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NS Design CR5 5-string electric violin, quilted maple top

Regular price $3,899.00 USD
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One of the most innovative electric violin designs, the NS Design CR5 looks like it's from the future (and maybe it is!), yet with its comfortable ergonomic design it feels like home to traditional acoustic players. Its innovative Polar pickup system and incredibly advanced onboard preamp and tone controls allow you to tailor the sound and playing experience to suit anything from classical bowed tone to a clear, sustaining pizzicato, to a smooth electric violin sound that is modern and ideally suited for signal processing. Anyway you want to go, the CR5 can get you there!

The NS Design CR5 violin looks wildly different from any acoustic violin you've ever held, yet retains a good acoustic's familiar feel and tone. In fact, feeling and sounding like a good acoustic violin is just the beginning of what the NS Design CR5 violin can do!

The instrument features a powerful preamp that can cut or boost both bass and treble separately. There is also a volume control and a three-position toggle switch that tailors the frequency response of NS Design's proprietary Polar Pickup system to an acoustic tone, and electric tone, or optimizes the signal for sustained, guitar-like pizzacato.

If that level of control weren't enough, designer and ergonomic genius Ned Steinberger has included a removable upper bout position indicator as well as the most comfortable and adjustable contoured shoulder rest you'll probably ever play. The shoulder rest system allows you to adjust the height of the violin, the playing position from open to closed, and instrument tilt for more vertical or horizontal bowing angle.

The NS Design CR5 violin operates on an included 9 volt battery and comes strung with D'Addario Helicore strings. The price includes the full Electric Violin Shop setup and a custom NS Design case.

All NS Design CR series instruments come with a 5-year limited warranty from the date of purchase.

Features

SOLID MAPLE BODY AND NECK: The CR Violin is crafted of solid maple, with an elegant flame maple face. This lightweight solid-body design transfers the full spectrum of sound to the pickup without feedback, and is very stable even with changes in temperature and humidity. The ergonomic shoulder and chin rest provide comfortable, stable support, and a removable treble side bout is included for left hand position reference. The solid ebony fingerboard is hand graduated for consistent string articulation.

PERFORMANCE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The CR Violin comes equipped with the Custom Shoulder Rest which can be formed by the player to fit the body perfectly. The ergonomically contoured ebony chin rest is designed to work in tandem with the Custom Shoulder Rest for control, comfort and security. The Adjustable Chin Rest is optional, offering a range of positions for individual fit, style and comfort, providing entirely new levels of ergonomic support. As an option, the violin can also attach to NS Design's revolutionary Balanced Shoulder Rest which secures it effortlessly in optimal playing position.

BRIDGE PICKUP: The Polar directional piezo pickup system responds selectively to either vertical vibration (for the sustained plucked sound, like a mandolin), or lateral vibration (for dynamic bowing, and a percussive plucked sound).

ACTIVE ELECTRONICS: The dual mode preamp allows the player to choose between two very distinct tone qualities. The first mode delivers the full frequency response of modern low impedance electronics, for a rich, full-blown "electric violin" sound. The second is balanced to produce the frequency response of the traditional violin, for a more "acoustic" sound. A three-way toggle switch allows the player to select the desired pickup and electronics options. Additional controls include volume and individual bass EQ & treble EQ controls.

PRECISION TUNING HARDWARE: With the NS Design patented tuning system, remarkably precise and stable tuning is accomplished entirely behind the bridge, in the manner similar to the fine tuners of an acoustic instrument. With the elimination of the traditional scroll and pegs, weight is shifted in towards the body of the player for optimum comfort. Although specially formulated NS Electric Violin Strings from D'Addario™ are recommended, any standard solid or stranded core violin string will fit the NS Violin. NS Design does not recommend nylon (Perlon) core or gut core strings.



Technical Specs

LENGTH: 540 MM (21.25")
WIDTH: 110 MM (4 5/16")
THICKNESS: 65 MM (2 9/16")
WEIGHT: 720 grams (25.5 oz)
SCALE LENGTH: 330 MM (13")
CONSTRUCTION: Straight grain quarter-sawn solid European maple body and neck, with a flame maple face.
FINISH: Traditional amber stain with polymer top coat. Custom finish options are available for the CR Violin including Slate Gray, Quilted Maple, Poplar Burl and Zebrawood. Click here to see examples of these Custom CR Series finishes.
BODY REFERENCE BOUT: Black-dyed maple bout on treble side provides standard violin reference. Easily removable for unrestricted neck access.
FINGERBOARD: Hand-graduated ebony.
BRIDGE: Black-dyed maple, height adjustable via screws on back of body.
STRINGS: NS Electric Strings by D'Addario™ are standard. Compatible with solid and stranded core violin strings. Synthetic core strings are not recommended.
PRECISION TUNING HARDWARE: Fine tuners are mounted on the body behind the bridge for precise, stable tuning. Automatic string clamping allows for quick, easy string changes.
BRIDGE PICKUP: The Polar directional piezo pickup system responds selectively to either vertical vibration (for remarkably even and sustained plucked/pizzicato sound, like a mandolin), or lateral vibration (for dynamic bowing, and a percussive plucked sound).
ACTIVE ELECTRONICS: Dual mode preamp allows the player to choose between two distinct tone qualities:
  • (1) the extended frequency response of modern low impedance electronics, for full-blown "electric" sound
  • (2) active electronic shaping to replicate the frequency response of the traditional violin, for a more "acoustic" sound. A three-way toggle switch allows the player to select the desired pickup and electronics options.
CONTROLS: Volume

Treble EQ
Bass EQ
3-way Switch for Polar pickup:
  • forward - vertical string vibration for sustained pizzicato
  • center - lateral string vibration, full frequency for arco
  • back - lateral string vibration, "acoustic" timbre for arco
HEADPHONE JACK: 1/8" headphone jack for silent practice and self-monitoring.

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