| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2250 Registered: 6-2002 |
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bassix-Double-Bass-Banjo-/180592323930?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item2a0c242d5a#ht_500wt_1009  I wonder if Victor Wooten has one for some tracks with Bela Fleck? I bet he could make it cool.. Jazzyvee | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2805 Registered: 10-2002 |
If the door's the normal size that thing's Huge!! you'd never get it in your smart car ;-) Graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2251 Registered: 6-2002 |
Apparently it breaks down into a compact size for transporting. It would be interesting to hear how it sounds tho. Jazzyvee | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 593 Registered: 9-2008 |
Look up the song "Iowan Gal" by Les Claypool live, he uses a "bassjo" which is basically a banjo with a 34" neck and bass strings, the sound is pretty killer and definitely different. ~Taylor | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1668 Registered: 2-2005 |
Not really a new idea. Take a look at this. Keith | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1558 Registered: 9-2002 |
In the 'Ragtime Era' of the early 1900's, the instrument companies made their money with acoustic instruments. Guitars were not that prevalent, nor were they completely nailed down design-wise. This is where you see the strange birds like the 'harp' guitars. However, banjos were a big deal, and mandolins to a lesser extent. Mandolins are essentially a fretted violin with paired strings, and this was a time for banjos before the five-string we generally think of these days. They were marketed as families of instruments, with the four voice ranges like the violin family. So you'd see acoustic/choral groups with mandolin, mandola, mandocello, and mandobass. And parallel with banjos. That's where this bass banjo originated. Nowadays it's a (terrifying) novelty, but in its day, it was part of a multi-piece banjo orchestra (a truly blood-curdling prostpect). The legendary Gibson designer Lloyd Loar was at Gibson in those days, and these were the times that drove his great acoustic designs. J o e y | ||
| darkstar01
Advanced Member Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 299 Registered: 6-2005 |
i saw a F Style mandolin shaped upright a few years back. it was fretted like the banjo in the wikipedia link. can't seem to find a picture of one, most mandobasses were A style, but it was pretty awesome. | ||
| enzo
Advanced Member Username: enzo Post Number: 264 Registered: 4-2009 |
A tummy contour would helpful on this one lol. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 845 Registered: 10-2006 |
And for those who don't play upright, here's a current take on the concept. Peter | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1447 Registered: 5-2009 |
That's cool, ----- and 32" scale ! | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 604 Registered: 9-2008 |
the Goldtone is what Les Claypool used for the song i mentioned and plays it live ~Taylor | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 243 Registered: 10-2006 |
OK, who was it that went to the Andre the Giant estate sale and bought this thing? | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 738 Registered: 6-2004 |
 | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 2705 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here's a short clip of how the Goldtone version sounds. Googling for The Blue Belles or Jean Rankin (as mentioned in the Gibson ad) does not find anything relevant - that's a pity. And this clip is a 1930s banjo orchestra featuring both a double bass with a more or less banjo-shaped body and what might either be a bass banjo or a cello banjo. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2257 Registered: 6-2002 |
This is another type of bass that I saw a few years back when I was playing the Womad Festivals. The whole band had three stringed instruments. Balalaika Bass  Jazzyvee | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1515 Registered: 6-2002 |
Now that's not gonna make it as walk-on luggage. Do you think he uses a flight case?  Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9914 Registered: 5-2002 |
He looks like he's got a solution for those folks whose basses are too heavy for a strap. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2261 Registered: 6-2002 |
Damn, that cuts out the ZZ Top spinning guitar trick then. :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| darkstar01
Advanced Member Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 302 Registered: 6-2005 |
Octobass ftw. these things were originally designed for two players; one for the fretting (there were frets), and the other for the bowing.  | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1518 Registered: 6-2002 |
Dang! He's already up one step and it looks like he still wouldn't be able to reach first position after the next step! Is there a hidden third step? Was the house built around the instrument? Has anyone seen my lower jaw? Mike | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4664 Registered: 7-2004 |
You guys have inspired me. I just picked up a Banjitar on eBay. Bill, tgo | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1148 Registered: 6-2002 |
Did anyone see this? ...too bad the pics aren't better | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4665 Registered: 7-2004 |
I'm biddin'! Bill, tgo | ||
| rjmsteel
Intermediate Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 130 Registered: 7-2008 |
Here`s a link with detailed History, in Italian. Just Google URL and translate. Octobasse | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9922 Registered: 5-2002 |
This page shows how it works. You don't play the fingerboard with your fingers, and those aren't ordinary frets. | ||
| darkstar01
Advanced Member Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 303 Registered: 6-2005 |
well, clearly i have no idea what i'm talking about. sure are big, though. | ||
| rjmsteel
Intermediate Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 131 Registered: 7-2008 |
Check out the Low "C" 16.35 Hz range... just add Superfilter! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9923 Registered: 5-2002 |
Play it through a Bag End Elf system. | ||
| rjmsteel
Intermediate Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 132 Registered: 7-2008 |
They did have that 4 x 21" "cabinet" at the Chicago Alembic gathering at Bag End in June of 2009. | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 393 Registered: 5-2007 |
Jack Casady has a bass balalaika, but that's not Jack in the above pic... I think he used it on one cut of his solo album. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1152 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Bill...how did you fare with the 8-foot guitar auction? | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 229 Registered: 2-2009 |
I remember that Odyssey guitar! they had it at Iron Music, where they sold the guitars and it was in their ads;4 or 5 poodle haired guys holding and playing it...if you ever see an Odyssey for sale go for it; they tend to sell cheap as most people don't know the name but they are really well made instruments,especially the carved top ones with the herringbone binding... I shouldn't have looked at this thread,now I want a bass banjo to terrorize my bandmates and the Octobasse to terrorize my neighbours...just realised I'd have to cut a hole into my attic to fit it, I don't have 12 foot ceilings. Don't think the landlord would go for that...too bad! I wanna hear that thing 16.5 hz is subsonic!!! wicked!!! Tony | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 230 Registered: 2-2009 |
There's a band called the Red Elvises, a Russian surf band and the bass player plays an electric bass balalaika... | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4700 Registered: 7-2004 |
Being that the 8 foot Odyssey weighed 300 lbs, I wasn't real hot to get it. I wouldn't have even bid except it was local so I wouldn't have to pay shipping (ouch!). I though it might look cool hanging in my studio, and if I ever actually fulfilled my fantasy of moving to Hawaii and opening a guitar store I could hang it there. Anyway, I was left far behind when it delved into four figure territory. It eventually sold for around $3700! Heck, I could get another old Series guitar for less than that! Have a healthy and prosperous New Year, everyone. Bill, tgo | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 855 Registered: 10-2006 |
Red Elvis were wonderful in their screen debut in Six String Samurai - which, if you haven't seen it, is a classic of weird, and highly recommended (heck, I'd even recommend it straight....) Peter | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1159 Registered: 6-2002 |
I hear ya Bill, for under a grand it would have made a nice conversation piece . I wonder where would you get strings if one broke ? It would look great on stage with Neil Young and his giant Magnatone. Happy New Years ! | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 905 Registered: 3-2004 |
I'll have to check out that movie Peter. I've had a bit of affection for Red Elvis for a while now. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1182 Registered: 6-2002 |
The 8 foot Odyssey is relisted ...I don't see any strings in the new picture. I'll admit that huge brass bridge is foreboding. (Message edited by elwoodblue on February 04, 2011) (Message edited by elwoodblue on February 04, 2011) | ||
| melancholy_mechanic
New Username: melancholy_mechanic Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2010 |
I've seen the Red Elvises a couple times. They tour through my town every year and they are awesome!! |
