NS Design NXT 4-String Electric Cello - Black
DESIGNED BY NED STEINBERGER
With a sleek visual appearance as balanced and extraordinary as its sound, the NXT Cello embodies world-class performance, features, design and craftsmanship. Versatile and roadworthy, this exciting instrument is made expressly for the burgeoning plugged-in world, with new ways to connect with your music, other musicians, and new audiences.
TONE AND PERFORMANCE - At the heart of the NXT Cello, the NS Polar Pickup System captures the full spectrum of frequencies, harmonics, warmth and nuance, capable of exceptional acoustic performance when that’s your intent. But in fact, because the signal coming from the Polar pickup is so rich, everything is available for pedals, mixers and other electronics to modify, so you can take your sound down any path you choose.
As a pure electric instrument, the NS cello has other important advantages. One is the virtual absence of wolf tones. Another is freedom from feedback in amplified performance settings, which means that the cellist can move about the stage at will, and better yet, can take solos at any volume. Since 100% of the sound comes via the pickup, looping and other electronic effects in live performance is much easier and far more effective than with an amplified acoustic, where much of the unprocessed sound "leaks" out to the audience.
A convenient switch on the side of the NXT allows you to select sensitivity for either arco or pizzicato play. The result is either more percussive response, or smoother and sustained response, adding a new dimension to what you can create musically.
STRINGS AND SETUP - The solid maple body and neck, together with the graduated fingerboard, delivers a rich, full tone that rings true for every note. Asymmetrical fingerboard relief provides extraordinary ease of playability from the lowest to the highest positions. To suit individual player preferences, the fingerboard relief can be adjusted via the truss rod in the neck, and the string height is readily adjustable at the bridge.
SUPPORT OPTIONS - A fully adjustable tripod stand can be used seated or standing. The optional end pin stand provides the seated cellist familiar points of thigh contact and position. The Frame Strap System allows the cellist to stand up with full mobility for a new experience of freedom and expression. An escutcheon pin on the neck, corresponding to the location of the heel on an acoustic cello, is standard; a more conventional wooden neck heel is also available for installation.