Hi all,

Originally I was planning to get an NS, but ended up trying the Railboard. Had the Railboard for a few months, but I was just not feeling it. Great instrument, but personally I didn't like the feel of the thin neck and overall it was kind of awkward to me. So, I traded it back to SE towards a used NS. I'm hoping it will arrive pretty soon, after they've done a few repairs to it. I've been Stick-less for a few weeks now, so I'm anxious to give this new axe a shot!

Looking forward to hearing how you like the NS stick better.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the NS. I've never had any quality time on a standard Stick...

Good for you, willowhaus! I like both the Railboard and the NS, although I'm playing a lot more of the NS than the others since I got the NS in February. But with Interlochen in a week or so, I've been back on the Railboard and my 10-string Rosewood. They're all fine instruments, and I'd never pick my favorite among my children, but the NS/Stick is definitely versatile as a bass or a Stick (or both at the same time).

My only "complaint" would be playing stuff on the higher strings of the NS. Because all three of my Sticks have their melody sides tuned in fourths (only the Railboard has bass in fifths), I can play the exact same piece on each instrument on the melody side, in the same way. The heavy gauge strings and smaller fret spacings on the NS higher up make things a little more challenging to play. The NS shines (for me) at the lower 5 strings or so.

But I also love the bass sound of my Railboard. All 3 Sticks of mine have different bass sounds, that are all very pleasing to my ear and tastes. I prefer the active pickups on the melody side of my Rosewood for shredding and distortion, and for playability. Railboard is best for my Geddy-Lee wanna-be Rickenbacker bass sound, and the NS has the advantage of straight 4ths across 8 strings for simultaneous playing of left and right hand pieces at the same time with both hands using the same fingering. It sounds like butter direct into an amp or a DAW as well, and I love the form factor and the fact that it has a guitar strap and knee bar also.

But best of luck on your NS journeys! Can't wait to see what you do with it!

The NS is very cool. I want to get one, and an SG12. I have been holding off, y'know waiting until my playing is worthy of either instrument and focusing on the Grand... I think an NS would be a lot of fun, I can't wait to see/hear what you do with it!

It finally arrived yesterday! Had a brief play with it before bed, and I really feel like I made the right choice.

Interested in hearing your experience after you get some hours on the NS/Stick.

Awesome! Congratulations, willowhaus! Like Dean, I can't wait to hear your impressions of it after you've had some time on it!

Thanks guys! I've really found it easier to be musical, since I can essentially leverage my guitar experience more directly. Also, I much prefer the form factor to the Railboard - I guess I prefer to have some mass to wrap my hands around, rather than the ultra-thin neck (I don't remember feeling this way about my first try with a wooden Stick).

Hopefully I'll get through the fumbling stages quick enough & maybe share a recording or two. At the moment I'm really just pecking away at it, but I feel much less lost that I did before.

Howdy all!
Been an extremely long time since I posted anywhere on Stickist!
I will be acquiring an NS/Stick by next week's end. A trade I managed to fall into, happily.
It's an earlier model made in Nov of 2003 complete with MIDI,an extra set of strings,hard shell case,and cable. In excellent condition and well taken care of. Actually did not get played much..I may have played it more than the owner as we were both in a band together and he would let me play it on some of our gigs (I play bass as well....and 10 string Stick). Am looking forward to the experience of once again playing this amazing instrument and utilizing it's amazing versatility with my own instrumental trio Jupiter Groove.
Not much else to say..for now...I'm sure I'll be a bit more loquacious once I receive it!!!!