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Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I
- Thread starter ElMon
- Start date
- Status
I thought the same thing, so I put the bottom half (the tripod legs) of my sheet music stand on the WAV, and put the bottom of my WAV stand back on the sheet music stand. All it took was a hex wrench and 5 minutes. The music stand is much more stable and solidly built. I'm happy enough with the result that I've put off buying another stand for the bass.
I've attached a picture of my bass using the tripod from the sheet music stand.
Also, I prefer an endpin type of feel to playing on a stand, so I made a hip rest out of round steel and I attached it to the stand with a drum clamp. I painted it all black to match the stand. You can see it in the picture.
When I play the bass I fold up the tripod stand so it leans and moves with me. It feels more like playing an acoustic DB. When I'm done, I fold the tripod down and walk away. It works pretty slick.
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funkybassplayer
Commercial User
I am loving playing with the end pin stand i got. The only issue i have is what to do with it when i am between sets. they make an adapter so you can use the standard CR stand to hold it up but i really don't want to have top buy an entire other stand just so i don't have to lay it down. Any suggestions.
That's exactly why I modified my black WAV tripod stand so I can use it as an endpin or a stand. It's not perfect, but it's the best solution I have found.
I don't mind buying the endpin stand, but I can't justify buying a CR stand and the adapter just to lean the bass against between sets.
Has anybody with an endpin found a stable (affordable) stand that can be used with an EUB?
I don't mind buying the endpin stand, but I can't justify buying a CR stand and the adapter just to lean the bass against between sets.
Has anybody with an endpin found a stable (affordable) stand that can be used with an EUB?
Hi all from Italy
I’m new on this very inspiring forum and, after 35 years of electric bass playing, I’m a new EUB’s player. I’ve recently bought a NS Design Wav4 (black) and after few weeks of trying I am fully all right with yours first impressions: It don’t looks a low-budget instrument, the sound is great with a very friendly playability. Yes, the tripod stand is improvable (a lot improvable) or simply it had to changed and standard strings are cheaps in every ways (G string broke after few hours playing). Anyway, for 890 Euros (1.218 USD) I get the sound, and that’s only care to me.
Now, with new strings (NS flatwound light) and a new stand in ordering (CR series tripod) I’m approaching to this completely new way of playing.
At home, I plug the Wav in a Phil Jones Briefcase amp (EQ flat) which a fully, clean, rounded sound. I experienced the wav on gig only once (yesterday), in a couple of songs (I am non so sure with him for now). It was in a large square gig with my trusty MesaBoogie M-Pulse600 (passive input, EQ flat, soft compression) + MesaBoogie Powerhouse 1000 enclosure: no problem to ear the bass! The Wav had a masterful sound.
After this, I’ve a couple of questions to anyone in the forum who would help me:
I often read on this forum about the Pirastro Ogligato and now I’m curious about them. In my mainly band I play R&B, Soul and ’70 Disco. Excluded Disco (obviously), are the Obligato a good choice? Do you suggest me other kind of strings?
As I said, I’m completely new on EUB’s and I never played a Double Bass.
On the electric bass I play with a low action. With the Wav, I would like to test several setups, to find which is better for me.
Which is a reasonable range of fingerboard relief and strings action to test with? How and where measure the relief and action on the Wav?
I know, my English is terrible.Please, Forgive me.
Many Thanks
I’m new on this very inspiring forum and, after 35 years of electric bass playing, I’m a new EUB’s player. I’ve recently bought a NS Design Wav4 (black) and after few weeks of trying I am fully all right with yours first impressions: It don’t looks a low-budget instrument, the sound is great with a very friendly playability. Yes, the tripod stand is improvable (a lot improvable) or simply it had to changed and standard strings are cheaps in every ways (G string broke after few hours playing). Anyway, for 890 Euros (1.218 USD) I get the sound, and that’s only care to me.
Now, with new strings (NS flatwound light) and a new stand in ordering (CR series tripod) I’m approaching to this completely new way of playing.
At home, I plug the Wav in a Phil Jones Briefcase amp (EQ flat) which a fully, clean, rounded sound. I experienced the wav on gig only once (yesterday), in a couple of songs (I am non so sure with him for now). It was in a large square gig with my trusty MesaBoogie M-Pulse600 (passive input, EQ flat, soft compression) + MesaBoogie Powerhouse 1000 enclosure: no problem to ear the bass! The Wav had a masterful sound.
After this, I’ve a couple of questions to anyone in the forum who would help me:
I often read on this forum about the Pirastro Ogligato and now I’m curious about them. In my mainly band I play R&B, Soul and ’70 Disco. Excluded Disco (obviously), are the Obligato a good choice? Do you suggest me other kind of strings?
As I said, I’m completely new on EUB’s and I never played a Double Bass.
On the electric bass I play with a low action. With the Wav, I would like to test several setups, to find which is better for me.
Which is a reasonable range of fingerboard relief and strings action to test with? How and where measure the relief and action on the Wav?
I know, my English is terrible.Please, Forgive me.
Many Thanks
Your English is way better than my Italliano
As with an electric bass, strings are a very personal thing. I play in a Latin/Spanish quartet (two electro-acoustic guitars, percussion and bass) the Obligatos suit me perfectly, and sound fine on the more funky pieces. They have a synthetic core rather than a metal core and sound 'softer' but, to my ears, a lot closer to a 'real' acoustic DB than the stock strings.
I can't help with the set up though. However, my instrument has about a 1.5mm relief. I haven't touched the truss rod but I have raised the bridge so that at '12th fret the gap is about 4.5mm on the G and 5.5mm on the E. I don't know if this is good or bad but it suits me.
As a college student who travels cross-continent during break, this will be the perfect instrument for me when I need to travel and play. (It's a hassle to get the DB from New York to LA). I'm probably going to get a black one with either the endpin or the tripod. Is there really a difference in sound with the different colors?
I was wondering. Do you guys have any ideas for flightcases. I'm aware that some people use Archery Quiver cases that fit really well. What do you guys use and what would it cost me? Also what strings other than Obligatos give it a nice uprighty tone.
Thanks in advance
I was wondering. Do you guys have any ideas for flightcases. I'm aware that some people use Archery Quiver cases that fit really well. What do you guys use and what would it cost me? Also what strings other than Obligatos give it a nice uprighty tone.
Thanks in advance
I doubt that color affects tone because it's merely a veneer. Electronics and woods don't vary. I'm not sure on a flight case, but Bass Central in Florida was offering a more heavy-duty soft bag a while back.
Ciao cairomike,
thanks so much for your suggestion
Well, I'll test the Obligato the next strings change, even if the NS Flatwound Light are not bad, totally better than the stock ones.
I'm setting up the Wav at this moment. I'm testing your suggested measures ( The Cairomike Setup
), increasing the relief (2mm on E at 7th position) and rising the bridge. It's a high action but the Wav sounds more dinamic and punchy than before. The play feeling is different, more DB like, I suppose.
On these days, I've searched and asked around.
About the strings action all the sources are in accord with:
Low action (Jazzers) 4-6 mm on G and 7-9 on E, both at the end of the fingerboard.
High action (Orchestra) 7-8 mm on G and 9-11 mm on E, both at the end of the fingerboard.
That's for DB, for Wav I've found nothing.
About the fingerboard relief I've found two sources in antithesis:
One said 2 mm on E and 3-4 mm on G (for Double Bass)
The NS Design factory suggested relief, and which I'm using, for Wav is 2.0 - 2.8 mm on E at 7th position and 0.8 - 1.6 on G at 10th position.
I know that the measures are only numbers. What really cares is the sound and the feeling with the bass. Anyway, it will be interesting to knows the other players setups preferences and the playing impressions...
thanks so much for your suggestion
Well, I'll test the Obligato the next strings change, even if the NS Flatwound Light are not bad, totally better than the stock ones.
I'm setting up the Wav at this moment. I'm testing your suggested measures ( The Cairomike Setup
), increasing the relief (2mm on E at 7th position) and rising the bridge. It's a high action but the Wav sounds more dinamic and punchy than before. The play feeling is different, more DB like, I suppose.On these days, I've searched and asked around.
About the strings action all the sources are in accord with:
Low action (Jazzers) 4-6 mm on G and 7-9 on E, both at the end of the fingerboard.
High action (Orchestra) 7-8 mm on G and 9-11 mm on E, both at the end of the fingerboard.
That's for DB, for Wav I've found nothing.
About the fingerboard relief I've found two sources in antithesis:
One said 2 mm on E and 3-4 mm on G (for Double Bass)
The NS Design factory suggested relief, and which I'm using, for Wav is 2.0 - 2.8 mm on E at 7th position and 0.8 - 1.6 on G at 10th position.
I know that the measures are only numbers. What really cares is the sound and the feeling with the bass. Anyway, it will be interesting to knows the other players setups preferences and the playing impressions...
Cool, I'm back and got a chance to spend some more time with this thing...
STRINGS --
Swapped out the stock strings with the NS Hybrid Helicore Mediums. BIG improvement.
If you want this thing to be a vertical fretless and you like that zingy sound, stay with the stock strings. If you want thump and a warmer sound like a real DB when you dig in, go with better strings.
I was glad I chose the NS Helicores. They are perfectly fitted for the instrument and went right on and tuned up real easy.
AMP --
I found a nice match with my Aquilar DB 924 preamp into my Eden Nav & Crown amp into SWR 2x10 or 4x10.
Haven't spent much time with my smaller amps...but not sure I will.
I wanted this thing for stoopid LOUD gigs...the ones where the wood upright turns to mud past a certain point.
One of my groups plays mostly funky & bluesy versions of Jazz & R&B standards, plus some originals. We usually end up doing noisy bars and outdoor concerts with questionable sound systems.
I love the feel of playing real upright in this band, but it usually gets buried and becomes a chore to play.
This bass seems to have that fat "organ bass" low end. I also find myself playing cool Sting/Police bass lines from the records where he used electric upright (and upright, and electric bass, etc...)
Overall, I think this is going to be a great "cross-over" instrument for loud gigs and noisy venues. Plus, as someone mentioned earlier, this thing is awesome for late night unplugged practice!
Just got to get the upgraded stand...hate the wobble-factor.
STRINGS --
Swapped out the stock strings with the NS Hybrid Helicore Mediums. BIG improvement.
If you want this thing to be a vertical fretless and you like that zingy sound, stay with the stock strings. If you want thump and a warmer sound like a real DB when you dig in, go with better strings.
I was glad I chose the NS Helicores. They are perfectly fitted for the instrument and went right on and tuned up real easy.
AMP --
I found a nice match with my Aquilar DB 924 preamp into my Eden Nav & Crown amp into SWR 2x10 or 4x10.
Haven't spent much time with my smaller amps...but not sure I will.
I wanted this thing for stoopid LOUD gigs...the ones where the wood upright turns to mud past a certain point.
One of my groups plays mostly funky & bluesy versions of Jazz & R&B standards, plus some originals. We usually end up doing noisy bars and outdoor concerts with questionable sound systems.
I love the feel of playing real upright in this band, but it usually gets buried and becomes a chore to play.
This bass seems to have that fat "organ bass" low end. I also find myself playing cool Sting/Police bass lines from the records where he used electric upright (and upright, and electric bass, etc...)
Overall, I think this is going to be a great "cross-over" instrument for loud gigs and noisy venues. Plus, as someone mentioned earlier, this thing is awesome for late night unplugged practice!
Just got to get the upgraded stand...hate the wobble-factor.
what size obligatos fit on this baby?
i'm getting this as a travel option for straight ahead gigs with my friends when I'm on the West Coast. does the sound resemble the DB close enough to pull it off?
i'm getting this as a travel option for straight ahead gigs with my friends when I'm on the West Coast. does the sound resemble the DB close enough to pull it off?
Some others here have had good luck with the Obligatos...although it sounds like the E is a bugger to wrap around the string winder.
I'm getting a very solid sound out of mine...but it's not going to be my first choice for straight jazz trio gigs.
I may find courage and try it sometime on a straight-ahead outing, but for now, I plan to use this on more groove-oriented gigs or in louder bars or concert situations.
I also bought this as a potential travel bass as I fly out about twice a year to do gigs...so I'm very interested to hear how this works for you from NY to LA.
I'm getting a very solid sound out of mine...but it's not going to be my first choice for straight jazz trio gigs.
I may find courage and try it sometime on a straight-ahead outing, but for now, I plan to use this on more groove-oriented gigs or in louder bars or concert situations.
I also bought this as a potential travel bass as I fly out about twice a year to do gigs...so I'm very interested to hear how this works for you from NY to LA.
I got mine from Thomann, Invalid Link Removed,
they're described as "441020 orchestral tuning" if that helps.
I'm waiting to get the quote from the music store I deal with and then after that it's time to scrounge around for some money (I just paid off the debt for my upright).
I agree that it may not be a preferable instrument for a straight-ahead setting. However, with flight case prices at a couple grand and adding on a 50 dollar overweight fee everytime I fly, it's more favorable to just spend the money on a new toy, since I will be traveling back and forth to see my family and will in turn be playing gigs with buddies in LA.
I'll definitely let you know how it works out in the straight ahead setting once I find enough money to at least put the first payment in on it. If you happen to feel crazy enough to try it out in a jazz trio gig, let us know how it goes.
My friend looking at the pictures said the black finish looked tacky. Is it?
Jason,
Would you mind saying where you bought your helicore strings and how much you paid?
Thanks.
smakbass
Smakkin basses for 25 years..
Fender...
I bought mine through Bass Central who had them drop-shipped from the NS factory...$120 plus $10 shipping.
Kevin...
I'd hate to be the @hole clogging up the security line at the airport. Just flew through Denver Sunday and it was a nightmare...
I saw several people with guitar cases as carry-ons, but nothing like our axe. Also eyed up the overhead bins...and they don't look any bigger these days.
I'm wondering if an SKB "golf bag size" flight case might not be the best option?
So many people check golf clubs and skis, why not well-packed EUB's?
I bought mine through Bass Central who had them drop-shipped from the NS factory...$120 plus $10 shipping.
Kevin...
I'd hate to be the @hole clogging up the security line at the airport. Just flew through Denver Sunday and it was a nightmare...
I saw several people with guitar cases as carry-ons, but nothing like our axe. Also eyed up the overhead bins...and they don't look any bigger these days.
I'm wondering if an SKB "golf bag size" flight case might not be the best option?
So many people check golf clubs and skis, why not well-packed EUB's?
Ok, now, having done a few gigs with my WAV here are my thoughts:
The stock strings SUCK!! in the sense that as a previous poster said you want to sound like a fretless EB, also I find the E string a bit "wimpy" in that volume wise it dosent seem to have the same dynamics as the other strings, I dont know if this is a string/ pickup or action issue..I find that the E string seems to "die" a bit once plucked whereas the other strings tend to sing out a bit more.
The supplied stand is very unstable, now granted I've been lucky so far not to have the horrendous problems other posters have had re: the damn thing falling apart but it does feel very flimsy and unstable.
All in all though I think the WAV is a great piece of kit for the price, I'm actually having great success at the moment using it with an EBS microbass pedal (for bigger gigs it works brilliantly with my markbass sa450 without using an outboard pre-amp)..the microbass is worth checking out if your doing smallish gigs where you dont have the luxury of bringing your normal rig, the unit fits perfectly into the front pocket of the supplied gig bag and the "A" channel has a very high impedence perfect for the WAV's piezzo pickups, so it works great as a di, also you can plug in a pair of ear-phones (like an in-ear monitoring system) if your having trouble hearing yourself if your not using backline or monitors.
All in all I'm loving the WAV, I've gotten more gigs purely based on its sound and appearance than my own (limited) technical ability. Having gigged for years in rock/funk bands with an EB I'm now getting more acoustic folk & jazz gigs which is opening up a whole new musical world to me and I'm loving every minute of it
there's something very liberating about being able to show up for a gig with one instrument, a pedal and a set of headphones
(ps: Coming from an EB background I found the best way (for me) to adjust to using an EUB was to listen to and play along to a lot of folk and country tunes rather than the standard jazz route...yes, in most cases the basslines are quite "simple" but they're great for building stamina on the instrument...plus I get a great buzz playing Allison Krause, Hank Williams and The Band on my WAV (If the 18 year old me heard this he'd be disgusted )
The stock strings SUCK!! in the sense that as a previous poster said you want to sound like a fretless EB, also I find the E string a bit "wimpy" in that volume wise it dosent seem to have the same dynamics as the other strings, I dont know if this is a string/ pickup or action issue..I find that the E string seems to "die" a bit once plucked whereas the other strings tend to sing out a bit more.
The supplied stand is very unstable, now granted I've been lucky so far not to have the horrendous problems other posters have had re: the damn thing falling apart but it does feel very flimsy and unstable.
All in all though I think the WAV is a great piece of kit for the price, I'm actually having great success at the moment using it with an EBS microbass pedal (for bigger gigs it works brilliantly with my markbass sa450 without using an outboard pre-amp)..the microbass is worth checking out if your doing smallish gigs where you dont have the luxury of bringing your normal rig, the unit fits perfectly into the front pocket of the supplied gig bag and the "A" channel has a very high impedence perfect for the WAV's piezzo pickups, so it works great as a di, also you can plug in a pair of ear-phones (like an in-ear monitoring system) if your having trouble hearing yourself if your not using backline or monitors.
All in all I'm loving the WAV, I've gotten more gigs purely based on its sound and appearance than my own (limited) technical ability. Having gigged for years in rock/funk bands with an EB I'm now getting more acoustic folk & jazz gigs which is opening up a whole new musical world to me and I'm loving every minute of it
there's something very liberating about being able to show up for a gig with one instrument, a pedal and a set of headphones
(ps: Coming from an EB background I found the best way (for me) to adjust to using an EUB was to listen to and play along to a lot of folk and country tunes rather than the standard jazz route...yes, in most cases the basslines are quite "simple" but they're great for building stamina on the instrument...plus I get a great buzz playing Allison Krause, Hank Williams and The Band on my WAV (If the 18 year old me heard this he'd be disgusted
)- Status
