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[ERB] Stupid questions again...

Triad

Triad

Commercial User
Jul 4, 2006
1,695
293
Europe
Disclosures
Builder
#1
Hello again! I have a new, weird series of questions for the ERB players on TB;)
As I said I'm planning to have an ERB custom built for me 'cause price is fair and I don't like the spacing on Conklin GTs.
I was thinking about an 8 (F# B E A D G C F) but I fear that the low F# could be almost useless. I guess that it's not easy to use in "standard" music... it would certainly need a huge cab to deliver the low tones AND it only has a couple of usable notes 'cause under the Low A I don't think the human ears will get the pitch of such a low throat! :rolleyes:
I don't think I would have a use for a strings higher than F... so I'm thinking about getting a 7 (BEADGCF) or even get a 6er again and then, after looooong practice... and if I find that ERB is definitely the way to go then upgrade to 7+. I've owned two sixers but I ended up selling them 'cause the action wasn't as low as I want and the slap sound wasn't great. Now I'm playing 4strings Fenders but when I play finger I miss the B and when I do solos I miss the C (and the 24 frets!). I also miss the C and eventually the hi-F when I slap fast triplet runs ala Bill Conklin. They don't sound as good if made on thick strings and not so high registers. So my questions are:
1) Did you ever regret an extra string?
2) Do you play "normal" music (for example: covers, standard rock) with your ERB without troubles?
3) Do you always keep a 4 for the times you feel the extra strings are a mess in a particular tune/track?
Thanx guys!
 
#2
Triad said:
1) Did you ever regret an extra string?
Click to expand...
No, as a matter of fact I miss having the extra range when it isn't there

Triad said:
2) Do you play "normal" music (for example: covers, standard rock) with your ERB without troubles?
Click to expand...
All of the time, you'd be surprised how easily it fits into a straight rock environment (even oldies!!)

Triad said:
3) Do you always keep a 4 for the times you feel the extra strings are a mess in a particular tune/track?
Click to expand...
I have always had a fretted and fretless 4 string because there are occasions where I might need them, but really, I just do the huge majority of the gigs on an ERB (fretted 7 & fretless 6)

:cool:
 
#3
"it would certainly need a huge cab to deliver the low tones AND it only has a couple of usable notes 'cause under the Low A I don't think the human ears will get the pitch of such a low throat!"


Not necessarily, Jaquo III-X uses a 4x10 for his bass, tuned C#0-E1. It all depends on the electronics of the bass, what amp and cab you use, construction of the bass, type of string, pickups.. etc. Too many variables to consider. Human ears can easily hear notes down to low F#, they're well within human hearing range.
 
#4
Uhm... I've read that not all human beings are able to "understand" the pitch of notes with frequencies under 30hz. Is it a bull****? :confused:
I have a good 3way cabinet (15",8"and tweeter - 500w), a 500w power amp and I usually use an Art Tube MP preamp. I'm probably going to get an used bass preamp to have at least a bit of eq. :rolleyes:
What's the frequency of a Low F#?
 
#5
remember the lowest notes on the bass don't just play the fundamental, but a series of harmonics that also carry information about the note to our brains. F#0 doesn't have the same harmonic series as f#1 does, so it will definitely sound very different, even if the fundamental frequency isn't well-represented.

that being said, i use a 1x18 sub cab along with my 4x12 cabs and it handles the low f# and below acceptably, even in big rooms.

as for keeping a 4 around, i have all my old 4 string basses. i haven't played them or even personally plugged them in in over a decade (loaned em out a few tmes) but i still have them. more for sentimental value than because i think i may actually use them some time.
 
#6
Ok Hannibal... ehm... Mr. Turner: what would you recommend in this case?

1) Take the risk, order an 8strings and stop bugging us!
2) Take a Conklin, try it and see how you like it and then you decide if you wanna go up (8) or down.
3) Order a 7strings... the 8th string is only good to talk to elephants! :D
4) Stay on 4. It's lighter, cheaper and faster! :bassist:
 
#7
Triad said:
Ok Hannibal... ehm... Mr. Turner: what would you recommend in this case?

1) Take the risk, order an 8strings and stop bugging us!
2) Take a Conklin, try it and see how you like it and then you decide if you wanna go up (8) or down.
3) Order a 7strings... the 8th string is only good to talk to elephants! :D
4) Stay on 4. It's lighter, cheaper and faster! :bassist:
Click to expand...

Considering his bass collection, I'm guessing that John won't go for option 4.:)

Shawn
 
#8
Maybe I missed some previous thread info, so this might be a repetitive question, but ....

Have you ever played ERB's of any type for any appreciable length of time? I ask, because if you order an 8 string and really find it not to your liking you might find it difficult to sell off. There are not a lot of 8 string players out there, so the re-sale market is very tough. Even the used 7 market is hard ... a TBer has had a used GT7 listed for well over a week at $750 and no one is interested ...

Of course, if you have some ERB experience, then let your own experiences be your guide ..... :cool:
 
#9
Well, my ERB experience is here:

1) Custom 6er made at my specs. Afzelia body with Ovangkol top, neck-thru made with 5 pieces Wengé/Ovangkol and a thick Ebony board. GREAT fingerstyle sound but the slap sound was too "nasaly" and action was too high. My fault: I ordered a huge neck made with Wengé/Ovangkol and it was too stiff... strings couldn't bend it so no relief - no low action! I've sold it without losing money;
2) Custom 6er bought used. Ash body and Maple neck/fingerboard. Again: it had too high action and slap sound wasn't great. I loved the low B and the way I could do solos without having to put my left hand in awkward postions. But slap wasn't as easy as it's on a 4 of course!
 
#12
As long as the build quality and fretwork is good, low action just depends on the strings and the setup. Who did the 6-string custom you had?

Personally, I'd get a 6-string with a D-tuner on the B-string (to go down to A), and maybe an extended fretboard at the top. 28 frets or something.
 
#13
My questions:
-Heavy or light gauge strings????
-Wich pickups are actually the most hi-fish????and what about the pre????
-Shouldnt we consider carbon fibre necks to get clear tones all over the fingerboard???
-Midi or piezo????
-Mixture of cabs (different speaker sizes) with same signal or individual signals for each treeble mid and bass????
 
#15
Lokire said:
As long as the build quality and fretwork is good, low action just depends on the strings and the setup. Who did the 6-string custom you had?

Personally, I'd get a 6-string with a D-tuner on the B-string (to go down to A), and maybe an extended fretboard at the top. 28 frets or something.
Click to expand...

He's not known here in the USA but he worked for some famous european builders... as I said it was my fault in that case. But the other sixer (and even most of fivers!) didn't allow me to obtain the action I wanted, expecially on the B.
I know a thick string will need more space to vibrate... but as I said action is a major issue. Another thing that I like about 4stringers is that I can use from 030 to 050 Gs. If I go 6 or 7 there's no great choice for strings gauge. But the extra 2-3 strings would be great! :D
 
#16
Lokire said:
As long as the build quality and fretwork is good, low action just depends on the strings and the setup. Who did the 6-string custom you had?

Personally, I'd get a 6-string with a D-tuner on the B-string (to go down to A), and maybe an extended fretboard at the top. 28 frets or something.
Click to expand...

Do you know? This isn't a bad idea at all... there's no factory made 6er with 28 frets but the B-Tuner ;) is a great idea!
 
#17
I set up my Warrior 9-string to use the F#0 string and used it on my weekend jazz/R&B gig at the Ritz -Carlton Hotel. I played through a Hartkey" Kick Back".

For me ,it was a good place to see how often I used the F#0 string.
The audio quality was decent. There were many times I just couldn't resist playing G0 instead of the typical low G1. Having Low Bb0,A0 etc. really added some great low end to certain tunes.

Sometimes, it could be too much for the other musicians. I think that is because it is a register they don't often hear on a bass.
 
#18
Triad said:
Uhm... I've read that not all human beings are able to "understand" the pitch of notes with frequencies under 30hz. Is it a bull****? :confused:
I have a good 3way cabinet (15",8"and tweeter - 500w), a 500w power amp and I usually use an Art Tube MP preamp. I'm probably going to get an used bass preamp to have at least a bit of eq. :rolleyes:
What's the frequency of a Low F#?
Click to expand...


No, it's actually more around 20hz I think, but it varies on the person too. It changes with age as well.

Frequency of F#0 is 23.12hz, so you're in the clear anyway.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#19
Triad said:
Do you know? This isn't a bad idea at all... there's no factory made 6er with 28 frets but the B-Tuner ;) is a great idea!
Click to expand...

Well, I was thinking if you were going to go the custom route. But yeah. I'll have a D-tuner on the B-string of the 6-string Stambaugh that's being built for me now. Lately I've been tuning my B-string down to A for certain songs and like the idea of just being able to flip back and forth for that extra low note. I think with the D-tuners you could even set it to go down to a low G.
 
#20
Lokire said:
Well, I was thinking if you were going to go the custom route. But yeah. I'll have a D-tuner on the B-string of the 6-string Stambaugh that's being built for me now. Lately I've been tuning my B-string down to A for certain songs and like the idea of just being able to flip back and forth for that extra low note. I think with the D-tuners you could even set it to go down to a low G.
Click to expand...

Well, I would go for a custom if I have to pick a 7+ strings... otherwise I can simply pick a factory 6. I don't know if the Low B could be tuned to G... maybe it would be too sloppy.
 

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