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Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I

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#621
After spending years considering making the switch from BG to EUB and spending months researching instruments, I finally ordered a Wav 4 - which I received yesterday.

The standard strings were stomach-turning. I suppose I can imagine someone liking them. They're easy to play and have lots of sustain - but why not just play a BG?

Switching to D-Addario Helicore Orchestrals made all the difference. They fit well - only modification needed was trimming about an inch of silk from the E string.

Thanks to all who have posted info on the Wav 4. The comments on this board were a huge help in selecting an EUB.
 
#623
skabass said:
...
The standard strings were stomach-turning. I suppose I can imagine someone liking them. They're easy to play and have lots of sustain - but why not just play a BG?

Switching to D-Addario Helicore Orchestrals made all the difference. They fit well - only modification needed was trimming about an inch of silk from the E string...
Click to expand...

I Just bought a Wav4 and the D and G strings are close to
sounding(75%) like an upright, But he E and A strings sounds
nothing like an upright. They sound like an EB.
The E and A strings have NO growl to them at all.

Can you post some sound clips of you Wav with the Helicore
Orchestrals strings because I would like to keep this bass, but I
dont need 2 EB's.
If you cant post sound clips, can you comment on the Helicore
Orchestrals strings?
How close, in percentage do they sound like an UB?
thanks in advance...
 
#624
Unfortunately, I'm not set up to record sound clips at the moment. As many have said, no EUB will sound exactly like a DB. For many of us, though, it's a necessary compromise (space, feedback, cost, etc.).

For me, the D'Addario Orchestrals were a big improvement over the stock strings. I also added a preamp to my signal chain, which helped as well. Percentage of likeness to a DB? With preamp and some amp tweaking? Maybe 75%...?

Others seem to have had success with Pirastro Obligatos. I plan on trying these next.
 
#625
skabass said:
Switching to D-Addario Helicore Orchestrals made all the difference. They fit well - only modification needed was trimming about an inch of silk from the E string.
Click to expand...

I'm still using the stock strings and getting the most acoustic sound with the switch set to the arco setting and playing through a Sans Amp preamp/DI. The sound is ok, but the G is very "nasaly" especially up in thumb position.

These questions are for all D'Addario Helicore string users...

Is your switch set to arco or pizzicato?
Orchestrals, Hybrids, or Pizzicato? Light or medium gauge?
How does the string tension compare to the stock strings?

I'm thinking of finally changing strings and I would like to draw on your experience. Thanks!
 
#626
Is your switch set to arco or pizzicato?
Orchestrals, Hybrids, or Pizzicato? Light or medium gauge?
How does the string tension compare to the stock strings?
Click to expand...


I just put Orchestral mediums on my Wav 4 last night.
An improvement in sound for sure. A nice thump that was missing with the stock strings. I played the stock strings for a few weeks just to have a good baseline to compare to.

The tension is much higher than the stock strings. In fact, I had to tighten the truss rod to reduce the bow in the neck.

So far, I'm liking the Pizzicato position with these strings.
 
#627
I know, I know - I should have been satisfied with the d'Addario Orchestrals, but after reading so many positive comments about the Obligatos, I had to try installing a set. In the process, one of the posts on my E string tuner snapped off.

I suspect that NS will send me a new one, but the standard issue tuners seem awfully flimsy. Has anyone tried upgrading tuners on the Wav 4? I would love to find something with a slot large enough to fit acoustic strings.
 
#628
skabass said:
I know, I know - I should have been satisfied with the d'Addario Orchestrals, but after reading so many positive comments about the Obligatos, I had to try installing a set. In the process, one of the posts on my E string tuner snapped off.

I suspect that NS will send me a new one, but the standard issue tuners seem awfully flimsy. Has anyone tried upgrading tuners on the Wav 4? I would love to find something with a slot large enough to fit acoustic strings.
Click to expand...

why should you have been satisfied with the d'Addarios? There is no good reason not to experiment with all your options!

I had the same experience with the tuner for the D string: the post on the tuner snapped off. NS was very polite about sending me a new tuner, and they paid for the part *and* the shipping.

But, that does not address the real issue which is, as you point out, that the tuners are way underbuilt for URB strings. I haven't experimented with upgrading the tuners but think I'll probably do it at some point. Please do share your experience if you forge into this uncharted territory ;-)

If it's of any help, when putting Obligatos on my Wav4, I found it was best to lay the string into the tuner with little or no slack in the string, and then start tightening. There was plenty of stretch in the string to end up with 3 or more trips around the peg before the string comes in tune. I think the thing that broke my tuner may have been the string popping off the peg at high tension, and keeping as little string as possible on the peg minimizes the risk of that happening again.
 
#630
At 12:25 pm today, I performed what appears to have been the world's first Wav 4 tuner transplant. I'm happy to report that the patient is out of surgery and resting comfortably, with both new tuners and a set of Pirastro Obligatos successfully implanted.

After considerable web searching I settled on Hipshot Ultralites with 3/8 posts. They fit a 9/16 bore hole and the Wav 4's holes are close, but they did require some widening. I performed this part of the operation with some #60 sandpaper wrapped around the tip of a screwdriver, but those with better equipped workshops can surely do the job faster with a Dremel tool. Just don't go too far - the hole doesn't need to be opened up very much. Installing the Hipshots logo down nicely covered the old screw holes.

Not only are the Hipshots far more robust than the original Wav tuners, the post slot is wide enough to accommodate even the Obligato E string.

Forward to the Bionic Wav! Better, stronger, faster...
 

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#631
skabass said:
At 12:25 pm today, I performed what appears to have been the world's first Wav 4 tuner transplant. I'm happy to report that the patient is out of surgery and resting comfortably, with both new tuners and a set of Pirastro Obligatos successfully implanted.
Click to expand...

Wow, I was just geting ready to order some spare NS tuners "just in case" this seems like the way to go. I'm using the Obligatos, and every time I tune the E string, I wince a little. And it looks like you can chosse between crome, gold, or black. Now if I could just find a better bridge.
 
#632
Thats really good news, I've had Obligatos on for 7 or 8 months and have been concerned particularly about the E string. Would you clarify, are the Hipshots the 20655s? (e.g. Invalid Link Removed) and presumably you used a pair of Left and a pair of right handed.
 
#633
skabass said:
At 12:25 pm today, I performed what appears to have been the world's first Wav 4 tuner transplant. I'm happy to report that the patient is out of surgery and resting comfortably, with both new tuners and a set of Pirastro Obligatos successfully implanted.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing, that's nice to know. NS are great basses but I have to admit the tuner arrangement had me worried with regard to the extra tension involved on 3/4 scale bass. The stock model looks sadly similar to the tuners on my Warwick Thumb BG, one of which, the 'D', suddenly snapped a few weeks back, just as I got to a gig. The first time in 40+ years of playing this type of problem has arose. Not happy at all about this.
The Hipshots look far more appropriate for the job.

Steve
 
#635
skabass said:
This looks like the right model (Hipshot Ultralites), but the wrong size. The Ultralites come in 3/8 and 1/2 post sizes. The 3/8 is closer to the size of the Wav's bore holes. Also, no need to worry about left and right - the tuning key can be disassembled with an allen wrench and switched to either side. Here they are on Hipshot's website: http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=102
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the info. Just need to find a stockist in the UK.
 
#636
Just a bit of an update... my bow and strings have arrived, but my WAV 4 is stranded on a boat in Never Never Land. The latest word is delivery won't be for another 2 to 4 weeks.

Hope I can make the switch quickly as I have a piece that it would be perfect for that I need to perform in mid-December. I'm not too worried about the switch to upright or my intonation... but I'm really worried about being able to bow properly so soon.

Any suggestions?
 
#638
Jon R said:
I'm not too worried about the switch to upright or my intonation...
Click to expand...


I think everybody needs to be worried about intonation! :p

Actually it can be a big problem with these instruments as you have this long, flat neck without the physical clues you get from a DB body - plus I found that being exactly on the markers was wrong at some points - you need to use your ear!
 
#640
adje said:
For the Dutch NS users - I understand that the Dutch distributor Weerts went out of business ...
Click to expand...

... but not to fear: if you click to go to the Dutch distributor from the NS site, it now leads you to Voerman, who do Ernie Ball/MusicMan, Warwick, etc. No mention of NS at the Voerman site, but good news altogether.
 
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