NXT 4 pickup/preamp advice required

[YKRJohn]

Hello, I have had the NXT4 DB (passive) for a few months now and have been trying to get rid of the "piezo" pick up sound. It sounds a bit nasally and harsh.

I prefer the sound of the Arco pick up position as It has a more DB sound.

So having tried a few things I bought a FishMan platinum Pro (new) pre amp. This makes it sound a little better but I still seem to get a kind of flat tone like the wave is topping out. 

I have looked for info about changing the pickup or after market pick ups but can find nothing on this subject.
So I guess my question is can anybody recommend a pick up or some setting suggestions for the fishman or just something I might have overlooked or just not aware of?

 

Thanks John.

 

[jrixn1]

Some info in this thread: https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/497820-ir-for-eub-3sigma-in-a-live-setting/
 

 

[YKRJohn]

Thanks for the response, I have 2 of the Sigma IRs the Tango and the German. They add a lot of top end but do not really help with the issue. Maybe I am expecting too much? 

[JPJ]

No, you’re not expecting too much. I can get my NXT4 passive pretty close to my Boosey Hawkes Excelsior (ply) db. The secret to the nasal quality of piezo’s is in the upper mids. I’m using the TC Electronics Impulse pedal with the 3Sigma German bass IR, then from the Impulse I go to the marvellous EBS Stanley Clarke preamp pedal. IMHO you’ll never get the NS to sound exactly like a db, as you cannot get the airy breathy top end and squash that nasal honk but you can get close.  

[Hellzero]

Put some real double bass strings first as the ones factory fitted are more or less sounding like a fretless hence the upper mids peak.

 

Try the Thomastik Spirocore 3/4, they are really good and sound like double bass strings should.

[Burns-bass]

One of the beautiful things about the double bass are the overtones. Of course, you won’t get this with an EUB.

 

Adding a bit of chorus or reverb can help add another dimension to the sound, too.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

When I had a Dean Pace EUB I used to play it through a Behringer ADI21 — Cheap as chips and made it sound much more polished.

 

When I upgraded to an NS CR5M I used it to great benefit with that also.

 

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Jean-Luc Pickguard

[Burns-bass]

37 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

When I had a Dean Pace EUB I used to play it through a Behringer ADI21 — Cheap as chips and made it sound much more polished.

 

When I upgraded to an NS CR5M I used it to great benefit with that also.

 

 

 

 

This looks cool. To my eternal shame I have a Wav 4 bass and I’ve literally never played it.

[AndyTravis]

52 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

 

This looks cool. To my eternal shame I have a Wav 4 bass and I’ve literally never played it.

I have always wanted one but fear the same would happen