Considering going to an 8-string bass...

[BritFunk]

My Fellow Enthusiasts...

After years of funk and dance music, I now find myself back in a rock and roll band. We're playing three-piece, and I have a lot of space to fill up on bass in addition to singing duties.

I have found myself playing octaves a lot while the guitarist solos, etc., and it helps fill out the music a good deal. As there is a practical limit as to how fast I can move octaves about the fretboard, I was thinking seriously about adding an 8-string bass to the arsenal for some of the material we're doing. Not that I intend to play it exclusively, but there are some songs I think it would work well on to add some cojones to the songs.

I suppose the questions I put to you fellows already tackling these 8-string toys:

How well do these basses generally play fingerstyle? I do not play with a pick very often and have no plans to start anytime soon.

How well do they fill up space in a mix compared to a conventional four-string?

Is there a significant difference in hand fatigue playing an 8-string over a conventional 4? (I'm not all that concerned about overall neck width, etc. - I play a five string often enough that the neck would have to be insanely wide to be an issue.)

Suggestions for a quality, yet inexpensive, 8-string? Yes, I know that often these two are often mutually exclusive, but I thought I would ask anyway. I have a local Schecter dealer and have thought about just ordering one from there, but wanted to see what my options were and hopefully hear from some real-world players before taking the plunge.

Is it worth consideration to just convert an existing four-string to an eight? I realize there would be quite a bit more truss rod stress...

Thanks for any information you could pass on to me!

----
Kurt

[ggvicviper]

How about the ESP LTD B-208FM?

I had it for a little while. A kinda cool instrument. I think I would prefer a 12-string more one day.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...amed-maple-top

[BritFunk]

My Friend,

Originally Posted by ggvicviper

How about the ESP LTD B-208FM?

I had it for a little while. A kinda cool instrument. I think I would prefer a 12-string more one day.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...amed-maple-top

That was one of a few I have been looking at, along with the Schecter Stiletto Studio-8 and the Dean Edge 8. The Dean is getting at the forefront of my mind, partially due to my already having a Dean Edge 4-string that I really like. How does the ESP play/sound?

Many thanks for the suggestion!

----
Kurt

[Immigrant]

I wanted an eight once. But I also wanted a 10, a 12, etc...

I bought an ElectroHarmonix POG instead. Cheaper than a bunch of basses (or one) and way more versatile, IMO.

[NecroticImbecil]

Originally Posted by BritFunk

How well do these basses generally play fingerstyle?

How well do they fill up space in a mix compared to a conventional four-string?

Is there a significant difference in hand fatigue playing an 8-string over a conventional 4?

Suggestions for a quality, yet inexpensive, 8-string?

Is it worth consideration to just convert an existing four-string to an eight? I realize there would be quite a bit more truss rod stress...

----
Kurt

In my experience, for me with the 8 strings I have played:

1. Some adjustment required from 4 string, but not much. I don't have to think when switching to 8 from 4.

2. Fill more space, sort of like a clean guitar doubling your lines. Lightning fast virtuoso licks might me harder to pull off without sounding muddled. I don't know, I'm not capable of them on any bass.

3. Depends on your hands and setup. I have small hands and prefer light strings and very low action. Haven't noticed increased fatigue but I haven't played an 8 string for more than an hour without a break. I would have trouble playing for any length of time an 8 set up the way most new basses are; cables for strings, 3 miles off the fretboard. Low tension, low action means less work.

4. I haven't priced them in ages. When I first got into 8 strings, the Dean was the only one readily available. Once setup the way I like, it sounded quite good and played fairly well.

5. It can be done. Using lower tension strings would help minimize added stress on the neck. The strings would be closer together on a converted 4, but my current 8 string is basically a factory converted 4 (BC Rich). They used the same bass, with a different bridge and tuner arrangement. Haven't had a problem, but it is a short scale bass and I'm a short scale human. A 5 string converted to 8 would give you more room.

[Itzayana]

Never had an 8 string bass but I have had 12 string guitars and keeping them in tune is a major distraction. Also much slower to play solo lines.
Can you get close to the same sound with an octave generator?

[TRichardsbass]

The new Hagstroms are very good eight strings. Give one a try.

You will never be the Yngwie Malmsteen on 8 or 12 string bass. If you are pedaling and making normal standard runs it will be okay. I have found that it is a big adjustment to get "clean" fingering at first, and you absolutely have to put the four string away and play the eight only. However, once you get the hang it will seem second nature.

I find playing with a pick is easier and helps get the most sound out of the 8 or 12. Playing finger style will work but you will have to adjust your attack and sweep the strings a bit more.

Listen to Cheap Trick's "live at Budokan" album. That is the 12 string at its all time best. An 8 will sound almost the same.

[TRichardsbass]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=soEYD...%3DsoEYDRLdmEI

Not the greatest but here is my close friend Kenny Aaronson at this years NAMM trying out the Hag HB-8.

[BritFunk]

My Friend,

Originally Posted by Itzayana

Never had an 8 string bass but I have had 12 string guitars and keeping them in tune is a major distraction. Also much slower to play solo lines.
Can you get close to the same sound with an octave generator?

I have thought about that, but every octave generator I have tried thus far has pretty much sucked for tracking. It would admittedly be a nice, neat, cheaper answer to this problem. Can anyone suggest one that tracks really well? Glitching drives me insane. I tend to play multiple notes simultaneously quite a lot, as well as sustained harmonics over a root note - these are the things that tend to create major issues with octave pedals...

----
Kurt

[BassIsFun17]

what about godlyke?

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by BritFunk

I suppose the questions I put to you fellows already tackling these 8-string toys:

How well do these basses generally play fingerstyle? Quite well, thank you. I play my 8-string basses probably 90% of the time w/ fingers only.

How well do they fill up space in a mix compared to a conventional four-string? Quite well, thank you. Perhaps too well.

Is there a significant difference in hand fatigue playing an 8-string over a conventional 4? Yes, I find my left (fretting) hand gets pretty beat up if I do an entire set on the 8-string.

Suggestions for a quality, yet inexpensive, 8-string? Sorry, I haven't tried anything that might fit that description. I've played inexpensive 8's, and quality 8's.

Is it worth consideration to just convert an existing four-string to an eight? If you're talking about getting one of those OctaPlus Conversion Kits...eh, I dunno. I had one of my basses converted to an 8-string, but that involved getting an entire custom-built neck, so I didn't have to worry about string tension.

[Jean Baudin]

Originally Posted by BritFunk

My Friend,



I have thought about that, but every octave generator I have tried thus far has pretty much sucked for tracking. It would admittedly be a nice, neat, cheaper answer to this problem. Can anyone suggest one that tracks really well? Glitching drives me insane. I tend to play multiple notes simultaneously quite a lot, as well as sustained harmonics over a root note - these are the things that tend to create major issues with octave pedals...

----
Kurt

Try a EHX POG2 or the dumbed-down MicroPOG. The POG2 has more advantages (more control, presets) but they are essentially the same. You can play chords and low notes and it will not glitch.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Jean Baudin

Try a EHX POG2 or the dumbed-down MicroPOG. The POG2 has more advantages (more control, presets) but they are essentially the same. You can play chords and low notes and it will not glitch.

That's been my experience with the MicroPOG.

[drewfx]

I would say that an 8 is a somewhat different instrument that you have to adapt to take best advantage of, but I'm talking musically more than technically. It can take up a LOT of space, fits in differently and not everything you might think would work better on it actually works all that well.

You can definitely play it fingerstyle, but this works better if you don't pluck it too close to the bridge. And you have to be careful about the extra strings on ringing out undesirably: normally if you pluck, say, the D string fingerstyle your finger comes to rest on the A string and mutes it, but on an 8 the higher octave A will ring on, or even start ringing if your follow through causes the low A to hit the octave string.

Doesn't feel too much different than a 4, but your fretting hand fingertips do need to cover 2 strings at once evenly. Also, if you tend pluck the strings hard like I do, the pairs of strings can sometime buzz against each other in a bad way on the E and A.

But none of this technical stuff is a huge deal - unless you're one of those guys who "plays the way they play" and needs the instrument to adapt to that.

I have the Schecter BTW and am pretty happy with it, but may try replacing the PU's one of these days (more a matter of taste than a "problem").

[HolmeBass]

Another vote for octaver, and maybe some fuzz or OD?

[BritFunk]

My Friends,

A lot of really excellent information posted here reflecting a number of varying opinions. Food for thought, which is really the best thing at the end of the day.

@Drewfx - I'm not worrying about needing to change my touch for a particular instrument - I play a lot of different basses and adapt pretty quickly. I do tend to be a back-by-the-bridge player on conventional four-stringed basses, so it will require some adjustment I am sure. I appreciate the fair warning about the several caveats - it could save me immeasurable frustration.

First I'll likely seek out a MicroPOG - that might be the least-expensive and most effective way to start. I'm trusting you folks on the tracking issues - there are several of the better pedals I haven't had the chance to play with yet.

@Holmebass - As far as adding distortion/overdrive, I thought about it but I generally don't care for my bass overdriven - my tone is sparkly-clean and bright to the point of being obnoxious by itself. It settles into the band well, but with the amount of frequency spectrum the guitar is taking up I am concerned that if I don't keep the bass pretty clean it might start competing with him, and I am pretty sure my SWR LA15 won't be able to compete with his Mesa half-stack.

Thanks a million to everyone who responded with information!

----
Kurt

[NecroticImbecil]

It seems to me that an octave up effect on a 4 string bass is just as good a replacement for an 8 string bass as an octave down effect on a guitar is for a 4 string bass.

[12stringbassist]

Originally Posted by BritFunk

Suggestions for a quality, yet inexpensive, 8-string?

I have the Dean rhapsody 8. You can't go wrong for the price.

Originally Posted by BritFunk

How well do these basses generally play fingerstyle? I do not play with a pick very often and have no plans to start anytime soon.

They are quite good fingerstyle (easier than a 12 obviously) and the slightly wider spacing between pairs of strings makes it easier to get finger positioning right.

Originally Posted by BritFunk

How well do they fill up space in a mix compared to a conventional four-string?

Obvioulsy, you get the octave note as well, plus some overtones going on. They can sound huge if your bass rig can emphasise the range it's putting out.

Originally Posted by BritFunk

Is there a significant difference in hand fatigue playing an 8-string over a conventional 4? (I'm not all that concerned about overall neck width, etc. - I play a five string often enough that the neck would have to be insanely wide to be an issue.)

You do get used to it fairly easily and I'd say it's not a lot different than if you're using a 5er.

Originally Posted by BritFunk

Is it worth consideration to just convert an existing four-string to an eight? I realize there would be quite a bit more truss rod stress...

I'd just buy the Dean instead of butchering a good 4.

[Rob Martinez]

Waterstone TP 8 string bass, excellent instrument, sounds great.

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by NecroticImbecil

It seems to me that an octave up effect on a 4 string bass is just as good a replacement for an 8 string bass as an octave down effect on a guitar is for a 4 string bass.

Talk about "damning with faint praise"!