I'd like a number please! Loving my first 6 String- don't know why I waited so long to get one 
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I'm in, I play an 8 string fretless from 2003. Here is a shot of my bass, designed by me and built by Francesco Distefano a great luthier here in Sicily.
Figured poplar body, spalted maple top, padouk-ebony-maple-ebony-padouk neck, ebony fingerboard, ABM bridge with graphtech piezo, coolsound-magetics preamp, I-Spira pickup. Tuned B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bb, 130-100-80-60-40-30-017W-012.
Figured poplar body, spalted maple top, padouk-ebony-maple-ebony-padouk neck, ebony fingerboard, ABM bridge with graphtech piezo, coolsound-magetics preamp, I-Spira pickup. Tuned B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bb, 130-100-80-60-40-30-017W-012.
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I'm in, I play an 8 string fretless from 2003. Here is a shot of my bass, designed by me and built by Francesco Distefano a great luthier here in Sicily.
Figured poplar body, spalted maple top, padouk-ebony-maple-ebony-padouk neck, ebony fingerboard, ABM bridge with graphtech piezo, coolsound-magetics preamp, I-Spira pickup. Tuned B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bb, 130-100-80-60-40-30-017W-012.
Man, that is beautiful.
Roy Vogt
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- Sep 20, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
"That's not a Bass, that's a Harp!"
You know, for once you're right.
You know, for once you're right.
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
Wow! It's Andy Summers!!
It hasn't been refreshed since a while, so I will post my new bass. Received 2 days ago, today I had first gig with it - it's Epiphone Expert 6 with EMG Soapbars and a ramp. I have compared it to 6 string custom bass made by Polish luthier and this one is whole lotta better. Incomparable. I would love to put there an active preamp anyway, so of anyone could help at least a little bit I will more than appreciate a lot. Here is thread I started to ask for help about that preamp: Best preamp neeeed!!!
So may I have a number, please?
So may I have a number, please?
@Shizo is right! This thread needs more action!
Here's my current project, several years in the making and my first build - also the first photo I've ever posted of it - please excuse the carpet!
What's left to do : drill control holes and screw holes, finish the body, install the hardware and electronics, have somebody make a nut then it'll be ready for stringing.
8-string players (and anyone else who might contribute), do you prefer low F - high F# tuning or low B -high A tuning? I'm not sure what to do!
(Yes, the pickups are upside down. LOL)
Here's my current project, several years in the making and my first build - also the first photo I've ever posted of it - please excuse the carpet!
What's left to do : drill control holes and screw holes, finish the body, install the hardware and electronics, have somebody make a nut then it'll be ready for stringing.
8-string players (and anyone else who might contribute), do you prefer low F - high F# tuning or low B -high A tuning? I'm not sure what to do!
(Yes, the pickups are upside down. LOL)
Link Removed
Link Removed
Latest ERB from Prat Basses (not my instrument).
Tuning is fourths low to high G# C# F# B E A D G C F Bb Eb.
Middle 4 is standard bass EADG, lowest is G#00 13Hz and is a .266, highest will be a .008 or .007.
Strings by Kalium Strings but the top string might have to be a special plain from Octave 4 Plus.
Scales 34" to 37".
28 frets for a range of 84 semitones / 7 octaves.
Link Removed
Latest ERB from Prat Basses (not my instrument).
Tuning is fourths low to high G# C# F# B E A D G C F Bb Eb.
Middle 4 is standard bass EADG, lowest is G#00 13Hz and is a .266, highest will be a .008 or .007.
Strings by Kalium Strings but the top string might have to be a special plain from Octave 4 Plus.
Scales 34" to 37".
28 frets for a range of 84 semitones / 7 octaves.
I got curious and looked on Kalium's site, they make a plain steel .008 string.
Link Removed
That thing is one hell of an instrument!! Bet it weighs more than a pair of my basses!
I have seen this beast on www.vk.com - this is incredible - I think it's a bit too much for me, but anyway it's got lots of interesting features that I would love to incorporate in my custom bass in future.
Do you know who owns this? I would love to talk to them/hear what this sounds like. Especially that low G#!
There's an FB page for the instrument Frassi | Facebook
The owner's homepage is Tung - Versatile bassist with taste
You can 'hear' a G#00 here (use headphones or sound system)
Kalium Guitar Works Quake bass tuned G# C# F# B.
The owner's homepage is Tung - Versatile bassist with taste
You can 'hear' a G#00 here (use headphones or sound system)
Kalium Guitar Works Quake bass tuned G# C# F# B.
Since there isn't a dedicated section for ERB discussion on Talkbass i like to think this thread can be it and not just an owner's club (although i do often tune my 5 and 6 string basses in fifths), then we can have more activity here.
Not sure this was ever posted in Talkbass. This is the Letts Basses 13 string, tuned G# C# F# B E A D G C F Bb Eb Ab with a 26"-39" fan. Top string is tuned 4 semitones higher than a guitar top E, lowest is 13Hz G#00 roughly an octave below the lowest on a grand piano.
There have been a few mock ups or attempts at a 13 string bass before but this was the first one that actually worked.
Not sure this was ever posted in Talkbass. This is the Letts Basses 13 string, tuned G# C# F# B E A D G C F Bb Eb Ab with a 26"-39" fan. Top string is tuned 4 semitones higher than a guitar top E, lowest is 13Hz G#00 roughly an octave below the lowest on a grand piano.
There have been a few mock ups or attempts at a 13 string bass before but this was the first one that actually worked.
The owner has posted an introduction video for the 12 string headless i posted above, the low G# is surprisingly clear considering it is 13Hz.
By the way, it's ridiculous that 5 strings basses are considered ERB in this thread, 5 is very much standard, 6 is the point where there is a sharp dropoff in ownership and sharp a rise in ridicule. This thread is just being unnecessarily flooded with large numbers of 5 strings, they are nothing special unless tuned in fifths, they have fewer strings than other members of the guitar family.
The guitar family is unusual in that the low pitched member has fewer strings and a smaller range than the others, in most other instrument families the bass instrument is just a larger version but otherwise very similar and with similar range. This is because the electric bass is still after 50 years actually an electric orchestral contrabass which is a member of the violin family (all with 4 strings).
The electric bass needs to become a member of the electric spanish guitar family, and have lower tension strings and be more playable, the standard number of strings is obviously 6. The Fender Bass VI had the right idea but was just too short (it's rare that i praise Fender, but in their day they were innovative and revolutionary, but since then they have just not moved forward and are extremely antiquated).
By the way, it's ridiculous that 5 strings basses are considered ERB in this thread, 5 is very much standard, 6 is the point where there is a sharp dropoff in ownership and sharp a rise in ridicule. This thread is just being unnecessarily flooded with large numbers of 5 strings, they are nothing special unless tuned in fifths, they have fewer strings than other members of the guitar family.
The guitar family is unusual in that the low pitched member has fewer strings and a smaller range than the others, in most other instrument families the bass instrument is just a larger version but otherwise very similar and with similar range. This is because the electric bass is still after 50 years actually an electric orchestral contrabass which is a member of the violin family (all with 4 strings).
The electric bass needs to become a member of the electric spanish guitar family, and have lower tension strings and be more playable, the standard number of strings is obviously 6. The Fender Bass VI had the right idea but was just too short (it's rare that i praise Fender, but in their day they were innovative and revolutionary, but since then they have just not moved forward and are extremely antiquated).
