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7 string basses...

Whats your opinion on 7 stringed basses???

  • Crazy! I'd never play one! It 'aint even a BASS anymore!!!

    Votes: 22 19.0%

  • Hmm...

    Votes: 51 44.0%

  • Definately one for the collection but not a long-term relashionship...

    Votes: 25 21.6%

  • Main rocker baby!!!!

    Votes: 18 15.5%

  • carrots

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    116
#61
I owned 3 7-string basses for about 12 years and I sold all of them. They were fancy basses made by Surine. Had a great feel and an amazing sound, but I was never happy with the F string. I tried a ton of strings but I never felt like my F string matched the rest of the set.
I love playing 6-string basses, and then I realized that my 6 string basses only have 5 semi-tones more on the high end than a 4 string. and also 5 semi-tones more on the low end than a 4 string.
I guess when I play a 6 string, I still feel like I am playing bass. I think that the C string helps with clarity when playing melodies and/or solos but pretty much still keeps everything still in the "bass" range.
 
#62
To be honest I think it just gets silly when it gets past 6...I can't even play a 6 (I don't have giant hands), a 7 would be impossible. Come on, how the hell are you gonna mute all those strings? Not worth the effort IMO. You could probably use the neck as a table too. I don't see the use for a low F# (come on, it sounds like crap, and as good as nobody will hear what note you're playing anyway). A high F on the other side would be a guitar string, so you might reconsider your role...
4, 5, 6 strings --> fine
> 6 strings --> starting to get silly...And, while I usually don't care too much about visuals in general, it looks kinda weird (especially if you ask non-bassists)
 
#63
Dellers said:
To be honest I think it just gets silly when it gets past 6...I can't even play a 6 (I don't have giant hands), a 7 would be impossible. Come on, how the hell are you gonna mute all those strings? Not worth the effort IMO. You could probably use the neck as a table too. I don't see the use for a low F# (come on, it sounds like crap, and as good as nobody will hear what note you're playing anyway). A high F on the other side would be a guitar string, so you might reconsider your role...
4, 5, 6 strings --> fine
> 6 strings --> starting to get silly...And, while I usually don't care too much about visuals in general, it looks kinda weird (especially if you ask non-bassists)
Click to expand...

Every point you've made has been disproven. Guys (and girls) with small hands are out there playing 7s. People mute 7s with no issue. People use low F#s with clarity. People maintain their "role" as a bassist while using a high F. Don't think that because you can't do it or understand that it isn't already being done all over the world.
 
#67
Dellers said:
To be honest I think it just gets silly when it gets past 6...I can't even play a 6 (I don't have giant hands), a 7 would be impossible. Come on, how the hell are you gonna mute all those strings? Not worth the effort IMO. You could probably use the neck as a table too. I don't see the use for a low F# (come on, it sounds like crap, and as good as nobody will hear what note you're playing anyway). A high F on the other side would be a guitar string, so you might reconsider your role...
4, 5, 6 strings --> fine
> 6 strings --> starting to get silly...And, while I usually don't care too much about visuals in general, it looks kinda weird (especially if you ask non-bassists)
Click to expand...


Probably wrong thread to get empathy.
 
#68
Bryan R. Tyler said:
Every point you've made has been disproven. Guys (and girls) with small hands are out there playing 7s. People mute 7s with no issue. People use low F#s with clarity. People maintain their "role" as a bassist while using a high F. Don't think that because you can't do it or understand that it isn't already being done all over the world.
Click to expand...
I have no problem with other people playing it whatsoever, don't get me wrong, but that's my thoughts on 7 string (or even more) basses. Fine instruments sure, but more like a combined guitar/bass, than one kind exclusively. Everything is completely subjective of course. BUT, most people are not able to hear the tonal difference between a Low F#, G or an A. That one is more objective, I've tried it out quite a few times on non-musicians. None of them did hear a difference unless I specifically pointed it out (then maybe half of them did hear it). I don't know if Norwegians are special in that matter, but that's the case.
 
#69
There's actually a couple Norwegians on this forum with 7 and 8-string basses :D A lot of the clarity of those low notes often depends on good sound reproduction. I can't distinguish some of those low notes on most of my speakers/mp3 players, but can on my monitors.
 
#71
Bryan R. Tyler said:
There's actually a couple Norwegians on this forum with 7 and 8-string basses :D A lot of the clarity of those low notes often depends on good sound reproduction. I can't distinguish some of those low notes on most of my speakers/mp3 players, but can on my monitors.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think I know of one or two guys (I doubt that there's more than 5-6 people in the whole country with that many strings), but I know a LOT of bassists (half of those won't even touch a 5 string, I love my 5). I don't think any stores have any though, the market here seems non-existing for it. I can personally hear those notes completely fine on my studio headphones, but not in a good way anywhere else (and again, musicians and sound engineers are usually the only ones that can actually understand which note it is anyway). I hear the notes, but not the bottom elsewhere. There's not a lot of places where you can reproduce 20-ish Hz notes properly in general, most people do not have that kind of speakers.
 
#73
john turner said:
oh, and i guess i'm being rude :D

here's my basses. i haven't played anything less than a 7 since 1993.

jtfamilyx3big.jpg
Click to expand...

John, didn't you played a 4 string Conklin at their booth at NAMM?


:hiding:
 
#76
behndy said:
john - i'm out doing Wife Pacification Duties. i'll look at the back of the headstock when i get home.
so, how well does the low F work for you? do you stay off of it except for in very spefic situations? what gauge do you string on the F? it's VERY intersting to me.

thanks!
Click to expand...

i use the low f# on both 8's and now two of my main 7's. my current project is very low f# heavy, and i use the string a lot. it sounds great, but i also use a pa sub biamped with guitar cabs (Stereo too) at about 100 hz or therabouts. the pa sub isn't the best option for super low freqs, but it's better than 90% of the bass cabs i've played for that purpose, and it was a boat load cheaper than the bass cabs that are better at the low freqs. someday i want to upgrade it, but it's not a priority, to be honest - it certainly is good enough right now.
 
#77
I like the concept of both "playing the bass" and also simultaneously "not playing the bass" on the 6 stringers I used to own, and the 7 string which I never owned but have tried.

I really think of it as I've got bass notes and the bass role, but I've got this whole other organ/guitar range of options at the same time. Think: Charlie Hunter. Such options work wonderfully in blues/jazz/rock trios (guitar ones) where if the guitar player is like so many guitars, much of the middle area harmonic information that they would play is left out when they solo. And that's a place which is perfect for the extended range possibilities of instrument.

Some jerk told me he'd "punch me" if I brought a six string bass to a blues jam. The dude hears with his eyes, and judges the book by it's cover (not to mention me, by extension...) without ever having heard one peep of how it would really sound. Sigh... Idiot.
 
#79
Dellers said:
To be honest I think it just gets silly when it gets past 6...I can't even play a 6 (I don't have giant hands), a 7 would be impossible. Come on, how the hell are you gonna mute all those strings? Not worth the effort IMO. You could probably use the neck as a table too. I don't see the use for a low F# (come on, it sounds like crap, and as good as nobody will hear what note you're playing anyway). A high F on the other side would be a guitar string, so you might reconsider your role...
4, 5, 6 strings --> fine
> 6 strings --> starting to get silly...And, while I usually don't care too much about visuals in general, it looks kinda weird (especially if you ask non-bassists)
Click to expand...

jeeze, what have i been doing for the past 17 years? too bad you were only 5 years old back when i got my first custom 7, you could have saved me from making such a -HUMUNGOUS- mistake if only you had warned me then. :atoz:
 

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