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Extended Range Basses (Bassists)

How many strings does it need to be considered "Extended Range"?

  • 6 strings

    Votes: 189 70.8%

  • 7 strings

    Votes: 66 24.7%

  • 8 or more strings

    Votes: 12 4.5%
  • Total voters
    267
  • Poll closed .
#46
weak? yeah, but I got bills to pay and the chances are better that I can do that during 3 months on the road than in the three days at my favorite trade show/toy store. what sucks is not being able to see the people that I only see at NAMM for another year... and not getting to play (with) the toys!

:spit:

from the still-bummed lows,

Stew
 
#48
...because there is no simple answer. It's all a matter of semantics.

Traditionally, electric basses have had 4 strings, so technically, I suppose anything 5 or higher could be considered "extended range"...however, 5 and 6 string basses have been around for some time now, and were generally referred to as a "contra bass" or "contra bass guitar". This was the most common name used to describe these instruments, and what most would argue is the currently accepted default terminology. This term was usually employed to denote a bass that included a low B.

I think in terms of the bassists on this site (which I would argue represents the bass community as a whole as well as any forum) the accepted use for the terminology "ERB" or "extended range bass" is generally to describe basses that go below the low B of a "contrabass". The term "sub-contrabass" is seemingly used almost interchangeably with the term "ERB".

I might proffer that perhaps the term "ERB" should be best used to describe basses that offer notes below A Zero, as this is commonly accepted as the lowest humanly recognizable pitch (a point that ERB players would dispute), and is the lowest note commonly available on the normal piano (Bösendorfer pianos excepted). Even on the Bösendorfer, these notes are in all black, as if to suggest that they lie in an "extended range"...thus, I think the term "extended range" suggests the extension of range beyond the commonly accepted musical norms.

I would thus argue that anything below A zero would probably be best described as "extended range", and add that the number of strings is in fact irrelevant. The Adler subcontrabass is an example of an extended range bass that has only four strings.
 
#50
jusplayinmybass said:
I also wanted to add, and this will make some people mad for various reasons, that if we are going to go with how it was done traditionally, anything besides a 4 string with 21 frets (or was that 20?) tuned e-a-d-g is extended range. That means that anyone that uses a d-tuner or altered tuning is extended range. Anyone using an octave pedal is extended range. It could also be argued that if you play artificial harmonics that you are extended range.

But then what defines tradition? Is it how it was first done? Or is it how it has been done for a long time? The reason I ask is because if it is how it was first done, then the Fender P bass is the standard. But if it is the former, then you must consider the fact that 6 string basses are about 30 years old. And that's not counting Fender bass V and IVs. just a little food for thought.
Click to expand...



Very good point... Depending on technique and technology Extended range can be acheived on a 20 fret 4 string Jazz or P.

From what I know of standard 4 string DB's, they have a greater range than a 20/21 fret standard 4 string BG... So would you consider a standard J or P to be a limited range bass?
 
#52
BassWhore said:
Uh oh, 'limited'? I would never consider a standard tuned 4-string 'limited'.
Click to expand...


Not limited by design intention, just pointing out that it (BG) has less range than the instrument that it was derived from (DB)...

Maybe we should just consider an instrument's range highest note to lowest note (including # of strings, de-tuner, extended FB...etc.)... So then, from what note to what note is considered standard? E(1) to F(4)/F#(4)=38 notes?

BassWhore said:
btw, long time no talk J-Raj :) what's up man?
Click to expand...
bunch, I'll PM ya.
 
#53
Stew.... that bass is totally @!#^&*% amazing.... :D
How about some sound clips? :hyper:

I am wondering tho... as we're discussing "extended range", it seems to come down to the number of individual strings, and the lowest and highest notes available on a given instrument. So where do the multi-course basses fit in? Like my Dean 8-string, which is just a 2- course. Then you have the Hammer 12, with 2 octaved strings, (3-course) but its still a basically a four string. I've seen 2 course 6's too...( I've always wanted one of them). Are these really an extended range bass? Granted, nothing else sounds like a multi-course, but the octaved strings aren't played separately... any thoughts?
 
#56
So in 30years a 7+ string wont be extended range because they have been around for long? oww

Anyway, i think anything fretless is extended range or 5+.
I also think over 6strings will be extended range for a very very lon g time or forever since they aren't very necessary in the most popular music styles.

But i like the clip somebody posted.
:cool:
 
#58
john turner said:
i'm just glad that folks have gotten used to (in general) calling these instruments "extended range basses" as opposed to "multi-stringed basses" which seemed to be the style a few years ago. :eyebrow: :)
Click to expand...

Here here. In my mind, anything beyond a washtub bass is technically a "multi-string" bass...
 
#59
well i dissagree with your comments about 6 being extended range. i believe that six string basses are for those people who like those ultra highs and ultra lows. and as an owner of a six string bass i find it very easy to play and having those notes are very useful but i do not consider them to be extended. i believe extended is beyond 8 strings where the notes begin to get repeated but in flat or sharp form. but thats only my opinion just felt like putting it out there.
 

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