On top is BEAD with EADG on the bottom. Seems like a hassle.
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Billy Sheehan: Why not a 5er instead of a 20lb double?
- Thread starter bassrique
- Start date
Because it looks cool - it's a gimmick. Show biz, and all that.
He's taken it out of mothballs and has been playing it a lot recently.
As he mentioned on his Instagram recently, he needs the high notes on the G and the lows on the B for a lot of Sons of Apollo songs and he doesn't like five strings.
He seems more than strong enough to use it so more power to him.
He seems more than strong enough to use it so more power to him.
Billy can do things that we, mere mortals, will never be able to accomplish. He simply reminds it to everyone. 
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Same reason a lot of bassistsherehave a dozen basses, and gig every 6 weeks... because.
Because he wants to, and can. Never understood why others care so much about what others play.
^This.
I only care about something I don't have or do if I like it and decide it's something I can use.
Billy doesn't like to play 5's. Never has. Plus it looks cool.
I believe the Sons of Apollo guitarist is using a double-neck guitar as well. So I guess it is a gimmick. I'd be in favor of seeing this again. That's his Yamaha TRB 6 string that he used in the recording and official video for "Just Take My Heart"
First time I ever saw that! Well I guess he'll trot one out in the studio when he needs it, but he has said before he doesn't like playing 5's or 6's.
I would love to have one like Tim Commerfords double Jazz.
I believe Bumblefoot's double neck guitar has one fretted and one fretless neck. I can only imagine what a tuning/intonating nightmare a fretless guitar would be. But it works for him and his solo on the Sons of Apollo song "Signs of the Time" is stellar.
As for Billy Sheehan, he can play whatever he wants. I think doublenecks look anachronistic, doofy, and pretentious, but my opinion doesn't matter squat. That being said, I felt like his overly distorted bass tone was too muddy, lacked midrange, and often got lost in the mix of the Sons of Apollo album.
I'm a 5-string player, and even I can admit that some songs just sound better on a 4-string in drop-D tuning, with that open D ringing out.
As for Billy Sheehan, he can play whatever he wants. I think doublenecks look anachronistic, doofy, and pretentious, but my opinion doesn't matter squat. That being said, I felt like his overly distorted bass tone was too muddy, lacked midrange, and often got lost in the mix of the Sons of Apollo album.
I'm a 5-string player, and even I can admit that some songs just sound better on a 4-string in drop-D tuning, with that open D ringing out.
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Great pic - thanks for sharing.
His stuff is so daunting to cover. He's more than a few levels from here and has been for decades.
His technique seems surpassed only by his laid-back and genuinely great personality.
I love and fear me some Billy.
His stuff is so daunting to cover. He's more than a few levels from here and has been for decades.
His technique seems surpassed only by his laid-back and genuinely great personality.
I love and fear me some Billy.
Mark Egan used to play him some doubleneck fretless/8 string fretted bass.
I like it, never been a fan of 5 necks myself.
I get what you're saying. If I had a doubleneck I'd probably have the top neck tuned bead and the lower tuned eadg (piccolo range) either that or fretted and Fretless. But to each their own.
I do really like how his doubleneck has the reverse headstock on the lower neck though. Always seemed goofy to me to have the tuners on the other side on the lower neck of doubleneck as I have to imagine it makes it awkward to restring. I think I read in a magazine once that his doubleneck was more so because he doesn't like 5 strings and he didn't want to not have the g string. But I'm sure some of it is more for show/fun. Here's said bass in action btw.
But yeah I wouldn't be surprised if it's at least 15lbs. Which is similar weight to the conklin 7 string I used to have. Not a bass I'd want to play for a three hour cover gig or a long rehearsal but definitely manageable for a song or two. I've seen a few doublenecks that weighed around ten pounds. None of those lighter doublenecks had a traditional shape though. Usually we're talking using lighter woods combined with slimmer bodies and even stuff like headless styles like this.
