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Extended Range Bass Club Thread (Part 2)

#701
Alright chaps, new poster but long-time lurker and ERB fan.

Picked up a Harley Benton seven-string a while back but never really took to it, so I recently had it converted to an eight string... do I qualify for a space in the club?

35” scale, sub-contra F#-F tuned in fourths.
As a conversion it works surprisingly well; shifted the saddles closer together, got a new bone nut, and moved around the machine heads to make room for an extra one.
Just picked it up on Saturday and I’m still trying to work out how to integrate the extra range into my playing, but it’s great for partial chords up high, two-handed tapping and just generally getting in everyone’s sonic way.

I’ve also got an SR506.

A531A2E6-D118-42CD-B136-D19333358BB6.jpeg


9C47BB50-0C48-4EC5-908B-EBB0583A1BA3.jpeg
 
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#703
Tekkers said:
Alright chaps, new poster but long-time lurker and ERB fan.

Picked up a Harley Benton seven-string a while back but never really took to it, so I recently had it converted to an eight string... do I qualify for a space in the club?

35” scale, sub-contra F#-F tuned in fourths.
As a conversion it works surprisingly well; shifted the saddles closer together, got a new bone nut, and moved around the machine heads to make room for an extra one.
Just picked it up on Saturday and I’m still trying to work out how to integrate the extra range into my playing, but it’s great for partial chords up high, two-handed tapping and just generally getting in everyone’s sonic way.

I’ve also got an SR506.

View attachment 3250245

View attachment 3250246
Click to expand...

This is nice! How do you like it overall? I've been looking at one of those...
 
#705
BioWeapon said:
This is nice! How do you like it overall? I've been looking at one of those...
Click to expand...

It’s a strange one. Mostly great, partly good, and partly difficult.

The base model from Harley Benton is pretty good, looks surprisingly nice with a quilted top and a veneer over the headstock. The finish is hyper-thick though with the result that the whole bass feels like it’s coated in plastic.

Tone isn’t bad, the 3-band EQ isn’t great but it’s relatively easily replaced. The pickups would be hard to find replacements for unless you go custom, which is my ultimate intention. It’s not terrible though, and definitely useable in a band context. I’ve even recorded with it, for what that’s worth.

Can’t remember the original string-spacing but it felt quite wide, that plus the 35” scale makes the strings and frets seem quite distant and I found it a bit of a hindrance to fast playing. Certainly it’s more awkward to navigate than my Ibby 506.
The neck is fairly flat and comfortable.

The downside is that it’s pretty heavy. No idea what woods it’s made out of but it weighs a solid ton. Playing stood up on the strap for a few hours of rehearsal is fatiguing. I’ve gigged it in a fairly dynamic, all-over-the-stage manner and by the end of a half-hour set my shoulders were tired.

It’s awesome with the extra string but that’s forced a few more compromises - now the string spacing is close to guitar-levels of tight, and the top string is quieter than the others as I think it’s just beyond the pickup’s sensing window.

I’m strongly considering getting the headstock chopped off for weight relief, and getting a custom pickup to solve the string balance issues.

But it’s a surprisingly good bass. Definitely a head-turner, and for all the price of it (mine cost something ludicrous like £230 in 2015), it’s a no-brainer.
The only other sub-£1k seven I know of is the Ibanez BTB at about £700, and this is less than half that price but more than half as good.
Plus you can pour the money you save into customising it as it’s a pretty good platform for modding.
 
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#706
Tekkers said:
It’s a strange one. Mostly great, partly good, and partly difficult.

The base model from Harley Benton is pretty good, looks surprisingly nice with a quilted top and a veneer over the headstock. The finish is hyper-thick though with the result that the whole bass feels like it’s coated in plastic.

Tone isn’t bad, the 3-band EQ isn’t great but it’s relatively easily replaced. The pickups would be hard to find replacements for unless you go custom, which is my ultimate intention. It’s not terrible though, and definitely useable in a band context. I’ve even recorded with it, for what that’s worth.

Can’t remember the original string-spacing but it felt quite wide, that plus the 35” scale makes the strings and frets seem quite distant and I found it a bit of a hindrance to fast playing. Certainly it’s more awkward to navigate than my Ibby 506.
The neck is fairly flat and comfortable.

The downside is that it’s pretty heavy. No idea what woods it’s made out of but it weighs a solid ton. Playing stood up on the strap for a few hours of rehearsal is fatiguing. I’ve gigged it in a fairly dynamic, all-over-the-stage manner and by the end of a half-hour set my shoulders were tired.

It’s awesome with the extra string but that’s forced a few more compromises - now the string spacing is close to guitar-levels of tight, and the top string is quieter than the others as I think it’s just beyond the pickup’s sensing window.

I’m strongly considering getting the headstock chopped off for weight relief, and getting a custom pickup to solve the string balance issues.

But it’s a surprisingly good bass. Definitely a head-turner, and for all the price of it (mine cost something ludicrous like £230 in 2015), it’s a no-brainer.
The only other sub-£1k seven I know of is the Ibanez BTB at about £700, and this is less than half that price but more than half as good.
Plus you can pour the money you save into customising it as it’s a pretty good platform for modding.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the in-depth review! At this point it's between getting one of these and scratch building a headless six. If you're eyeing up doing a headless conversion, cheaper (but not dirt cheap) new chinese headless parts have popped up on eBay and you could get 8 strings worth of hardware for under 150ish CAD (about 100ish pounds).

As well, Bartolini makes their Candybar pickup in a 7 and 8 string version that are both the same size just with slightly different guts. Around 200 pounds for a pair but I don't know if they'll fit into the stock routes - they might be smaller actually!
 
#707
Didn’t know that about the Bartolinis, that’s interesting. I was thinking of contacting Nordstrand about pickups as I’ve got one of their BigRigs in my 506 and it’s awesome.

The headless conversion could be fun, also it would be even more of an attention-grabber. But mainly it would help with weight. It’s balanced on the strap, but heavy.

I’m leaning towards tuning B-Bb - that would give more capacity for chording and I don’t find myself using the low F# as much as I thought I would.
I’d love a 34” eight-string for that but I doubt I’d find one and I don’t need two.


In your situation, I’d say go for the HB seven-string. It’ll expand your options out of all proportion to the price (around the same as a good effects pedal), and it’s enough of a curiosity that it’ll probably keep much of its value if you wanted to sell it.
I think Thomann have a pretty generous returns policy anyway.

I also reckon it’s worth supporting companies whenever they offer mad stuff like this, in the hopes that they keep it up and do more. Options are always good.
But that’s just me.

Either way, let us know what you do and post pics.
 
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#708
Tekkers said:
Didn’t know that about the Bartolinis, that’s interesting. I was thinking of contacting Nordstrand about pickups as I’ve got one of their BigRigs in my 506 and it’s awesome.

The headless conversion could be fun, also it would be even more of an attention-grabber. But mainly it would help with weight. It’s balanced on the strap, but heavy.

I’m leaning towards tuning B-Bb - that would give more capacity for chording and I don’t find myself using the low F# as much as I thought I would.
I’d love a 34” eight-string for that but I doubt I’d find one and I don’t need two.


In your situation, I’d say go for the HB seven-string. It’ll expand your options out of all proportion to the price (around the same as a good effects pedal), and it’s enough of a curiosity that it’ll probably keep much of its value if you wanted to sell it.
I think Thomann have a pretty generous returns policy anyway.

I also reckon it’s worth supporting companies whenever they offer mad stuff like this, in the hopes that they keep it up and do more. Options are always good.
But that’s just me.

Either way, let us know what you do and post pics.
Click to expand...

If I go through with it I sure will! For now I have a fretless 8 to finish building. 33" scale! ;)
 
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#710
Tekkers said:
You’re a madman, haha

Single-course?

I expect to see pics of that too...
Click to expand...

I've spoken about this project on TB before but I don't think I've ever shown anyone photos, so might as well! :D

I thought I'd be able to handle it at first but until I install the side dots I'll continue to get lost too easily if I'm being totally honest!
 

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#712
Tekkers said:
Why 33”, just out of interest?

Is that going to be tuned B-Bb?

That looks pure lethal so far like, love the curve on the fretboard.
Click to expand...

Would you believe that it's a woodworking mistake rather than a deliberate choice? :D I cut my scarf joint but thinned down the headstock wood before glueing it back on and that shortened the length I had to worth with by an inch, hence... In retrospect I still have 12" worth of the neck laminate left over from cutting off the other end too (neck thru btw), so it was really an avoidable mistake. This is my first build so I'm just content that it plays at all. I need to re-level the fretboard too haha
 
#713
Hey all, I'm part of this here club :D proud owner of an Ibanez BTB7, limited ed. It's a great introduction into extended range instruments without being too overwhelming, and has been tons of fun to play.

I'm actually working on arranging a few tunes by a local r&b singer here with voice, drums, trumpet, and me on the BTB7, and esp with an ambient pedalboard, I'm REALLY liking the sounds coming out. Might be gigging on it soon!

Questions about splitting the signal so I can keep the bass side dry and treble side wet with reverb, delay, & modulation is something I'll direct to the Effects forum. For now, playing parts 3 octaves apart is keeping me busy haha
 
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#714
This is not mine, but i thought i would mention another amazing instrument by Prometeus Guitars Prometeus Guitars

Headless.
34" to 35" multiscale.
11 strings in fourths from C0 (11 semitones below bass B) to D4 (roughly the highest practical pitch on a 34" scale):
C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D.
46 frets.
Highest pitch is C8, so an 8 octave range (there is only 1 other 8 octave guitar i know of).

The highest frets are playable using a finger near-parallel to the string and rolling up onto the tip of the finger.

prometeus_11_half.jpg
 
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#715
ixlramp said:
This is not mine, but i thought i would mention another amazing instrument by Prometeus Guitars Prometeus Guitars

Headless.
34" to 35" multiscale.
11 strings in fourths from C0 (11 semitones below bass B) to D4 (roughly the highest practical pitch on a 34" scale):
C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D.
46 frets.
Highest pitch is C8, so an 8 octave range (there is only 1 other 8 octave guitar i know of).

The highest frets are playable using a finger near-parallel to the string and rolling up onto the tip of the finger.

View attachment 3644322
Click to expand...
Big fan of @Triad and his work. He made my 11, quality luthier!
 
#718
Tekkers said:
23446016[/URL], member: 335867"]Nothing to do with ERBs, but does the clip-on tuner work while attached to the bridge?

That’s a genius move.
Click to expand...
I get a better vibration transfer with it on the bridge.
And It reads the low B without having to strike the harmonic.
428A94CB-56FE-4C27-9FAD-5274D49BE9BE.jpeg
 
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