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byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 1121
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, December 01, 2008 - 7:52 pm:   Edit Post

So,

After having my 6 string bass for almost a year, I have a custom guitar idea.

Little darling shape
Baritone
Wide string spacing, somewhere between guitar and comfort (bass) spacing

Maybe a nice top, and q switches.

That's about it. The idea here is to take the 6 string bass and move it up about an octave. Make the string spacing wide enough to facilitate pizzicato, but close enough to make chords easier.

Am I nuts? Is there a happy medium on the spacing?
3rd_ray
Intermediate Member
Username: 3rd_ray

Post Number: 136
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 6:39 am:   Edit Post

Bradley, I've been thinking about something similar. Mine would have the normal 6-string bass tuning (B - C), but the string spacing would be sort of like you said. I'm thinking 1-7/8" wide at the nut, and maybe 3" or 3-1/4" at the 24th fret. I play mostly fingerstyle, so I don't need a lot of width at the 24th fret, but I also don't want it to feel like a guitar.

For the rest of it, I'm split between the Spoiler body shape and the MK with Omega (not Balance K). I know the MK would be heavy, but that's okay. It would definitely have a nice top, and probably signature electronics.

I wouldn't want to move it up an octave, but tuning it E,A,D,G,C,F would be an option.

The only thing I'm missing now is the money to pay for it! But that will change... some day.

Mike
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2013
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 7:18 am:   Edit Post

Would it be something like Mike Pisanek's Spoiler 6?

Graeme (jacko) commented: "it's a six string on a four string neck and the spacing appears to be narrower at the bridge than at the nut." And further down: "It's low B -> C Mike. String spacing is ludicrously tight."
3rd_ray
Intermediate Member
Username: 3rd_ray

Post Number: 137
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 10:49 am:   Edit Post

Adriaan, a Spoiler with a point... that's cool! I like it, but the string spacing looks a little too tight.

Here are some of the basses I've been looking at...

http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/4478.html?1131637728

http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/6742.html?1070816970

http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/12244.html?1187021788

http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/33310.html?1163818741

http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/8340.html?1078867385

All of these Spoilers look too tight for me. I would like a mix... same as these Spoilers at the nut, and same as the MK's at the bridge. I don't know if that's possible, but a compromise in between would probably work. I'll ask Mica when I have the funds.

Mike
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 416
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 5:55 pm:   Edit Post

Sounds like a cool idea to me. I still can't get over baritone 12 strings though.
byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 1123
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 11:22 pm:   Edit Post

Was thinking of maybe going the 12 string route, but I play fingerstyle, and I don't get the feeling that 12's really work all that well that way.

I wouldn't want to fight the instrument (hence the wider neck).

Bradley
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 485
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 5:51 am:   Edit Post

What scale length would you go for? The baritone portion of my doubleneck is 30" and it seems a bit long if you don't need the low E string. I would think something closer to 28" would make more sense.
byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 1125
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 9:12 am:   Edit Post

I'm thinking somewhere around 29", basically a "normal" baritone.
pace
Advanced Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 394
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post

mine:

http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/14252.html?1131486044

spacing at the bridge is the 'happy medium' between bass&guitar
chrisalembic
Intermediate Member
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 117
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 6:35 am:   Edit Post

same idea keeps floating around in my head... baritone with a wider spacing, suitable for fingerstyle and bigger hands.. has something like this ever been build?
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1112
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 6:41 am:   Edit Post

Have you seen this?
chrisalembic
Intermediate Member
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 118
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 7:10 am:   Edit Post

yeah thats a sweet bass!! must be a joy to play.

I was thinking of something like this:

http://alembic.com/info/FC_jack.html

baritone with wider spacing suitable for fingerstyle playing. Probably tuned a fourth lower than a guitar and in straight fourths. So it would be B-C just like a six sting bass but an octave higher (i am a bass player), so there would be no probs with different tunings and new fingerboard. I would love to try something like this.

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