NS fretted eub in the UK?

[Owen]

I REALLY want to try one. Are there any at all in the uk? Either in a shop or owned.

[yorks5stringer]

Don't the Bass Centre import them? [url="http://www.basscentre.com/ns-design.html"]http://www.basscentre.com/ns-design.html[/url]

[Owen]

I think they do, but I was under the impression that they were strictly mail order now. I could be wrong though

[Happy Jack]

I love the fact that The Bass Centre still claims to be in London.

This will come as something of a surprise to the good people of Bagshot in Surrey, 10 miles outside the M25.

[Owen]

Jack, do they have a storefront or is it just mailorder?

[Happy Jack]

Just mail order, I'm pretty sure.

There's really not much call for a huge bass supplier in Bagshot.

Mind you, I believe there's an outfit in Twyford so what do I know?

[fretmeister]

Order one from Thomann

They have a 30 day return policy. You pay the return postage if you just don't like it though.

Pretty fair for such a long try out period - check the terms to make sure that it applies to all instruments though.

[Owen]

I have looked at Thomann and they have a B stock one but I just do not have the £2K I would need to put down just to try it.

[Andy]

Hi Owen, I've spoken to the bass centre this week about trying the NS fretted - they do have a small room where you can try stock by appointment but they don't have stock of the fretted NS - worse still, they say that they don't tend to bring them in as there's very little demand (except you and me apparently). they're expecting i a few weeks and are going to give me a call when it comes in if that helps at all (not much, I know)

[Old Horse Murphy]

I've been to Bass centre recently. Although predominantly Mail Order, Barry was more than willing to let me try some stock out and even gave me a set of Detroit Flats. Great guy and a bit of an institution on the music retail scene

I'd suggest calling him and if you decide to visit, drop me a PM as I live about 10 minutes away. I'll put the kettle on

Edited April 26, 2014 by Old Horse Murphy

[Owen]

I spoke to Barry last week and he said that the next shipment was due in but he was not expecting a fretted doobrie in on it. We both agreed that it is a pretty niche market! He did say that if one appeared then he would call me in. The reality is that I want to try one and if it works for me I want to commission a full sized 6 string one with a bottom F# so I cannot even pretend that I would be buying one

[fretmeister]

6 string EUB?

Is it even possible to play Arco on a 6? must be like putting strings on a pipe!

[Owen]

They certainly exist so I presume that it is do-able, however what I really want is a 41" long scale length to get some rumbly LF going on with nickel roundwounds and my hands in a DB position, so the arco bit is not an issue for me.

Of course this is all a pipe dream at the moment

[TPJ]

There is an early music shop near where I work and in there they have Baroque instruments that are fretless but have gut tied around the finger boards to create frets. Maybe you could find a way to do this on a modern instrument.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='TPJ' timestamp='1398694270' post='2436624']
There is an early music shop near where I work and in there they have Baroque instruments that are fretless but have gut tied around the finger boards to create frets. Maybe you could find a way to do this on a modern instrument.[/quote]

Just like the Indian sitar. Isn't it more easy just to play fretless, though..? Genuine question; not trying to be flippant here.

[Owen]

I have thought about the Viol/gut thing but do not know if the gut winds all the way round and how that would work for me. What I am thinking about is a super long scale bass guitar with a super low note. My DB needs are met elsewhere

[Owen]

It's no good. I have bought a fretted NS omni bass. It is on it's way over from the US as we speak. I am beyond excited. If it works for me I will be fretting my NS EUB. GOOD TIMES!

[Mike1962]

I was in Bass Centre trying NS instruments on Friday!
What I found interesting was the omni (34") scale sounded more like a Double Bass than the full size!
But for a double bass sound their short scale accoustic guitar with silcone strings is awesome!

[Marc S]

[quote name='Mike1962' timestamp='1421339904' post='2660129']
I was in Bass Centre trying NS instruments on Friday!
What I found interesting was the omni (34") scale sounded more like a Double Bass than the full size!
But for a double bass sound their short scale accoustic guitar with silcone strings is awesome!
[/quote]

Interesting that the shorter scale Omni sounded more like a Double Bass!
Is that due to improved electronics? - I wonder

For a while I had one of those really tiny Ashbory basses
That had silicone / rubber type strings
And it sounded quite DB-like. Had quite a huge sound actually,
for something so small

However, I really couldn't get on with the strings
I found playing it really difficult
Also, it seemed to go out of tune easily (though this may be because of the new strings)

Edited January 15, 2015 by Marc S