i've seen many 8 string and 12 string basses (strings doubled or tripled, not seperate) but what about the 10 string basses? i've only seen two, the Dean and the Godlyke. why aren't there many more companies making a 10 string?
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10 strings
- Thread starter Diablo666Bass
- Start date
With the caveat that these instruments aren't "basses" anymore than a piano should be considered a bass instrument. A 12-string bass has as many octaves as a full 88-key grand piano. Low notes are actually only a small part of their total range.
But as for "good idea", I suppose the only limitations are the same as with pianos: they're heavy, bulky, and hard to tune.
But as for "good idea", I suppose the only limitations are the same as with pianos: they're heavy, bulky, and hard to tune.
I had a Dean 10 string for awhile. I liked the sound pretty much.....electronics could have been better.
But it had MAJOR neck dive. Thus it was returned.
But it had MAJOR neck dive. Thus it was returned.
I see no problem at all with non-doubled ERB's. Any octaved basses (to me) just seem silly, however.
I have mucho respect for many of the dudes on here playing ERB's (Stew, Jean, John, Ed, etc.). I wish I had the skillz... But the whole octaved thing is just silly to me. Shy of a small tracking issue, an octaver would handle the job quite effectively.
I have mucho respect for many of the dudes on here playing ERB's (Stew, Jean, John, Ed, etc.). I wish I had the skillz... But the whole octaved thing is just silly to me. Shy of a small tracking issue, an octaver would handle the job quite effectively.
I enjoy double & triple course instruments very much; I play a Hamer Chaparral 8 string (see avatar) and I adore it. Wanting to play this kind of instrument comes down to personal preference, and yes, there is sacrifice. They are quite neck heavy and rather difficult to play, but DAMN, it is amazing when you hear the sound. Any yes, you can certainly approximate the sound with a pedal, but it is no way the same thing. The real tone of double & triple course instruments is far more three dimensional and rich.
As for 10 string (and 15 strings), I say hell yes!
As for 10 string (and 15 strings), I say hell yes!
He is talking about basses with two or three strings per course, not a bass with 10 or 12 individually played strings.
It's a good idea if you want to play them and have a use for them. I couldn't see myself playing or having a use for them.
I think what some of the people are not grasping is the concept of the 10-string the way you are talking about. You mean a 5-string bass with octave strings on each, like an 8-string bass, or 12-string guitar.
Now that that's out of the way. I recently bought a Dean Edge Hammer 10. I was blown away by the sound of this thing. As Tommy posted it does have some major neck dive, but I can live with that. The sound of this thing is THICK. I've had pitch shifter pedals, and octave pedals, but none of them could accuratly recreate the overall tone of this beast. It is not an every song bass, but on some of the stuff my band plays it fits in very nicely.
I think it's a great idea!
P.S. I am currently fighting off a pretty bad cold, or mild flu, and I'm trying to drown it in scotch. If I make little since that's the reason. My opinnion is still the same though...
Now that that's out of the way. I recently bought a Dean Edge Hammer 10. I was blown away by the sound of this thing. As Tommy posted it does have some major neck dive, but I can live with that. The sound of this thing is THICK. I've had pitch shifter pedals, and octave pedals, but none of them could accuratly recreate the overall tone of this beast. It is not an every song bass, but on some of the stuff my band plays it fits in very nicely.
I think it's a great idea!
P.S. I am currently fighting off a pretty bad cold, or mild flu, and I'm trying to drown it in scotch. If I make little since that's the reason. My opinnion is still the same though...
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
Manson guitar,Pedulla and Zon are a few other companies that make 10 string Basses.
Using an octave pedal is not the same as playing an 8,10,12 or 15 string Bass,the sound is pretty generic compare to the real thing.
At this point I don't trust the poll results to be accurate since most seem to think that the OP is referring to single course 10 string Basses.
Using an octave pedal is not the same as playing an 8,10,12 or 15 string Bass,the sound is pretty generic compare to the real thing.
At this point I don't trust the poll results to be accurate since most seem to think that the OP is referring to single course 10 string Basses.
So JPJ is silly? dUg is silly? Mark Egan is silly? Noel Redding? Are Bajo sexto players silly too?
So long as you never played chords and didn't mind said octaver messing with your sound. Unless you buy a POG, which costs more than the Dean does (although it does a few different things to the Dean
).I really want a double or triple-coursed bass. It's about the thickness, the organic chorus, and filling out the mids in a sparse band/song. One man's trash is another man's treasure I guess.
On a side note, (relating to the actual thread topic) I think 10's are relatively rare because no-one makes stock strings for them. You have to (AFAIK) buy a custom set. Those sorts of things really put off some people (myself included).
Steve
i say it's a good idea.
one of my GAS instruments is an 8string... as aforementioned, it really fills up the aural space in a sparsely-instrumented musical sitch.
one of my GAS instruments is an 8string... as aforementioned, it really fills up the aural space in a sparsely-instrumented musical sitch.
If you are gassing over an 8-string, you should check out a 10-string.
They are basically the same, except for the added low of the B string. And all I have to say about the B string is 'Holy crap.' Just try it and you will probly say the same thing: THICK!
They are basically the same, except for the added low of the B string. And all I have to say about the B string is 'Holy crap.' Just try it and you will probly say the same thing: THICK!
Don't put words in my mouth or give me the rolly-eyes... I said they were silly TO ME. I at no point called anyone else silly.So JPJ is silly? dUg is silly? Mark Egan is silly? Noel Redding? Are Bajo sexto players silly too?
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
I play a 12string bass and an 8 string bass.
I totally see the point of a 10 string and have considered hunting down a Dean 10 - except a couple of other new basses have got in the way and also I had terrible problems adjusting to the extra string on a 5 string bass and eventually sold the Jazz 5 that I had, primarily due to under-use!!
A doubled low b could sound magnificent.
They do thicken up the sound a lot - in a 3 piece band they could be truly terrific. Just like a lot of other basses, not everyone sees the point, which is fine.
I totally see the point of a 10 string and have considered hunting down a Dean 10 - except a couple of other new basses have got in the way and also I had terrible problems adjusting to the extra string on a 5 string bass and eventually sold the Jazz 5 that I had, primarily due to under-use!!
A doubled low b could sound magnificent.
They do thicken up the sound a lot - in a 3 piece band they could be truly terrific. Just like a lot of other basses, not everyone sees the point, which is fine.
I have an 8, which unfortunately I'm selling to raise money, but I'd get another one in a heartbeat if I had the dough. I had an 8 as my main bass for years and the things just don't sound like anything else.
If I played 5, I'd get a 10, but an 8 works for me.
And no, an octave pedal is nowhere near good enough. Might as well tell the guitarist to get an octave pedal and then they wouldn't need a bass player...
If I played 5, I'd get a 10, but an 8 works for me.
And no, an octave pedal is nowhere near good enough. Might as well tell the guitarist to get an octave pedal and then they wouldn't need a bass player...
I love my 8 and 12-strings. I've played the 12ver for about 4 years now, and finally got an 8 last summer.... Blame Jeff Ament and John paul Jones for this cursed addiction 
I'd considered getting the Dean 10-string, but I figured I should stick to the 8 because I'm more at home on a 4 anyways. I might revise that in the future.
As for why more companies don't make em, the octaved bass market is itself sort of a niche thing anyways....I don't even really know anyone besides JPJ with his Mansons who plays 5x2 or 6x2 basses on a regular basis.
PS kinda funny how many people who responded to this thread obviously didn't read the first post.
I'd considered getting the Dean 10-string, but I figured I should stick to the 8 because I'm more at home on a 4 anyways. I might revise that in the future.
As for why more companies don't make em, the octaved bass market is itself sort of a niche thing anyways....I don't even really know anyone besides JPJ with his Mansons who plays 5x2 or 6x2 basses on a regular basis.
PS kinda funny how many people who responded to this thread obviously didn't read the first post.
