| Author | Message | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 207 Registered: 1-2005 |
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! | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 782 Registered: 12-2004 |
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
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1396 Registered: 10-2002 |
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
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1625 Registered: 6-2002 |
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
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 208 Registered: 1-2005 |
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
New Username: anarchyx Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2007 |
i thought basses only came in 4 or 5 strings | ||
| keurosix
Intermediate Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 198 Registered: 10-2005 |
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
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 210 Registered: 1-2005 |
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... | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 784 Registered: 12-2004 |
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
New Username: anarchyx Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2007 |
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
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 647 Registered: 3-2004 |
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
Junior Username: anarchyx Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2007 |
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
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 865 Registered: 2-2005 |
"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
Junior Username: anarchyx Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2007 |
oh | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 643 Registered: 5-2006 |
8 string "banger": Click here | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 864 Registered: 9-2005 |
Well, while we're talking about multi-string/extended range basses, it's worth referencing THE most extended range bass Alembic has ever made... MINE: http://www.alembic.com/info/8string.html 8 strings and 31 frets, giving it an incredible 5&1/2 octave range... same as a 7-string with a 3 octave/36 fret neck... | ||
| keurosix
Intermediate Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 199 Registered: 10-2005 |
Anarchyx, Here is a 12 string Octave bass with 6 pairs, not 4 doubled octaves - Being built at Alembic now: http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/14858.html?1190315391 Harry, The low B string is useful when you want to hit the root below E when in the key of Eflat, D, Dflat, C, or B, etc. Also to walk up to the root from the 7th or other step depending on the key. When I first went to a 5 string, I found the lower support of the root on the B string was easier on the mind than detuning, and adapting different fingerings. Of course, if your speaker can't reproduce it, you won't think it a viable option to play frequently. Kris | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1405 Registered: 10-2002 |
lets not forget jean baudin who now has a 12 string ERB (not pictured on his website). Remember the 11 string 'Hideous Claw' that was discussed here some time ago. On his gear page also has a very nice lined (in red) fretless Epic 6 string. Graeme | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 786 Registered: 12-2004 |
There have been some hints dropped to the effect of Jean's bass being a "shop night" bass-- and it definitely has the "Alembic Vibe". Specifically, Jean stated that it "started as a current production bass", and you can definitely see the triple omega influence (the bottom half of the bass definitely looks like the top of a production triple omega). That would make it the most extended range bass ever built *at* Alembic, but yours is the most extended range built *by* Alembic. Bradley | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 213 Registered: 1-2005 |
Bradley, the EADGCF idea is really interesting - I can see it now - a short scale Tribute bass tuned EADGCF. But wait, the baritone on my doubleneck is already kind of like that, but tuned ADGCEA and more guitar-like. Maybe I'll stick with 5-string Tribute tuned EADGC... This thread turned out to be fun! | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 326 Registered: 1-2005 |
I still think about getting some kind of EADGC bass - been working on getting my Bass VI reissue into shape, that could push me back towards EADGBE again. Anyway, thought I'd put this thread back on the radar! |
