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Double Bass NS Omni Intonation Problems

Jeff K Smith

Jeff K Smith

Dec 16, 2021
2
0
#1
I’ve got a fairly new NS Designs Omni CR5 with frets. I’ve been struggling with the intonation. In principle, the frets should just be keeping me in tune, if the instrument is setup properly. Instead, all of my fretted notes are sharp when the open strings are in tune. Does this just point to my instrument not being setup properly? I have been adjusting the bridge height, so I could have screwed that up. I’ve also been changing strings (in search of a good arco string for the Omnis). Could a bad choice of strings just not intonate properly?
 
#2
In the electric bass world it's normal to adjust intonation after a significant string or action change. I'm not familiar with the bus Omni and I can't suggest you how to adjust it properly.
 
#3
I'd shoot an email over to the NS Design folk, and see what tips/tricks they can offer you for setting intonation on the fretted Omni.

In terms of a good arco string, I think the NS Traditionals for the Omni are your best bet. There aren't any Omni-centric string options outside of that. The TI Jazz Flats would be okay too, as they have the same construction and dampening properties as a set of URB strings.
 
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#5
Jeff K Smith said:
I’ve got a fairly new NS Designs Omni CR5 with frets. I’ve been struggling with the intonation. In principle, the frets should just be keeping me in tune, if the instrument is setup properly. Instead, all of my fretted notes are sharp when the open strings are in tune. Does this just point to my instrument not being setup properly? I have been adjusting the bridge height, so I could have screwed that up. I’ve also been changing strings (in search of a good arco string for the Omnis). Could a bad choice of strings just not intonate properly?
Click to expand...
I've found in the NS Design Website a document you might be interested in:
https://thinkns.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CR-Omni-Bass-Instructions-Fretted.pdf

It shows how to adjustthe bridge.

Quoting from the doc (page 3):
"INTONATION To adjust intonation, first loosen set screws in the top of the bridge with a 1.5 mm hex wrench as shown below. If the intonation becomes sharp at the 12th and 24th fret, push the top of the bridge away from the headstock using finger pressure. If the intonation becomes flat at the 12th and 24th fret, push the bridge toward the headstock. A small amount of movement is all that is required. Re-tighten the set screw when the best intonation is achieved."​
 
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#7
Thanks, all, for the pointers.

Yep, the bridge adjustment definitely helps. Pushing it as far down as it will go makes the bass more in tune, but the intonation is still a bit sharp. Better closer to the nut, but still solidly sharp by the 12th fret.

Might try adjusting the truss rod and readjusting the bridge.
 
#8
If the notes are too sharp towards the end of the fingerboard, the bridge is too close to the nut. It it more away from the nut. The string gets longer when fingered than before and therefor the pitch decreases.
If you have steel core strings and a high action pressing the strings down makes them longer and therefor the tension rises. In this case the bridge needs to go farer away from the nut than the harmonics may indicate.

I won’t mess with the truss rod unless the neck bends too much (or less) under the string tension.
You can use it to fine tune the middle positions, but only if the top notes are in tune.
 

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