I think the WAV strings are the ones that come standard, judging from their lower price. They'd sound the same.
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Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I
- Thread starter ElMon
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I think the WAV strings are the ones that come standard, judging from their lower price. They'd sound the same.
Lots of people here have tried many brands of strings on their WAVs. I switched to Pirastro Obligatos after reading a lot of threads earlier this year and they fit well when using the keyholes in the plate on the back of the bass. Some things to be aware of:
1. Double bass strings may not fit very well in the NS tuning heads. The stock NS strings are very much like bass guitar strings and are loaded in the tuner the same way. Not so DB , which are thicker and may take some doing to get wound correctly. E strings is particularly hard to do. I know at least one person on TB reported that the E gear snapped.
2. The G strings will sound better on almost any DB set. I never liked the G on the stock NS strings.
3. No matter what you do, a WAV will never sound like a "real" DB ... because it isn't. You will have to work with your amp EQ and go with an outboard preamp to approximate that DB sound, but the resonance just isn't here becausethe body just isn't there. After almost a year with my WAV, I have come to appreciate it for what it is. It's solid and sounds much different from my EB. It sounds enough like a fretless bass guitar to please me, yet enough like an DB to allow me to use it for jazz and classical settings. But if I were playing all jazz gigs, I'd get something else -- probably one with a downsized acoustic body like the Eminence, Azola or BSX.
Here's a video of me and some of my friends doing a little bluegrass with me playing a Wav 4. Hope you like it.
smakbass
Smakkin basses for 25 years..
The stock G string sucks, but the pickup also contributes to this a little bit. There's a 15 percent drop in response as you move from E to G according to the NS customer rep I spoke with.
Just wondering if anyone has tried an Aguilar OBP-1 or Fishman as a preamp. I'm not real keen on having extra pedals, effects or preamps lying around on the floor.
I don't think the Aguilar would be a good fit. Too shrill and noisy for this application IMO, but who knows? Haven't heard of anyone installing any other onboard pre. To me, it just sounds like a lot of unnecessary work when you could just set the outboard on top of your rig.
When I play thru my Gallien-Krueger amp I don't use any pre-amp, but when I plug into a PA system, like the one in the youtube video, I use the Pure XLR pre-amp, from K & K Sound (thanks Bob G), velcroed to the back of the wav. A short 6" jumper connects the two together. If you use real strings and need the XLR output it's pretty tight, but I normally only use the XLR output when I'm in the studio. This arrangement alleviates the problems associated when using very high impedance outputs and long wire runs, gets the box off the floor, and puts the controls right behind the wav's knobs and right at my fingertips. I have thought about putting it inside the wav, but I wasn't keen on having to remove all the strings, to remove the back plate, just to change the batteries.
Sounds like a good idea. You also have to think about how taking off the baseplate more often than absolutely necessary will effect its ability to act like an anchor for the strings. I briefly thought about doing something like you're suggesting myself, but decided I didn't want to spend the money on a pre specifically for the WAV.
People reading this will probably shake their head, but I haven't really had a hard time getting a good sound out of mine going through either my Hartke 3500 (believe it or not) or a Korg ax3000b. I don't know if my sound is what anyone else is after though, so I tend to keep my set-up info to myself.
The youtue thing sounded good BTW.
I bought the endpin stand because I prefer a more DB like feel but I could never get used to the claw-like hip rest that grabs you around the waist. I found it limiting and uncomfortable. Luckily, the "claw" can be replaced by removing one bolt.
I had a nice scrap of African Padauk (a red and orange wood that matches the bass perfectly) and made a small hip rest similar to what BSX and other EUB makers do. I could have made something larger and more ornate. Maybe simulate the shoulder of an acoustic DB like a Warwick Triumph does, but my hip rest doesn't draw attention and fits nicely in the gig bag.
Anyway it works great and (in my opinion) looks better. I can always change it back if I want to.
I'm found a set of D'Addario Preludes very cheap. They are a big improvment over the stock strings, but I may eventually upgrade the tuners and try a synthetic core string.
I play through a Fishman Platinum Pro preamp and it works great.
This is the best EUB for under $1000. I'm really happy with this bass (after upgrading the stand, the strings, and getting a good preamp).
Just thought I'd share my experience....
I had a nice scrap of African Padauk (a red and orange wood that matches the bass perfectly) and made a small hip rest similar to what BSX and other EUB makers do. I could have made something larger and more ornate. Maybe simulate the shoulder of an acoustic DB like a Warwick Triumph does, but my hip rest doesn't draw attention and fits nicely in the gig bag.
Anyway it works great and (in my opinion) looks better. I can always change it back if I want to.
I'm found a set of D'Addario Preludes very cheap. They are a big improvment over the stock strings, but I may eventually upgrade the tuners and try a synthetic core string.
I play through a Fishman Platinum Pro preamp and it works great.
This is the best EUB for under $1000. I'm really happy with this bass (after upgrading the stand, the strings, and getting a good preamp).
Just thought I'd share my experience....
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Thank you, I'm still a first year student and can use all the encouragement I can get...
As I Said, almost any DB G string would be an improvement over the stock string. I like my Obligato G. You could try buying one single DB G string and save some money.
smakbass
Smakkin basses for 25 years..
Not a bad idea, I might buy the NS CR strings and try them first then if I am still not liking do that.
Thank you for posting this. I put 3/8 Hipshot Ultrilites on my bass last night. I used a 9/16 drill bit to widen the holes and it worked perfectly. Nice tuners, and I like the look of the open gears.
In case anybody wants my old tuners.....
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5108669#post5108669
funkybassplayer
Commercial User
Any suggestions on a cheap bow to go with the WAV?
Edit: I already posted this question in the Bows forum. I was just wondering if there might be a trend in bows of WAV players.
Edit: I already posted this question in the Bows forum. I was just wondering if there might be a trend in bows of WAV players.
It would be great if somebody could post a sound sample of thier WAV with Obligatos installed.
I'm currently running D'Addario Preludes (steel core/steel wrap) on E and A, and an Rotosound RS4000 (nylon core/nylon wrap) on D and G. They were old strings I had laying around.
It's a dramatic improvement over the stock strings, but I wonder how much more of an improvement I would get if I invested $130 in a set of Obligatos.
It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a walking line or scales over all strings so we could hear how the tone and sustain differs from the stock strings, and from what I'm getting from my "Frankenstein" string set.
If you don't want to post it for all to hear, PM me. I'm not asking for much
I'm currently running D'Addario Preludes (steel core/steel wrap) on E and A, and an Rotosound RS4000 (nylon core/nylon wrap) on D and G. They were old strings I had laying around.
It's a dramatic improvement over the stock strings, but I wonder how much more of an improvement I would get if I invested $130 in a set of Obligatos.
It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a walking line or scales over all strings so we could hear how the tone and sustain differs from the stock strings, and from what I'm getting from my "Frankenstein" string set.
If you don't want to post it for all to hear, PM me. I'm not asking for much
I have Obligatos on my Wav4. The difference from the stock strings is quite amazing. I don't know if it'll help but this is a video of them being played thru my little Gallien-Krueger amp:
I'm very happy with the sound, now I just need to learn how to play a little better...time to practice.
I've had Obligatos on my Wav for nine months. I love the sound, and many other musicians have commented on how great the bass sounds. The Obligatos also bow well. When these need replacing, I'll get another set.
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