Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I

[ziv]

inside the female plug on the back of the bass is a flexible (springy) prong that clamps against the tip of the male jack that is inserted.

Do I have access to this prong if I take out the bass' back plate ?

 

[cairomike]

My tripod is from Thomann, has no spring.
Fits well into the bass.

However, the whole tripod feels a little ... wobbly?

I have just received my second replacement stand (so thats three I've had in total). Its wobbly too, the top casting rocks on the two split pins. I've swapped the centre tube for the one from my old busted stand, on that one I replaced the split pins with a nut and bolt and packed the tube with some electrical tape to stabilise it. It has to be said these stands are simply not up to the job. Like a few others on this site I've bought a CR series stand and its so much better, but I'm now £130 out of pocket

 

[ThomasB]

"the top casting rocks on the two split pins" - exactly, just like mine. I will take it to a smith trying to get this fixed for some Euro only.

 

[cairomike]

"the top casting rocks on the two split pins" - exactly, just like mine. I will take it to a smith trying to get this fixed for some Euro only.

If you are going to do that could I suggest you do the following:

1. Remove the split pins, they will fall out on their own sooner or later so best to do it now, it happened to me and a few other users. Wrap some electrical tape around the top of the tube to pack it out and stop the top from wobbling on it. Replace the top and attach it with a 35mm long M7 bolt and a lock nut, but be careful not to over tighten the nut or your run the risk of cracking the casting.

2. Replace the nuts that attach the stays to the bottom of the centre tube with lock nuts, I had one come loose at a gig.

3. Replace the screws and nuts that hold the legs to the plastic top with M10 bolts and lock nuts. Like the bottom screws and nuts they will work loose over time.

These mods will at least improve the mechanical stability of the stand. Unfortunately, I have had the top casting break and the brass insert in the leg clamp pull out, those problems aren't so easily fixed by DIY.

 

[mccartneyman]

Do I have access to this prong if I take out the bass' back plate ?

I don't have the bass in front of me right now, but I believe that the jack is on the metal backplate that serves as the anchor plate if you use regular length DB strings rather than the strings supplied with the bass. I assume that you have the stock NS strings on at this point, since you just received the bass?

If the plate holds the strings and the jack, you can remove the back plate by taking out the four screws -- carefully, don't damage the wood -- and take a look at the jack. This kind of non-connection is common in older guitars, where the jack has seen thousands of pluggings and unpluggings, or cheaply made guitars.

If the prong is just too weak to be fixed by pushing it back toward the center, you can replace the entire jack easily if you can handle a soldering iron.

 

[ziv]

If the prong is just too weak to be fixed by pushing it back toward the center, you can replace the entire jack easily if you can handle a soldering iron.

Well, I'm not really skilled at soldering so I will try first to buy a new cable, push back the prong and see the result... Thank you for your advice.

 

[ThomasB]

... but simply playing.
After one week the strings sound much better.
I grabbed out my old bass lessons by Rufus Reid: "The evolving bassist" and started from scratch.
I used to play fretless acoustic bass guitars, even upright (Zeta Crossover), but I never made the move from 34 to 41 inches before. This now is really it. I feel like coming home where I never have been before.
I play through a Gallien-Krueger MB150, contour fully clockwise, EQ all plain at 12, with reduced highs from the wav control - so simple, so sweet and "cracky".
Anyway: the stand is continuously annoying. cairomike has convinced me: I have ordered a "serious" CR-stand. The default stand is worse than buying a wedding dress on a wire bracket: the dress will be worn by your bride, while your wav must be worn by this sea-sawing kind-of-a-so-called-stand.

Hope you are happy with your bass!

 

[adam on bass]

New live shots...

 

[ziv]

First week with the WAV4 : very pleased with the bass, it easier than I thank, even though I need to develop a little more by left hand's muscles. I begin to have a quite convincing URB-like tone with it.

 

[tony moore]

anyone replaced the switch with a blend knob?

is it possible?

sure seems like a nice control to have...

tony

 

[adje]

anyone replaced the switch with a blend knob?

is it possible?

sure seems like a nice control to have...

tony

From what I was told, you need to add a pre-amp before you can do proper blending. But I doubt that there is a technical reason why you could not have two volume pots, like on a passive Fender J.

A whole other point is that you don't want to remove the backplate too often, at least not if you want to use 'proper' strings, which are anchored in the same backplate.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Wow...read through this entire thread last night!

Through a fortunate series of events, I'm trading an electric bass for one of these...should have it in a week or so.

Coupla questions for the hardcore users...

Strings: Has anyone tried the NS Hybrid Helicores (not the stock flats)...the ones designed as an upgrade? Are they shorter scale than a regular DB string and thus easier to install?

I have a brand new set of Obligatos at the ready...but thought I might look into the NS brand before I raid my DB backup string stash.

Hardware: I'm concerned to hear that some of you are having troubles with the tripod stand -- that stinks. Has anyone who has upgraded to the CR/EU tripod stand found more peace of mind? I see it's more expensive...and more heavy duty...is that the case, and if so, is it worth it?

Thanks, I'll surely report back with, well, a report!

 

[smakbass]

Depends on how much your going to use it of course but I personally feel much more at peace with the cr stand.

 

[ziv]

Hardware: I'm concerned to hear that some of you are having troubles with the tripod stand -- that stinks.

Speaking of the stand... I begin to have some trouble with it. The junction below the knob that allows to tilt up & down the body is getting some play and now the body wobbles too much. It's not very pleasant to play as it is not stable

WAV4 users, does it seem normal to you or shall I require customer service ?

 

[ThomasB]

Strings:
sent a request to David Kowalski of NS Design about the NS Helicore strings. Here is what he said:
"Please understand that the NS Helicore strings are indeed the shorter overall length as in out stock strings. They are built without silk wrap and are tapered at the nut end the fit the tuners well."
I did not try them so far. Finally I think the default strings are not that bad, you have to get used to them, and they sound much darker after several days

Stand: the WAV stand is horrible. I ordered a CR stand at Thomann, but they don't have it available yet.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Well,

Since I'm looking at this bass for traveling...

I may limit the use of the "stock" tripod stand...since it seems more fragile and less worthy overall. However, if it's lighter and smaller, it could make sense to bring this on flights or long hauls with tricky setups.

I'll probably order the CR stand ASAP and use that for local gigs where load ins aren't a problem.

I'm curious about the strings. I've tried several sets of the Helicores before on my uprights...and they always seemed quite decent. Thanks for the quote from NS. If they're designed to fit, I'll probably go with a set of these first.

I will, however, allow the stock strings a chance to break in, just to hear how they sound.

I love Obligatos on my current upright...but that doesn't mean they'll be the best match for the NS. I'm concerend about cutting and forcing the low E into the tuner.

 

[cairomike]

I have a brand new set of Obligatos at the ready...but thought I might look into the NS brand before I raid my DB backup string stash.

Hardware: I'm concerned to hear that some of you are having troubles with the tripod stand -- that stinks. Has anyone who has upgraded to the CR/EU tripod stand found more peace of mind? I see it's more expensive...and more heavy duty...is that the case, and if so, is it worth it?

Thanks, I'll surely report back with, well, a report!

I fitted a set of Obligatos a while ago and there is a big difference in sound, being synthetic core they are not as 'metallic' as the stocks and the G is more powerful. But be prepared to wrestle with the E string to get it seated in the machine head.

Another thing I've done is to pack out either side of the bridge with a softish foam. It deadens the bridge and to my ears improves the sound considerably, you get a lot less 'finger' noise.

As for the stand, I expect you've read my offerings on the subject and although it's been replaced twice I would never use it for gigs. The CR stand is much more robust and considerably heavier, but it is black not chrome as shown in the pictures.

 

[tony moore]

i bought one of these from bob g (and had it the next day btw) and it feels soooooo much more natural to me. very sturdy and flexible, can place in position very similar to my db, and it can move with me when i want it to. big improvement in the joy of playing the wav4 to me.

nice tip on the foam surrounding the bridge, i may have to try that. i am experiencing quite a bit of finger noise as well.

also has that unmistakeable "thump" of bridge piezo pups. i'm hoping the obligatos will help with that as well.

lastly, the fishman pro bass eq made it sound a ton better as well.

tony

 

[cairomike]

i bought one of these from bob g (and had it the next day btw) and it feels soooooo much more natural to me. very sturdy and flexible, can place in position very similar to my db, and it can move with me when i want it to. big improvement in the joy of playing the wav4 to me.

nice tip on the foam surrounding the bridge, i may have to try that. i am experiencing quite a bit of finger noise as well.

also has that unmistakeable "thump" of bridge piezo pups. i'm hoping the obligatos will help with that as well.

lastly, the fishman pro bass eq made it sound a ton better as well.

tony

In my experience you can tell a piezo bridge pickup a mile away, no matter what the instrument. The foam I used was from a hard drive shipping box, it started out at about 22mm x 22mm and compressed really well into the bridge slot with the (delicate!) aid of a screw driver to push it home more or less flush with the body.

The Obligatos make a big difference, but I expect you'll find you have to completely reset your EQ. If fact I have now stopped using the Korg PX3B and have got a very natural sound using just the G&K MB150E controls. I'm a Pizz switch setting player not Arco.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I had a BSX Allegro bass for over year. I give much credit to Dino, an amazing cat, for building such fine instruments -- right here in Pittsburgh.

However, I couldn't get used to the instrument on an end pin...it just felt so strange to me. It's because of the distance of the bout and how it sat in relation to my body...it felt nothing like having a big hunk 'o wood to lean into.

That's one of the reasons I'm interested in the Wav...I want something on a tripod so I can walk up to it...then walk away! Plus, I found there was no where to put the Allegro on break. It didn't sit nicely (it tended to want to roll over on its bridge -- yikes) and if I brought the big tripod display stand...that was one EXTRA thing to have on stage that there was often no room for.

Thanks for the tips on the strings and foam. I think I still have some pieces of dark colored "studio" foam somewhere.

I love Obligatos...been using them for a coupla years now. I'm just thinking the hybrid helicores might be an easier option. I remember those strings mellowing nicely on my acoustic bass as well.

I have a Boss Bass EQ pedal and an Aguilar DB 924 pre that I use with my upright to tame piezo thwack, so hopefully the Wav pickup will behave accordingly. I bet that Fishman pre sounds nice -- is it the one with the built-in compressor? I bet that would help a lot.

Keep us posted on any updates on the hardware situation.

So the upgraded CR stand is holding up...no problems? Do you have any photos of it you could post?