Question regarding 8 string bass saddle height.

[Artgeckko]

I will first say I'm a complete newbie when it comes to 8 string basses, so forgive the possibly dumb question. 

I noticed that the saddle height (slot) for hi and low are quite a bit different.  Looks as if the high string saddle has been slotted a bit lower.  approx 3/32...is this a pref?  The stringing of this bass is Hi top, LOW bottom.  I play finger style, so brushing the higher octave from bottom up is a bit challenging (my 8 string playing is already challenged:)
Didn't know if this was a preference or previous owner saddle filing.
Plays well as is, action is great, sound great, just curious if this is the standard, or has the saddle been modified to affect the playing of the high octave strings.

Appreciate any and all input from the club.

[JimmyJ]

Here's what I understand about the 8-string thing - which admittedly ain't much... 

I think the bridge saddles are slotted that way so that both the upper- and lower-octave strings have the same "action" in relation to the frets.  Make sense?  But I always thought having the higher-pitched string above the low string lent itself more to downstroke playing - either with a pick or your thumb. That said, there may be a way to adjust your picking fingers just for this bass to get both strings to speak every time.  Think upright, kinda side-of-the-finger thing...?  I bet it makes a mighty sound!

Jimmy J

[Artgeckko]

Many thanks (again) JimmyJ-

You are a wealth of info!
String to fret height is a very good point.  Having disparity there would make playing rather complicated.
Agree with you that the hi octave string above certainly does lend itself to the down stroke.  Was playing some chords on it ( thumb on downstroke fingers on up stroke) and wow that is an amazingly full sound.  Seems to have sustain for days.
Just going to try changing my hand angle to accommodate...
Just a little mental hurdle like going from 4 strings to 5, now to eight. 
Good to have challenges!
Thanks again.
Ed

[edwardofhuncote]

Just a thought; give a pick a try Ed. It was awkward for me too at first, (hard-headed old upright player) but I kinda' learned to enjoy it after some woodshedding. Start with easy.


Congratulations & Compliments on another nice Alembic to your collection. 

[garyhead]

Well....It looks like it was previously strung with fundamental Over octave.  That is how my Spyder 8 came from the factory.  My Ric 8 is also strung like the Spyder.  My Zon 8 is like your setup now.  I imagine there isn't enough string length left to reverse the setup to see if you like the other way around.  Contact Mica to see where they get the Spyder string sets.  I would send photos but I cant seem to reduce them to fit in an alembic club format.....I've tried.

[Artgeckko]

Hey Garyhead!

To reverse the string ( fundamental over octave) wouldn't you also have to switch the saddles? 
The bridge brass is a bit tarnished ( as is the nut),  and the previous has just replaced the strings (included the old ones as well) otherwise I would probably take it apart and clean it up (its my neurosis)  Not to mention my work is going crazy for a while, so I  wont get a chance to give it the love...Such a bummer!  Work always gets in the way!

Thanks for all the kudos and help.
E

[hieronymous]

Hey, congrats on the 8-xploiter! My first Alembic was a 4-string Spoiler Exploiter, and I love 8-strings - I've owned a Tune (my first) and two Rickenbackers - only have one Ric 8-string left - and Alembic 8-string is one of my dreams!

I only play mine with pick, but I've been playing with a pick since I started on bass. My current Ric 8-string (a 4003S/8) came stock with the root on top, and I didn't like it - I felt like it was hard to fret. Switching to octave on top feels so natural to me, but if I was playing with fingers I wouldn't be so sure.

I got new saddles and new nut and had someone switch mine to octave on top. But a Ric only has 1 saddle for each pair! Surprisingly intonation isn't such an issue for some reason. Your Alembic is sweet - you could probably turn the saddles around to switch the string order, but that wouldn't be ideal, the back of the saddles is more gradual (I tried that with the low-B on my Stanley Clarke 5-string, and it wasn't satisfactory, finally had a new saddle cut at Alembic)

Enjoy it!

[Artgeckko]

hieronymous...Thats all great info.  Thank you.
I will leave well enough alone for the time being and just get used to it a bit. 
Played through at song set list late last night, and it felt a bit more comfortable, but it's a challenge to play the 8 strings correctly and cleanly, but enjoying the sound when I do. 
Like you, I had a dream way back when ( and actually sketched out an 8 string Expoliter...Basically a non-V headstock John Entwistle Alembic Spyder with my last name on headstock) on a pee chee folder back when I was in Jr High school. 
So, although I certainly didn't need another bass ( and my wife would strongly agree ),  I couldn't resist when I saw the posting!
Really a beautiful bass, in almost new condition. Great guy to deal with too!
Now just have to work at my playing...The daily challenge!

Btw, Love Ricks as well.  It's a love 'm or hate 'em thing for folks.  Not for me...All love!
I have an 1985 4003 that was brand new...a HS graduation gift from my parents, so lots of love for that bass!
That bass has been everywhere with me, and despite many gigs, the only real marks on it is a ding on the headstock from a former singer swinging a tambourine into it...which made me furious at the time!
Thanks again for all the information. 
Said it many times before, but the people on this site are awesome!