Electric Upright Bass Database

NS Design - CR4M

• Vintage: 1999
• Number of Strings: 4
  • Custom strings used
• Bowable: Yes
• Position Markers: Yes
• Playable Seated: Yes
• Balance While Playing: (8/10)

Ned Steinberger is a delight to talk to and work with, and his new all-wood, production version of the (essentially custom) US5 and US6 models is amazing. I bought the CR4M model, which comes with the only option available on the CR4: a magnetic pickup system (the same as on the US5) to augment the CR4's lovely dual-axis piezo bridge system.

The NS basses come with custom super-light gauge D'Addario strings. I didn't like their flimsiness or tone, so I immediately removed them and replaced them with medium-gauge Helicore Hybrids (and raised the action). The result is quite pleasing for both pizz and arco.

Construction is phenomenal, considering it's supposedly "factory built." Obviously, the Czechs in the factory take pride in their work. The macassar ebony fingerboard deserves special recognition; it's massively thick, nicely grained and well dressed for playability.

This bass has a beautiful, sweet arco sound (not that I'm very good with the bow yet, but in the hands of my teachers it sounds fabulous!), and it's got many different possible pizz tones with the magnetic p/u's as well as piezo system. I usually prefer the piezo tones; although they definitely have a sound all their own, various piezo settings are reminiscent of acoustic-bass "thump" and growl. The magnetics make the bass sound like an uber-fretless bass! Carefully combining the mag's with the "arco" piezo setting can even supply bluegrass type dead, thumpy tones (despite the lively strings I have on, and the overall "live"-ness of the instrument). I've even gotten some good slap tones out of it!  And it all records VERY well. I can't make this bass disappear from my mixes even if I try!

I have only three complaints with this bass, and they're all fairly small. First, the finish is delicate. The slightest grazing with a metal object (like any part of the stand...) leaves an unsightly white blemish. Second, the gig bag furnished with the instrument is more like a dust cover!! It provides VERY little protection (my precious instrument already bears the scar to prove it). Ned tells me he's actively seeking a better gig bag option.  And third, since (I think) the bass NEEDS to be strung with "real" upright strings, I find that the battery compartment access is a design flaw. If using "real" strings, they must be loosened -- almost taken off -- to get at the batteries, and given the string life of upright strings (1 yr.) vs. battery life (4 mos.?) ... this is going to be a problem. (Hopefully it won't happen during a gig!)

I've tried a number of EUBs in the past (Bugbass, BSX, Carruthers, Zeta, Clevinger), and this bass is definitely the one I like best (although I'd love to get my hands on a Messenger to try it out).  If you aren't too pre-conditioned by years of acoustic bass playing, the NS is DEFINITELY the one to look at; Ned's design makes NO concessions to Renaissance bass building (e.g. neck heel). This way the forward-thinking player can take the doublebass into uncharted territory!

For those who HAVE studied the URB classically and miss the acoustic's reference points, by the way, Ned's currently working on a body bout and endpin option. Also, I've worked out a way to set up the provided tripod stand to give me a fake knee bout. The picture's rather dark, but perhaps it gives you some idea.

Also by the way: note my email link needs some modifying to make it usable (I HATE spam), but feel free to drop me a line if you want to talk bass.
wyrdstick@NOSAPM.earthlink.net

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CR4M

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