I usually sell my instruments directly to the customer, but Platinum Music (Link Removed), a new online shop which is currently "work in progress", will distribute the Stìco for the US, if you prefer this way.
Obviously "direct sells" are cheaper.
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Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part II
- Thread starter Gary Lynch
- Start date
I usually sell my instruments directly to the customer, but Platinum Music (Link Removed), a new online shop which is currently "work in progress", will distribute the Stìco for the US, if you prefer this way.
Obviously "direct sells" are cheaper.
I've been complaining about the WAV's endpinstand before. What I want is to come closer to the playability of an actual URB. I use my WAV mainly as a rehearsal instrument and I don't want it to feel to much different from my URB. TheSuzie made the suggestion to add a fake neck heel and I finally had the time to try this out:
I tried it out last night and it worked really well. It was way easier to stick to URB technique and to play large intervals. I consider this version as a prototype. When I get it completely right I might build one with better wood and maybe make it collapsible.
I tried it out last night and it worked really well. It was way easier to stick to URB technique and to play large intervals. I consider this version as a prototype. When I get it completely right I might build one with better wood and maybe make it collapsible.
Thanks dbassnut,
It even looks better now I've put some work into the cosmetic side.
The downside for my solution is its not foldable in this form and doesn't fit the gig bag well. Your idea might work better for that.
I've tried it out several times in the real world and I'm still really happy about the playabilty. It feels so much more like the real thing. I'm even leaning on it while talking to the drummer during breaks, as one would on a URB.
It even looks better now I've put some work into the cosmetic side.
The downside for my solution is its not foldable in this form and doesn't fit the gig bag well. Your idea might work better for that.
I've tried it out several times in the real world and I'm still really happy about the playabilty. It feels so much more like the real thing. I'm even leaning on it while talking to the drummer during breaks, as one would on a URB.
Does anyone have a recommendations for arco strings on a WAV 4? It is hard to second guess how a string will react, there is no acoustic element to deal with. At $100-$200 a set, I can't experiment too much. Quite a few have recommended Obligatos for pizz. but I am looking for ease of bowing.
Thanks,
John
Thanks,
John
Will you want to do jazz pizz on these strings too?
If so, is it 50/50 duty for both styles?
I could suggest Pirastro Passiones, but they're mainly an arco string.
If so, is it 50/50 duty for both styles?
I could suggest Pirastro Passiones, but they're mainly an arco string.
Probably closer to 60/40 arco/pizz.
At $185 per set I hope they hold up well.
I have to change out the tuners also, so this is going to be pricey
John
At $185 per set I hope they hold up well.
I have to change out the tuners also, so this is going to be pricey
John
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
As I've mentioned earlier in the thread, my personal WAV4 wears D'Addario Helicore Orchestra strings. They sound very good for pizz, as their darker, more rapid decaying character tends to negate some of the "electric" nature of the bass. And since they're purpose-built to be bowed strings, they bow quite well (and sound pretty authentic through the amp, all things considered.)
And, they're cheap (relatively speaking, of course). You might also consider the NS Electric "Traditional" strings, which are essentially the same Helicore Orchestral string manufactured a bit shorter to fit the unique length of the NS Basses.
I guess I'm lazy. We play a lot of Broadway musicals, and movie themes, which have an electric bass part, some time written on the same ledger line. With the standard strings that is easy to cover.
Tell me more of these "traditional" strings you speak.
Sorry about the Yoda,
John
Tell me more of these "traditional" strings you speak.
Sorry about the Yoda,
John
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
The traditional strings: D'Addario has been making strings for the NS basses for years; for a long time, they've just sold them in bulk to NS Design, who then packaged them into sets. Now D'Addario is marketing them under their own name as the D'Addario NS Electric strings; they come in "Contemporary" (which are the new version of the NSFL Flatwound Light strings, which come stock on the CR model basses) and the "Traditional" (which, as mentioned, are essentially the Helicore Orchestra strings in a shorter format for the NS Basses.)
We have them, and several other retailers are carrying them as well. The "trads" will be a nice alternative for people wanting a more traditional sound without having to wrap full-length strings around the bottom of the bass.
We have them, and several other retailers are carrying them as well. The "trads" will be a nice alternative for people wanting a more traditional sound without having to wrap full-length strings around the bottom of the bass.
Thanks, you guys have very helpful.
I believe that I'll start with the traditionals and a new set of tuners as soon as the funds become available.
John
I believe that I'll start with the traditionals and a new set of tuners as soon as the funds become available.
John
I already posted it early in this forum, but I think it could be useful.
I installed Spyrocores in my Wav about 2 years ago and never had problems with the stock tuners. It plays wonderful.
I installed Spyrocores in my Wav about 2 years ago and never had problems with the stock tuners. It plays wonderful.
Since he's asking for good arco strings, Spiros may not be a good choice for him though.
I'm not saying they can't be bowed, but that's not what they're most known for.
Just my $0.02.
The easily-amused may remember my cunning solution to my WAV tripod issues, by substituting a camera tripod in its place. This worked, for a reasonable approximation of "working," but eventually I started fretting about the wear and tear on a tripod that just wasn't designed for this kind of load.
So I thought about it quite a bit, particularly about the way the tripod just makes the instrument feel so distant, and eventually came up with this concoction:
Invalid Link Removed
It even still fits on the original tripod stand, for convenience:
Parts list:
- 2m x 25mm aluminium tubing, cut down to length
- 1 x rubber walking-tip cap, to stop it gouging holes in the floor
- 2 x Pearl AX-25 drum clamps
- the top of a surplus guitar stand
- gaffer-tape for strategic padding between metal parts
Total cost so far: $86
Next step: replace the guitar-stand with something shaped a lot more like what you'd expect your hand to hit, braced at a length that doesn't put the whole arrangement under quite so much tension. The neck-joint in the NS tripod centre-column is pretty coarse in its adjustability, leaving the choices of scary-tight or not-even-close.
It's surprisingly playable, and in fact has improved my playing quite a bit, at least to my ears. We'll see what my teacher has to say next Saturday
And no, that isn't how I normally hold my right hand; that was just to make sure it wasn't obscuring anything.
So I thought about it quite a bit, particularly about the way the tripod just makes the instrument feel so distant, and eventually came up with this concoction:
Invalid Link Removed
It even still fits on the original tripod stand, for convenience:
Parts list:
- 2m x 25mm aluminium tubing, cut down to length
- 1 x rubber walking-tip cap, to stop it gouging holes in the floor
- 2 x Pearl AX-25 drum clamps
- the top of a surplus guitar stand
- gaffer-tape for strategic padding between metal parts
Total cost so far: $86
Next step: replace the guitar-stand with something shaped a lot more like what you'd expect your hand to hit, braced at a length that doesn't put the whole arrangement under quite so much tension. The neck-joint in the NS tripod centre-column is pretty coarse in its adjustability, leaving the choices of scary-tight or not-even-close.
It's surprisingly playable, and in fact has improved my playing quite a bit, at least to my ears. We'll see what my teacher has to say next Saturday
And no, that isn't how I normally hold my right hand; that was just to make sure it wasn't obscuring anything.
It does, a bit
At the moment, it's in the right spot for me to finger a D while resting the edge of my palm against it, which conveniently happens to be the highest note I currently need.
However, I do plan to replace that with a real double-bass neck-heel, suitably modifed. I'm not yet sure exactly how to connect it to the pipe, but I'll carve out a concave shape in the front so that it fits against the back of the neck and prevents the instrument from pivoting.
Even in its current form, though, it's made the instrument vastly easier to play.
At the moment, it's in the right spot for me to finger a D while resting the edge of my palm against it, which conveniently happens to be the highest note I currently need.
However, I do plan to replace that with a real double-bass neck-heel, suitably modifed. I'm not yet sure exactly how to connect it to the pipe, but I'll carve out a concave shape in the front so that it fits against the back of the neck and prevents the instrument from pivoting.
Even in its current form, though, it's made the instrument vastly easier to play.
I've been fiddling around with a boss ac-3 acoustic simulator pedal, ment for electric guitars. Interestingly it combines quite well with my slightly modded wav 4. It adds a definite acoustic quality to the sound. I did a quick recording: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It's recorded straight into my laptop, so it's not very refined and a bit piëzoharsh. The first part is clean, the second part effected. The wav is strung with obligato's and I've changed the wiring for the piëzo's (your only hearing the bass side).
I think this can be very usefull to make a EUB sound a bit closer to the real thing.
It's recorded straight into my laptop, so it's not very refined and a bit piëzoharsh. The first part is clean, the second part effected. The wav is strung with obligato's and I've changed the wiring for the piëzo's (your only hearing the bass side).
I think this can be very usefull to make a EUB sound a bit closer to the real thing.
