Author Topic: WANTED EIGHT STRING BASS (Read 685 times)

raynbass · « **on:** March 30, 2009, 05:32:34 PM »

I'm looking to up grade from my schecter 8 , to an alembic .does any one have one there considering selling, but haven't posted ?

to_81_0190 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:48:25 PM »

8string Spyder on eBay Australia. The seller ships worldwide. BIN AU$12300 or BO.

raynbass · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2009, 02:17:10 PM »

thanks, for the heads up on that. it;s tempting ,but I'd be in hot water if I spent that much .I was hoping something used would pop out of the woodwork . Mica said a good number of distillates were made eight string, as well as the exploiter style.I have never seen one, has any one else? I missed a nice Mark King back in october I was in the middle of buying a distillate five string and couldn't do both. I'm not fussy, a bit well worn would suit me just fine.

bsee · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2009, 10:44:21 PM »

I have seen a couple of old Spoiler/Distillate basses go by, but in the $3K+ price range. The eights are rare enough that you aren't going to find an inexpensive one without an awful lot of luck.

If I could get one, any condition any electronics, in medium scale for under $2500, I'd be all over it.

-bob

(Message edited by bsee on April 02, 2009)

raynbass · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2009, 07:27:43 AM »

I thank you much for the input, any information I can get is important . it seems that patience is in order for this one. but knowing what a fare price is , is most important. thanks again.

to_81_0190 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2009, 04:13:50 AM »

Even though these info might not helps you. 8string Persuader now on sale in Japan. But I'm sorry that this shop wouldn't ships worldwide. This 8string Distillate/Exploiter was sold already last year. If I remember it correctly, the price was about $6.5k. I have seen the Mark King which you missed in last october too. It was really nice both its beauty and price.

Toshiaki

raynbass · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2009, 02:55:26 PM »

if my math is right, thats about 3800.00 US, for the persuader.It's good to know . It's within price range, but not in reach. Something will come my way ,with my name on it. thanks again.

bsee · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2009, 10:35:21 PM »

That's sort of steep for a Persuader, but those eights are rare enough that you have to expect to pay a healthy amount over what you'd see for a four or five. It is about $3800 US, and then the bass has to find its way across an ocean.

Here's another thought. Headstock replacements are allegedly not outrageously expensive. I wonder if you could find a reasonably priced four or five string (based upon your spacing preference) and send it back to the factory for conversion to an eight? Sounds like a question for Mica, though I suspect that they would prefer not to rip apart perfectly good instruments.

-bob

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:27:37 AM »

Do you think they could do that on non-Alembics? Mica?

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:45:13 AM »

I dunno, Bob - I'd argue that Phil's, Jack's, & David's Guilds were perfectly good instruments, and Alembic (to the good of the whole world) had no qualms about ripping them apart. And I think read somwhere in these parts that Number 1 has had its original guts replaced with standard Series stuff, which also neccessitated a new top. Headstock, nut, bridge & tailpiece seems pretty mild compared to those.

Peter

raynbass · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2009, 01:56:22 PM »

I was thinking about installing AXY pickups and electronics into the schecter. I wonder if any one has done this? Mica has told me, it will sound only as good as the instrument itself is . pickups alone won't make it an alembic I know , but I wonder how much of an improvement it would make? By all means an Alembic is the way to go, but I would like to explore all options. And your right, I would be very skidish about over sea shipping.I'm in no hurry ,so I wont to do this right. Ray

raynbass · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:03:44 PM »

P.S. , I'LL ask about the headstock conversion. thanks Ray.

effclef · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:09:51 PM »

Post here once you hear an answer, Ray. To do a full conversion it'd be the headstock, the nut, and the bridge and tailpiece. (Though you could cheat and put the smaller strings into the same tailpiece holes.) I'm guessing....$expensive.

EffClef

bsee · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:01:59 PM »

Right, you just have to start with an instrument of appropriate neck dimensions. I'm not sure what nut width that would require, but you could almost certainly convert a five into an eight. If you start out with something a little wide, then a neck shaving might be a possibility as well.

As far as the tailpiece goes, you could probably file new slots for the smaller strings. Plated hardware would complicate this, but straight brass should be pretty simple. I don't think you'd intonate correctly if you tried to just cut additional slots in the bridge saddles of a four string bridge, though, so you'd have to spring for that. Finally, don't forget that there will be some neck/headstock finish work to be done as well.

I'm sure it won't be cheap, but converting a $1500 Epic or Spoiler/Persuader might be cheaper than the $4K you might have to pay for such a bass on the used market today, not to mention a lot quicker to get your hands on. No idea at all what the least expensive price would be for the simplest eight string built from scratch.

-Bob

to_81_0190 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:13:07 PM »

Here is a close up pic of my 89SC5460 8string bridge. Octave string saddles are slightly not in-line with main string saddles. So separete saddles would be required to intonate correctry every string. But slightly detuned octave string sounds pretty like the sound with chorus peddal. I like detuned sound as well as just tuned sound. But string spacing would be a problem.

Toshiaki