Author Topic: NS Design WAV eub (Read 443 times)

adriaan · « **on:** January 11, 2007, 07:51:06 AM »

Just saw this new model NS Design WAV advertized on Edwin van Huyk's site. Price is even lower than the Chinese Landscape brand you see here and there, and it looks much like the top-of-the-line NS series.

It's an all-wood instrument, so it's not a graphite/wood composite like the expensive ones, and it doesn't have a preamp. It does have the same Polar pickup system.

Anyone tried one of these out yet? Opinions?

(Message edited by adriaan on January 11, 2007)

flaxattack · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2007, 04:31:52 PM »

i have the cr5m and it sounds great......
the stands are VERY heavy
ebay is a good source

hankster · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2007, 07:23:12 PM »

I have a CR4, and I played one of the WAVs recently. It felt fine - no real difference, I thought. I wasn't in a position to get any idea regarding the sound of the WAV pickups as compared with the pickups on the CR.

Rick

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2007, 02:01:35 AM »

I was afraid people were going to recommend it, and now I'm afraid I'll be buying one in a couple of weeks! Gesundheit. Thanks to Jeff and Rick for their responses.

MSRP is 1095 USD - how do they manage that? Good to see that Alembic is not the only company who are offering the same level of quality across the price spectrum. The amberburst and transparent red finishes look real classy - at least in the pictures.

Rick, did you play the WAV through an amp? I know you couldn't A/B the two, but you know what the top-of-the-line sounds like. Would you say the WAV produces a convincing sound? The point is that I'm a bit puzzled by the description of the Polar pickups on the WAV: unusually powerful piezo crystals that do not require on-board battery power, for maintenance-free performance without the hassle of batteries. - all the other models seem to have an onboard preamp.

OK, so it looks like I'll be off to 41 scale land in a couple of weeks ... just after getting used to 32. Perhaps a good idea to take my first ever bass lessons. And buy a bow!

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2007, 02:55:42 AM »

Any recommendations on bows?

mikedm · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2007, 06:45:53 AM »

Adriann,
Do you have any prior upright experience? The reason I ask is that I've wanted an NS CRxx EUB for a few years now, but don't have any practical experience and am concerned about transitioning from electric to EUB. I'd like to know how this works out for you. The MSRP is unforgivably tempting.

adriaan · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2007, 07:56:51 AM »

Michael (groovelines),

As a self-taught player, I've handled an acoustic upright perhaps on 10 occasions in 30 years of playing bass guitar, but have never owned one myself. I didn't feel intimidated, but the ones I used were probably 3/4 size, where perhaps 41 is full size?

Even if that scale is 20% longer than a 34 bass guitar, and the strings are in a strange position, the proportions on the fingerboard are the same, so your fingers will know where to go. I know the lowest notes are further away than you would expect, but I've noticed the same on a fretless 34 - so it's more a question of making the intonation happen, so you finally can be in tune with that keyboard ... which by the way will probably not be in tune with an actual piano. Neck shape is another issue - probably more rounded in the back, and defintely more arched on the fingerboard.

The brochure for the WAV says it's setup with light action, but it can be adjusted with a trussrod for neck relief, and the bridge height can be changed.

unforgivably tempting nails it!

I've always loved the way that uprights can make the notes stand up, even at low volume. (I know, it's the player as much as the instrument.)

mikedm · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2007, 10:33:34 AM »

Thanks, Adriaan

I was contemplating NS's bass cello, this looks like a fun alternative.

If you do happen to purchase the WAV, I'd be interested in feedback.

adios,
Mike

hankster · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2007, 03:06:15 PM »

I think Roth still makes some decent affordable bows - including some fiberglass ones. You'll have to decide between French and German.

The NS uprights (any electric upright, probably, for that matter) don't do what acoustic uprights do in terms of the sound of the note - that sensation of the note warming and expanding after it is played is a function of real acoustic basses which doesn't happen on the solid electrics. There is still a lot of character to the notes that are reminiscent of acoustic basses though.

Rick

adriaan · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2007, 04:43:53 AM »

Not sure about those bow types - French is where you push from the top, German where you pull underhanded? Does one choose based on the reach of one's right arm, is it usually the teacher who decides, or is it something else entirely?

hankster · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2007, 05:52:41 PM »

There is a live debate about which is best - anecdotally I think most classical players now use the German (you've described them correctly). I think a lot of it is teacher-driven, but there is a lot of discussion about which gives you the best combination of qualities - strength, flexibility of wrist, etc. It's been a long time since I thought about it a lot. I use the French style, because my teacher favoured it and all my bows are French. I am sure there are lots of good reasons to use the German style as well. Shouldn't we be hearing from someone with classical chops on this subject?

Rick

adriaan · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2007, 04:23:42 AM »

Rick,

Following up on your comment that sensation of the note warming and expanding after it is played is a function of real acoustic basses which doesn't happen on the solid electrics ... I knew that.

But how about the attack part of the note? What I was trying to describe was that feeling of air being shaken, not stirred.

Do you know if the upgrade to proper db strings is worth it? NS suggests d'Addario Helicore. Perhaps has someone tried Thomastik?

hankster · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2007, 02:38:21 PM »

Adriaan,

I figured you knew that. In terms of the attack, I find that on the NS it depends a lot on my right hand, and more particularly on whether I set the string vibrating vertically (by which I mean, more or less perpendicular to the body and bridge) or horizontally (ie, more or less parallel to the body and bridge). When I do the former, there is a more old-school whoomph kind of attack sound - less so with the latter. I particularly notice the difference in a large ensemble setting.

I bought my NS without db strings on, but immediately switched to Thomastiks, which I like the feel of better, they have a proper db feel. I haven't tried the D'Addarios.

Hope this is of some help.

Rick

inthelows · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2007, 03:49:09 PM »

French bow lends itself to faster playing and is lower and lighter than most german bows. The german style is more robust and the string tensioner is longer. Playing style has a lot to do with it. I use both on my upright Schroetter.
That acoustic resonance wave after the attack should be obtainable. A compressor/sustainer gives a nice touch. The fact that the body type and size is a huge factor on how it sounds. Acoustic that is.
I would think with the electrics a little creative tinkering of the knobs at your disposal may give you what you're after. Just stay away from el-cheapo strings. They sound horrible on my acoustic and I really believe that the electronics overcome a lot, but garbage in = garbage out.IMHO
P.S. Don't forget the string rosin!
NLP

(Message edited by inthelows on January 17, 2007)

alembic_doctor · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2007, 03:55:20 PM »

I think there is a joke about the french in their somewhere