Shadow SH 965 NFX - Professional Pickup with Volume and Tone Control Preamp for the Double Bass

Shadow SH 965 NFX - Professional Pickup with Volume and Tone Control Preamp Click on the image for more views.

The Shadow SH 950 NFX is a professional quality pickup with volume and tone control preamp. The twin foil table transducers fit directly underneath the feet of the bridge. The volume and tone control preamp fits neatly between the bridge and tailpiece on the D & A strings.

So it's a similar sort of system to The Realist?

Well yes - in the way the transducers are made from foil and fit beneath the bridge feet - it is. After that the similarities end for the SH 965 NFX offers so much more and all for a similar sort of price.

Tell me then - what more does it offer in comparison to The Realist?

1) Well firstly it scores by having a good looking, discreet, easy-fit, compact, volume and tone control preamp. The Realist doesn't have any sort of preamp at all.
2) Secondly there are two transducers to help create a naturally balanced sound from one's instrument. The Realist only has one transducer that if fitted under the bass side foot of the bridge - so favouring the lower frequencies of one's instrument.
3) Thirdly both transducers are covered in a rubber sheath (no it's not a family planning aid - lol) with micro plastic film that protect both the elements and the varnish of your pride and joy from any damage. The Realist transducer is made from bare copper foil that has been known to scratch and damage precious layers of varnish.
4) Fourth - the twin transducers are uniform in thickness and measure a mere 1.03 mm (average). The Realist transducer varies quite widely in thickness from 1.22mm (average) up to 1.53mm (average).
5) Fifth - having two transducers keeps the bridge nicely balanced and stable. By raising the bridge up only on the bass side the single Realist transducer does unbalance the bridge, alters the string heights and can generally change the whole feel of one's instrument.
6) Finally the system simultaneously senses the vibrations from both the strings and the body of the instrument - using a brand new technology that Shadow has developed and patented and which they term "Nanoflex" technology. The Realist does not incorporate this same technology.

Wow - the Shadow SH965 NFX really does seem to be a great package.

Yes it is. For those of you who need even more convincing - then just read on

What does the "NFX" suffix on the product name mean?

The NFX suffix is an abbreviation for the name "Nanoflex". The name is derived from the unit of measurement prefix "nano" and the word "flexible" and is completely fitting for a high definition product that is both extremely thin and flexible.

Can you tell me how the Nanoflex technology came about?

Yes - Shadow claim that the Nanoflex technology was really born from the fact that so many musicians were asking for a pure acoustic double bass sound. A sound without any sort of modification. A sound that is just a louder version of their own instrument.

How is this natural instrument sound achieved?

At the heart of the system are the flexible, super-sensitive Nanoflex pickups. Unlike other makes of under bridge-feet pickups that just take the vibrations of the strings - Nanoflex pickups sense the vibration of the strings and the movements of the soundboards simultaneously. The result is a completely natural sound across the entire range of the instrument, plenty of power and a 100% noise-free system.

Can you tell us any more about the technology?

Yes - up to a certain point. It's obviously sensitive information in more ways than one. Shadow do however go as far to say that the pickup's sensor consists of seven flexible layers of carefully selected materials which sense the vibrations of both the strings and body of the instrument. They then say that in order to shield the natural organic sound of the instrument from negative influences they have developed a "one-of-a-kind" technology that both protects and amplifies the signal at the pickup level.

How have they done this?

Best is if we let Shadow describe the technology. Reproduced from the Shadow Company web site.
"In contrast to other pickup systems, the signal does not travel through even a single millimetre of cable. It is therefore shielded from the electromagnetic "litter" typically emitted by amps, lights, monitors, etc".

Shadow continues;

"Because of direct amplification at the pickup and 100% effective shielding, Nanoflex products prevent loss of sound and are, in addition, 100% free of collateral noise and humming".

How easy is the installation?

The installation is quick and easy and doesn't require any modification to the bridge or to the instrument.

I'd like to know a little bit more on how you fit the Shadow SH 965 NFX

The Shadow SH 965 NFX does come with clear and easy to understand installation instructions.
The instructions are in five different languages and do include lots of diagrams.

Here is a summary;

1) Fit Elements; To fit the transducers you need to slightly lift up each foot of the bridge by reducing the tension on the bridge. Each transducer needs to be fitted with the coaxial cable pointing downwards towards the tailpiece of your instrument. You can fit either transducer first - but here is a description commencing with the one on the bass side. Before you start you need to lay your instrument down with its back on the floor. Next loosen the two bottom strings (E&A) and slide them away from the top of the bridge. Reduce the tension on the two top strings (G&D) sufficiently to allow the bass side foot to be raised slightly with one hand. With the other hand - place the element centrally under the bass foot with the wire extending from the lower inside corner. Place the E&A strings back into their respective bridge notches and bring them back up to a tone or so under normal pitch. Repeat the operation for the treble side foot by completely removing the tension on the G&D strings and by reducing the tension on the E&A strings as necessary.

2) Fit Volume & Tone Control Preamp: To fit the volume & tone control preamp simply unscrew the lock-wheel at the back of the preamp and remove the bottom plate. Position the preamp on the D&A strings between the bridge and tailpiece with the jack socket pointing downwards towards the endpin. Next - place the back plate behind the G&D strings directly opposite the preamp. The foam covered side should be against the strings. Reassemble by placing the plate over the preamp's threaded rod and tighten firmly with the lock-wheel.

What do I do next?

Simply fit the two 2.5mm mini-jacks into their sockets on the upper side of the preamp and attach your standard 6.0mm output lead into the corresponding socket on the opposite side of the preamp. Finally remove the thin plastic film from the upper surface of the battery on the top of the preamp. That's it - job done. You're all ready to connect to amplifier, switch on and rock-n-roll.

I must say - that fitting the preamp onto the strings between the bridge and tailpiece is absolute genius of Shadow. Would you agree?

Yes indeed we do. It really is the perfect place to fit a small preamp. The unit is always in place when you need it and it allows the user to move easily about on stage and adjust the controls, or connect and disconnect the jack whenever required. Certainly in comparison to a belt fitted or a floor mounted preamp it does offer so much convenience and flexibility.

Simon told us "A friend of mine scratched the varnish on the back of his bass with his belt mounted preamp" - so he completely understand the beauty of the Shadow SH 965 NFX system.

Hmm nasty. We heard other horror stories too - including incidents of lost belt clips or finding that the floor mounted preamp has been left at the last gig. This sort of thing always seems to happen just before an all important show in front of thousands of fans doesn't it? If only you'd chosen the Shadow SH 965 NFX things would be so different now.

Are you saying that I'd probably still have my job!

Yes - quite possibly. The Shadow SH 965 NFX does seem to be pretty convenient and complete system to use.

OK - lets get back to the preamp. Can you tell me what powers it?

Yes - a 3V cell battery powers the preamp. The battery is open to the elements but is well protected from harms way in a recess on the top face of the preamp.

If the battery runs out in the middle of a gig - is it easy to change?

Yes - Shadow seem to have thought of absolutely everything. A small metal clip - rather like a pen clip - holds the battery in place so that changing the battery when required is simply a matter of lifting the small clip, sliding out the old battery and inserting the new. It's a matter of a few seconds.

What is the life expectancy of the battery?

Shadow claim that the battery life is one year.

Wow - that is a very good value indeed. Do you think that the claim is realistic?

The Shadow 965 NFX is an "active" pickup. Active pickups have a very low power output, so generally require preamplification to add an extra ‘boost' to the signal before it is passed to a standard amplifier or PA system. The battery supplied with the SH 965 NFX will certainly put in a long-life performance for sure. However in order to achieve the sort of target suggested by Shadow it is more than likely that you'll have to try and avoid unnecessary battery drain. This could easily and quickly be achieved by disconnecting the two mini-jacks from the preamp when not in use.

If I plug into my bass amp or directly into a mixer how would you say that the Shadow SH 965 NFX performs?

We'd have to say that as a stand alone unit the Nanoflex sounds very impressive indeed. The tone is very natural, there is plenty of power and it is completely noise-free.

Can I connect to an outboard signal processor or EQ if I want?

For the majority of players the Shadow SH 965 NFX - straight out of the box is all you need to get you up and running with pro performance. For those of you who feel the urge to tweak your system even further - it goes without saying that an outboard signal processor or EQ will definitely provide those fine tonal adjustments and an added guarantee against feedback.

Can you tell me about the Company please?

Shadow was founded in 1971 by the Joe Marinic. At an early age Marinic developed into a successful guitarist. He had his own Blues and Jazz band and regularly appeared on both television and radio.
At only 13 years of age Marinic developed and constructed his first guitar amplifier. Today Shadow produces pickups and preamps for acoustic, classic and electric guitar, violin, cello, upright bass, mandolin, banjo and many ethnic instruments and is widely recognised as the largest manufacturer of pick-up systems in the world. In 2007 it produced more than 450,000 preamps and over 1,000,000 pickups in its modern facilities in Hemhofen, Germany.

What about the quality of the products?

From the outset Shadow has worked with top musicians and engineering departments at some of the finest universities. This combined with their experience in electronic design and guitar building has earned them a superb reputation as the world leader in pickup technology. Shadow Electronics stands for high quality and absolutely reliable pick-up systems.

Is Shadow's confidence in its products backed up by any sort of guarantee?

Yes absolutely. Shadow warrants - to the original purchaser - that their products will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase. Obviously defects caused by abuse, accidents, modifications, negligence or misuse are not covered. The warranty can even be extended to 5 years if the purchaser registers the product online at the company web site within ten days of purchase. How fabulous is that?

Are there any endorsees?

Yes. Several well recognised bass players who use Shadow pick-ups are featured endorsing the products on the Shadow Company website. The artists include:
a) Doug Deforest. Doug has performed, recorded and appeared on TV with a whole host of top artists.
b) Henning Hauerken. Henning is a Swinging-Blues band player who plays with B.B & The Blues Shacks. The Band is considered one of the most successful representatives of the traditional Blues in Europe.
c) Rainer Glas. Rainer has toured widely with many creative jazz bands.
d) Markus Kössler. Markus has an impressive CV. He has performed with Sarah Brightman – including a world tour and plays for Central Europe's most popular Hip Hop Band - "Die Fantastischen 4". He also has his own record label.
e) Hoot Hester. Hoot is a bluegrass legend and has played backup for a number of eminent country music recording artists.

What do other players say about the Shadow SH 965 NFX

All the reviews that we found were very complimentary. How about this one from Simon (again).

"I'm really impressed with this pick-up. It offers a very decent range in volume and tone control and gives a great performance every time. Even the price seems way too cheap for the amount of technology, design and quality of manufacture that has been lavished on this product. All I can say is bravo Shadow - you've certainly put a lot of other table transducer manufacturers to shame".

How is the Shadow SH 965 NFX packaged?

The pickup comes nicely protected in its own sturdy maroon coloured cardboard box. The box contains the two pickups with factory installed coaxial cables with 2.5mm mini-jacks attached, the volume & tone control preamp and full mounting instructions.

Can you give me an overall summary?

The Shadow SH 965 NFX is a high quality, professional pickup that will suit a great many styles and types of playing from bowed to pizzicato performance and from rock to bluegrass music. In a nutshell - the advantages of the system are;

1) It is quick and easy to install.
2) It is non invasive to either bridge or instrument.
3) The vibrations of both strings and instrument body are combined to produce an unfalsified acoustic sound.
4) The "active" pickups produce a sound that is completely open and natural.
5) Sound loss is kept to an absolute minimum because the signal is amplified directly at the pickups.
6) The signal is 100% free of noise because it is shielded directly at the pickups.
7) The product is innovative and well designed.
8) The product is well made from good quality components.
9) The price is highly competitive.

How about a few final words from Shadow?

"Unlike average bridge pickups, Nanoflex pickups take up the vibrations of an instrument's strings and body. NFX pickups therefore give rise to a sound spectrum more closely resembling that of a microphone-bridge pickup combination".

Final, final words from Shadow.

"No other pickup technology reaches such a high degree of fidelity in the amplified reproduction of authentic acoustic sound".

Stats:

General:

Type: Twin flexible foil (rubber coated) transducers with volume and tone control preamp
Technology: Nanoflex (simultaneously senses the vibrations of the strings and the soundboard)
Transducer mounting: Under bridge-feet
Preamp mounting: On strings between bridge and tailpiece
Boxed dimensions: 17.2 x 10.2 x 7.3cm (average)
Gross weight: 257.0gm (average)
Manufacturer: Shadow Elecktroakustik, Hemhofen, Germany

Transducers:

Dimensions of transducers inc plastic housing: 67.8 x 33.3 x 8.0mm (average)
Dimensions of transducers: 47.8 x 28.7 x 1.03mm (average)
Length of coaxial cable to mini-jack: 25.2cm (average)
Diameter of mini jacks: 2.5mm (1/8th in) (average)
Weight of each transducer including housing, flex and mini-jack: 10.0gm (average)

Preamp:

Controls: Mini volume & tone pots
Power: Single 3V cell battery
Battery fixing: Clip held
Battery life: 1 year (manufacture claim)
Input sockets: 2 x 2.5mm (1/8th in) mini- jack sockets
Output socket: 6.0mm (1/4 in) standard jack socket
Dimensions including mounting bracket: 66.8 x 49.5 x 42.7mm (average)
Weight including mounting bracket: 49.5gm (average)

Shadow SH 965 NFX - Professional Pickup with Volume & Tone Control Preamp
Price : UK£178.49 - Convert price with XE.com Personal Currency Assistant