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Double Bass Rig for NS EUB?

peterpalmieri

peterpalmieri

Supporting Member
Apr 19, 2005
7,886
5,597
Babylon, NY
#1
Hey guys,

I have an NS with original strings Piezo pick ups only and I am currently playing it through my Mesa Boogie Scout. I am really not happy with the sound I'm getting. I also have a Bag End S18D, which I would consider buying another head for.

So my question is should I try different strings? Should I get an Epifani, Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Walter Woods head to match to the Bag End?

Or should I do something totally different to get as close to a traditional upright sound. BTW I have read many of the prior threads already.

I am concerned with weight not so much on the cost.

Pete
 
#2
I think I've mentioned before that when I played my CR5 through BG Cabs then I wasn't happy with the sound - but through my EA VL208, it is much more convincing - EA cabs are the way to go!

I also noticed a big difference - more like DB sound - when I switched the original strings to Pirastro Orchs - huge step up in quality! :)
 
#3
i would suggest changeing those strings...the stock ns strings are
a bad joke :scowl:
i have tried alot of amps and cabs with my nscr5m, and have had great results with an
aguilar gs112 cab, no matter which amp i use. i'm not sure which amp to go with yet, but since i don't use eq on the amp if at all possible, the simpler the better.
i will be getting another gs112 for sure. they handle the b string great.
one thing of note, there is always a decent p.a. with good subs for shows, so i don't have to worry about losing any subharmonic content
at loud performances.
cheers
doug
 
#10
Never heard of them but I'll do some research.

I am going to stop in at Kolsteins and pick up a set of Varicore Orchestra string, see how those work out.

I do have a decent little MBOX set up so I will play with the strings to get the best sound I can and then work on the amp.

Thanks Guys
 
#11
Hi...


I have a Walter Woods amp and have until now played my NS CR5m through two Eden 2x10" XLT's with a good result.

I've been cutting down the size of my rig lately, so I've now ordered a Schroeder 1212 (2x12" w. tweeter). The 1212-cab is SMALL and delivers a 1000w@4ohm (8ohm option available). The weight is just 48 lbs! Price is low and nice...

I'll let you know in 14 days when I've tested it through.
 
#12
This is a very busy weekend here on Long Island as far as gigging goes, so I haven't had a chance to pick up those strings yet, but I'm planning on trying the Epifani UL502 with my Bag and 15" and 18", both seperately and as a stack. Sometime next week.

Pete
 
#13
The best thing I've done is make a mute out of some velcro, it really brings back the "zero sustain" thump of a walking line and gives it that traditional sound.

I have some new toys to run the NS through but a friend borrowed it to do some recordings this weekend, I'll post more results next week when she's back.

Pete
 
#14
Keep us posted when you can. I just bought an NS CRM EUB about a week ago, and I'm really enjoying it but those strings have got to go. I'll be interested to hear what you end up with, string-wise or amp-wise.

I've got a Gallien-Krueger MB 150 combo amp (the little one, about twenty pounds), and so far I've gotten the best results by plugging the NS directly into the effects return, bypassing the combo amp's preamp.
 
#15
After roading my NS CR-4 since Feb 05 with approx 50 gigs, the rig has evolved as follows:
Setup: More like a modern jazz bass with fairly low action and medium relief.

Strings:I replaced the OEM's right away with Thomastik Spirocore Weich (S42W)EAD, with a marginally brighter TI Superflexible Medium G (#36) to enhance the occasional solo passage.

Controls: The piezo switch is in the middle and I start with the blend at approx 3 o'clock favoring the piezo. Bass flat, treble at 9 o'clock.

Amp: SWR Baby Baby Blue amp; woofer replaced w/Bag End ZE-10. This **greatly helped the amplifier realize it's frequency and dynamic rage potential with the NS. OEM woofer is ok w/slab however. Tone controls are pretty much flat, tweeter -6db. I also dial in a touch of compression (Aphex 1404 stompbox) in front of the input. We always have PA support, but on the rare occasion that more thump is needed I add an Aguilar GS-112. This vertical array works wonderfully.

Bag: The Undercover bag holds the Aphex and a Sabine tuner in the small outside pocket. My cables, biz cards, flashlight, etc fit into the black bag that the stand was originally intended to go into, and is packed in with the bass. The external bow pouch holds the stand, and the other other long unpadded one holds an extension cable, XLR and a couple other cable spares.
This makes for an easy one-trip load-in.

My goal with this rig for my main singer/songwriter gig was to emulate a Roy Husky Jr vibe. Overall I am very happy with my setup. The Bag End speaker and Superflexible G are my latest additions to the setup. I play pizz only right now. When/if I attempt arco I may revise some stuff.

So far, so good..Yay!
 
#16
Here ia some more thoughts guys.......

I still have the stock strings on there, which I'll change soon, through the bag end 15 I am using the EA IAMP 350, same results with the Epifani UL502 as well.

It seems if I really boost the lows around "180" which is the top of my low control or the bottom of my low mid control, I really get a usable sound that I can sell as genuine upright.
 
#17
update for me too:
got another gs 1x12 from a fellow tber and i am amazed at
the sound a pair of these can put out.
played through the pair with the cr5m using a classic tube svt head,
massive wooly low-end, maxxed the amp, loud as hell and the cabs
took an arco low b (with the bass boost all the way up on the ns)
in stride...
also tried the same set-up with an ashdown head(black, light,
just a couple hundered watts)...more hi-fi, still a big sound despite the small class d power amp and very articulate.
last, i used an old marshall jcm800....mid-oriented,
totally rock, a very agressive but still a nice, usable tone.
damn these cabs are good!
some folks say these cabs are scooped sounding,
i don't think there's any lack of mid or hi end(the horn is the ONLY horn i have ever liked in a bass cab) these cabs easily just put out more lows than any other 1x12 i've tried.
last comment, back to the horn: i sounds great for arco, very smooth,
at lower levels it adds a nice presence, at greater volumes it can become uber-bright without sounding too harsh.
i want one more!
cheers
d
 
#20
I play my EU6 through an SWR SM-500 with a Bigfoot 2x12 cab. This setup has the right amount of mid-low warmth for me.

In another thread I was considering the SWR Henry the 8x8 as a cab, but I couldn't locate one to try and wasn't gonna risk it sight unseen.

Instead, I'm going with a *safe* cab choice that will also benefit my EB playing. I'm ordering a SWR Goliath Jr. 2x10 and a Son of Bertha 1x15. They're back ordered, but I'll report back when I've put them through their paces.

By the way, if anyone is looking for a great deal on a new 8Ohm Goliath Jr., go to Elderly Instruments. They only have one in stock and it is currently (10/10/05) going for $419.

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