It's actually a 'tone' control, like most passive systems it 'rolls off' the treble rather than applying any boost or cut like an active system.
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Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part I
- Thread starter ElMon
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It's actually a 'tone' control, like most passive systems it 'rolls off' the treble rather than applying any boost or cut like an active system.
I'm very new to the issue of when and how to preamp. Initially, I just dropped a mic into the tailpiece of my old Kay, and felt lucky if I was audible in the mix at all. For the last 7 or 8 years, I've used a Realist, which helped a bunch. Then, when its output seemed to diminish somewhat, I ran it first into a little Fishman Gigpro (for guitars, I guess), which heated up the signal just enough for me to continue running through the house PA wherever we played. And that is the entire pitiful extent of my knowledge of preamps.
Now I've picked up a Wav4 from Bob Gollihur, and it clearly needs something else in the sound chain. The Wav4 into the Gigpro and then into the PA sounds like a cheap electric guitar, no wood, no fat upright sound.
Gollihur's site shows several K & K preamps, but I really have no clue what all those various specifications mean, and why one or the other would be a better match with the Wav4. Any and all help appreciated!
Phil S
ps--same probs as noted in the thread with the stand, which is flimsy and unstable. Haven't called NS yet, but I'm really hoping they'll take care of it...
Bob tol me through the board that he uses the K&K Pure Preamp into a Radial Bassbone with his upright. His EB goes into channel one of the Bone, the URB into the K&K, then into Channel 2 (which has more tone control) of the Bone. I use the Bone in church to feed the PA for my Lakland 5 string - we have no amps onstage and use in-ear monitors. I plan to get the K&K and use it as Bob does for when I want to run the WAV in church. I trust his judgment. I plug the WAV4 into my Genz Benz NEOx 400 at home, and the amp has no problem handling the impedance and provides plenty of tone control. As Bob explains on his site, the K&K offers impedance matching, which you will need if you want to go direct to a PA. If I were out gigging in a small combo, I'd use the GB amp, which has a line out to the PA.
I'm very pleased with the WAV4 sound, but I am not an upright player. Maybe if I was used to a "real" URB and the sound of a hollow body and its resonance, I'd be less happy. But I think that, especially for the $$, the WAV is killer.
I trialled the WAV in a full MOR / rock band lineup for the first time this weekend. It worked well in our usual practice setup, running through one channel of a 2x200W RMS p.a. (regular bass amp too big for regular car 
) plus Korg PX3B FX with Cairomikes settings (thanks again Mike! 
).
All band members were very impressed with the different sound and the look of the WAV come to that.
One thing I have found after playing for about six hours total is that a coupling on the stand came loose:-
The interface between the multi-adjustable clamp that the WAV body attaches to, and the vertical shaft of the stand, relies on two short hollow split pins which are an interference fit. One of these pins had worked its way out completely and the other one was almost out when I spotted it.
Ive now removed the second split pin, and simply replaced them with a single nut and bolt right through the assembly using both the original holes (no drilling or cutting).
A dead easy mod to do with the pins removed, and much more secure than the original design. A pair of self-tapping screws would probably also do the job just fine.
It's something worth looking out for on your WAV stands - that coupling has to work hard, and you wouldnt want it to come apart when your WAV is attached If anyone wants a photo of this let me know and Ill endeavour to post one (not tried that before).
With this mod in place, I have to say that personally I'm impressed with the "entry level" NS stand for me it is very stable and versatile. All the other original joints are much better built, and are proving robust so far.
Hope this is some help!
) plus Korg PX3B FX with Cairomikes settings (thanks again Mike! ).All band members were very impressed with the different sound and the look of the WAV come to that.
One thing I have found after playing for about six hours total is that a coupling on the stand came loose:-
The interface between the multi-adjustable clamp that the WAV body attaches to, and the vertical shaft of the stand, relies on two short hollow split pins which are an interference fit. One of these pins had worked its way out completely and the other one was almost out when I spotted it.
Ive now removed the second split pin, and simply replaced them with a single nut and bolt right through the assembly using both the original holes (no drilling or cutting).
A dead easy mod to do with the pins removed, and much more secure than the original design. A pair of self-tapping screws would probably also do the job just fine.
It's something worth looking out for on your WAV stands - that coupling has to work hard, and you wouldnt want it to come apart when your WAV is attached If anyone wants a photo of this let me know and Ill endeavour to post one (not tried that before).
With this mod in place, I have to say that personally I'm impressed with the "entry level" NS stand for me it is very stable and versatile. All the other original joints are much better built, and are proving robust so far.
Hope this is some help!
I trialled the WAV in a full MOR / rock band lineup for the first time this weekend. It worked well in our usual practice setup, running through one channel of a 2x200W RMS p.a. (regular bass amp too big for regular car
All band members were very impressed with the different sound and the look of the WAV come to that.
One thing I have found after playing for about six hours total is that a coupling on the stand came loose:-
The interface between the multi-adjustable clamp that the WAV body attaches to, and the vertical shaft of the stand, relies on two short hollow split pins which are an interference fit. One of these pins had worked its way out completely and the other one was almost out when I spotted it.
Ive now removed the second split pin, and simply replaced them with a single nut and bolt right through the assembly using both the original holes (no drilling or cutting).
A dead easy mod to do with the pins removed, and much more secure than the original design. A pair of self-tapping screws would probably also do the job just fine.
It's something worth looking out for on your WAV stands - that coupling has to work hard, and you wouldnt want it to come apart when your WAV is attached If anyone wants a photo of this let me know and Ill endeavour to post one (not tried that before).
With this mod in place, I have to say that personally I'm impressed with the "entry level" NS stand for me it is very stable and versatile. All the other original joints are much better built, and are proving robust so far.
Hope this is some help!
What size bolt did you use? I've looked at it and wondered if I could put a bolt through with the split pins in place, but I can't find anything small enough diameter so I guess I'll remove them and do the same as you.
Mike
Hi Mike - Size M4 according to the packet. Measures just under 4mm max dia across the threads. The original holes with the pins out look like 4mm drillings. Hope that helps. Jeff
Not getting the point of the Bassbone for the upright. What does it add that is missing with the K & K preamp alone?
For home, I can just use my little SWR for practice, but when I go into a PA, I'll need something. Is the K & K, by itself, enough?
Last, K & K seems to offer three choices in about the same price range. Is the Pure, which seems to be the original, the way to go? Bob, if you're out there, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd jump into this.
smakbass
Smakkin basses for 25 years..
Chef
In Memoriam
First, get in touch with bob direct, he's an easy and helpful guy to talk to.
Second, the K&K is a great preamp, but is only that.
The Radial is tow channels, and lets you switch b/t EUNB and slab (olr wahtever) without necessarily having to re-set you amps eq...and functions as a DI to the PA as well...
Both nice pieces of kit, but with pretty seperate functions.
Second, the K&K is a great preamp, but is only that.
The Radial is tow channels, and lets you switch b/t EUNB and slab (olr wahtever) without necessarily having to re-set you amps eq...and functions as a DI to the PA as well...
Both nice pieces of kit, but with pretty seperate functions.
Let's see, I got a WAV4 from Bob Gollihur today via UPS. Quick shipping, it was a pleasure doing business.
Plays nicer in the low register than high. I may need to get the feel for left hand pressure to make it sing better on high notes.
The sound is bright with these brand new strings, pretty zingy and sitar-like. This will change as the strings lose the "new" sound.
I found an OK sound after fooling with it for a while after work, involving some high roll off on the amp, the tone control halfway back. For URB I usually EQ the amp pretty midrange heavy, but this bass has so much mid that won't be necessary.
Sounds better with a Fishman preamp in the chain, and sounds better through my Ampeg B12 than the modern amp I use for gigs.
More tomorrow maybe, after having done a 3-hr-ish alt country gig with it in a loud smokey bar. This place was the inspiration for getting an electric stick bass, there are lots of drunks stumbling around this place.
Plays nicer in the low register than high. I may need to get the feel for left hand pressure to make it sing better on high notes.
The sound is bright with these brand new strings, pretty zingy and sitar-like. This will change as the strings lose the "new" sound.
I found an OK sound after fooling with it for a while after work, involving some high roll off on the amp, the tone control halfway back. For URB I usually EQ the amp pretty midrange heavy, but this bass has so much mid that won't be necessary.
Sounds better with a Fishman preamp in the chain, and sounds better through my Ampeg B12 than the modern amp I use for gigs.
More tomorrow maybe, after having done a 3-hr-ish alt country gig with it in a loud smokey bar. This place was the inspiration for getting an electric stick bass, there are lots of drunks stumbling around this place.
That's right. The K & K Pure XLR Peeamp on Bob's site will buffer the signal AND allow you to run a line to your PA and one to your amp. I already have the BassBone, which is why I would need only the Pure preamp. I plan to play both EUB & EB on the same gig. If you're not doubling, you could get by with just the Pure XLR.
I just spent about 3 hours playing the Wav4 in a club, and it did pretty well. I stayed in first/second position since I'm getting familiar with it (got it today), but I like the potential. No, it doesn't sound like an upright. I may raise the strings a bit.
The guys in the band like the way it sounds, and one of the club owner guys commented on how it sounded as well. All of a sudden everyone can hear me. A person or two in the audience asked about the bass cuz it's pretty funky looking. Another guy told me I now look like Sting... thanks. But no thanks.
The tripod stand wiggles a bit. I slap the bass some, and dig in pretty hard, and I could feel the bass twisting under my right hand finger pressure in the beginning. I compensated a bit, and by the end of the night it was less noticeable. I figured out the two directions I can tilt the bass on the tripod stand as I'm playing (I hate being totally stationary). I can pull it toward me when I'm not singing backup, and I can tilt it forward as I step up to the mic to sing.
It lacks the mechanical stability of an upright because of the stand. Maybe there's an answer for that, maybe not.
Overall I'm pretty happy with it in the first gig and got good feedback from the band and audience.
The guys in the band like the way it sounds, and one of the club owner guys commented on how it sounded as well. All of a sudden everyone can hear me. A person or two in the audience asked about the bass cuz it's pretty funky looking. Another guy told me I now look like Sting... thanks. But no thanks.
The tripod stand wiggles a bit. I slap the bass some, and dig in pretty hard, and I could feel the bass twisting under my right hand finger pressure in the beginning. I compensated a bit, and by the end of the night it was less noticeable. I figured out the two directions I can tilt the bass on the tripod stand as I'm playing (I hate being totally stationary). I can pull it toward me when I'm not singing backup, and I can tilt it forward as I step up to the mic to sing.
It lacks the mechanical stability of an upright because of the stand. Maybe there's an answer for that, maybe not.
Overall I'm pretty happy with it in the first gig and got good feedback from the band and audience.
Chef
In Memoriam
Does anyone know the difference between the standard WAV4 strings and the NS4FL or NS4HM sets, and would either be better than the standard set?
Yep. I asked about substituting the endpin for the tripod before I ordered it, apparently that's not an option.
Has anyone used the endpin? Does it have a more solid feel than the tripod?
From the picture at gollihur.com I don't know if I like how the "arm" (fake bout) hits you at belt level. When I play upright the upper bout hits more like chest level for me.
Hi
Can anybody give a comparison between the wav and the cr4 mainly in terms of the sound? Im about to buy one and want to know if theres any good reason to pay extra for the cr4.
cheers
Phil
Can anybody give a comparison between the wav and the cr4 mainly in terms of the sound? Im about to buy one and want to know if theres any good reason to pay extra for the cr4.
cheers
Phil
Not sure if you saw my 15 Jan post? Could that be the cause or a contributor? Hope that's some help.
I did see that post, and last night before another gig I looked at the pins, they look like they're fine.
The stand is OK, but it definitely twists if I play hard.
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