Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I

[Bard2dbone]

The best quality/ratio strings I found are D'Addario Preludes.
Marketed as student grade, they're better than many "pro" sets.
They're about half the price of Obligatos.

Thanks. I'll probably start with those. I'm getting a beginner-level bow, so student-level strings ought to be fine too, for now.

I think I have to get WAY better again before getting quality stuff is really rational.

 

[kevinmoore73]

Indeed, it doesn't seem normal to me.
Is there a truss rod in the neck?

Yes, and it is completely loose. Even a 1/8th turn looser makes it so loose that the truss rod vibrates within the neck when notes sound.

Could it just be a bump in the fingerboard there?

I wish it were that. Unfortunately it goes all the way across the neck, and can be seen as I sight down the neck.

Otherwise, and if there's no truss rod, maybe a higher tension string would pull the neck a little more and solve the problem?

I was told that the bass is wearing Thomastik Superflexibles. I do not know much about upright bass strings, but are these considered low-tension strings? Higher-tension strings could possibly correct the problem, but that would be a pretty pricey gamble for me to try to find out. (Unless people here are pretty sure that much higher-tension strings are available and fit this bass.)

 

[Francois Blais]

Superflexibles are relatively high tension strings.
What is the silk color at the peg-end?
If the same blue as the tailpiece's silk, they're the regular one.
If it's yellow, you have a solo-tuning set, which means they're lower tension.
(solo-tuning is a whole step higher, so these strings are thinner than orchestra-tuning)

 

[kevinmoore73]

Superflexibles are relatively high tension strings.
What is the silk color at the peg-end?
If the same blue as the tailpiece's silk, they're the regular one.
If it's yellow, you have a solo-tuning set, which means they're lower tension.

Yellow at peg-end and light blue at tail end.

 

[Francois Blais]

That means you have the solo-tuning ones.
I suggest you get orchestra-tuning strings to have the normal tension.

Is the WAV4 scale the same as a 3/4 size UB? (around 41")

 

[Bard2dbone]

What's the difference between the Polar Piezo system on the WAV4 and the Bi-Polar Piezo on the CR4? Can we upgrade the WAV to the CR4 standard? I know I've seen comments about how big and empty the control cavity is.

If we can get the goodies to upgrade the bass, would it be worth it? The only downside I could see is invalidating warranties. I'd just like to have all the tone control possible and decent arco and pizz sounds.

 

[BassBus]

As far as I know it is the same pick up. The difference lies in the EQ and the blend between arco and pizz. Other than that it seems to be the same system. I have a CR4M which has the magnetic pups too, I can't see any other difference but I stand to be corrected.

 

[bluegrassboy]

I think BassBus is correct. To get more options for EQ, I suggest running through a pre-amp that more tone options than offered on the WAV. That should be more economical, and achieve what you're looking for. I use a SansAmp bass DI and it works fine for my needs. There are others, of course.

 

[dannster]

Aha! I assumed it would be something like that. I've been on backorder at GC for over 2 months. GC doesn't know anything and an email to Steinberger garnered no response. I've actually snagged a cr4m in the meantime.

David asked me if I could wait a month or two. They are making the new Wav's out of maple with a different grade of ebony finger board. Of course I told him I'd be patient and wait for the new improved model.

 

[kevinmoore73]

That means you have the solo-tuning ones. I suggest you get orchestra-tuning strings to have the normal tension.

Is the WAV4 scale the same as a 3/4 size UB? (around 41")

Thanks for your help. I returned the bass to the seller.

To answer your question, the WAV 4 is 41.73" scale.

 

[Francois Blais]

Thanks for your help. I returned the bass to the seller.

Glad to hear you "solved" the problem in a satisfactory ending.
Did you give the appropriate feedback to the seller?

Regards,
François

 

[Bard2dbone]

Well, I got the WAV Monday and my bow arrived yesterday. Now I just need a day off to really give it all a workout.


How do we set this monster up? My G buzzes pretty badly, and the D buzzes a bit.

 

[bluegrassboy]

Yours should have included directions on raising the action. Change out the stock strings (which are more like bass guitar strings) and put some real DB strings on it. Raise the action as high as it will go. Enjoy!

 

[BassBus]

Try looking on the NS web site as they have instructions for altering action which you can download. Yes raise the action up pretty high which will give you more of a DB feel. Try plucking the strings with the side of your finger as this will help in producing more of a DB sound. Change the strings if you can afford it to DB strings. Be careful though when buying DB strings as some 3/4s are too short. Might be better to look at 4/4 strings. Do a search on this and the NS EUB threads for advice on suitable strings.

 

[Bard2dbone]

I have a set of Preludes coming in the mail. If they don't fit, I'll bite the bullet and buy Obligatos, because I know they'll fit.

 

[Bard2dbone]

So I've had my WAV at home for a little while and it's settling in to a fairly desperate need for a set up. For some reason, the switch doesn't work right. In stead of arco/pizz it's pizz/mute.

But the really annoying part is that as of today, my G string 'frets out' (or whatever is the appropriately equivalent URB expression) from about G# to C. The open G is good. And everything above C is good. But everything between is the same buzzy non-pitch.

On a BG I would feel comfortable addressing this myself. But frankly this beast scares me. It's a one piece bridge. How do you raise ONE string? If I just lift the whole treble side of the bridge, what else will it throw off? If it was all the strings I would think "Use the trussrod." but just one? If it was just a high spot on the fingerboard I'd consider sanding it out, but I've never done that on anything this big.

Help.

 

[Francois Blais]

Maybe the groove in the nut is too low?
Maybe there's a bump on the fingerboard?

 

[Bard2dbone]

It was fine in the store, so I doubt that the nut is suddenly too low.

But I suppose there could be a new bump.

That just gets me right back where I was, though.

 

[Francois Blais]

Did you change the strings yet?

Am I wrong to think there's a truss rod in that neck?
You may need to tweek it if you changed the strings with something different.

 

[Bard2dbone]

I haven't changed them yet. I got the bass just barely before I left on vacation and I've been back since last Tuesday. It just changed after being in my house. At first it had a slight buzz on the D and the G. Now it's much more than a buzz on just the G.


Weird.