Well I did it this time

[Big Jimi Cee]

I have been looking for a high end fretless for some time an unexpectedly I ran across a NS Design 5 String Double Bass. I had played the NS Design Wav and loved it so I figure that I could kill two birds with one stone and I went ahead and bought it. I am hoping now that my schedule settles a little and I can get to use it playing out.

[Hawk]

Hey Jim, How ya doin' ?

I can't wait to hear you on that thing.

[Big Jimi Cee]

Bill,

I am doing well, thanks for asking. I hope your doing well also? Yea, I'm pretty excited about the new toy. I'm just hoping my schedule will allow me to do something. I'm really getting the itch to play out and I would like to do something a little off the hook if possible.

[BassFinger]

Wow! I'd really like to hear (...and play) this bass too. I've been trying to decide on the NS WAV or some of the used EUB's I see popping up (...Ergo, Kydd, Palatino).

This might convince my to go with the NS Bass or Cello.

Bill

[TJ Kelly]

I know someone with an Ergo who might let it go for the right price....Hmmmmm!

[BassFinger]

I know someone with an Ergo who might let it go for the right price....Hmmmmm!

You mean....the right price for me?

[bassist_25]

How difficult is it to develop good intonation on these electric uprights?

[BassFinger]

How difficult is it to develop good intonation on these electric uprights?

I would assume it would be a bit harder than a regular fretless bass when your trying to get used to the longer scale. The 'stick' style EUB's are more forgiving in the higher registers above the 12th fret because you can still maintain an electric bass technique. This is why I'm always considering an electric upright cello with the shorter scale (...I think it's 34" or 35"). Too bad NS doesn't make a NS WAV in the cello.

Jim might give us some updates on the intonation issue after he gets a chance to play around with his new instrument.

[Big Jimi Cee]

Ok, where to start, The NS finally arraved and I have had a chance to play it. As I bought it used (the original owner took great care of it) after a day of playing, the allen wrenches came out and we did a little tweaking.

Being that it is a true double bass scale this is taking a little getting used too. The stand that comes with it is designed very well and allows for me to set the bass up in a position that is angled similar to having a low slung bass on except it is bigger. With the bass being setup like this if feels very much like I am playing a very large shoulder hung bass and is quite comfortable.

From an intonation standpoint, I have no problem finding fairly accurate relative pitch when I am running scales, the neck is marked very well but again the Double Bass scale is quite differernt. In the low registers, a whole step, say F to G on this is a least equal in physical length to a major third on a standard long scale electric bass, F to A if played on the E string in first position. In the middle registers it is similar to the low registers of a long scale electric, while the upper registers are quite similar to an electric. This is the hardest part of getting the fingers to stretch and incorporating the muscle memory to be able to replicate positions consistenly. This is actually coming pretty quick, what I need to find and to be accurate with is the actual intonation of the markers on the neck. I am finding that you would relate the dot to being the fret and your finger positon is just behind the dot.

While I see some work ahead of me, I also see this being a great tool to re-educate myself with playing bass and this will definately force me to work on technique and theory that I was just too lazy to do before, because of the comfort level and bad habits that I had gathered over the years of playing bass.

Stay tuned!!


BTW, Paul if you want to give her a try, let me know and we will try to get our paths to cross