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Double Bass NS EUB megathread

#482
Hello All,

I'm new to the NS club, but wanted to check in here. I recently picked up a NS CR5M and have been happily blown away by the versatile tones that come out of it. I like the fact that I can get it to sound like a fretless bass, and with a little roll of a knob, make it sound much more URB-like. Just wow!

It came sporting the Hybrids, the tripod, the end-pin and adapter, and a really nice gig bag. I've been running it into my Eden WT330 and started out with it into an old Fender 215. The result was predictable--loud and boomy. I switched to my Eden 210XST and, man, what a difference. It is clear and focused with plenty of bottom end--particularly on the B string. And I found that it does sound remarkably like my URB--that's with the amp flat, using the onboard controls.

This is a great bass. I can hardly wait to try it on a gig. :cool:
 
#485
OK--I used the NS on a gig last night and was quite impressed. It sounds awesome, and what a breeze to play. My only gripe would be about the end-pin setup. I found that while I was playing the bolt would work its way loose. I'd be playing along and suddenly the bass would be at a weird angle and be loose in on the endpin. It kind of freaked me out. Anyone else have this problem?

*EDIT* Much better at the gig Sunday. I think I was afraid to tighten the mounting bracket too much.*EDIT*
 
#488
Hello to you all, from a rainy Ireland.
I play a WAV for some time now, but am ready to upgrade.
Either a CR5M or the EU5 or 6 model.
Now in Europe the price for a NS is pretty dear compared to US prices, and also the difference in price between the CR and the EU is BIG ( around 1200 euro(1500$)
Is this difference justified?
Is there a real advantage in the EU neck being so slim? If so what?
I wonder if you could play the EU horizontal with the neck build as it is?
I would really love to hear from you, especialy if you have played/own both. Would be a big help.
Last question, does the graphite fingerboard on the EU effect the sound?
I prefer the DB sound.
Thanks
Reginald
 
#489
Gentlemen, greetings and hope is all well with you.

On a whim, I saw (what I thought was good buy) a couple of sets of Labella Upright Elites model 610 (the lower end I guess) for $59 a piece. Was I getting ripped and and just caught up a little over enthustiac bargain (I'm so normally think of upright bass strings as being 150 or more)?

Rip off or just a bad deal?? If nothing else, I can give them away to friend who plays double bass and problably has changed his strings since time immoriam.

Anybody know if these strings are any good or just another quasi con-job on unspecting middle-aged farts like me trying to save a buck or two. seems the more I read on this thing, the more skeptical I become (and humble).

thanks and be well in all your endeavors.
 
#490
These strings are not bad, but they are using a full steel core so they're very stiff and metallic sounding.
If you can bring them back for a trade, I suggest you do so, as the 610 are not to be recommended.
Since I don't see anything DB or EUB-related in your profile, I guess it's useless to suggest other brands?
 
#491
Boy I'm a happy camper today, just picked up a CR series 4 string, in pristine condition. I'm learning upright now and have been learning on a Santini, but the NS is put together so much better. Now the only impediments to me learning to play will be myself, and the cool thing is my initials are NS, how lucky is that :-). Looking forward to bringing the EUB into Celtic music with a low end boom boom boom. Hope you understand my joy.
 
#493
Hi..

i need more info about EUB NS CR4M string tension, what is the tension of the string comes from the manufacture?or if we got it when we buy from the store?

i'm thinking want to change with another brand, but dunno what how to choose the right string tension?


thanks for your shraing and time.

Cheers

Bonar Abraham
 
#494
bonarabraham said:
Hi..

i need more info about EUB NS CR4M string tension, what is the tension of the string comes from the manufacture?or if we got it when we buy from the store?

i'm thinking want to change with another brand, but dunno what how to choose the right string tension?


thanks for your shraing and time.

Cheers

Bonar Abraham
Click to expand...

Hi Bonar -- I'm not sure about string tensions as such, but I do know that my CR4M sounds great with Thomastik Spirocore Weich strings on it. I have to say, I don't know what the stock strings are like, as I had them changed out prior to delivery on the basis of a few unflattering reports on TalkBass and elsewhere.

I hope that's of some use to you.
 
#495
Greetings, electric upright players...

I'm an interloper from the bass guitar side of TalkBass, starting my first thread in the EUB forum to seek out some advice from those of you who double on bass guitar. Nice to meet you all...

I've decided to make the leap to EUB (while continuing to play "slab"), soon as budget allows. I've been taking a good, long look at NS Design instruments, and will very likely decide between a full-scale five-string EUB (specifically the CR5M), and a five-string Omni Bass (the CR5).

While my gut tells me to go for the full-scale instrument if possible, I have no experience whatsoever with the 41-inch scale, so I don't know how well I'll be able to adapt. I generally pick up new things quite quickly, and with the position dots on the fingerboard at every half-step, I'm optimistic about my chances. But if I have any serious doubts about my ability to adapt to the longer scale, I'll go for the Omni Bass, for sure.

For those of you who double on BG and EUB - especially those who started on 34-inch scale BG - how easy/difficult was it to become comfortable with the longer scale? How much time did that process take?

For any of you who happen to play the NS Design Omni Bass, how well does it compare to a full-scale EUB, in terms of frequency response, tone and feel (other than the obvious longer reach)? How much, if anything, do you miss by playing the 34-inch scale Omni instead? :hmm:

For the record, I'm not at all interested in playing the acoustic double bass. Nor am I interested in trying to cop that kind of sound with an EUB. I dig the unique kind of vibe that only a good EUB can provide. :cool:

Thanks all,

MM
 
#496
I think you should get some lessons with a double bass teacher.

The tone you get out of the instrument is dependant on whether you approach it more like a double or a bass guitar.

You can play it purely like an electric, but with the unique technique issues with playing anything upright, you would benefit from lessons.
 
#497
JtheJazzMan said:
I think you should get some lessons with a double bass teacher.

The tone you get out of the instrument is dependant on whether you approach it more like a double or a bass guitar.

You can play it purely like an electric, but with the unique technique issues with playing anything upright, you would benefit from lessons.
Click to expand...

+1

-especially for thumb positions where the fourth finger is out of the picture.

If you are going to use a lot of visual references, the NS dot scheme works out for most players. My personal preference as a doubler is to have some tactile reference where a neck heel would be (because of my upright approach) and few or no visual references. The most helpful visuals are the positions of the harmonic nodes: octave, 1/3L, 1/4L, etc. From there, the stuff in between is easy to find with practice.

If you are coming from the slab, I wonder if you would want a dot configuration like a standard e-bass. Just a thought...
Try some different models and share your thoughts once you take the plunge. peace,
R
 
#499
Once you get comfortable on the EUB, you should be able to switch back and forth without too much trouble. I double, and I can go between upright, EUB and EB pretty seemlessly. It's just a matter of being comfortable on each.

Are you looking to play acoustic upright eventually? If that's the case, I would suggest just picking up an acoustic. Bob Gollihur has some nice less expensive ones on his site. www.gollihurmusic.com .
 
#500
Thanks for the replies...

Yes, I can see the benefit of lessons. Since I'm self-taught on the bass guitar, lessons don't automatically occur to me. But upright bass is a whole other species of animal, so I reckon it would help to speed up my learning curve and get good and solid on technique, at the very least.

No interest in the acoustic upright. I want to stick to electric bass guitar, learn EUB - and pick up a Chapman Stick as well. That should keep me busy... :smug:

MM
 

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