As the son of physics Nobel laureate Jack Steinberger, it's little wonder that when Ned Steinberger — a furniture designer by trade — put his mind to creating musical instruments, he'd immediately begin to question many of the fundamental design assumptions universally adopted by mainstream luthiers. Steinberger's efforts took off when he joined Stuart Spector, and the original Steinberger Bass hit the market. Nearly four decades later, Steinberger's NS Design has followed faithfully in this legacy, leading the world in innovative instrument creation.
The first time you look at an NS Design instrument, chances are, you're going to think something like, "Where the heck is the headstock?" Here's the beauty of Ned Steinberger's innovative approach to instrument creation. One of the first things he identified about traditional instrument designs was the inherent flaw in the headstock, which necessitates uneven tuning machine spacing. This results in variable string lengths, which causes avoidable string tension issues. Steinberger quickly discovered that by placing the tuning machines on the body of the instrument (eliminating the need for a headstock altogether), he was able to increase both tuning stability and balanced temperament.
By the early '80s, the name Steinberger became synonymous with the series of bizarre paddle-shaped headless basses and guitars played by artists including Geddy Lee, Sting, Mark Knopfler, and David Gilmour. Although his designs have always seemed a bit ahead of their time, modern NS Design instruments (with the notable exception of their upright bass models) have continued to sport many of the innovations at the center of Ned Steinberger's design philosophy. Anyone who's picked one up can attest to how wonderfully these instruments play, feel, and sound.
Today, NS Design covers a wide range of stringed instruments, including bass guitars as well as bowed models such as upright basses, cellos, violas, and violins. For the most part, there are three series: CR, NXTa, and WAV, each intended to meet the needs of a specific audience, and each loaded with excellent features. Whether you're a passionate performer or a professional session musician, you'll find an NS Design instrument that suits your lifestyle.
At the top of the NS Design lineup, there's the CR series. As their flagship instruments, CR series models deliver the best in performance, sonics, and aesthetics NS Design has to offer. They feature a dual transducer system that marries an innovative NS Polar piezo element with a set of custom EMG active electromagnetic pickups. The piezo element captures the natural acoustic sound of the instrument; whereas the EMG pickups allow you to choose between a full-frequency string tone and a more quintessentially "electric" sound. Together, these electronics let you dial in the perfect sound for any occasion. What's more, CR series instruments come standard with flame maple necks and bodies, but also include options for poplar burl, zebrawood, and other exotic variations.
Next, there's NS Design's NXTa series, which combines the same amazing playability of the CR series with battery-free electronics. The electronics in NXTa series instruments are a Mi-Si dual-mode active/passive system, which features a unique super-capacitor that charges in about a minute and provides 16 hours of clear acoustic sound. The rest of the electronics center around an NS Polar pickup set. All NXTa series instruments are made from straight-grain maple and feature either a satin black or a flame maple faceplate. The WAV series offers all the same amenities, except the electronics system is purely passive. Both series also include NS Design's pizz/arco selector switch, allowing you to go from plucked to bowed playing seamlessly and still get the best possible sound.
NS Design's roots particularly shine through in their Radius bass guitar series, which, in many ways, goes back to Ned Steinberger's original basses. These basses feature Steinberger's quintessential headless design, but that's just the beginning. Traditional electric bass players have fallen in love with these instruments for several reasons, such as their extraordinary stability and sustain, their remarkably comfortable convex-carved backs, and their wonderfully playable Diradial body design. They're exactly the kind of basses that are perfect for extended live performances and studio sessions. Top-notch electronics such as 18-volt EMG humbucker systems and NS Polar piezo elements complete the picture with a range of tones few bass guitars can rival. If you have questions about these or any other NS Design instruments, don't hesitate to give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call.
