Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I

[Alun]

I just plug in directly and haven't experienced any problems. Was a bit concerned about impedance but haven't noticed any problems at all.

Cheers
Alun

 

[Bob Gollihur]

Bob...

Would it be possible to take the guts out of a K&K Pure Preamp and mount it in the rear cavity? Having never seen a K&K up close I figured you'd be the right man to talk to.

It may be possible, Jon. However, depending on how you mounted the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] it could get tricky trying getting access to the tone and volume controls controls. They are components soldered to the circuit board, so they are parallel to the long side of the preamp. Same thing with the jacks.

 

[Krispy]

It may be possible, Jon. However, depending on how you mounted the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] it could get tricky trying getting access to the tone and volume controls controls. They are components soldered to the circuit board, so they are parallel to the long side of the preamp. Same thing with the jacks.

I found it convenient to just hang the K&K PP off the backplate with a velcro attachment. It's easy to get to and I can rip it off and toss it in the gig bag if I decide not to use it. Simple is better.

 

[Vic]

Folks, if you don't mind saving me a bit of time going through this entire thread...

I used to play some upright in jazz combo and big band back in the 80's. I was about 60% electric and 40% upright in those days. Well, I'd like to get back into upright, but since it'll be mostly just for one group and fairly peripheral, I don't want to spend a lot of money on one, and I don't really want to get a real acoustic for size/convenience reasons.

HOWEVER, and here's the usual catch, while I don't want to spend much money, I really do need it to play and sound really nice. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting it to sound or play like a 50K upright, but I don't want a Dean Pace, either. I tried one of those and really didn't like it at all. Felt weird and I didn't like the tone.

SO... how do folks generally feel about the Wavs in this thread? Is the consensus they're great, especially for the money, or that they're ok, but you have to spend money right away to upgrade elex, true the fingerboard, etc.

As mostly an electric player, I'd have to be able to set the action fairly low, as well.

So, whaddya'll think? Should I get one?

 

[Ozonbass]

I picked up a WAV 4 last year and have really enjoyed playing it. I don't have any comparison to the higher end EUBs, but I can say that for what it is, it sounds good and is fun to play. I still haven't changed the strings or modded anything on it. I am using the little K & K preamp with it. Seem to be able to dial in a lot more tone variation with that. I'm playing bluegrass with it and also use it in a big band for some of the ballads. All pizz. with it, mine came with a bow, but it still befuddles me. After 25+ years of R&B to death metal, the whole upright thing sure is a strange animal, but luckily, I think, the learning curve on it is not too steep

Bottom line I guess, for the price, it seems to be a good deal. Maybe try and grab a used one?

 

[Vic]

I picked up a WAV 4 last year and have really enjoyed playing it. I don't have any comparison to the higher end EUBs, but I can say that for what it is, it sounds good and is fun to play. I still haven't changed the strings or modded anything on it. I am using the little K & K preamp with it. Seem to be able to dial in a lot more tone variation with that. I'm playing bluegrass with it and also use it in a big band for some of the ballads. All pizz. with it, mine came with a bow, but it still befuddles me. After 25+ years of R&B to death metal, the whole upright thing sure is a strange animal, but luckily, I think, the learning curve on it is not too steep

Bottom line I guess, for the price, it seems to be a good deal. Maybe try and grab a used one?

Thanks.

Yeah, I'm pretty strictly pizz., so that's all good. I've spent very little time on arco, just enough to finish a ballad or two, but that's it. Not even sure I could get a good tone right now.

My application would be mostly for a Celtic band I'm likely going to join soon, which would only be about once/month, but also I'd like to use it in church ensemble as well from time to time (1-2/month), and then possibly get back into some jazz combo with it (1-2/month) if all goes well.

 

[Illbay]

The sound through my WalkAbout/Aguilar GS112 setup is killer... and when bowed it is simply the Voice of God.

Okay, this thread's too long to go back and figure out all the things folks are talking about here. Are you speaking of the WAV4? Or the CRM? Several folks seem to be discussing the latter!

As far as a pre is concerned, would anyone have a problem with using something like an ART Tube-style preamp, rather than a specifically-acoustic instrument K&K? I already have a few of the ARTs lying around, and it would be great if that was a good solution!

Looking forward to my (used) WAV4 arriving tomorrow.

Any caveats?

(Again, sorry, I tried to read as much of the thread as possible but 40+ pages is just too much).

 

[BassBus]

I think any pre amp is worth trying. It doesn't have to be a K&K that just seems to be the one folks recomend. Anything that extends your tone options is worth trying.

 

[Illbay]

They are components soldered to the circuit board, so they are parallel to the long side of the preamp. Same thing with the jacks.

RELATED SUBJECT: Bob, I read your treatise on using the preamp for "impedance matching." I'm about as far from electronically-inclined as can be, but I think I get the gist of it.

You say "piezo pickups can be as hight as 1-2 million Ohms." I have an ART Tube Pre that has an input impedance of 840k Ohms, and outputs to 300 Ohms. Would this be satisfactory for use with the WAV4?

Oh, now I'm looking at the specs for my amp, and it has an "input impedance" of 1M Ohms! So the WAV4 ought to plug right in, am I correct? Surely, I don't want a 300 Ohm load going into a 1M Ohm input, do I?

Please instruct me, as I'm feeling faint...!

 

[Bob Gollihur]

RELATED SUBJECT: Bob, I read your treatise on using the preamp for "impedance matching." I'm about as far from electronically-inclined as can be, but I think I get the gist of it.

You say "piezo pickups can be as hight as 1-2 million Ohms." I have an ART Tube Pre that has an input impedance of 840k Ohms, and outputs to 300 Ohms. Would this be satisfactory for use with the WAV4?

Oh, now I'm looking at the specs for my amp, and it has an "input impedance" of 1M Ohms! So the WAV4 ought to plug right in, am I correct? Surely, I don't want a 300 Ohm load going into a 1M Ohm input, do I?

Please instruct me, as I'm feeling faint...!

Yes, you should be able to plug it right into your amp.

 

[Jon R]

Originally posted by Illbay

Okay, this thread's too long to go back and figure out all the things folks are talking about here. Are you speaking of the WAV4? Or the CRM? Several folks seem to be discussing the latter!

I was talking about the WAV4... all I've done so far is change strings to the NS Helicore's and raise the bridge a bit so I can dig in a bit more. This really is a great bass... I've not been able to wipe the silly grin off my face for days.

 

[Illbay]

Originally posted by Illbay


I was talking about the WAV4... all I've done so far is change strings to the NS Helicore's and raise the bridge a bit so I can dig in a bit more. This really is a great bass... I've not been able to wipe the silly grin off my face for days.

Oh, man, that's so good to hear..uh, "read"!

I've read so many opinions to either side of the line, that I am kinda on pins and needles wondering what the instrument's gonna sound like.

It arrives tomorrow. It is used, but lovingly, by TBer "Adam on Bass." I feel like I got a great deal considering he threw in a spare string set AND the airline case!

I'm really looking forward to "digging in" myself.

While we're on the subject, are you using the tripod, or the endpin?

 

[funkybassplayer]

I have the CHEAP-O wav tripod stand but i also have the higher end end pic stand. I love playing with the endpin stand because it allows the bass to move with me while i play.I would definatly recommend getting one of those.

 

[bassophile]

Hi there,

maybe I'm posting on wrong forum, but I didn't find better place. Did anyone of you guys manage to fly with NS Wav 4 on board as carry-on baggage with Delta Airlines, as they changed they strong rules last year?

Thanks

 

[Illbay]

Hi there,

maybe I'm posting on wrong forum, but I didn't find better place. Did anyone of you guys manage to fly with NS Wav 4 on board as carry-on baggage with Delta Airlines, as they changed they strong rules last year?

Thanks

I have not, since I just received the thing yesterday, but...

I cannot imagine being able to get EITHER the gig-bag OR the airline case (which I've also now got) in an overhead bin. They're freakin' HUGE!

 

[Illbay]

I got my WAV4 on Friday afternoon here at the office (fortunately, late after most folks had gone home - the shipping carton was HUGE), and quickly set it up on its tripod. I've only fooled with it a little bit, have decided to just leave it in the corner of my little office so I can drag it out at lunchtime or after hours for a little getting-to-know-you session.

Meanwhile, I've had several people come into my office, and kind of glance at it, then continue talking to me without any comment. I brought it to one fellow's attention as we concluded our work-related discussion, and he looked over at it, then did a double-take.

"Oh," he said, "I didn't really notice it was a musical instrument, I just thought it was some kind of sculpture or something! That's really cool!"

This is an interesting example of psychology. I think we see what we expect to see. The WAV4 is unusal-looking, and to the untrained eye it might not appear to be what it in fact is: a musical instrument. And with "unusual" objets d'art being pretty common nowadays, I think people glance at it and think "yeah, a statue or something" and dismiss it from further thought.

Anyway, it really looks cool in my office, and matches the fake wood on my fake desk quite well! Only problem is, I can't resist going over and plunking on it several times during the day.

Got a guitard friend down the hall from me; he and I are gonna try some lunchtime jamming starting later this week.

 

[Bard2dbone]

That's awesome. I would have loved to have seen his expression as he 'got it'.

 

[pb9717]

I got my WAV4 last spring through Bass Specialties in Bensalem PA. Violin Burst ( didn't really have a choice of color, just prepaid for one and thats the first color to arrive) Well, i took it home and was able to play it fairly quickly. i too, have never played upright so it was very exciting to get musical right away on it. I also noticed a crack in the fingerboard a the bottom, about 3 inches long ans 1/16th wide. I called NS and they had a cherry red replacement to me in 2 days. BUT...when I A/B'd the two basses, my Viloin Burst absolutely SANG vs the cherry model. I called NS and sent the replacement back to them. They recommended I take the WAV4 to David Gage Stringed Instruments in NYC, which I did. David's luthiers were very happy to fix the crack. They put some ebony dust and glue in the crack, sanded it over and bingo! Brandy new. They set it up for me as well to reflect and UB action, and told me the G string sounded a little "funky" and recommended I replace the strings altogether ( which I have yet to do. Who's got $160 for strings?) I also still use the WAV tripod, and am just very careful not to overtighten it ( who's got $190 for a new stand?) And I have found that I need to completely roll back the treble, cause those piezo's or too trebly if you don't. I have a SansAmp DI that I've used as a preamp and it makes a world of difference as well..Essentially makes the WAV an "active" bass. ( and give me a great DI for house mix) Since I've gotten the bass, i've used it mostly for Salsa, Jazz, and Standards, and my band Loves it. I've been playing Salsa for years on EB and the WAV really captures the stacato vibe in Salsa. I rarely use the Arco setting because the pizz definetely captures a more upright tone. A great way to learn this bass "crash course" is to get a "music minus one" track and jam along. I bought the playjazznow.com standards package, and love playing along with Green Dolphin Street. I will make a vid of that and put it up on youtube shortly. Hope this helped all who are interested. NS is a great company and fully supports their products. Just make sure you buy it from an authorized dealer like Gollihur or Bass Speciaslties if you live in the NYC/Philly/NJ area.

 

[Illbay]

They set it up for me as well to reflect and UB action, and told me the G string sounded a little "funky" and recommended I replace the strings altogether ( which I have yet to do. Who's got $160 for strings?)

I, too, noticed a "funkiness" in the G-string when I first got the thing. Partly, though, it was string buzz, as "Adam on Bass" had it set up with the G-side of the bridge considerably lower than the E-side.

I simply grabbed the #2 Phillips screwdriver and a tape measure, and worked with it until the clearance from the fingerboard at the end was about the same for both the G and E strings. That seems to have cured - or nearly so - the "funky" G.

What I had after that was something that feels so much like an UB, it's just phenomenal. And yet despite the high action, the strings are not hard at all to stop, much easier than any UB I've ever played.

Now the sound is terrific, it even has pretty good "thump" unamplified.

So, the new Brazilwood bow arrived from Bob Gollihur on Thursday - but unfortunately, our friends at the Postal Service creamed one end of the triangle-box packaging, and it appears the Carlsson rosin cake fell out somewhere between New Jersey and Texas. So I couldn't try it out arco.

Then, surfing the net looking for "Bass rosin," I discovered that the famed "Pop's" rosin is actually made right here in Houston, so I went out to Pasadena to pick some up from a supplier.

Rosined up the bow, and *WANGO-TANGO* that sucker just ROCKS! In fact, it is just plain LOUD even unplugged. But played through the Sansamp Bass Driver DI, it's PURE heaven.

I'm gettin' really "jazzed" about this thing!

 

[zoonose]

As a long-time lurker here, I've never posted, but I've gotten lots of useful information in my reading. That said, I got my WAV4 about a month ago; I love it- it's pretty much exactly what I had hoped it would be.
Anyway, the point of my post- if anyone is interested, Eurosonic Ultralite strings fit the WAV4, and sound good(so far, at any rate), to me, at least.