from Elderly instruments www.elderly.com and the service was great, I ordered it on a Sat and I got the UPS tracking number on Monday, I was having great fun watching its trip across the world and it was looking like I'd have it by Wednesday (only 4 days!!:eek: ...My God I've waited 2 months just to get an amp from the UK)..BUT THEN..it hit Ireland and the whole process ground to a halt..although UPS in fairness did a sterling job and I took delivery of my new "baby" Thursday afternoon and then handed over an extra 179 euro for the goddamn VAT.

Having said that though, it still came out cheaper than Thomann (just by a fraction though) and cost WAAY LESS than if I had to order it through the usual Irish cowboys..cough..I mean dealers.

And I got a free bow thrown in as well.

I am now officially a convert to this new-fangled online shopping thingy.
 
#382
One more vote for Obligatos as an alternative the the stock WAV strings. They have less zing and edge and give a nice, warm "mwah" that is missing from the original strings. Although I had some trouble getting them installed at the tuner end, I think that was just my fault. They WILL take about 72 hours to settle in, though, so don't install them the night before a big gig.
 
#383
Don't know if anyone has posted this but I've just come across video of NAMM 2007 with video of lots of product including our favourite urb. Click the link. On the menu on the left click Basses & Gear then NAMM 2007 then NS Design WAV Bass. Even has a short clip of Tony Leven playing it at the end. Don't blink or you'll miss that bit.:hyper:

Link Removed
 
#384
First, I want to thank everybody for all the comments on this bass. I bought it one month ago and I really like it. I bought this bass in order to have something easy to take to rehearsal. But, as it has been said often in this thread, it's very difficult to have a "real" double bass sound with the WAV. I didn't change my strings yet, but I surely will, since I play mostly orchestral. One thing I found, if it can help, is that, after triyng my 3 bass amps, SWR LA12, GK 400RB and Polytone Mini-Brute IV with a 15", this later give a quasi upright sound when used with a Fischer pre-amp.

I hope it will help someone too..
 
#385
Hi.

I have a separate thread where I am asking for some insight when buying an EUB, but I'll try my luck here.

Can anyone give me a comparison between the NS WAV4 and the ARia SWB LITE ONE? Feeling, sound, playability?

Thank you so much.

Kind Regards.
 
#386
BassPulsar said:
Hi.

I have a separate thread where I am asking for some insight when buying an EUB, but I'll try my luck here.

Can anyone give me a comparison between the NS WAV4 and the ARia SWB LITE ONE? Feeling, sound, playability?

Thank you so much.

Kind Regards.
Click to expand...

I'm interested in the replies to this also, I originally had my heart set on the Aria but I couldnt find any reviews or thoughts on it anywhere....which made me reluctant to order one "blind" as it were. I chose the NS WAV because of the good rep NS designs has generally and also from following this thread since it started. For what its worth I am delighted with my WAV and have no regrets about my purchase at all.

One thing which might swing you in favour of the NS WAV is its slightly cheaper than the Aria and you also get a stand and a nifty gig bag included in the price.


Murf
 
#387
I tried the NS WAV4 last week and was impressed by it's design and really liked the tone, even unbuffered, that the pickup delivered. I found it easy to play in the lower positions and when I closed my eyes everywhere else. The bandleader I'm working with wants me to use it regularly (its on loan to him) rather than having me bring my doghouse.

Is anyone else missing the neck heel? Forget the body, I like the freedom of having less there- it just seems that the design goal is to be more of a hybrid, rather than coming from a design to please upright players only. Do some of you prefer having the heel-less neck? just curious.

Also, when in upper positions, do most of you lower your L elbow and use 4th finger, or do you use thumb position? Again, your preferences may be due to your primary instrument. I'm just trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I will have to practice this instrument and approach it in a completely different way- I'm not used to looking at a sea of white dots.

I wish the WAV only had markers for the open string harmonic nodes @ 1/2 and 1/4, & 1/3 at both ends of the board...
The Clevinger is out of my price range:hmm:
 
#388
I'm an EBG player with 30 years of experience. These last 3 years, I played mostly double bass in an orchestral setting. I bought the WAV one month ago and I really like it. For the technique, I miss the neck heel when I have to sight read. In order to feel where is my D, I put a little piece of duck tape at the place where the heel is supposed to be. Also, I play with my thumb in upper positions; it seems more natural to me, even if I'm an EBG player.

Jean-Pierre
 
#389
I went from BG to NS CR5 - then to real DB ....:)

So I never missed the heel before - but now I only practice on DB at home - I do find I miss the physical refrences of the DB a lot more than I thought I would ever!

So - when I play NS bass on a gig, I sometimes find my intonation is out and have to look at the dots more - whereas my intonation on DB is getting better !! :p
 
#396
I'm running into a SansAmp Bass DI and then into my SWR Workingman amp. From the amp, a direct line out to the sound system. I haven't tried going from the SansAmp directly to our PA yet. I like the sound I'm getting, but it's not quite where I want it yet. The SWR does serve as a good monitor as much as anything else. I have it turned just enough for me to hear it. I'm still experimenting and would also love to hear the setups of others...
 
#397
I averted yet another near fatal stand collapse last night. As I was assembling it for a gig I noticed that the screw attaching a stay from a leg to the bottom of the centre tube was loose, I managed to make it finger tight and all was well.

On closer inspection today; these and the upper screws are assembled with simple nuts and washers and over time can (probably will) work loose. If any of the three bottom screws worked loose and came apart during a performance the stand would collapse, not a good thing.

I've replaced all 6 screws with M10 bolts and lock nuts. The only ones I can't replace are the screws holding the stays to the centre of the legs, they're too far down the leg tube and require a very long spanner (wrench) to get at them. However, they appear to have lock nuts on them although it's difficult to see properly, if that is the case then why weren't lock nuts fitted to the others?
 
#399
frede said:
Is there a consensus for the best preamp for running the Wav4 through a PA for a good bluegrass sound?
Click to expand...

I'm running the K & K Pure Preamp through a Radial Bassbone (Channel 1, w/o the EQ), then out of the Radial to the PA. Sounds great. On small gigs, I'm using a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 112. I don't use the K&K with this setup, and it sounds just fine.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back