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NS Designs Radius thread
- Thread starter Tim de Martino
- Start date
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- cr5 headless ns designs radius
Sorry, Australian dollars... somewhere between one and a half and double US prices. Betcha they aint cheap where you are either. The NS ones might be nice to try, but again, big bucks.
Hi all - My fretless CR5 has been one of my go-to instruments for a couple of years (I use D'Addario EXLs), and now that I'm starting to play some jazz I thought it would be time to try some flats on it. I was about to order a set of La Bella's, but saw a pic (just in time) showing that the B is tapered at the ball end- which would not work over the nut. La Bella also makes a distinction between sets that work with through-body basses (maybe due to the bend angle??) Is this anything to be concerned about considering the reversed string mounting?
Anyway, just wondering what flatwound strings are known to work well with the CR5 - and maybe a recommendation? (Probably not going straight to TI's!)
Thank you!
(Also, while reading this thread I saw the discussion about the updated bridge design. Any idea what S/N marked the change?)
Anyway, just wondering what flatwound strings are known to work well with the CR5 - and maybe a recommendation? (Probably not going straight to TI's!)
Thank you!
(Also, while reading this thread I saw the discussion about the updated bridge design. Any idea what S/N marked the change?)
Anyone know what happened to the WAV4 series? I'd love a white one, but I think it's been discontinued.
Looks like the Bass Centre in London has a white one (or at least their web site says they have one) in stock:
NS Design WAV4 Radius Bass
I don't think the WAVs have been discontinued in general, but the do certainly seem to be low stock at the moment online.
I'm using LaBella LTF-5A low tension flats for my CR5 fretless for about a year now. Playablility and handling is great on the 35" scale. They have now started to break in and sing.
I hadn't looked at these ("low tension" makes them sound like some sort of niche thing), but after a little research I think I'm going to give them a try. Since they work on the CR5, I assume they don't have the tapered B of the other La Bella's. Thanks for the tip!
UPDATE
One thing I want to pass along to anyone else who may be looking at these, is that due to availability, I ended up ordering the "extra long scale" version. These turn out to be the perfect length for the CR5. The silk winding starts evenly just before the strings turn down into the tuners so you are not bending the "playing part" of the string and also that the mechanism grips the coarser silkwound part, as intended. Thanks again for the tip.
The CR4 has a somewhat easier time with string selection, being just 34" scale. Part of me wonders if that's why Ned went back to 34" for the CR6, or if there was some other thinking involved in that decision?
I believe the reason lies with the high c string feeling and sounding better in 34" scale.
Another 5 months with the LaBella LTF on my CR5 fretless and they just broke in better and better. When turning to piezo pickup only with highs rolled off and using a gruv gear fret wrap to cut the sustain I almost get a double bassy sound and attack. At least it's good enough for my jazz trio and my drummer and piano player to like it.
I just got myself a Metallic Crimson WAV4. Does anybody have a clue which EMG active pickup would be the closest match to CR pickups? I’m planning to upgrade the pickup to active and I’d like to stay close to NS sound.