• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass NS Design WAV4 megathread part II

#102
BassBus said:
I'd agree with Bard2dbone. There will be no body to the sound of miced strings on the Wav. The point of micing a DB is to hear the true acoustic sound from the body. The point of an electric instrument is that you don't have that acoustic body, therefore no air to move and no feedback. The same would apply to an electric bass guitar. You would just get a click and no decernable sound.
Click to expand...


I agree with Bard2dbone & BassBus. Also, the mic is going to be picking up a lot of stray noise reflected of the body of the instrument. & depending on the placement of the speakers, amp in relation to where the instrument is facing, you are going to get feedback problems if you move around a lot when playing.
 
#104
I have been using the wav on gigs for several months. Mainly in small cafés with a loud horn section. It saves a lot of trouble and is a lot easier to lug around. With the obligatos and a lot of tweaking in the setup it now sounds and handles as a DB, although the sound is a rather heavy handed doghouse thump. My DB now actually plays and sounds lighter.

The steady gig I used the wav for will stop during the summer season. I'll take that time to experiment with the electronics. I'll try to install a blend pot, or maybe change the exsisting vol and tone pots into two volume pots. I hardly ever use the tone pot anyway, I leave that to my fishman. Did anyone try this already?
 
#107
This are 3/8 Hipshots Ultralites HB6Y black , works perfect with Pirastro Obligato Strings
I used the "frede" method and put the tuners in angle so I didn't have to drill a new hole for the screw.I used some sandpaper to make it fix ok.
I used a plastic piece in the back of the bass to avoid some possible wood or paint damage , as you can see on the pictures.
 

Attachments

  • bassns01.jpg
    bassns01.jpg
    23.2 KB · Views: 437
  • bassns02.jpg
    bassns02.jpg
    20.9 KB · Views: 409
#110
It is hard to see, but it looks and sounds like a wav. There's also a CR in the back and you can see the differences. At first impression my thought's were "no way, that sounds much better than my bass". But listening closely I have to say I think it sounds very close to my wav. I haven't heard mine on a proper recording yet. There's a certain boxiness or lack of texture in the overtones in the sound I'm trying to get rid off. I hear that same boxiness in this guys bass, it's in no way annoying though and sounds quite beautiful. Maybe I should leave well enough alone.
 
#111
well im new to the EUB coming from a bassguitar but i tried a stagg edb the other day and i couldn't get any sound that didn't sound like a normal (fretless) electric bassguitar. but there are some videos on youtube that prove otherwise, so i guess the way you play it involves a lot of it too.

i found some other vids on youtube containing a wav4 by the way:



the second one is with a bow.
 
#112
If you play it like a bass guitar and have it setup like a bass guitar then it will probably sound like a bass guitar. No seriously.

Try raising the action at the bridge quite a bit. Then pluck the strings with the side of your finger instead of the end. That seems to give a much fuller sound from the string, to my ears anyway.

Once you have done that set the bass to arco and play with your fingers. The arco mode gives much more of a thump. Playing with a bow does not need the sustain from the bass that finger playing does. The bow does the sustaining. Probably better to roll all or most of the treble off as well.

Hope that's of some use.

Graham
 
#113
Hi guys,

Am saving up for the Wav4 & should be able to get it by the end of this year if all goes well. In the meantime, can you guys help me with some advice.
1. Improved stand. I've seen pictures of the old stand but am wondering what the differences are between it & the new one.
2. Strings- ok. I kind of like Helicore Hybrids and am using them on my acoustic but still haven't made up my mind on what strings to get for the Wav4. I'll be using the wav4 to play mostly swing jazz & am looking for a meaty acoustic sound. Not sure if the Helicore hybrids are up to it. Should I get a set of Helicore Orchestra instead?

Thanks,
Adrian Jones
 
#114
BassBus said:
If you play it like a bass guitar and have it setup like a bass guitar then it will probably sound like a bass guitar. No seriously.

Try raising the action at the bridge quite a bit. Then pluck the strings with the side of your finger instead of the end. That seems to give a much fuller sound from the string, to my ears anyway.

Graham
Click to expand...

Hi Graham,

Are you responding to my comments on the youtube sample? I'm a double bass player and my wav's setup with obligatos now is even heavier than my db. The boxiness I'm referring to is not in the low end, it's in the overtones. It works fine, specially while playing with my loud bigband. I just can't get it to 'sing', so on larger gigs I bring the actual thing. Listening to that clip only made me realise I might have been to picky.
 
#117
Hello everyone!
Sorry if this has been asked before, I tried searching but didn't find anything satisfying.

I have no experience with DB, so even less with strings for DBs.
I'm planning to gift myself with a NS Design WAV 4 in a short wile. From what I have heared the factory strings arn't really great.

Please could you recommend me some strings which would get a good upright sound out of the WAV. Planning to play jazz and also to learn how to play with a bow.

I have tried out some Nylon tapewound on my electric bass and liked the result. There is a lot of talking on here about the LaBella 7710s, would they be good for a NS Wav?

Thanks for reading, I apreshiate your help.

Oh yes, before anybody mentions it: what are "gut" strings?

Regards,
NR.
 
#118
Gut strings are exactly what they claim to be: strings made from gut, (darmen auf Deutsch, I wouldn't know what they are called in Chech).

There are a lot of strings recommended in this thread. I do not think anyone tried those Labellas yet. Personally I use Pirastro Obligato's and I don't think you need to go with anything warmer, especially for jazz, and i believe the LaBella 7710 is warmer/darker.
 
#119
Matthijs said:
Gut strings are exactly what they claim to be: strings made from gut, (darmen auf Deutsch, I wouldn't know what they are called in Chech).

There are a lot of strings recommended in this thread. I do not think anyone tried those Labellas yet. Personally I use Pirastro Obligato's and I don't think you need to go with anything warmer, especially for jazz, and i believe the LaBella 7710 is warmer/darker.
Click to expand...

Thank you Matthijs, perfectly explained. I talk german so I got it straight away.

I will have a look at the Obligatos. Thank you.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back