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NS Stick or 6 String bass?
https://www.stickist.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3487		 Page 2 of 3
Author:  MichNS [ Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
Kalyptic wrote:
Thanks for the replies guys,
Especially 88persuader and MichNS, nice stuff.

Its really starting to look like a viable option for me. After i try out some more 6 strings I'll try and get in contact with some of the guys in Sydney, maybe one of them will let me try out theirs. I think BergerBrain was thinking about selling his, so HURMMMM.

How long is the waiting time on a new one?


Wasn't that Evan's at the seminar? You never tried it? That was the first graphite necked one I ever played. I'm seriously thinking of upgrading from wood to the bamboo with the new fret rails. I'm thinking it will be a nice compromise between graphite and wood, as I like the upper register of mine, but liked the bass side better on Evan's.
Author:  Kalyptic [ Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
I did try one at the seminar, but to be frank i didn't really put much attention to it. I don't really remember anything apart from that it felt a bit weird. But then again any bass above 4 strings feels weird to me right now.
I think Justin Levis has one also, so maybe if we organize a Sydney Get together he'll bring it along.
Much pondering is ahead. Hmmm
Author:  MichNS [ Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
Kalyptic wrote:
Also if anyone can point me towards some good recordings of plucking and/or slapping on the NS that would be lovely.


I just posted a MTB vid in the lounge (Lucky Dawg vid, Manny's MTBing thread). After the first section/song, I start slapping on the NS. Note, I also slapped a harmonized line with it on the guitar when it starts, just so you know it's not some odd effect. I used the Sansamp Bass DI.

The intro I'm tapping some harmonics on the NS, with an overdubbed track of some arppegios tapped on the NS as well.
Author:  Kalyptic [ Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
Mannnn thats a reallly nice slap tone. I'd stopped thinking about it all because i have no money...however now i'm rather GAS filled.
Cool stuff. I reallly like how the NS can sort of meld with a guitar but still keep its own voice.
Author:  MichNS [ Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
Kalyptic wrote:
Mannnn thats a reallly nice slap tone. I'd stopped thinking about it all because i have no money...however now i'm rather GAS filled.
Cool stuff. I reallly like how the NS can sort of meld with a guitar but still keep its own voice.



Thanks, I thought you'd like that. Forgot, there was a third track in the beginning just tapping a bass tone. Sometimes plucking like a bass thins out when I try recording it, but tapping the bass line in the lower register really rings out. I have to experiment more someday with mic'ing cabs. I don't notice any thinning when playing through an amp.
Author:  greg [ Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
Kalyptic wrote:
Now im looking to get a new bass, i find im needing the low B quite a lot and well
i figure if im going for the extra low i'd probably go for the the extra high. Anyhoo im looking at a lot of 6ers and the ones i like seem to all be around 3grand Australian which is equal to American right now. However a new NS Stick is only $2100 and used would probably be about $1500ish which raises the question. Would the 8 String NS stick be a good choice. Essentially what im after is great tone and extended range, as i dont remember how an NS feels in comparison to a Six string bass.

What do you think? It would be way cheaper, but i dont want to buy an NS when a 6 string would be more appropriate.
I already have a 10string stick and a 4 string bass. so i have the extremes. Is the NS to far towards the Stick to be a good middle ground.

Also if anyone can point me towards some good recordings of plucking and/or slapping on the NS that would be lovely.

Check out the Rocket Scientist stuff with Don Schiff on NS. He does just about everything on it. They have a video channel with lots of great videosn on it:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RocketScientists

Don uses it as a bass in sessions all the time, too.
Author:  88persuader [ Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
I used an NS Stick as a bass/taping instrument in a cover rock band exclusively for over a year. (Working two to three weekends a month) I sold it when I "retired," now i'm back into playing and wish I still had it. The ONLY drawback using the NS Stick as a bass is the upper strings are too thin to get good bass tone so it's not really like playing an extended range bass. It's more like playing a bass with the B.E,A and D strings of a bass and the rest of the strings sounding more like guitar strings. That's a plus and a minus depending how you use the instrument. If you want to use it mostly as an extended range bass guitar it may be a minus because the upper 4 strings sound thin but if you want to also two hand tap and play stuff in the bass range and guitar range (Best using both a bass and a guitar amp) at the same time it's awesome! No other instrument does this, not even the traditional Stick. You can strum and pluck and Ns Stick, Sticks are really made primarily for tapping. I REALLY wish I still had an NS in the band I'm currently in!
Author:  zaubertuba [ Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
88persuader wrote:
It's more like playing a bass with the B.E,A and D strings of a bass and the rest of the strings sounding more like guitar strings. That's a plus and a minus depending how you use the instrument. If you want to use it mostly as an extended range bass guitar it may be a minus because the upper 4 strings sound thin...


I've been wondering about this, Ray. I love the sound from the "bass side" of the instrument, but have been on an ongoing "tone-quest" on the top side. Sometimes it's fine, but sometimes I'm wanting it thicker, and yes, there *are* times when I switch it all into mono and really could use a bit more consistency from bottom up to the top, without having to go *deep* down the neck on the low side of the instrument.

I have (what I believe to be) the light-gauge set on now (Bb is .11). Would the heavy-gauge set help in this regard? D'ya think having the top two strings wound and the G and A a bit thicker might thicken it up a bit.

I want the OP to be comfortable with what he ends up with, but as I mentioned on another thread, the NS is just such a darned stellar bass even if you never crossed the G-string. It'd be a pity to not be in contention if something as simple as string gauge could make a different.

Unless the top two pickups are voiced differently (funny I never thought about that possibility....) :?
Author:  metalken [ Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
Wouldnt it be possible to use thicker strings up top? Just use the regular guages from a 6 string bass set and get two strings that match the tension of the 6th string?
Author:  88persuader [ Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: NS Stick or 6 String bass?
metalken wrote:
Wouldnt it be possible to use thicker strings up top? Just use the regular guages from a 6 string bass set and get two strings that match the tension of the 6th string?


I believe Emmett can put together a set geared more towards bass playing but you may lose some of the guitar like sparkle on the top end. It's a compromise and depends how you want to use the instrument.
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