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toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 385
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 10:22 am:   Edit Post

Think of these African Brothers when you strap on a (5) or (6) String Bass...



Anthony Jackson - (left)

In 1975, at the age of (23) years old,

was first to be inspired to commission, and own the first (6) String Bass in the world

by Luthier Carl Thompson. (It was Anthony's Idea!)...

Tony Bunn - (right)

In 1977 at the age of (20) years old,

was first to be inspired to commission, and own the first (5) String Bass in the world

by struggling Luthier Paul Reed Smith. (It was Tony's Idea!)...

Peace and Love,



Hal-
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1968
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 11:48 am:   Edit Post

I played a 5-string upright bass off and on for a couple of years before then.

Fender made a 5-string electric bass in the '60s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FENDER_BASS_V_view.JPG

John

(Message edited by 811952 on July 19, 2011)
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1551
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 12:06 pm:   Edit Post

there are articles out there that state differently... here's one from The History Of The Modern Bass Guitar at UltimateGuitar.com

"In 1959 Danelectro created the first 6 string bass, tunes E A D G B E, and Gibson and Fender used this idea to make the Gibson EB-6 in 1960, and the Fender VI in 1962. Fender created the first 5 string in 1964, with the Fender V."
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1552
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 12:11 pm:   Edit Post

Here's a link to the article on Wiki that John refers to with the Fender V image referenced above.
briant
Senior Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 583
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 1:31 pm:   Edit Post

The 5 string upright bass has been around since Beethoven's time (late 1700's).
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 386
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 1:41 pm:   Edit Post

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Bunn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Jackson_%28musician%29
Contrabass
Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 19, 2011)
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 387
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 2:16 pm:   Edit Post

Nobody was playing the FUNK in 1700 - 1960.

Also it would be great to know of any real recordings to support such claims.

Furthermore, the Banjo is older than the acoustic bass, and yet there were sting instruments even in the earliest periods during the times of the great periods of Africa's Egyptian royals in the East, West and South Africa which spanned before the 1700's.


Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 19, 2011)
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 388
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 2:59 pm:   Edit Post

The Fender Bass V (Five String) has only 15 frets and created with a High C???

The Six String created in 1959 was E A D G B E???

Who uses those string configurations anyway?

Peace and Love,

Hal-
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 1246
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 4:32 pm:   Edit Post

EverythinG is Overrated.
pace
Senior Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 750
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 5:22 pm:   Edit Post

Hal,

Here's a pic of Frank (otis) w/ mine~ E to E.....

toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 389
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 5:28 pm:   Edit Post

That's a Gorgeous maple Frank has...

But give me the Contrabass B-E-A-D-G-C slam!

Frankly, I wouldn't go any other way. Anthony Jackson way is a better bass configuration, and it's become the standard for the pro's I know.

Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 19, 2011)
darkstar01
Advanced Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 347
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 8:03 pm:   Edit Post

doesn't Jackson tune his basses F#-B-E-A-D-G ? either way, i agree with the tuning in fourths.. i don't really get why you would tune your bass like a guitar.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 2521
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - 11:33 pm:   Edit Post

Maybe you would tune it that way if you were a guitarist taking up six string bass. Less time spent re-orienting yourself with the notes layout.


Jazzyvee
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 1009
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 7:40 am:   Edit Post

Harps have as many as 48 strings and date back to ancient Sumeria. The range is from a low Cb1 to a high A. Check out Cheyenne Brown getting funky on the harp on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1_D-DjLbU8 :-()

Harp for the win!
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1970
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 7:56 am:   Edit Post

"Harp for the win!"

My keyboard is now full of coffee. :D

John
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 392
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 9:31 am:   Edit Post

Only Angel's play those... :-)

On that beautiful note...

Peace and Love,

Hal-
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 1729
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post

Anthony Jackson (and our own Jimmy J) always seemed to remind me of serious classically-trained musicians. After his current generation Fodera Signature bass (36", PBass spacing, a single AERO pickup 'in the right spot', balanced output with no controls at all ('I set my volume with my hands, just like I was taught) ), I imagined he probably had a serious amp rig. Boy, was I right:

http://www.meyersound.com/news/2006/anthony_jackson/

J o e y
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 641
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 4:06 pm:   Edit Post

harmonics and de-tuning on the fly . . .
Cheyenne is the Michael Manring of the harp! :-D
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 888
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 5:15 pm:   Edit Post

In 1976, Jimmy Johnson worked with Alembic and GHS to create one of the first 5-string bass guitars with a low B string. Living in the Los Angeles area since 1979, Johnson continues to record and tour with singer-songwriter James Taylor as well as guitarist Allan Holdsworth, and is frequently heard with various groups at The Baked Potato jazz club in Studio City, California.
wayne
Intermediate Member
Username: wayne

Post Number: 194
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 8:47 pm:   Edit Post

See the link in "Stolen Alembics" for a photo of 76-AC-418.

http://www.alembic.com/info/stolen.html

http://www3.alembic.com/img/623.jpg

I've also seen that 76-419 is a 5 as well.

So, 5 string bass guitars were around before 1977.

C-Ya.............wayne
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 393
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 3:06 am:   Edit Post

The Toma_Hawk was commissioned with #09-14053, but I received it in 2010

My 1976 Short was commissioned with #76-484 but received in 1977.

Those stamps does not necessarily mean the date the buyer actually received their bass.

Peace and Love,

Hal-
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2969
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 5:00 am:   Edit Post

If we're splitting hairs (and I don't really care about this) the stamps do indicate a date sometime after the bass was commissioned which would imply that Jimmy asked alembic for a 5 string bass before that date.

Graeme

(Message edited by jacko on July 21, 2011)
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 1010
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 7:55 am:   Edit Post

I think this is really kind of a silly debate. Clearly there were 5 string bass instruments in this range before the dates referenced. I'm not a religious man, but as they say:

"What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
and there is nothing new under the sun."
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 394
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:07 am:   Edit Post

No, I am not splitting anything, and I sure in the hell don't want to be called a liar from the likes of people like you either!

They're lot's of great discoveries African people had brought to the music scene, (which I'd guess you simply couldn't name one accomplishment).

Too many times, African inventions, and achievements had been dismissed, down-played, or discriminated of to no importance by people like you.

By the way, not only was Tony Bunn's instrument the first modern 5 string every built, he also won awards as a NASA engineer for his vision and ingenuity.

I notices a kind up perpetual ignorance coming from people like you, because in your mind, Africans people are just people who are on Tarzan movies.

I bet it kills you to know how smart we are, and good looking... (Don't it!).

Peace and Love,

Hal-
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2970
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:16 am:   Edit Post

Who are these "people like you" you're refering to Hal? No-one on the thread has called you a liar and no-one has demeaned the accomplishments of African Americans.
There has long been debate around who built / designed or commissioned the first 5 string bass with a low B and I expect there always will be. Luckily for most of us, very few people take this kind of debate seriously - there are far more important things to worry about in the world today.

Graeme
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 1023
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post

Wrong to toxic in 8 posts. A new record?

Peter
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 1012
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:38 am:   Edit Post

Can we get a moderator in here please? This is completely inappropriate (and unjustified).
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 395
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:39 am:   Edit Post

Thinking, will always predate making, because it's a part of a premeditated action of the central nervous system (the brain).

Therefore, as you can say for others creations, I can can say the same for Tony Bunn and Anthony Jackson concepts too.

But, frankly I can care less to share with people who's major roll in life, are to cast doubt on information which I share.

One more thing...

This issue was never a issue of a debate. I made it clear with everyone of my belief and understandings to this issue.


Peace and Love,

Hal-
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 396
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:45 am:   Edit Post

Also, I notice...

Every time I am in disagreement with somebody, there's a almost natural urge to call "The MAN" (The Moderator). LOL!!!

So, just burn it down!!!

That game is old... This is the age of information my friend. THANK GOD!!!

Peace and Love,

Hal-
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 1013
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:49 am:   Edit Post

I'm just going to let this go . . .

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on July 21, 2011)
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 397
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 8:58 am:   Edit Post

If is walks like a duck, and it quacks...

Maybe there's some proof that it is a duck.

Don't insult my intelligence.

Nobody has a problem with with this information except for the same folks.

There's a pattern.

...And in the end, the Moderators (The Police Man) enters, and guess who they side with...

LMAO!!!

Peace and Love,

Hal-





(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 21, 2011)
billostech
Intermediate Member
Username: billostech

Post Number: 162
Registered: 1-2011
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post

I am very dissapointed in how this thread has turned out. As an African American and member of this forum, I have not detected any racial bias whatsoever. As a human determined to see God's face, I will keep you in my prayers Hal. Only good should come from this. I will not comment any further.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 10299
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 9:47 am:   Edit Post

My apologies; I was enjoying some of the vids linked to in the Identifying Players thread, and missed the call for a moderator. It's been my observation that the club has been doing a great job of self-moderation over the last year or so; and in my view, the vibe of the club has been great. But today we have here a thread that is over the line and appears to be getting worse.

I would like to encourage everyone to relax, glance away from the computer screen for a few seconds, gaze out the window, breath deeply and fully, and be thankful for this opportunity to be alive on this planet at this moment. Then perhaps a smile and some positive feelings for each other, as we are at our core all connected in the family of humanity.

While studying and sharing history is important, getting into heated and vicious exchanges is not necessary and essentially only serves to do damage to our community and to our daily lives. Most of us who have read or posted to this thread have found the quality of our day at this moment to have diminished. We may feel disappointed, frustrated, angry, exasperated. But not joy. And I think at some point music, listening and especially playing, is about joy, the flight of the soul unburdened by the dis-ease that the stresses we encounter in everyday life seem to place upon us.

So, take a break for a moment, breath, be thankful, and then enjoy the rest of your day.

And give this thread a break for a while, let it cool off; it's overheating my laptop.
toma_hawk01
Advanced Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 398
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 12:08 pm:   Edit Post

Bill,

Being a member of a particular racial
makeup, does not give one the super natural abilities of detection of racial bias.

I know that might be hard to believe,
of a man of great faith like you...

However, through personal life experiences,
and other histories of controversies
raised, I know a pattern of bias that
exist even here.

Looking at the date stamped on
your membership is even questionable
to me... because unless you'd been
here to experience the server problems
which occurred, most would be natural
to assume their membership date is
correct too. However, I know better,
for I created more threads than
what the current status accounts.

Farther more, although I welcome
your statements, however, those
statements you made, has no impact
in representing a non-bias authority,
nor does it represent my sentiments
with every good intention you hoped
your injections would/could accomplish.

Frankly, I don't even understand why
you needed to bring your race, to
validate what is racially bias,
when it takes facts to prove your
statements, which I detected
(using your words) none (no facts).

Bill, I welcome your opinion, frankly
I encourage it. But, don't think one
bit, I would allow you to take a
shot at me, without me having my
rebuttal.

Furthermore, as a religious person,
my religious teachings says,
"The Greatest sin, and the most
barbaric and highest sins of all
sins, are to practice racial supremacy,
and bigotry (even in the most subtle
way, it's wrong!!!).

As a African born in America, I
learned that it's not fashionable
to talk about the many achievements
we had made, even with the bias
that perpetuate the atmosphere to
prevent such benefits to the good
and to the whole of human kind,
people are fast to pull out their
rulers, and yard sticks.

Furthermore, the information I
provided was just a snippet,
of the facts on the modern (5)
and (6) string bass, and as
predicted, it was immediately a
subject of controversy. LOL!!!!

And I simply ask why do people do
this, and then they replace the
information that fits their likings
REGARDLESS OF THE FACT??? LOL!!!

So, as someone who don't mind being
wrong, I read those remarks of others
posters on this thread, and for the
most part, those who were not in
agreement with my initial thread,
simply didn't provide any fact to
remove the achievements of Tony and
Anthony.

I read, and taken every dissenting
argument raised, and gave it back
with the respect, reasoning, and
with my ideas not plagued nor dipped
in biases, nor conjectures of a
simple opinion and I didn't see
any facts strong enough to remove
the claims of these highly gifted,
and very talented human beings who
claimed of being the first of
a (5) and (6) modern string bass
that also happens to be the most
appropriate, and appreciated standard
of our modern times.

Also, I was inspired enough to
post such news, and it was never
my intentions to create any
controversy. But, there's always
someone out there who likes to
display their historical muscles,
and they always find a way to
replace the ideas with ideas their
allegiances even when they are incorrect.

Those same individuals, establishes
the same pattern, and they always try
to throw eggs, or squash the integrity of formidable, and admirable people, who are
different from themselves or cultural
orientation, and diversity.

Like the "deduction" comments made
"...nothing new under the Sun..."

Why say this now????

Clearly, Tony and Anthony's
historical claims can't be
smashed by tactics of
over-simplifications;
un-related (5) and (6) string
instruments which were never
used by professional standards;
or "off the mark" conjectures
which has no relevancy to benchmark
above what I had shown.

To say, there were no bias -- then
why would you even need to go beyond
to mention your own racial makeup,
contradicts why your point relevant.

Put race aside, YOU don't need to be
of any racial makeup to know what
is bias or not.

To foster of a greater assistance,
and to have your prayers reserved for me,
and not others is also pretty bias
also, and yet you'd had not proved
why you believe a bias didn't occur?

Lastly, I respect you are a religious
man who's determined to see GOD's face.

However, if you believe God looks
like very handsome white guy pictured
posted everywhere, then I would say
in truth, that's a bias too.

I hope you do pray for me, and not prey
upon my words.

Peace and Love,

Hal

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 21, 2011)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7393
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 1:01 pm:   Edit Post

I prefer to look at people as individuals and not members of larger groups, especially when admiring their accomplishments, spurning their ineptitude or even just observing.

Jimmy Johnson's 5-string bass was delivered in May of 1976. The date construction started was not recorded, but based on the regular lead time back then, it's not unreasonable to think it was several months predating the delivery, possibly even in 1975. I would trust his memory on this detail.

Throughout history there have been instances of people simultaneously and unknowingly working on the same innovations. When the time is ripe for innovation, there's always more than one mind busy around the world. As far as our records show, it was actually Jimmy's father's idea to go down to B. We didn't invent it, we just got the job to build it. The only reason it could be built was that GHS agreed to make the strings for Jimmy.

I would venture in saying, Hal, that a pattern of controversy seems to largely track threads you participate in. Some sage advice my mother gave to me long ago was, "if you think it's everyone else, consider that maybe it isn't."

This thread is being closed. Over the past couple of days, everyone that has wanted to has said their piece. Now if you don't mind, I have some photos to take, some emails to answer, and some phone calls to return.

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