Author Topic: 6-string? 8-string? as long as we're dreaming... (Read 432 times)

hieronymous · « **on:** October 04, 2007, 04:08:21 PM »

Kind of thinking out loud here...

One bass that I would love to own would be an 8-string (the old school kind with doubled courses) Alembic. Not a Spyder - as much as I love the shape, I already have an Exploiter and I don't feel like I need another bass in that shape.

But recently I have begun playing 6-string bass (not the old school Fender VI/baritone type - already got a couple of those too) and a 6-string Alembic sounds like a cool idea too. If I were to get just a 6-string, I thought maybe a 6-string Tribute bass would be neat! I just double-checked - the one over at Bass Central is a 5-string.

But THEN I realized - how about a doubleneck! 6-string bass on top, doubled-course 8-string on the bottom?!!! But why stop there - how about a non-doubled 8-string on top and a doubled 8-string on the bottom???!!! I think I've learned a lot from the doubleneck I already own - for instance, I would want the bridge and tailpiece on the lower neck to be closer to the bottom of the body.

Actually, what I've really learned is that I don't want another doubleneck! But it was fun to imagine it!

Bradley Young · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2007, 08:22:22 PM »

What about something sorta chapman stick-y, where there was only one neck, but you had, say, a contrabass over a doubled 4 string.

i.e.: BEADGC+EeAaDdGg

As long as you could get the coursed strings to match the pull of the regular strings, I think you could pull it off.

You might also want to invest in a finger extension kit.

jacko · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2007, 04:42:03 AM »

I've been wondering lately whether it would be possible to get either an exploiter or a dragon wing in 5 strings. I'm sure it must be, but I've not seen one (or even any discussion) so far.

graeme

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2007, 05:16:24 AM »

Graeme, I remember a lined fretless Spyder that came up for sale acouple of years ago, so people do order weird and wonderful mongrels. Also, there are instruments being built without an FTC thread on the Club, so we're not seeing everything - though sometimes we get a glimpse in the background of a photograph.

hieronymous · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2007, 04:17:14 PM »

Hey Bradley, the Chapman Stick idea is interesting, but I'm having enough trouble with just a 6-string bass neck!

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a 6-string Tribute bass. Are the Tributes heavy? Mind you, I'm still just thinking out loud here, no real plans...

(Famous last words?)

anarchyx · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2007, 06:42:06 PM »

i thought basses only came in 4 or 5 strings

keurosix · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2007, 08:34:52 PM »

Basses come in many string configurations: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and octave courses, etc. Check out www.extendedrangebassist.com for all the poop on ERB's.
Kris

hieronymous · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2007, 09:37:21 PM »

I've actually been entertaining another idea - instead of a 6-string bass, a 5-string with a high C instead of the low B and a D-tuner for the E string. Not a new idea I know, but I'm just not sure how much I need the low B string. I picked up a cheap(er) Ibanez SR-506 to see how I like the 6-string, and so far I'm using the high C a lot and the low B not so much. And I definitely need to work on my muting techniques - the B keeps ringing out with sympathetic vibrations. I think my muting is pretty good on the 4-string, but it's not cutting it on the 6...

Bradley Young · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2007, 01:27:06 PM »

Harry,

Since I know you've played piccolo bass in the past, think about a 6 tuned EADGCF, too.

Better yet, EAD + EeAaDd. And make half fretless.

With double bridges and nuts. Perfect.

In a hollow bodied tribute, it might not be entirely do-able, since it's a set neck.

anarchyx · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2007, 04:17:04 PM »

I never thought basses came in so many different varieties: 4,5,6,7,8,9, octave courses,etc; regular basses and piccolo basses. dude!

dannobasso · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2007, 06:14:35 AM »

Some have their favorite 4 banger and stick with it, which is great for being consistant. I prefer to explore whatever is out there. I would love to have 10 str chorused 5. Perhaps Susan and Mica will talk me into onein the future. For now its 4-5-6-7-8 and 12 bangers. I was fortunate enoughto play Trip Wamsley's Alembic 8. The neck felt totally flat like a Chapman Stick. Anything is possible these days.

anarchyx · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2007, 08:19:54 AM »

so far, I'm just used to 4-string, but I would really like to explore the wonders of the bass. r u serious they have 12 bangers?

keith_h · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2007, 10:32:17 AM »

r u serious they have 12 bangers?

Yes they have been around for awhile. They use two octave strings for each fundamental string. Doug Pinnick of Kings X and Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick are two well known players. Another person and excellent bassist who shows up here from time to time is Tony Senatore. He uses a 12 string in many of his recordings.

Keith

anarchyx · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2007, 12:19:21 PM »

FC Bass · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2007, 12:24:05 PM »

8 string banger: Click here