NT vs BO

ectoflanger

ectoflanger

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Apart from the fact that NT's are way more expensive than BO's, what are the significant differences in sound? If price weren't a big factor, which would you prefer? What are your past impressions and experiences with NT instruments?
 
Last year I compaired the thumb 5 NT vs the 5 BO.

Here's the link
 
Hey Ecto.

The character of the sound is different. Imagine you singing. The BO is like singing more from your throat. The NT is like singing from the chest, it brings some resonance.
The Bo feels faster and more articulated. The NT is richer.
I heard a lot of comments about the NT having more sustain than the BO but I never noticed that for Warwick. Our BO basses have a lot of sustain too...
Also it is good to know that most of the bassists actually prefer BO basses. I am a NT guy :-)
 
Florin, I know you play a Streamer of some kind-- what are the specifications?
 
STreamer Stage II
Zebrano body
Wenge Neck Zebrano stripes
Wenge Fb
Mirrored P pickups, as in Buzzard JE. Bartolini.
Piezo
Passive controls - Vol/ Pan/Tone/Tone
 
They always say sustain of a NT is better, but I have BOs with endless sustain. What differs is the decay. Hard to explain. With a BO it sounds like the tone is at a high point volume-wise when pulling the strings and then it goes down. With a NT or set neck it sounds like the tone goes up in volume after stroking a string. Like a curve. Men, I have in my head what I mean, but writing it down is hard. Just Google 'decay' once;)

So forget what I said and listen to Florin: It just sounds different. Not better or worse, but different. I think a BO is more direct indeed and a NT has some more nice overtones and undertones. Maybe a NT is more musical and a BO more rock 'n roll?

Any sense is what I wrote? It's early. Coffee first;)
 
Curtis said:
They always say sustain of a NT is better, but I have BOs with endless sustain. What differs is the decay. Hard to explain. With a BO it sounds like the tone is at a high point volume-wise when pulling the strings and then it goes down. With a NT or set neck it sounds like the tone goes up in volume after stroking a string. Like a curve. Men, I have in my head what I mean, but writing it down is hard. Just Google 'decay' once;)
Click to expand...

I think your explanation is great mate!
 
thr biggest difference between BO and NT with me are playability in the higher registers... i love the NT more.
 
I have a NT Thunderbird. I'm glad my fingers are quite long so I can exactly touch the 20th and last fret;) But of course we're talking Warwick here!
 
I think the mids are more sculpted in the bolt ons, my older thumb 5 bolt on with EMG's was a killer for hearing every damn nuonce and note it was unreal. The NT I have now is, well the best way to explain it is "More Rounded". Smooth!

By the way, I think curtis's explanation of decay pretty much tells the story as flo agreed with ;)

NT may be more expencive, but for an overall bass that can gig & do the studio well, I go for the NT.

MY 2cents!

Rusty
 
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