how many strings can you get on a bass that hasn`t been tampered with and what is the most strings you have seen?

hi,

I got an econo p-bass and made it from a four string to a five w/a new nut and bridge and found the strings too close together and the tension on the neck a little brutal. the 'b' was kind of flabby too. I made it back to it's four string way and sold it. that's my only experience w/a five string - maybe ten or eleven years ago.




on bass, watt



Originally posted by Lozenger
how many strings can you get on a bass that hasn`t been tampered with and what is the most strings you have seen?

There is also the option of going up to a stock 6 string bass (One added low string one added high from a conventional 4 string bass). Many major manufacturers make these (Ibanez, Washburn, etc.) I have even seen a 7 string bass (a Conklin Custom Shop deal). Then the next leap would be to an 8 string, which is only slightly larger in neck width than a 4 string and employs the same basic premise as a 12 string guitar. It is a set of standard strings with a second set of strings for an octave above that is strung slightly above and below the main set. Going above that I have even seen 12 string basses, going yet another additional octave above the 8 string. Giving you a root-octave-2nd octave sound. Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam uses these alot, they are made by Hamer. A Hamer 8 string is how he got the chorusy sound for the intro to Jeremy.

hi,

once I played an eight string bass in berlin for a fIREHOSE encore at a gig where a friendly bassist really wanted me to play his machine and it sounded kind of like a piano! we did a cover of public enemy's "sophisticated..." - I think each pair was the root and an octave... I think it was b.c. rich bass.




on bass, watt





Originally posted by renfield808
There is also the option of going up to a stock 6 string bass (One added low string one added high from a conventional 4 string bass). Many major manufacturers make these (Ibanez, Washburn, etc.) I have even seen a 7 string bass (a Conklin Custom Shop deal). Then the next leap would be to an 8 string, which is only slightly larger in neck width than a 4 string and employs the same basic premise as a 12 string guitar. It is a set of standard strings with a second set of strings for an octave above that is strung slightly above and below the main set. Going above that I have even seen 12 string basses, going yet another additional octave above the 8 string. Giving you a root-octave-2nd octave sound. Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam uses these alot, they are made by Hamer. A Hamer 8 string is how he got the chorusy sound for the intro to Jeremy.

I was wondering when 12-strings were going to come up in this thread. :) tom petersson from cheap trick's main thunderboom is usually a hamer 12-string - witness "gonna raise hell" on dream police for a loud-and-clear example of t.p. on the 12.

Originally posted by renfield808
There is also the option of going up to a stock 6 string bass (One added low string one added high from a conventional 4 string bass). Many major manufacturers make these (Ibanez, Washburn, etc.) I have even seen a 7 string bass (a Conklin Custom Shop deal). Then the next leap would be to an 8 string, which is only slightly larger in neck width than a 4 string and employs the same basic premise as a 12 string guitar. It is a set of standard strings with a second set of strings for an octave above that is strung slightly above and below the main set. Going above that I have even seen 12 string basses, going yet another additional octave above the 8 string. Giving you a root-octave-2nd octave sound. Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam uses these alot, they are made by Hamer. A Hamer 8 string is how he got the chorusy sound for the intro to Jeremy.

How about an 18-string? This was made by Vox Humana in the Netherlands. Modulus made one too.

http://www.12stringbass.net/custom4x.jpghttp://www.12stringbass.net/custom5x.jpg

I was wondering when somebody would make a bass that had octaved strings based off of a 5 or 6 string. It was only a matter of time I suppose.
Crazy!! I'd say you won that little competition. Thanks for the info.

whoa,

now this must have one wide neck, huh? damn!




on bass, watt



Originally posted by Fretless12ver
How about an 18-string? This was made by Vox Humana in the Netherlands. Modulus made one too.

http://www.12stringbass.net/custom4x.jpghttp://www.12stringbass.net/custom5x.jpg

Originally posted by watt
whoa,

now this must have one wide neck, huh? damn!

watt,

makes a five-string's neck look like the little bass's, doesn't it? ;)

ceej

ceej,

the little bass (eb-3) has a neck about as wide as a regular one, it's just shorter in length. maybe that's what you meant though, huh (length-wise)? width-wise though, these basses w/all the strings must take a new approach to playing them!!!



on bass,watt





Originally posted by CJ_Marsicano


watt,

makes a five-string's neck look like the little bass's, doesn't it? ;)

ceej

watt,

I was actually thinking width. I haven't had the pleasure of trying your little bass yet (then again, I didn't have the nerve to ask when I saw you in Philly!) so I can't say for sure about neck length. The string spacing and relative neck width on my own pentagon thud staff (fender custom shop 5-string j-bass) isn't much different than my other basses but I think my white kramer focus "project mersh" bass (as I call it for certain reasons) has the longest neck.

ceej

Originally posted by watt
ceej,

the little bass (eb-3) has a neck about as wide as a regular one, it's just shorter in length. maybe that's what you meant though, huh (length-wise)? width-wise though, these basses w/all the strings must take a new approach to playing them!!!



on bass,watt

bill "buddah" dickens plays one of these -a 9 string bass all single strings meaning no octaves

hey,

whoa! what are the notes of each string (if you know)?




on bass, watt



Originally posted by floydbass
bill "buddah" dickens plays one of these -a 9 string bass all single strings meaning no octaves

i have no idea but i would i magine low to high

BEADGBEAD

hmm...

what's stopping him from going to a ten string (and get two whole octaves of open strings!)?




on bass, watt




Originally posted by floydbass
i have no idea but i would i magine low to high

BEADGBEAD

i suppose that the neck is already thick enough i think to stringds would make the neck 1 foot thick near the body if it isint already

hmm...

thick being the neck's front-to-back dimension or what I call it's width, outside the high string to outside the low string?



on bass, watt




Originally posted by floydbass
i suppose that the neck is already thick enough i think to stringds would make the neck 1 foot thick near the body if it isint already

outside high to outside low (width)

whoa!

oh man!




on bass, watt





Originally posted by floydbass
outside high to outside low (width)

Originally posted by watt
hey,

whoa! what are the notes of each string (if you know)?



low to high F#BEADGCFBb

here's a pic-

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=1010417

hi,

I figured as much, other basses that had a string higher than the 'g' one usually made it a 'c' and not a 'b' like a guitar would have it. damn, the 'f#' under the 'b' must be a thick one!

do you know the scale length of the neck (bridge to nut)? do you know the neck width at the nut? at the bridge? steroid dimensions!

it looks like he's playing w/a capo, true?




on bass, watt



Originally posted by The Mock Turtle Regulator


low to high F#BEADGCFBb

here's a pic-

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=1010417

watt,

f# is probably as low as one could go without making people sh*t themselves.

i don't know what the dimensions of that neck is, but just looking at it is giving me hand cramps! :eek:

I think that might be a mic stand or wire casting a shadow - I've never seen a capo that wide anywhere (unless the capo itself is custom made!)

ceej

Originally posted by watt
hi,

I figured as much, other basses that had a string higher than the 'g' one usually made it a 'c' and not a 'b' like a guitar would have it. damn, the 'f#' under the 'b' must be a thick one!

do you know the scale length of the neck (bridge to nut)? do you know the neck width at the nut? at the bridge? steroid dimensions!

it looks like he's playing w/a capo, true?




on bass, watt



:eek:

re. what looks like a capo, I think that might be a hair tie, used to damp unplayed strings (good for tapping)- if so it must be stretched pretty tight on that huge neck.

BTW it's a Conklin http://www.conklinguitars.com/

from the pic it doesn't look very practical- judging by the size of Bill Dickens' hands he would have great difficulty fretting the low F# string.

IIRC John Turner was saying that BD had stopped using this bass due to its excessive weight (purpleheart body).

I'm not sure about the scale length, but the first fret distance looks pretty big, so I'd guess 36in.

whoa!

holy smokes! get me the little eb-3!




on bass, watt




Originally posted by The Mock Turtle Regulator
re. what looks like a capo, I think that might be a hair tie, used to damp unplayed strings (good for tapping)- if so it must be stretched pretty tight on that huge neck.

BTW it's a Conklin http://www.conklinguitars.com/

from the pic it doesn't look very practical- judging by the size of Bill Dickens' hands he would have great difficulty fretting the low F# string.

IIRC John Turner was saying that BD had stopped using this bass due to its excessive weight (purpleheart body).

I'm not sure about the scale length, but the first fret distance looks pretty big, so I'd guess 36in.

Originally posted by watt
hi,

once I played an eight string bass in berlin for a fIREHOSE encore at a gig where a friendly bassist really wanted me to play his machine and it sounded kind of like a piano! we did a cover of public enemy's "sophisticated..." - I think each pair was the root and an octave... I think it was b.c. rich bass.




on bass, watt


Good lord, I have that.... Totem Pole, right?

Originally posted by CJ_Marsicano
f# is probably as low as one could go without making people sh*t themselves.


Jonas Helborg has a 10 string with the tuning starting one octave below standard E.
(E,A,D,G,C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db)

Reggie Wooten also has a 10 string, but I think he starts at low F#.
(F#,B,E,A,D,G,C,F,Bb,Eb)

I think "Jauqo III-X", and a couple of others, are working on basses with a low C# (below low F#). :eek:

i used to work for carl thompson years ago and we made an 8 string. no doubles. can't remember the tuning but I believe it was a low B up...the highest string was like a .65 guitar string, seemed a little hard to play when i noodled on it and didn't have a great response...don't get me wrong it wasn't by matter of the instrument which was made impeccably as carl is an amazing instrument maker, but rather the strings really didn't lend themselves to "bass" playing. i usually go the other way and remember a story tony levin told about having music man make him a "3" string bass on a 4 string neck(E,A,D)...seems like an interesting idea. i also really prefer the shorter scales..you can really fly around on those little guys.

j

Originally posted by bassguild
i used to work for carl thompson years ago and we made an 8 string. no doubles. can't remember the tuning but I believe it was a low B up...the highest string was like a .65 guitar string

I think you mean .0065 since .65 would be a HUGE string (most B strings are in the .13 [.130] range). Even a .065 would be too thick since the average high C string would only be about .03 [.030] to .035

A light gauge set of guitar strings has a low E at about .042 .

I think if you stayed within normal bass string gauges on a 8 string (unpaired) starting with a low B, by the time you got to the high Bb string, you would be in the .015 to .02 [.020] range, which would be about the same as a G string in that same set of light gauge guitar strings.

I got his video "the future of Bass" where he demos that monster bass, he solos for ages on it, I was wondering if anybody was moved by what he was playing, cos I sure wasnt....

Hey its just my opinion!

yeah you're right...i can't remember it was a while ago but it was a pretty small/thin string. didnt sound very good, again not for lack of design :)

j

Originally posted by lukaas
I got his video "the future of Bass" where he demos that monster bass, he solos for ages on it, I was wondering if anybody was moved by what he was playing, cos I sure wasnt....

Hey its just my opinion!

Ditto. Technically amazing in what he's able to physically play, but boring.

hi,

like they say, "different pokes for different soaks" or something like that.




on bass, watt


Originally posted by lukaas
I got his video "the future of Bass" where he demos that monster bass, he solos for ages on it, I was wondering if anybody was moved by what he was playing, cos I sure wasnt....

Hey its just my opinion!

Are there guitar strings on that 18-string bass?

Originally posted by yournamehere
Are there guitar strings on that 18-string bass?

well sorta the octave strings for all the strings are in the same octaves as a regular guitar so yeah you could say that but you couldnnt get regular guitar strings and put em on that bass, because they arent long enough

Theres a company that makes a line of guitar/basses. I can't remember the name. They are a 6 string guitar with 2 bass strings on the low side of the neck. I think it's short scale bass. The idea is one player can play lead and rhythm at the same time... I think there may be a few soloists out ther recording on them but I've never seen one in person.

In adidtion to what people already mentioned Hamer makes a 8 string octave base. It's just like a 12 string guitar. I know a guy who plays his on ocasion to match the 12 string guitar on songs...

Originally posted by llomens
Theres a company that makes a line of guitar/basses. I can't remember the name. They are a 6 string guitar with 2 bass strings on the low side of the neck. I think it's short scale bass. The idea is one player can play lead and rhythm at the same time... thats a conklin http://www.conklinguitars.com/facebass/facebass7/basstar7descrip.html

ooo, ooo, ooo, i know this one :)

http://lordonly.net/Images/John/jtfamilyx2.jpg

dig the couch, eh? :D

Originally posted by john turner
ooo, ooo, ooo, i know this one :)

http://lordonly.net/Images/John/jtfamilyx2.jpg

dig the couch, eh? :D

Wouldn't it have been easier just to get a piano to go next to the couch? :p ;)

piano doesn't go low enough :)

john,

bet there's a synth that does!





on bass, watt





Originally posted by john turner
piano doesn't go low enough :)

Originally posted by watt
john,

bet there's a synth that does!





on bass, watt







yeah, there sure is - in fact, with the synth pickups on my bass, i can play that synth bass on my bass, along with regular bass, for all one's bowel-regularity needs :D.

Originally posted by john turner
piano doesn't go low enough :)

Sure it does!
Cut the legs off.:D

Originally posted by PhatBasstard


Sure it does!
Cut the legs off.:D

Literalist:rolleyes:

:D

i know John has seen this bass. it is tuned low C# f# B E A D G C F Bb Eb the low C#(17 hz) is a .181 and the highest string is .007.

I know it looks odd ,but it weighs 15 pounds and has a very flat neck. It really is easy to play

Originally posted by Ninestring
i know John has seen this bass. it is tuned low C# f# B E A D G C F Bb Eb the low C#(17 hz) is a .181 and the highest string is .007.

I know it looks odd ,but it weighs 15 pounds and has a very flat neck. It really is easy to play

Geez, Gary. You could play Poker on that fingerboard. :D

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=1299540

A friend of mine went to NAMM and tooka pic of a full 12 string bass, the neck is probably eight inches wide, I will post it as soon as I can.

I attended a NAMM show some years ago when Modulus Graphite had the above-mentioned 18-string bass on display, and was accorded the . . privilege? . . .of playing it. Six sets of three strings each, and a W-I-D-E neck . . yeow. I remember vividly that the challenge of fretting three strings at a time (root+2 octave strings in the lowest 4 courses) was so great that even trying something like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was quite a trick.

I also remember being told that it had been built purely as a demonstration of the great strength of their graphite necks, with no thought that anybody in his right mind would actually want to play it.

I attended a NAMM show some years ago when Modulus Graphite had the above-mentioned 18-string bass on display, and was accorded the . . privilege? . . .of playing it. Six sets of three strings each, and a W-I-D-E neck . . yeow. I remember vividly that the challenge of fretting three strings at a time (root+2 octave strings in the lowest 4 courses) was so great that even trying something like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was quite a trick.

I also remember being told that it had been built purely as a demonstration of the great strength of their graphite necks, with no thought that anybody in his right mind would actually want to play it.

Actually, if it's the same bass (Modulus 18 string) I saw, it was originally built for Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick, who found it too difficult to play. It then ended up in the huge collection of the late Allen Woody. Who knows where it is now.