Author Topic: Contra-Baritone??? (Read 202 times)

rockandroller · « **on:** December 26, 2003, 02:32:05 PM »

I would like a bass that feels like a guitar... or maybe it would be better described as 'a guitar that sounds like a bass'!!

Can it be done???

Six strings, nice thin profile, fairly narrow nut, 'guitar neck' with narrow string spacing... like a telecaster! I'm thinking along the lines of something a bit like the old Fender Bass VI.

I'm thinking 30 inch (better still 29 inch - or shorter?!) scale, using Six-String Bass Guitar Slinky #2837; gauges are 20 - 30 - 42 - 54 - 74 - 90 (All wound strings)... I like the idea of using 'off-the-shelf' strings! Tuned exactly an octave below a regular guitar (E-A-D-G-B-E)

Preferably with guitar machine heads rather than big bass machines (to keep the headstock lighter). 24 frets.. maybe even 27 frets.

I play my normal guitars almost always completely fingerpicked, so the narrow spacing doesnt faze me. I would really like to play it 'just like a guitar' when im up above the twelth fret, and like a bass (for the most part...) lower down.

Has Alembic ever made one of these??

Is it an impossible dream due to the string tensions involved? I want to use as light a string set as possible, to make it feel as 'guitar-like' as possible.

When I tune my telecaster down to D (using a normal 10-46 set) i can tolerate the slight rubber-band feel OK, and there is no problem with string buzz. So I guess what I am shooting for is a 'bass' that feels no looser than that!

palembic · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2004, 03:37:14 AM »

Brother Michael,

I could be wrong but does Danelectro has a Baritone guitar? Alembic too!??!
I guess that a baritone is not what you looking for, there must be a difference between an old Fender VI and a baritone I guess.

The most unusable use of a Fender VI (as you know Jack Bruce even worked with the thing) is in my opinion done by Ry Cooder. The complete GUITAR rhythm riff on Little Sister (Bop till you drop CD) is played on ...a Fender bass VI with a capo!!! Amazing no??? If I see what you mean in playing you are close to the Ry Cooder playing technique.
Just some ideas.

Paul the bad one

rockandroller · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2004, 04:41:16 AM »

Yeah, lots of people make baritone guitars... i'm thinking of a contra-baritone (for some reason i think of that as a baritone tuned a fourth lower - the same way i think of a bass tuned B_E_A_D as a contra-bass )

...just my own nomenclature, probably has no basis in official musical terminaology :-)

Didn't Stanley Clarke have Alembic build him some piccolo basses?? (30 inch scale but with regular guitar strings?)

Im sort of looking for the opposite of that - kinda...

rockandroller · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2004, 04:50:03 AM »

um... to try to clarify further: i guess i'm dreaming of a narrow-necked six-string short-scale (or better yet extra-short-scale) bass with extra-light strings... (tuned E-A-D-G-B-E starting at regular bass low E)

i'm just wondering how far its practical to go in that direction!

bigideas · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2004, 02:21:16 PM »

i don't own an alembic (though i want to eventually), but i do have some answers for you.

check out this page in the custom archives at Alembic
http://www.alembic.com/info/FC_buckeye.html

from my understanding that is a Alembic version of a Danelectro 6 string bass, which is in essence the same as a Fender Bass VI (scale, tuning, etc.)

if i understand you right you're either looking for a short short standard bass with an additional b and e strings on the bottom, or a short short piccolo bass with an additional b and e on the bottom. the above should prove both are possible. hofner, fender, and danelectro all produced standard basses with 30inch scales. Elrick produces(produced?) 4 to 8 string piccolos that are around 28inches in scale. Ernie Ball Music Man makes the Silhouette Bass guitar, 6 strings one octave below a standard guitar at 29-5/8inches. so with piccolo shorter scales are possible.

hope this helps you figure out what kind of Alembic you're looking for, i'd just like to own one period.

peace,
Matt

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2004, 01:14:52 AM »

Hi Matt,

welcome to the club.
Well ...I promise not to yell for pictures, although I know for sure there are some basses around at your place!
Good to have you here!

Paul the bad one

bigideas · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2004, 12:25:51 PM »

sorry paul, no pictures........ yet. i'm currently building a fretless 6 (36 inch scale) and a fretless 4 cello (30 or 32 as cellos are 27.5 inches). we'll see how they turn out. my current machine is a fretless f*nder jazz, which does the job..... just.
maybe i'll post the setup for my dream alembic(s) yet too (blasted lack of money.)

palembic · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2004, 12:37:24 AM »

I would say I lend you one of my nylon stockings?!?!?
But ...you BUILD basses so to be honest, I'm also curious to see that 6 string fretless.
Now ...if we are very quiet in here nobody will see that we are discussing non-alembic and peeping at non-alembic basses.
LOL

Paul the bad one

bigideas · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2004, 09:09:24 AM »

i'm not worried. probably my biggest inspirations are the Alembic shop and Carl Thompson. so i guess both ends of the basses with soul spectrum. oh, and a guy named Sam Maloof (not even a bass builder).