7 string basses...

[7StringBassist]

Im with John, any poor intonation will make things difficult I made the switch to fretless and I found things out the hard way even a 5 was increasingly difficult because of years of poor intonation left hand practice is key

 

[mat b]

I'm sure a 7/8/whatever string is a good combined bass/guitar in one, but hands DO have something to do with it, if your hands are small like mine. I have yet to see another guy with hands even close to this small. I've tried a couple of 6 string basses, and I was unable to play riffs on the B string, unless I played the bass like an upright. 7+ would be impossible for me, but I know most bassists have much bigger hands than what I've got. Personally I don't need the range either (I do play the guitar as well, so I'd rather play something high on a guitar, these high F strings sounds really like a guitar anyway). For non-guitarists with big hands, and playing some very complicated music, I can see that some might want these huge instruments though.

It has absolutely nothing to do with your hands, unless you have burger king commercial hands you should be
fine, if you use your pinky to fret the 2nd fret while your index is on the first, okay maybe.... It all comes down to technique, people have a hard time changing or modifying their technique becuase it take effort
to break bad habits. Some can't slap... They don't practice... Which fine... Some don't practice erb technique... Which is fine... It's all a matter of drive... Some people hate slap, some people hate erbs, that's fine...

P.s. Sorry if I'm rambling or if that made no sense, I had surgery this morning and I'm all drugged up

 

[Dellers]

Well, I just don't feel good if I have to use my left HAND on the fretboard (I guess small hands means short fingers), say if I was to play an 8 string bass my thumb would be pretty much below the fretboard, instead of behind, and to me that can't possibly be comfortable. But if someone are able to play that way, good for them. It's just not for me. 5 string is physically more than enough, playing Dream Theater riffs on the B string is a challenge. Even on 4 string basses I have to use the pinky (which is VERY short) for octaves...

 

[mat b]

I use my pinky for octaves as well and fifths but it's because I play db as well and the fingers feel better to me, sure on faster runs I have to use my middle and ring for a whole step but I do have to adjust my technique. If you don't like the looks or the feel or even the idea of a seven then that's your opinion which I can't and do not want to change, I will repect it fully,( I used to feel the same way) but with a good teacher and proper technique you can definately learn to play one if you ever go down that road.

 

[JOEP054]

Here are two of my sevens.
My hands aren't overly large and I found a way to play them comfortably. You would be surprised at what you can adapt to if you just stay with it.

 

[mat b]

I use my pinky for octaves as well and fifths but it's because I play db as well and the fingers feel better to me, sure on faster runs I have to use my middle and ring for a whole step but I do have to adjust my technique. If you don't like the looks or the feel or even the idea of a seven then that's your opinion which I can't and do not want to change, I will repect it fully,( I used to feel the same way) but with a good teacher and proper technique you can definately learn to play one if you ever go down that road.

 

[Dellers]

Here are two of my sevens.
My hands aren't overly large and I found a way to play them comfortably. You would be surprised at what you can adapt to if you just stay with it.

Of course. I never thought I could play a 5 string properly, but after trying one once (dunno what kind of bass it was) I ordered my Stingray 5 HH without trying anything more. The biggest problem is my pinky, cause it's so short that even on this bass I have to put my hand in quite a big angle to hit the B string with it. Bigger fretboard would mean I would have to stretch a lot, and put my arm in 30-40 degree angle sideways. If my fingers were more the same size it would be a completely different situation...

 

[countrybass007]

Because sometimes it's fun to have 7 strings.

 

[Mike M.]

No, thank you. Five strings is about all my feeble brain can handle!!

 

[bassbenj]

Personally I don't need the range either (I do play the guitar as well, so I'd rather play something high on a guitar, these high F strings sounds really like a guitar anyway). For non-guitarists with big hands, and playing some very complicated music, I can see that some might want these huge instruments though.

One solution to smaller hands is simply closer spaced strings! As it turns out I also play guitar. And here is where it gets interesting. I don't see some huge "fence" between guitar and bass parts. I ALSO own a 7 string guitar. And oddly the additional lower string (especially tuned down) carries it right into bass territory (an effect enhanced by me by specifically installing a thicker gauge lowest string). This is the opposite of the 7 string bass where the high F string carries it up toward guitar territory. Experimenting with these two instruments is very enlightening with regard to that never-never land between bass and guitar and how the two instruments need to deal with it! And it should be obvious that a band with both a 7 string guitar and 7 (or more) string bass requires a bit of coordination between the players the same way a band with two drummers or two bass players does. You both can't just play the same parts and walk all over each other. One needs to listen to what is going on and fit into it...and should I add...tastefully!

 

[Scatterblak]

Whos got 'em??? I'm just curious how many 7 stringed friends I have out there... I'm just saving to buy my buddies 6 string but one day I'd like to purchase a 7... tell me why you play so many strings, any pros/cons you can think of, what made you try your first 7 and why you wont "come back to Earth" as Steve Bailey put it...

And if you have any pictures to help the GAS as well thats awesome!!

Just traded a Conklin BDGT-7 away -- sounded great, great neck, but it just wasn't right for gigging, you know? Neck was very wide, and it was *heavy*! Right now, I'm doing a tribute band, so I simply don't need the extra strings - if I go back to doing some original / jazzy / fusion stuff, I'll certainly pick one up again - either a Low End or another Conklin-BDGT. There's somehting about finger-plucking those high strings that sounds like nothing else - it's like having a piccolo bass built-in.

 

[casualmadness]

My main bass for several years was a six string. Nothing else felt comfortable to me. Then I finally bit the bullet and bought a seven string. After a while I bought a second. But after gigging with them for a few months I realized they just weren't comfortable to me. I sold both of them and went back to six. Now I don't even have that. I went back to five strings. GO figure. But I would like to get another seven some day just to noodle around on at home.

 

[orlando123]

I just purchased a used one but havent used it in my group yet. It's woodshed time right now until I feel really at home with it. I never thought I would be playing a six string until I tried it. The seven is great; I like to incorporate high melody lines in the music at times and the seven string has just the right texture of tone that the six wont give me unless I restring and tune it like the seven minus the wound "C" string.

 

[orlando123]

My new and old 7's.

BEE

Sukop

Wow, those are beautiful basses. What type of music do you play?

 

[bottomzone]

This guy plays a 7-string that he built for himself-he is also a luthier.



Great player and a great sounding bass!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!