• 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.
#484
#487
I picked up a Wave4, Amberburst, from Sam Ash, today. It came with a black stand. It also appears to be a different design than the chrome stands I usually see with them.

What's up Jason... heard you're back in PA

Peace,
Dave Christ
 
#490
Jason Hollar said:
Cool, hopefully the hardware situation won't be too much of an issue.

I played a gig last night and was checking out the drummer's ride cymbal stand!

Dave, PM sent... so how do you like the bass (& stand)?
Click to expand...


I enjoying this bass with every minute played. It was a little awkward at first, but after a couple hours we started to meld. The action is much to low for my taste. I definitely plan on raising the bridge and adding new strings soon.

My stand is already starting to lose its original stability. But, a little motion in the stand is probably a good thing. If it was rigid, and did not move at all, the pressed/glued insert in the bass, that you mount to, would probably fail with time. If the stand ever fails (and I catch the bass before it hits the floor), I'll probably design my own.

What strings and setup works best for you??
 
#492
Just got mine today. Ordered the Amberburst -- but it's a lot more brown than the web photos. I like it though, almost has a tobacco sunburst finish...will look nice on conservative country club jobs, etc.

Hate the tripod stand. I think my sheet music stand is more burly. It wiggles and wobbles a bit...for sure going to go with the heavier duty stand ASAP.

Also ordered a set of the NS Hybrid Helicores, awaiting their arrival.

After an hour or so, I can tell I'm going to like playing this thing. It's funny...being a both an electric bass player and a double bass player, I'm able to use both approaches on this instrument.

I play in the traditional Simandl positions in the lower register...then I can easily go into 4-finger "electric bass" fingering up higher. It's also a hoot to keep walking up and never having to go into thumb position if I don't want to.

Love the dots! I find each one of them inviting me to play on it...which has actually opened up some new harmonic directions. Sorry, that sounds cheesy...but it's true.

Only played it briefly through my Mesa Walkabout Scout combo and wasn't thrilled with the tone.

I've got Eden & SWR amps yet to try plus several preamp gizmos to audition. I'm sure I'll find a good combination that makes this bass sound more full and less zingy. Hoping the new strings help with that. Had the tone knob basically all the way off...that's how much treble it has...

More later. Looking forward to some "electric" club jobs I have coming up this fall...going to give this a month or so in the woodshed before I subject my dear bandmates to it!

Pray for my purist acoustic jazz soul!

Jason
 
#493
After a little more experimentation, this thing sounds much better through my Eden Navigator preamp. The Nav has tons of EQ and it's much easier to dial out the midrange honk and high end thwack of the peizo.

I'm still in need of an outboard preamp to bring the level up though... The bass itself has such a low output level it doesn't even allow the compressor to register!

I tried my cheapo Art Tube MP preamp and it adds a ton of gain without any noise...and allows the compressor to do its thing.

A little compression sounds nice!
 
#494
Jason:

I'm using a K & K Pure Preamp and it helps a lot to give the bass its full sound. It's a very basic box, but it does help to bring out the low end. I have run the WAV straight into a Mesa Walkabout Scout and it sounds fine, though. I use it mostly in church, where I run the WAV into the K & K, then into the non-EQd side of a Radial bassbone. The sound guy loves it.
 
#495
Jason Hollar said:
After a little more experimentation, this thing sounds much better through my Eden Navigator preamp. The Nav has tons of EQ and it's much easier to dial out the midrange honk and high end thwack of the peizo.

I'm still in need of an outboard preamp to bring the level up though... The bass itself has such a low output level it doesn't even allow the compressor to register!

I tried my cheapo Art Tube MP preamp and it adds a ton of gain without any noise...and allows the compressor to do its thing.

A little compression sounds nice!
Click to expand...
I'm really surprised that you find your WAV4 has a low output. I've 4 electric basses, 2 passive and 2 active, and the WAV4 has a much higher output than any of them, so much so that I have to use the -10db switch on the G&K amp to cut it back.
 
#496
Having read thru, ok SKIMMED all 25 pages.... I can't help but wonder if there isn't room in the rear cavity of this bass to add some magnetic pickups..... How thick is the wood between the cavity and the strings?? Thin enough to put a hot mag pickup in the cavity and have it "see" the strings thru the wood?? Would there be enough structural wood left if you put holes thru the face to support the string tension?? Are the mag pickups used in the CR basses sold aftermarket?? Am I nuts???
 
#497
BassikLee said:
Having read thru, ok SKIMMED all 25 pages.... I can't help but wonder if there isn't room in the rear cavity of this bass to add some magnetic pickups..... How thick is the wood between the cavity and the strings?? Thin enough to put a hot mag pickup in the cavity and have it "see" the strings thru the wood?? Would there be enough structural wood left if you put holes thru the face to support the string tension?? Are the mag pickups used in the CR basses sold aftermarket?? Am I nuts???
Click to expand...

IME mag pickups need to be quite close to the URB strings to deliver a solid signal. Burying them wouldn't work, at least in the experimentation I did with a few different pickup types and strings. Not only does the signal/noise ratio suffer, but the sound is not distinct enough to be usable.

The mags in the CR/EU line are made by EMG. They are available separately from EMG, but only for OEM use by qualified instrument builders. I spoke with them a few months ago to clarify, as I'd otherwise love to be able to offer them for tinkerers like myself.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back