Cheaper NS needs a preamp?

[Owen]

I have an NS5. It does what it does in the way I want it.

I have a friend who is looking for something similar. Could someone clue me up about the preamp situation in the cheaper NS ranges? Do they need an external preamp for righteous tone?

[andydye]

I hav an nxt4 and it has a passive pickup so either needs an active di box or a preamp...I hav a Fishman platinum pro bass and the combination is great

[EssentialTension]

I use a K&K with my NS4

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

My NS has a preamp, however I have made piezo pickups (using cheapo piezo elements from maplin for under a quid) for guitar, banjo & ukulele that have worked very well with a behringer ADI-21 pedal as a preamp. The ADI used to sweeten the tone of the Dean Pace bass I used to own.