THE CR RADIUS BASS GUITAR
Meticulously crafted in the Czech Republic, the RADIUS Bass Guitar embodies a breadth of experience, insight, and design brilliance which only Ned Steinberger can bring to the creation of a new classic. His approach to the RADIUS, as with every new instrument, was to re-explore each facet of a bass guitar, leading to innovations such as the Fusion neck, the Diradial™ body design, the NS tuning system, and the NS/EMG™ pickup system. However, what makes this instrument most remarkable is its seamless integration of feature, form and function.
The sensuous lines of the RADIUS are balanced and refreshing, which is exactly how it feels to hold and to play it. Most of all, the RADIUS is, by design, the most sonically dynamic, versatile and exciting bass available today. According to the editors of the UK's Guitar & Bass Magazine™, which awarded it 2014 Best Guitar Over £1,000, the RADIUS is "a wonderful instrument that manages to look cooler than a headless bass has any right to," and "a bass that demands to be played."
Fretted or fretless, 4 string (CR4), 5 string (CR5), and the new Limited Edition 6 string (CR6) CR RADIUS Bass Guitar is available in Amber Satin, Natural Satin, or Charcoal Satin finishes.
“They have the sound that I’ve been looking for. Very different, and very clear tone, and beautiful voice—a distinctive sound that I haven’t had from other basses.”
“The NS CR5 RADIUS bass guitar has to be one of the most solid basses and it always stays consistent live and in the studio. The 18 volt pre-amp and piezo save my life so balanced and never hurts my back. I never get tired with this bass.”
“I didn’t have to choose the NS Basses, the NS Basses chose me. The RADIUS bass is the epitome of innovation for the utility bass player.”
“It has a wide variety of tonal options and with the EMG magnetic pickups, it can be warm, flat or aggressive. The NS RADIUS is a well crafted and balanced ergonomic instrument. I can get around on it very easily, and with the both magnetics and the piezo I get the best of both worlds, taking me where I need to go musically.”
“I’ve been searching for a long time to find the perfect bass guitar to fit my needs and add a new dynamic to our stage show. The NS CR4 Radius is that bass.
Features
NS FUSION NECK: The RADIUS features a bolt-on one-piece maple neck with an embedded continuous carbon fiber core and steel double-action reinforcing truss rod. This combination has the natural feel of wood, but the core provides enhanced sustain and definition to each note. The fingerboard, which has a 15" radius, is 34" scale for the CR4 and CR6, and 35" scale for the CR5. Heavy conventional tuning machines are replaced by an aluminum headplate with ball-end string mounting slots. The tuning system is integrated into the body.
NS DIRADIAL BODY: The RADIUS's maple body, with flamed maple top, has a concave back radius, which provides enhanced contact and stability against the torso. The front of the instrument is more tightly radiused, which, in combination with the general wedge shape of the body, shifts it into more comfortable orientation with the right hand. The distinctive horn provides a natural grip, and the configuration of the body cutaway provides easy access to the highest frets.
The instrument as a whole is perfectly balanced, no downward dip of the neck, giving the left hand unprecedented freedom. Combined, the shape, balance and light weight of the RADIUS make this instrument exceptionally comfortable to play.
NS/EMG INTEGRAL PICKUP SYSTEM: NS Design and EMG have collaborated to create this integrated piezo and magnetic pickup system. It features an 18-volt onboard preamp, which provides extraordinary dynamic headroom. The active electronics are combined with the NS bridge-mounted Polar™ Pickup System, the marriage of which puts an exceptionally broad, musically rich spectrum of tone at the player's fingertips.
CONTROLS: The controls on the RADIUS bass give the player full ability to shape and mix the magnetic and piezo output: Master Volume, active Treble cut/boost, active Bass cut/boost, rotary magnetic/piezo pickup blend, 3-position magnetic pickup selector switch, and 3-position piezo EQ switch.
BRIDGE & SADDLE: The aluminum one-piece bridge and saddle assembly provide full height and angle adjustment, allowing the player to precisely tailor the action and tweak the intonation with the adjustment of hex head set screws (hex key included).
GIG BAG: The RADIUS bass guitar includes a deluxe padded gig bag with a handle, adjustable backpack straps and a large front zipper pocket with room for cables and gear. The loaded gig bag will fit in the overhead compartment of most commercial aircraft.
| Dimensions: | CR4 | CR5 | CR6 |
| Overall Length | 41.5" | 42.25" | 41.5" |
| Body Length | 20.8" | 20.8" | 20.8" |
| Neck scale | 34" | 35" | 34" |
| Neck radius | 15" | 15" | 15" |
| Weight | 8.4lbs | 8.6lbs | 9.5lbs |
| Bridge Spacing | 19mm | 18mm | 17mm |
| Nut Width | 1.60" | 1.85" | 2.06" |
| 12th Fret Width | 2.19" | 2.54" | 2.91" |
Download the CR RADIUS Bass Guitar Owner's Manual.
NS RADIUS Bass Guitar review at The NAMM Show with Donald Waugh and Ned Steinberger
From the NS Design Booth at Winter NAMM 2019, here is NS Artist Donald Waugh's interview with NS Design's founder and award winning designer, Ned Steinberger.
Tuning System
A patented system (US Patent 6,528,710) based on a design originally created for the NS violin, the RADIUS has a self-clamping, precision tuning machine, built into the body. This fast, simple system accepts any standard single-ball end, full-scale bass guitar string. No tools are needed: simply rotate the knurled knob to change a string or tune the instrument.