| Author | Message | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 610 Registered: 12-2002 |
 | ||
| rklisme
Advanced Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 281 Registered: 5-2004 |
What do you say but WOW! Rory | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 624 Registered: 10-2003 |
Piano maybe? Wow is right. I can't imagine not getting completely lost on it! John | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 891 Registered: 7-2004 |
Only 11 strings? BFD! hehehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| j_gary
Intermediate Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 177 Registered: 6-2005 |
Spinal Tap alert, good grief, I'm scared! | ||
| george_wright
Junior Username: george_wright Post Number: 50 Registered: 3-2005 |
More pictures and discussion of this bass on this talkbass thread. | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 837 Registered: 7-2003 |
More like an autoharp, maybe? | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 550 Registered: 11-2004 |
It's an impressive looking instrument. I've never been a fan of this kind of thing. Aside from the uniqueness factor, wouldn't it make more sense to have a double neck 5 or 6 string bass/6 string guitar? Rich | ||
| crgaston
Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 55 Registered: 11-2005 |
If you haven't yet, go look at the talkbass thread George posted a link to. There are some pretty amazing shots, and the construction is out if this world. Pretty neat story as to it's origins, too, but you have to read nearly the whole thread to get it. Skip the "that's cool" posts and check the ones where people have written a paragraph or more. | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2004 |
Jean Baudin is a tapmaster from the Novato area. His band is Nuclear Rabbit, and he also works as a soloist. This bass was a gift from a fan of his band. It was worked on by many people, and even has some after-hours employee work in it. One thing that Jean is noted for is playing video game theme music on his extended range basses. | ||
| 88persuader
Intermediate Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 171 Registered: 5-2004 |
Is this played like a Chapman Stick or a bass? I owned a 8 string Conklin and that was hard to get my hand around. I can't imagine playing the low strings on this one. Still ........ what a beauty! | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 169 Registered: 10-2003 |
As a fan of multi-string, uniquely-shaped basses, this is quite spectacular. It's Alembic/John Paul Jones influence is pretty obvious. A Quadruple Omega design with knobby headstock, and double pistol grip upper horn and pistol grip lower horn is something I've never seen before. It's fantastic to look at, but how realistic is it to play? I have large hands, and 5 & 6 & 7 string basses are not a problem for me, but wouldn't you have to be Shaquille O'Neal to even attempt this neck? My (quite small in comparison) Triple O is almost 12 pounds to carry around...how heavy is this bass? Being an omega design, this is not comfortable to play sitting down, so it would take someone of considerable athletic ability to actually perform with this. Even if Mr. Baudin is tapping on this monster, he must have incredible dexterity to do so. Don't get me wrong, it is an unbelievable instrument, with incredible, Alembic-like craftsmanship, but it looks more like an expensive piece of wall art than an actual working bass. Just my 2 cents...... | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 715 Registered: 6-2002 |
Affectionately known as the HIDEOUS CLAW. | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 64 Registered: 12-2004 |
Jean will be at NAMM 1/19 through 1/22. Here's his Myspace page if anyone wants a listen. BTW, the Hideous Claw has already been dropped a couple of times! | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 582 Registered: 6-2002 |
Ah! So that is what the inlay on the fingerboard says. I was trying to read it and figure it out. I thought it was HOLY COW or something. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1632 Registered: 9-2003 |
My head hurts just looking at that thing...I barely know what to do with four strings! LOL! | ||
| alembic76407
Senior Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 427 Registered: 5-2002 |
if you showed up for an audition with that bass I think I'd have to fire you before you even plugged it in, but what a neat bass | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 583 Registered: 6-2002 |
Do you think it only has 1 truss rod? | ||
| bassfingers
Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 65 Registered: 11-2005 |
Can you say "Repetitive Strain Injury"?.Dela was right with HOLY COW,oy!it's a monster!. Foth's link to Jean Baudin's Myspace site was a revelation.There's a beautiful piece of music by Jean entitled 'Vanishing'.If you haven't already,check it out.There are others but I haven't had time to listen to them yet but I'm looking forward to doing that later.Link to his website http://www.jeanbaudin.com/ to see mov. files of the guy in action. I'd never heard of him 'til today,what a player!.Thanks for the link Foth. Best Wishes, Simon. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3026 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice video! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1633 Registered: 9-2003 |
I'll agree. IMHO, Baudin is a bass-playing version of Michael Hedges in some ways. Too bad Michael is no longer with us...I'd have loved to see him take a crack at that 11-string! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 571 Registered: 9-2002 |
I really am at the same blank spot in my mind looking at this as I am every time I see one of these . . . it's like a UFO sighting: I know I saw SOMETHING, I just don't know what it was! What exactly do you DO with these things? Do you play gigs with them in cover bands? Are these strictly solo instruments? Are they for really 'out there' bands that are just way past my knowledge experience? NAMM show novelties? It's surely an impressive instrument (like Trip's ALEMBIC), I'm just at a loss to even begin to know what I would do with one. Though it would be a gas to drop by the music store and try to explain the set of strings I need . . . Somebody tell me where to start educating myself to these instruments. And the number for a really good hand therapist! J o e y | ||
| bassfingers
Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 66 Registered: 11-2005 |
Hi Joey, If you go here http://www.jeanbaudin.com/ and click on the 1st item.(The words "Here's a better version" highlighted in yellow).It's a video clip of Msr Baudin playing part of the theme from Super Mario.Mighty impressive as he makes it look like a walk in the park!.He's using a different 11 string to the one above. Gotta hand it to the man,he's damned good!.Check it out and let us know what you think. Best Wishes, Simon. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1637 Registered: 9-2003 |
Again, great playing! Scroll down, however, and you'll see a "modified" 6-string fretless Epic. While the wooden TRC isn't too bad...the EMG's with the custom wood trim rings almost made me cry! EMG's are better than Alembic's electronics? Arrrrgggggh! LOL! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2236 Registered: 9-2002 |
Yep ...I saw that one too! For me it just indicates that the man is used to a certain sound that he wants to reproduce! I can imagine that -being used to the sound of those EMG's- it can be shocking to get anither sound from a bass ...the bass is build by Alembic so ...that will not be the issue ...but those PU's. So they are swapped. I don't think it is a thing of "good or bad", it is a thing of "I have a sound I am happy with and I'll stick to it, though I DO like the looks of an Alembic" Just an idea. Paul TBO | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 894 Registered: 7-2004 |
Eleven strings and Novak fan frets too! Just to play game boy music? My kid can do that on his Nintendo DS! (nyuk, nyuk) Seriously though, this guy is scary good. Bill, tgo | ||
| bassfingers
Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 68 Registered: 11-2005 |
Hey Bill, I'm sorry,I shoulda warned ya!!. Saw the Epic but didn't want to upset anyone of a sensitive disposition.I'm seeking counselling over it and considering legal action. ;o) Best Wishes, Simon. | ||
| ajdover
Advanced Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 302 Registered: 11-2003 |
I'm sure Mr. Baudin has his uses for this instrument, and to each his own and all that. Indeed, I wish I had the chops Jean has. However ... Workmanship aside (which is a thing of beauty, BTW), I think it's quite useless for most. Or at least someone who lacks Jean's considerable skills and talent. I mean, I personally find 5 strings difficult to swallow, but 11 strings? Where other than a solo gig would you really need or want something like this? Again, Jean uses it since he feels he needs it (and, damn, he's got skills!), it works for him, fine. But I just don't get the whole extended range thing, particularly if we're talking 7, 8, 9, and up. I mean if you want that, you might as well play guitar. Again, only my opinion, we all know about those ("everyone's got 'em and they all stink! :-)) Not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, though. If an 11 or 20 or 150-string is your thing, have at it. It works for you and that's all that matters. Me? I'm sticking with my fours. I'm about as confused as I want to be with them. An 11 string would probably drive me to shear madness! :-) alan | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1643 Registered: 9-2003 |
I'm with you. That the guy is a killer player is a no-brainer. The Michael Hedges-style two-hand tapping solo stuff is great...but the Nuclear Rabbit/EOS stuff is just not my cup of tea. Why you would need more than 4-6 strings for that type of music is beyond me! Maybe that's why he's a killer player and I'm an Electrical Engineer with lousy chops, LOL! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 67 Registered: 9-2005 |
I haven't heard it, but it seems like it would be very difficult to play, for obvious visual reasons. It just looks to be extremely wieldy and something that surely couldn't be played with the same facility as a 6 string, let's say. I can wield my 8 string Europa bass as well as a 6-string or 7-string, but I think it's near the limits of how wide a fingerboard an instrument can have without comprimising playability. When I commissioned my bass, I DID NOT have a "have the most strings" mentality; I'd always wanted a 7-string with a 3 octave neck, and I already had an Alembic 6-string that was easy for me to play, so I was confident an 7-string would pose no challenge. I just ended up having them add an extra string on/into their spec for a 7-string neck/fingerboard dimensions, and had 5 less frets on the fingerboard (31 instead of 36). But I DID consider, actually, a 10-string with 40 frets. I dismissed the concept, however, precisely because I concluded there was NO WAY that such a bass would be "normally playable"; I'd have to "trade off" a LOT for the extra range -and it wasn't worth it... for me. I actually think now that I could handle that (my 10 string idea) bass. I've got big hands, and if the fingerboard was just a little wider with 2 extra strings crammed in, it would be pretty playable. But I wouldn't have much interest. The range I have now is perfect, and I've little need for any more. The biggest appeal for me of additional strings is specifically just the coolness of an extra low string (or 2). I must say I'm intrigued by the idea of a low F# string. I can't imagine existence without a low B string -especially after having a low B on an Alembic bass with ebony neck laminates and an extra-long scale. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 574 Registered: 9-2002 |
King Maybe that's the deal: I approach things with a normal hand-position playing style. I doubt even Stanley with those hands could reach around Mr. Baudin's axe in a regular fashion. And I don't tap (or make charts for my GameBoy tunes) so I guess it would just rule me out, but he's one hell of a player and my hat's off to him, big time. HOWEVER . . . a six with F#BEADG, hmmmm . . . . you'd think the low F#'s would be illegal in California, inadvertantly setting off the seisomgraphs! I love my low Cs and Ds, I bet low G would be BiG FuN! What guage would you use for low F# ? J o e y | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 575 Registered: 9-2002 |
And another thing . . . He's obviously spent buckets of money on these things, at least from what I see on that web page. WHY doesn't he have an ALEMBIC besides the Epic 6? But then, I'd have serious fears for my safety regarding me marching into Susan's office and asking her to inlay HIDEOUS CLAW into my new axe!!! J o e y | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3030 Registered: 5-2002 |
When you watch the video, it seems to me that if you master his two hand tapping technique, then a fretboard that wide isn't all that difficult to play. And as for usefulness, if you can play the type of stuff that he's playing in the video, and if you live in an area with lots of restaurants, you can probably be working five nights a week doing solos and duets. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 629 Registered: 10-2003 |
Joey, Most folks who use a low F# string it with a .150 string... John | ||
| crgaston
Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 57 Registered: 11-2005 |
Where do you buy a .150 string? | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 630 Registered: 10-2003 |
Conklin sells them, and even sells a low C#!! http://www.conklinguitars.com/accessories.html John | ||
| bigideas
Member Username: bigideas Post Number: 66 Registered: 1-2004 |
if i understand correctly, the hideous claw was a gift from a nuclear rabbit fan. Jean also has a 12 string, fan fret JP bass on the way. | ||
| crgaston
Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2005 |
Anybody else notice a 500 pound gorilla around here? Me either. | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2005 |
Where's Harpo when we need him? | ||
| the_8_string_king
Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 70 Registered: 9-2005 |
I'll tell you guys a little secret. I've come to the conclusion after research and experimenting -call me a revolutionary or a crackpot if you will, but here it is- that the ultimate and most logical tuning for the electric bass is to tune it in major 3rds. If I ever got another custom bass, it would be ANOTHER 8-string tuned in major 3rds from a low G# (a minor 3rd below the normal low B) to a high C (the normal high C). Rangewise, it would be like a 6-string with 3 extra notes, but these notes ARE significant. Tuning the bass in 3rds in awesome, and has tremendous advantages. The scale and arpeggio pattern are simplified from 5 string sequences to merely 3 string sequences. So if one played a 3 string bass (G# C E) and then acquired a 6-string bass (G# C E G# C E) there would be no learning issue at all! And notes are segregated so every fret has just 3 notes, so 4 frets covers all the notes -the entire CHROMATIC range- and shifting becomes unnecessary. If you ever experiment with this, you'll quickly find that all your scales and arpeggios... EVERYTHING just becomes INCREDIBLY easy and intuitive -and the more one understands the math/language of music, the more this is so. If you alternate your 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 fingers while switching up or down in strings, for example, you'll be playing straight whole steps, in other words, whole tone scales. But you can virtually play ANY scale that you can conceive (with respects to 1/2 and whole steps) instantly because this tuning results in the ultimate intuitive layout. I almost had my 8-string built this way, but the desire for the extended range and the traditional/conventional tuning swayed me. I've thought about having it converted, but I'd have to scrap the fingerboard and have a new one with position markers every 4 frets (and new L.E.D.s to match) which would cost a bundle, plus I've gotton used to this bass for what it IS, and wouldn't want to lose that. But as a separate instrument, an 8-string such as I've described would be awesome. Another cool thing about it is that you basically just tighten your low B a 1/2 step to make it the low C, and this extra tightness adds significant focus and clarity -especially if one also has a 35 inch scale with ebony laminates. Also, the low B is already near the limits of functionality, and each note lower you go with anything beyond that REALLY increases various issues; a low G# is MUCH easier to pull off than a low F# -it'll sound much better in whatever scale length, and it'll work with a scale length that wouldn't cut it for the low F# string. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 633 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mark, I've actually tried that! Years ago, mind you, and I quit because I was doing a fair amount of sight reading at the time and it was a total mindf***. I had completely forgotten about it. It would be significantly more practical to do in the modern world with the prevalence of 6,7 and 8 string basses. I may have to try this again at some point and if I can get my hands on another bass for testing purposes (I'm giving the Lakland to my 12-year old daughter - it would be bad form to do this to it first). My inspiration came from playing a Chapman Stick, which seemed to me to require more shifting of positions to play phrases, rather than less, and from a Guitar Player article on Eastern 17-, 19- and 21-tone scales which piqued my interest in unconventional approaches. I seem to have an affinity for the useless, but such is life... John | ||
| rogueman
New Username: rogueman Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2006 |
That's what came to mind also, 88. I just got thru turning "The Touch" on cd. That's the only way I could play it. I got 5 on a 4 neck! But it is a beauty! It's got a nice finish and a horn on it like my Rogue. How many octaves? |
