Double stringed basses? Ehh?

You're presumably referring to octave-course instruments: the "traditional" 8-string bass (as opposed to the more modern 8-string ERBs with single strings spanning F# to high F or whatever) has a pair of strings tuned an octave apart, designed to be played as a single string. The result obviously being a huge thick jangly sound, similar to a guitar and a bass riffing in (octave) unison.

(The less obvious result being ungodly huge blisters on both your fretting & plucking fingers.)

Check out http://www.8stringbass.com/ just to get an idea of what sort of can o'worms you've just opened.

Also do a search for "8-string bass" here on TB, there've been a number of threads about these instruments (some started by or contributed to by yours truly; I'm a big fan of 8-string octave course basses, & have played one since 1989).

John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, Tom Petersson, Allan Woody, Will Lee, Mark Egan, Bill Laswell, Nick Lowe, and about a million other bassists use or have used 8-string basses in their careers.

 

They're awesome, and great, and good for everything. Even blues. Long, long ago Johnny Winter had a bass player that used one for the whole set, it was extremely cool.

Guitar strings will probably be too short. You could buy an 8 string set or use a set of regular bass strings and a set of piccolo bass strings for the high strings, they are an octave higher.

 

I play a 12 string (tripled), and have played a couple of 8 strings (doubled) as well.

They are cool. For lots of stuff, particularly where instrumentation is a bit thin on the ground. I often play in church with just a piano and drums, and the extra high strings really fill out the mids where a guitarist would often sit (especially with a little bit of light distortion - I currently use a biamp setup with lows through a bass amp and highs through a guitar rig, but I'm hoping to simplify with a sansamp bass driver DI). Same in a trio, especially when the guitarist is soloing.

There are quite a few different models and brands out there, depending on price point. Bear in mind I haven't checked prices lately so my estimates are from when I was looking 6 months ago...
The Rogue 8 was about $250US, cheap and supposed to be pretty good for the price but variable QA means it's a hit and miss
Schecter make some 8-strings. I haven't played them, so don't really know, but some of their other instruments are really nice. There's the Omen 8 which is about $400 and the Studio 8 which is about $700 (and is neck through)
Dean make the Edge 8 (about $500) the Rhapsody 8 (about 600) and the rhapsody 12 (about $630). I played a badly set up Rhap 8, and it was pretty nice. I own a rhapsody 12, and it is great, although I had to reposition the neck screw holes so that things lined up correctly (I think this was just shonky drilling at the factory, everything else about it is great and it gets more time than my 5 or fretless 4)
Hamer currently make a cheap 12 (Chaparral 12) which is about $630 and is supposed to be quite decent but I never laid hands on one. THey also make super expensive USA made 12s and used to make a few 8s, which are super nice.
Galveston seem to be mostly available on ebay and make 8s and 12s. I played a galveston 12, it wasn't as good as my Dean (for me) but it was still a cool isntrument.
Star and Tenessee are sold on ebay - their non-intonatable flimsy-looking rosewood bridges and some unfavourable reviews lead me to suggest not touching them!
Waterstone make supposedly nice 8's and 12's - I haven't played one though - buying direct from their website is the way they do business. They have a good rep with some people on 12stringbass.com/8stringbass.com
Ibanez made 8's years ago. They look cool, Sting used to play one sometimes. They are total boat anchors weight-wise but are supposed to sound cool. Quite expensive in the fashion of old MIJ Ibanezes.
Lots of higher-end makers have made nice 8's including Zon.

Chose your price point and have at it!!!

Guitar strings are usually not long enough for multi-course basses. You're best to buy dedicated strings from makers like D'addario or Waterstone. You'll probably have to order online, because your local store is unlikely to carrry them. I'd suggest buying 12string sets for an 8 because the D'addario and Waterstone 12 string sets are only slightly more expensive than 8string sets, but you get a whole spare set of high strings, which break/corrode more easily than the bass strings...

Songs to check out for the multi-course sound include:
Jeremy - Pearl Jam (the intro is solo 12 string bass)
King's X and Cheap Trick
I'm sure others can chime in with others...

Hope that's helpful,
Steve

 

Listen to Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick on the song "Heaven Tonight" it is the first 12 string bass song ever recorded. On the song "Gonna Raise Hell" he plays an Alembic 8 string bass, and on the LP LAP OF LUXURY, listen to the songs "Don't Be Cruel" and "Wrong Side of Love" to hear a Hamer 12 string bass.

 

Waterstone 12 and 8 string basses are awesome, I own a few. The 12 string basses are about $1300 last I checked, and the 8 string basses are AMAZING as well, and are about $750, I believe. I LOVE the sound of these basses, they will shake your world!!!

www.modguitars.com

 

They are good for playing Cheap Trick and Jeremy by Pearl Jam and nothing else.

And using a pick is almost mandatory.

 

Well that's good to know - my favorite 12 string tone ever was from an Alembic 8!

 

Er, no.
Granted, if you're playing in a covers band trying to sound exactly like the original, you're not gonna get much use from an 8 (with the above and notable other exceptions). But if you're forging your own way rather than following, you might find it works in many situations. Definitely not all, I haven't gotten rid of my other basses and still use them, but really, the 12 is my main bass...

Steve

 

Check this out:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h0oZ8PQNC00

 

I have an american Hamer 12, it is pretty cool to jam with. Really fills out the range when playing with only 1 guitarist.

 

12 string and 8 string basses have amazing tones that work GREAT in a lot of songs and styles, provided you master the instrument and know what you are doing.

It is total BULL that they sound good only on Cheap Trick songs and JEREMY by Pearl Jam. That may be the case if you can't play bass or are not very creative. But the instruments actually have a rich, full sound that really fills out a band's sound.

Guitarists and producers are sometimes scared of these types of basses and often need to be comforted and convinced!!!

 

Last week I tried a Schecter 8 string at the local music store while waiting for my son's lesson. Pretty cool, would be nice to have in the rack to change up a song or two. My only similar experience was with a 12 string acoustic guitar in the past. It was surprisingly easy to get used to. The Schecter was Under $400 and pretty nice for the money.

 

I use my Dean Rhapsody 8-string when I work with the Crystals or when we do some Phil Spector tunes that can use a bigger wall of sound than a regular bass. It sounds awesome playing the opening bass riff of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." Not that I really need it, but it's fun.

I disagree about having to use a pick, though. To get a biting tone you do, but it sounds great with fingers, too.

 

I can play bass just fine thanks and am very creative.

I guess the little smily things at the end of my comment didn't clue you into the fact that I was trying to be funny. Lighten up.

 

Then you could get a fretless one.....

crazy hard to play. sounds very cool.

Turner custom Renaissance FL with nylon-core strings

 

intonation can be a bit treacherous....the single bridge saddle isn't ideal. Tuning is no problem once the strings settle in; I pick it up after a week and its still perfect.

The Dean 8's are pretty nice...you don't have to spend a lot to get the sound.

For solo-bass music its pretty cool. Lots of interesting stuff going on with the octave and harmonics.