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Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I

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#901
You can modify the cheap stand that comes with this bass into an adjustable endpin for less than $2. I unscrewed the bottom screws that hold the legs to the center shaft and slid the tripod legs right off the shaft. Then I purchased a rubber chair leg foot from a local hardware store to cover the bottom of the center shaft... thats it! It connects to the back of the bass and it sits on the center shaft that adjusts up and down and you have no cheap legs and screws to worry about coming loose. This bass feels much nicer on an endpin then that stiff tripod... I strongly recommend this modification and if you don't like it then it is only 3 screws to put it back together. If you need further instruction please don't hesitate to ask. It is only three screws than slide off the leg system and cap the center shaft and the center shaft becomes your end pin (with addition of rubber foot ($2)).

Peace,

pmarche
 
#904
pmarche said:
You can modify the cheap stand that comes with this bass into an adjustable endpin for less than $2. I unscrewed the bottom screws that hold the legs to the center shaft and slid the tripod legs right off the shaft. Then I purchased a rubber chair leg foot from a local hardware store to cover the bottom of the center shaft... thats it! It connects to the back of the bass and it sits on the center shaft that adjusts up and down and you have no cheap legs and screws to worry about coming loose. This bass feels much nicer on an endpin then that stiff tripod... I strongly recommend this modification and if you don't like it then it is only 3 screws to put it back together. If you need further instruction please don't hesitate to ask. It is only three screws than slide off the leg system and cap the center shaft and the center shaft becomes your end pin (with addition of rubber foot ($2)).

Peace,

pmarche
Click to expand...

I've just tried this and I would be very careful about doing it. The top casting is poor quality, my first one broke last year just a month or so after I got it and I could see large voids in the material. Using the stand like this will put even more stress on the casting and could lead to it snapping. You've been warned!!
 
#905
cairomike said:
I've just tried this and I would be very careful about doing it. The top casting is poor quality, my first one broke last year just a month or so after I got it and I could see large voids in the material. Using the stand like this will put even more stress on the casting and could lead to it snapping. You've been warned!!
Click to expand...

You think it would cause more stress? I found the castings were stressed on the tripod because it flexes so much. If the bass were able to move freely, I thought it would stress the stand less.

You will still want some kind of a hip rest if you modify the original stand. Because the bass has no body there's nothing to lean against you as you move quickly to different positions on the fingerboard.

I tried several modifications to the original stand to make it work. I finally bought an endpin stand and had to make modifications to that before I got happy. Good luck.

I do want to add....a lot of conversation on this forum is about problems with the WAV. It does have a few issues but I still think this is the best EUB for the money. It sounds great and works well once the stand issues get sorted out. I wish NS would just ship the CR stand instead. The CR stand is really high quality and worth the money if you like playing on a tripod.
 
#907
You are going to have stress from the weight of the bass with our without the tripod. The problem I was having and what I have heard is with the screws coming loose on the tripod. I have not heard of any problems with the top casting until now. If that breaks then I am definitely going to take it up with NS. I also agree that this is a super cool bass and I am managing without the hip rest just by centering the weight and using gravity to hold it in place when making quick moves. It seems to be working pretty naturaly for me and it is by far an improvement from a stiff tripod. Really it is an option that you can take or leave but since it worked well for me I thought I would share among the folks who don't have the money to throw down after purchasing this bass.

Peace and good luck.

-PMarche

DownLow said:
You think it would cause more stress? I found the castings were stressed on the tripod because it flexes so much. If the bass were able to move freely, I thought it would stress the stand less.

You will still want some kind of a hip rest if you modify the original stand. Because the bass has no body there's nothing to lean against you as you move quickly to different positions on the fingerboard.

I tried several modifications to the original stand to make it work. I finally bought an endpin stand and had to make modifications to that before I got happy. Good luck.

I do want to add....a lot of conversation on this forum is about problems with the WAV. It does have a few issues but I still think this is the best EUB for the money. It sounds great and works well once the stand issues get sorted out. I wish NS would just ship the CR stand instead. The CR stand is really high quality and worth the money if you like playing on a tripod.
Click to expand...
 
#909
Ordered a WAV4 from Musician's Friend on 3/4/08; immediately began to receive a series of back order emails from them giving me to-be-shipped dates that never materalized. The next to the last email I received at the end of July stated that it would ship at the end of Aug but last week I received this:

We've just heard from our supplier that the backordered
item(s) shown below are now due to arrive at our warehouse
at a later date.
Backordered Items:

Item: 514435 267 03 NS DESIGN WAV4 ELC UPRGHT BASS AMBRS KC
Previous Date: 20080305
New Date:20090109


Jan 2009...... unbelievable...... I think it's time to look for a different manufacturer that can deliver a quality affordable EUB
 
#911
smakbass said:
Or try a different dealer like Bob Gollihur..
Click to expand...

We are continually in contact with NS Design, and update a notice on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] when new information becomes available. Here is an excerpt that should shed light regarding availability... everywhere:

We have many basses on order, and we've been told that once again the availability is delayed, and to an undefined time frame. Unfortunately, the factory's output is not meeting Ned Steinberger's strict quality standards, and those instruments will not be allowed to leave their premises. Yeah, it's a bummer, but I'd rather ship no basses rather than faulty ones.

NS Design tells us it may be the end of the year before WAV4 basses are again available.


To increase your chances of getting a WAV4 when they do arrive, I suggest you put one on order with an authorized dealer. Because of the bass' popularity, they probably won't last long once they do become available again.


You have to admire a company that puts quality and their customers over profit. We'll all just have to wait.

 
#912
Hey All,
I got mine a few weeks ago. Now, I'm one of those Rock-a-Billy slappers, so I really just bought it for fun. When I first got mine, it was buzzing alot, G and D strings. and the sound was very electric bass-ish. I kept it just that way for a week until I just couldn't take it any more. I really looked and listened to where the figerboard buss was, I got out a straight, sharp knife and started dragging the board until I removed what I thought to be enough. After a few tries, no buzz. I got out my Drummel Tool and buffed it clean. The problem was, many cheaper woods.. and nice woods have imperfections. My fingerboard had a small group of pin-hole dots around the A on the G string. Some one had used a wood filler to fill them in (common) but did not re dress the board after filling it. I'm no righ guy, but in the world of the upright bass, these things are cheap enough for you to learn a little luthering on.

Additionally after putting on the Innovation strings, I wanted to be able to get my fingers under it to slap once in a while. So I took off the bridge and cut a wooden shim. Then glued it to the foot of the bridge. I talked to the folks at NSD up in Maine and they are willing to cut a higher bridge if you send them the specs. I will get around to that.

So, I ended up bringing this NSD WAV4 up to a festival I played. I did some folk, country, rock and some bluegrass on it. it was incredible. I'll never play it out on a rock-a-billy gig. But it's fast becoming my main chunk of wood.
 
#913
I bought my Wav4 less than a year ago, but haven't played it much until recently and find that I have a few newby questions even though I've had the bass for awhile...

First, I have a buzzing E string and I went to the NS Design site and found it is basically "under contruction" so... no instructions as to the best methodology to address this (I assume) minor issue. Are there any alternative resources for this? It appears they originally had a support system, but apparently no more.

Second... if I were to decide I'm not up to the EUB thing and wanted to do a switcheroo... am I reading this thread correctly that now would be a very good time to make my move (i.e. inventory delays, high demand, etc)? IF I were to do that, I'd not be looking to make a killing, just shift into something a bit more familiar.
 
#915
Greyfin10 said:
First, I have a buzzing E string and I went to the NS Design site and found it is basically "under contruction" so... no instructions as to the best methodology to address this (I assume) minor issue. Are there any alternative resources for this? It appears they originally had a support system, but apparently no more.
Click to expand...

I had a problem with a buzz on my CR4M. I simply tweeked the trus rod a little and the problem went away. It might be worth trying that first. I think it was only 1/8 - 1/4 of a turn to clear my buzz.
 
#916
Tried your suggestion and either way I turned the truss it actually got worse. It almost seems like the buzz is centered on the fifth "fret" (you know what I mean... what's the terminology real fretless players use? A on the E string?).

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.
 
#917
Greyfin10 said:
Tried your suggestion and either way I turned the truss it actually got worse. It almost seems like the buzz is centered on the fifth "fret" (you know what I mean... what's the terminology real fretless players use? A on the E string?).

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...

One would expect it to be reduced if you tightened the truss rod... again, this being a remote, unseen guess, all bets are off. ;)

You can get a more clear picture of the fingerboard shape by looking at the board from the side and pressing the string down at the "first fret" and also further up the neck, comparing the fingerboard shape to the straight string. Tightening the truss rod should help the board's inward curve, and provided the action is high enough at the bridge it should help the string clear the board. And, in fact, raising the bridge action a bit may also relieve the buzz.
 
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