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3 String bass

#22
silky smoove said:
There was a one string Plasma on the Sandberg site a while back, so it can certainly be done :)

EDIT: So, how would a 3-string bass play into the whole "Jaco only needed 4 strings" argument? :D
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It would change to the "Name That Tune" challenge...

"I can play Teen Town with only 3 Strings..."

"Oh Yea, I can play Donna Lee with only 2 strings and 3 fingers on each hand...."
 
#23
Alowishus said:
I just dont get 3 stringed basses, could someone explain to me why they're desirable?
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For me it is like getting a bass with more strings then you are use to or using a odd tuning; it just makes you think different, which can lead to new ideas and such. Try to play your bass using only three strings.

I have a Frankenfretless type bass which I am always trying odd tunings and changing the number of strings, so it has been strung up, 4, 5, 6, 3, 6 strung as a 4 with doubled 1st and octave 4th, 6 strung as a 4 with doubled 1st and 2nd and so on. Most notable tunings have been; dadg & ddadgg [piccolo], Adgc & aAdgcc [tenor], EAdgbe, bdgcf, EAdg, FcGcc, BEA, EAD and right now it is bead [tenor] :D ;)
 
#25
Alowishus said:
I just dont get 3 stringed basses, could someone explain to me why they're desirable?

PS, im not trying to start anything, I just would like to know.
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The G string is so little used that it is quite common for 5 string users to tune a 4 string to BEAD, and miss off the G. This is the same thing, but with 3 strings (unless someone wants to start a discussion about dropping off the E string)
 
#27
The Tony Levin's 3 stringed bass was supposed to be used with the Funky Fingers (the distance between each string was more than ordinary). I really couldn't utilize a 3 string bass guitar (I prefer a 4).
 
#28
silky smoove said:
There was a one string Plasma on the Sandberg site a while back, so it can certainly be done :)

EDIT: So, how would a 3-string bass play into the whole "Jaco only needed 4 strings" argument? :D
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Some people might say "There are basses with like 12 strings, but jaco only needed 12. That means a bass with 3 strings is that little bit better" - think This is Spinal Tap.

You could just say your being minimilistic
 
#30
The Antipop said:
next thing we know, everyone buys a 3 or less stringer, then there are more fights between the ERB' the 4 stringer and the Short stringed bassists.
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the Bee 3 above belongs to me...

as well as two bee nine string basses...

you won't find any ERB guys attacking instruments with fewer strings... you will only find them defending the instruments that have more.

;)

my friend Stewart McKinsey dubbed my the 3 string the “LRB”
 
#31
Aaron Noguer said:
For me it is like getting a bass with more strings then you are use to or using a odd tuning; it just makes you think different, which can lead to new ideas and such. Try to play your bass using only three strings.
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interesting Aaron!

I did once take my three and string it as if it were every two strings skipped from a 7 string...

it went B, D, F...

IT WAS VERY FUN, AND VERY CHALLENGING!

at this last namm show Fred from BEE basses, took my three to his hotel room and strung it up weird...

the next day I noticed that it had an octave looking string on the highest of the three...

I asked him what it had been tuned to?

well of course:

B, E, e

it turned out to be a very creative conversation piece at the show to break the ice with folks checking out the BEE basses.

I usually tune it E, A, D… currently it is having the EMG electronics repaired…

I like it a lot especially in E, A, D because my plethora effects pedal seem to perform ideally and at their best on those strings on any other bass…

So it kind of covers my BOOTSY funk side of things when I do solo gigs w/ looping…

Eventually I plan to run it through a momentary switch and have it sitting on a Gracie stand in playing position.
 
#32
Brendan said:
Bee Basses just made a 3 for Greg Bruce Campbell.

Link Removed
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OH man i miss that thing!

Fred of BEE is re-doing the electronics for me...

i have been missing that bass since namm...

including the 3 strings return... i should have 4 new bees in time for the next bozeman bass bash!
 
#34
Here are some bass guitars with 2 strings...

2stringbasses.jpg


Pictures from BunnyBass.com... Here

*EDiT* Oh no... look at this Link Removed

lol! I love this quote... "The E and the A strings are all a bass player should need to do their job properly. If you want to play fancy stuff on the skinny strings then you should be playing lead guitar."
 
#35
5stringDNA said:
3-string basses are nothing new- In fact,3 strings was NORMAL at one time. Bach in Bach and Mozart's day, Basses only had 3 strings, as they were only meant to play the bass part- sometimes stuff went down to a C actually...
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Indeed, double basses were three string until relatively recently in the overall history of the instrument.
 
#38
bikeplate said:
HI

Keith Roscoe did one for Namm a few years ago. Cant remember who for

Rob
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bikeplate said:
HI

I remember. It was for Kim Stone

RobRob
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Yup, it was indeed for Kim.

We're making another one right now for a local guy in Greensboro, an LG 3003 we're calling it. Buckeye Burl on Swamp Ash, Zircote fingerboard (gonna have some whacky inlays, the guy told our neck/inlay guy, Sanders, to "have fun!" :hyper: ). It's really going to be beautiful, can't wait for it to get done. I'll try to remember to post pics of it! :)
 
#40
TheNerdBass said:
Here are some bass guitars with 2 strings...

2stringbasses.jpg


Pictures from BunnyBass.com... Here

*EDiT* Oh no... look at this Link Removed

lol! I love this quote... "The E and the A strings are all a bass player should need to do their job properly. If you want to play fancy stuff on the skinny strings then you should be playing lead guitar."
Click to expand...

I thought that was the bass inspired by the stringed instrument in the Bar on tantooine - starwars

That guy was trying to sell that bass on ebay for a couple thousand if i remember correclty. The sad part is most bassist in my local music scene use only the e string dropped to D and follow the guitarists. Why not make a one string bass? On that note, sometimes I play a 0 String Air bass. Its pretty cool.
 

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