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Double Bass NS Omni Bass vs NS full scale

Les Fret

Les Fret

Sep 9, 2009
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nextlevel-slapbass.com
#1
I might be interested in buying an NS Omni Bass CR4 or the full scale NS CR4M.
My main concern is the sound. Does the Omni Bass sound as good as the full scale? Or does the full scale sound noticeable better (amped) and more full bodied because of the larger scale?

Besides the scale are they 100% the same?

Hope some with experience with both models can chime in.
Thanks, Barend
 
#2
Keep in mind that the Omni uses BG strings, whereas the large one uses DB strings. The construction and sound of these strings is noticeably different.
I once got DB strings from a (bass) guitar manufacturer that were only longer BG strings. On my EUB they sounded a lot more like a BG than real DB strings.
DB strings are also a lot more expensive than BG strings, but some can be played for a decade or more.
 
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#3
DoubleMIDI said:
Keep in mind that the Omni uses BG strings, whereas the large one uses DB strings. The construction and sound of these strings is noticeably different.
I once got DB strings from a (bass) guitar manufacturer that were only longer BG strings. On my EUB they sounded a lot more like a BG than real DB strings.
DB strings are also a lot more expensive than BG strings, but some can be played for a decade or more.
Click to expand...

Thanks. But besides the strings; if you would use the same strings on both (if possible) will there be much difference in sound? Is the larger scale making the NS full scale more 'thumpy' or is that more or less the same as with the Omni Bass?

There are very little good demos of the clean Omni Bass CR sound.
 
#4
Long strings vibrate better because they are thinner (at the same tension) and less stiff which gets you partials closer to the (theoretical) harmonics.
Too thin and they might not sound voluminous in the lowest positions, too thick and the higher positions loose sustain.
I play a 110 cm upright and a 105 cm EUB. Even though the upright is more demanding to play, I prefer the longer string length. But it really depends on the strings. And a solid body EUB is hardly comparable to a carved acoustic instrument.

But IMHO the string construction (rope/synthetic/gut core vs. solid steel core; damped vs. undamped) is a lot more important than the vibrating string length.
Best would be long string length with damped strings which you only get with DB strings.
 
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#11
WG Plum said:
I never changed the strings on either.

Sold them because enthusiasms shift.

GAS, in other words.
Click to expand...

I understand you! :)

I am thinking of selling my acoustic upright and replace it with an NS CR4M full scale or Omni Bass. I was heavy into acoustic upright for 6 years or so. But haven’t touched my upright in two years since I preferred playing my electric bass.

I think replacing my acoustic upright with an NS will get me motivated again for the uprights-ish thing. I still have to make a choice between the Omni and the full scale. Haven’t played either one cause no physical store here has them in stock to try.
 
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#14
If you are a bass guitar player - short scale. If you are a double bass player - long scale. If you don’t know, then you are a double bass player.*

* Bass guitar players always know to the nearest 1/4 inch what scale they need. Double bassists live in the approximate quantum world of the words “seven-eighths”, “three-quarters”, “half”, etc. of a conventional non-existent standard.
 
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#16
WG Plum said:
I never changed the strings on either.

Sold them because enthusiasms shift.

GAS, in other words.
Click to expand...

I have one more question for you (or others who owned one). Do you need an extra preamp pedal like the Fishman Platinum Pro for the piezo/polar signal? because it's low impedance I think. I use one on my acoustic upright Fishman Full Circle pickup. But because you have both magnetics and piezo on the NS CR that confuses me if I need an additional preamp or not.
 
#17
With flatwounds or synthetic wound strings you get a bit closer to a DB sound, but only a bit.

Every BG string I know has a solid steel core string. These kind of strings exist in the DB world too, but nobody wants to play them.

DB strings almost all have different amounts of damping material between the windings (and core). I don’t know any BG string that has silk or other damping material inside.

A synthetic winding acts as a damper, but an outer synthetic winding is almost impossible to bow. So if you plan to now, now or later …

If you like to get a (travel) replacement for an upright get the big one, because you can keep most of your playing technique there.
If you only play BG and don’t plan to learn upright, get the Omni.
If you only play BG and want to learn upright get the doghouse.

Since you don’t want to emulate an upright, get what fits the music you want to play best, by playing style and sound (string selection).
 
#19
Les Fret said:
I have one more question for you (or others who owned one). Do you need an extra preamp pedal like the Fishman Platinum Pro for the piezo/polar signal? because it's low impedance I think. I use one on my acoustic upright Fishman Full Circle pickup. But because you have both magnetics and piezo on the NS CR that confuses me if I need an additional preamp or not.
Click to expand...

I own the CR Omni Bass (and I really like it a lot!). It is active, so you do not need another buffer. You can blend between the piezo and the magnetic pickups as you like.
 
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