Extended Range Basses

[the_8_string_king]

That's awesome Danno!  Is it medium scale?  Howz the B-string sound?
 
Yeah... I spoke with Valentino yesterday, and he advised me that another extended fingerboard for my next custom MIGHT be pricey... I have to wait and see.  Maybe I'll end up getting a 7-string instead... but I want a 6-string with 29 frets.
 
I'm hoping the upcharge for a 7th string and/or extra frets isn't too bad.  It's a $500 dollar jump from 4 to 5 strings (on a Europa or Essence, at least) and an $800 jump from 5 to 6 strings -although that include 4 more neck laminates, while the 5-string only has 2 more than the 4-string.
 
I'm crossing my fingers!
 
Studly bass, Danno!!!

[dannobasso]

The bass is a 32. The B is very full with the mass of the bass. The neck is huge! I can just bar the 3rd position (fret) all across the neck. If memory serves, it's about 4 inches across. It is one more string over wide jazz spacing that I have on a koa Spoiler 6.
Just take the next custom one paycheck at a time. I usually sent a check every month or so while it was being built. That way the hits were evenly spread apart. I hope your dream will come true.

[bkbass]

jsaylor, since there are some Biblical references here,the Bible says of Christ that if everything that He did were to be written down,there would not be enough room for the books in the world to contain them. In a similar fashion everytime I talk with either Mica OR Susan I find out about an instrument (or several) that was made for so and so or had this or that on them that never ever make it into these pages. Alembic is the best and has made more instruments,electronics,speaker systems and God knows what else for more people than anyone could possibly imagine. The founder of the company even makes custom telescopes etc. so besides being knowledgable they are also very humble friendly people. How many times have you read the signIf you don't see it,ask!? Well....? Good Luck and God bless. BK

[the_8_string_king]

I *GASP* finally got the quote for my second custom Alembic today, and was quoted $1125 for the 29 fret fingerboard and pickup-placement adjustment, and $1500 extra for upgrading to a 7-string!
 
It's a shame, 'cause I really want the 29 frets, but at that price, it puts me in a position of having to consider passing on the extra frets or passing on another feature or two that I really want!

[jsaylor]

Mark,
Just save up and get what you truely want. You'll be happier in the long run. Heres an idea though. 39 scale with 40 frets.

[the_8_string_king]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna take the plunge, and get that extra feature, Jordan.  It's pricy, but it comes with a guarentee... it'll be the best.
 
My custom 8-string is by far the most awesome bass I've ever seen or heard, even over Alembic Series basses -though I'm sure the massive amount of ebony in my neck is a large part of this, and, to be fair, I've never heard a Series bass with ebony in the neck, which presumably would sound even better.
 
This 6-string isn't meant to outdo it, but to actually be a more simple complement to it... lighter and more agile and ergonomic, with a shorter scale and a smaller, more compact fingerboard... and a very different sound, a coco bolo/mahagony dominated sound as opposed to the powerful ebony/maple dominated sound of 8 Strings of power.
 
Anyway, I really want the extra 5 frets... this gives it the same range as a 7-string with the standard 24 frets -which is what I consider the minimum acceptable/desireable amount of strings and frets.
 
This bass is going to have a small/narrow neck... almost as small as a 5-string... it'll have the range of a 7-string with the agility and feel of a 5-string... it should be a most awesome extended range bass.
 
It'll have one octave less than 8 Strings of Power... but I won't miss it for this bass... the 29 frets will be satisfactory... the paradigm of this bass is a more modest range, that of a 7-string with ONLY the standard 24 frets...
 
But I'll tell ya, the range of 8-Strings of Power, the range of a BEADGCF 7-string with a 36 fret neck (5&1/2 octaves) is perfect for me; I occaisionally use the highest notes, but I never find myself wishing for more, or feeling dissatisfied that I don't have more.  And now that I have a totally awesome sounding B string, I'm totally content, and don't really have much desire in a low F# string (unless I won the lottery, in which case I'd actually order a 6-string Triple Omega extended range bass, which would be tuned EADGCF an octave below standard, with an extra long scale and 31 frets giving it a high C same as a normal 6-string bass' 24th fret high C... but also starting/going AN OCTAVE LOWER!!!)
 
But... UNTIL that happens...  8 Strings of Power and this gem-in-planning will meet all my extended range needs!
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on November 24, 2006)

[dannobasso]

I also suggest that you take the extra time  (equals money) to get exactly what you want. Your 8 is a true work of art so you are used to excellence. The work usually takes longer than quoted so you have a few extra weeks (or Months) to pay for the baby. I say this because I got a custom bass without a maple top or sustain block. I didn't think it mattered on an Excel. WRONG! I had a second made with those as well as Europa guts. Live and learn I suppose. I wish you great success on your project.

[hifiguy]

Hey Mark, I must admit I am curious - what kind of _music_ are you playing that you need 5.5 octaves of range?  Just wonderin'  
 
I've never been able to get my head around a 5 or 6 string, though if my current band's prospects pan out I may have to check out a standard Orion or Rogue with extra strings. My Isis custom Series II comes first, though.
 
Happy hols,
 
Paul
 
(Message edited by hifiguy on November 24, 2006)