Author Topic: Cool Bass........ (Read 738 times)

kmh364 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:25:11 AM »

My head hurts just looking at that thing...I barely know what to do with four strings! LOL!

alembic76407 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:42:01 AM »

if you showed up for an audition with that bass I think I'd have to fire you before you even plugged it in,

but what a neat bass

dela217 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:10:18 AM »

Do you think it only has 1 truss rod?

bassfingers · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:28:23 AM »

Can you say Repetitive Strain Injury?.Dela was right with HOLY COW,oy!it's a monster!.

Foth's link to Jean Baudin's Myspace site was a revelation.There's a beautiful piece of music by Jean entitled 'Vanishing'.If you haven't already,check it out.There are others but I haven't had time to listen to them yet but I'm looking forward to doing that later.Link to his website http://www.jeanbaudin.com/ to see mov. files of the guy in action.

I'd never heard of him 'til today,what a player!.Thanks for the link Foth.

Best Wishes,
Simon.

David Houck · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2006, 10:50:50 AM »

Nice video!

kmh364 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2006, 11:53:58 AM »

I'll agree.

IMHO, Baudin is a bass-playing version of Michael Hedges in some ways. Too bad Michael is no longer with us...I'd have loved to see him take a crack at that 11-string!

bigredbass · « **Reply #21 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:12:24 PM »

I really am at the same blank spot in my mind looking at this as I am every time I see one of these . . . it's like a UFO sighting: I know I saw SOMETHING, I just don't know what it was!

What exactly do you DO with these things? Do you play gigs with them in cover bands?
Are these strictly solo instruments? Are they for really 'out there' bands that are just way past my knowledge experience? NAMM show novelties? It's surely an impressive instrument (like Trip's ALEMBIC), I'm just at a loss to even begin to know what I would do with one. Though it would be a gas to drop by the music store and try to explain the set of strings I need . . .

Somebody tell me where to start educating myself to these instruments. And the number for a really good hand therapist!

J o e y

bassfingers · « **Reply #22 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:11:08 PM »

Hi Joey,
If you go here http://www.jeanbaudin.com/ and click on the 1st item.(The words Here's a better version highlighted in yellow).It's a video clip of Msr Baudin playing part of the theme from Super Mario.Mighty impressive as he makes it look like a walk in the park!.He's using a different 11 string to the one above.

Gotta hand it to the man,he's damned good!.Check it out and let us know what you think.

Best Wishes,
Simon.

kmh364 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2006, 05:07:48 AM »

Again, great playing!

Scroll down, however, and you'll see a modified 6-string fretless Epic. While the wooden TRC isn't too bad...the EMG's with the custom wood trim rings almost made me cry! EMG's are better than Alembic's electronics? Arrrrgggggh! LOL!

palembic · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2006, 05:16:24 AM »

Yep ...I saw that one too!
For me it just indicates that the man is used to a certain sound that he wants to reproduce! I can imagine that -being used to the sound of those EMG's- it can be shocking to get anither sound from a bass ...the bass is build by Alembic so ...that will not be the issue ...but those PU's. So they are swapped.
I don't think it is a thing of good or bad, it is a thing of I have a sound I am happy with and I'll stick to it, though I DO like the looks of an Alembic
Just an idea.

Paul TBO

lbpesq · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2006, 07:56:58 AM »

Eleven strings and Novak fan frets too! Just to play game boy music? My kid can do that on his Nintendo DS! (nyuk, nyuk) Seriously though, this guy is scary good.

Bill, tgo

bassfingers · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2006, 08:42:15 AM »

Hey Bill,

I'm sorry,I shoulda warned ya!!.

Saw the Epic but didn't want to upset anyone of a sensitive disposition.I'm seeking counselling over it and considering legal action. ;o)

Best Wishes,
Simon.

ajdover · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2006, 10:18:22 AM »

I'm sure Mr. Baudin has his uses for this instrument, and to each his own and all that. Indeed, I wish I had the chops Jean has. However ...

Workmanship aside (which is a thing of beauty, BTW), I think it's quite useless for most. Or at least someone who lacks Jean's considerable skills and talent. I mean, I personally find 5 strings difficult to swallow, but 11 strings? Where other than a solo gig would you really need or want something like this? Again, Jean uses it since he feels he needs it (and, damn, he's got skills!), it works for him, fine. But I just don't get the whole extended range thing, particularly if we're talking 7, 8, 9, and up. I mean if you want that, you might as well play guitar. Again, only my opinion, we all know about those (everyone's got 'em and they all stink! :-))

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, though. If an 11 or 20 or 150-string is your thing, have at it. It works for you and that's all that matters. Me? I'm sticking with my fours. I'm about as confused as I want to be with them. An 11 string would probably drive me to shear madness! :-)

alan

kmh364 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2006, 11:14:38 AM »

I'm with you.

That the guy is a killer player is a no-brainer.

The Michael Hedges-style two-hand tapping solo stuff is great...but the Nuclear Rabbit/EOS stuff is just not my cup of tea.

Why you would need more than 4-6 strings for that type of music is beyond me!

Maybe that's why he's a killer player and I'm an Electrical Engineer with lousy chops, LOL!

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #29 on:** January 18, 2006, 04:58:20 PM »

I haven't heard it, but it seems like it would be very difficult to play, for obvious visual reasons. It just looks to be extremely wieldy and something that surely couldn't be played with the same facility as a 6 string, let's say.

I can wield my 8 string Europa bass as well as a 6-string or 7-string, but I think it's near the limits of how wide a fingerboard an instrument can have without comprimising playability.

When I commissioned my bass, I DID NOT have a have the most strings mentality; I'd always wanted a 7-string with a 3 octave neck, and I already had an Alembic 6-string that was easy for me to play, so I was confident an 7-string would pose no challenge. I just ended up having them add an extra string on/into their spec for a 7-string neck/fingerboard dimensions, and had 5 less frets on the fingerboard (31 instead of 36).

But I DID consider, actually, a 10-string with 40 frets. I dismissed the concept, however, precisely because I concluded there was NO WAY that such a bass would be normally playable; I'd have to trade off a LOT for the extra range -and it wasn't worth it... for me.

I actually think now that I could handle that (my 10 string idea) bass. I've got big hands, and if the fingerboard was just a little wider with 2 extra strings crammed in, it would be pretty playable. But I wouldn't have much interest. The range I have now is perfect, and I've little need for any more. The biggest appeal for me of additional strings is specifically just the coolness of an extra low string (or 2). I must say I'm intrigued by the idea of a low F# string. I can't imagine existence without a low B string -especially after having a low B on an Alembic bass with ebony neck laminates and an extra-long scale.