I found a nice lefty 7 string on ebay, and I've never played anything beyond 5, I'd like to get started playing 6 and 7's though, so what are the pros and cons (if any) of your guy's basses?
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extended range bassists
- Thread starter Eric Killinger
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Pros.... more notes = opprtunity for more expression.
Cons... more notes = opprtunity for more expression.
Seriously, the pros and cons are what "you" make them.
Cons... more notes = opprtunity for more expression.
Seriously, the pros and cons are what "you" make them.
What I mean is this: I have seen plenty of guys with 6 & 7 string basses doing the same things they can do on 4. No creativity for extended range, still playing foundation style bass lines. Why bother with a 6 or 7 if you can't or won't demonstrate more of a soloist nature? Because they look cool? IMO ERB past 5 requires an entirely different approach to bass playing and too many guy's with then just don't have it.
There are physical issues with a 7+ string that may or may not be a problem. The neck is wider which causes difficulties for some players. You might find that you have to wear the bass higher to increase chord fingering positions. While not 100% accurate, most 7+ string basses are a bit heavier than "regular" basses.
There are not as many types of string sets available, and it's almost impossible to find 7 string sets in GC, Sam Ash, or the local shops, Depending on how you have the axe tuned you might need to re-think your amplification.
But the increased range will likely change how you approach your playing, to include fingering positions and note patterns. I know I play entirely different on a 7 than the lower string count basses.
Also, once you get used to a 7 it might be difficult to go back to 4's & 5's ...
BTW, what did you get?
There are not as many types of string sets available, and it's almost impossible to find 7 string sets in GC, Sam Ash, or the local shops, Depending on how you have the axe tuned you might need to re-think your amplification.
But the increased range will likely change how you approach your playing, to include fingering positions and note patterns. I know I play entirely different on a 7 than the lower string count basses.
Also, once you get used to a 7 it might be difficult to go back to 4's & 5's ...
BTW, what did you get?
There are physical issues with a 7+ string that may or may not be a problem. The neck is wider which causes difficulties for some players. You might find that you have to wear the bass higher to increase chord fingering positions. While not 100% accurate, most 7+ string basses are a bit heavier than "regular" basses.
There are not as many types of string sets available, and it's almost impossible to find 7 string sets in GC, Sam Ash, or the local shops, Depending on how you have the axe tuned you might need to re-think your amplification.
But the increased range will likely change how you approach your playing, to include fingering positions and note patterns. I know I play entirely different on a 7 than the lower string count basses.
Also, once you get used to a 7 it might be difficult to go back to 4's & 5's ...
BTW, what did you get?
thats what some people told me would happen when I started playing fretless and going back to a fretted, but I play guitar too, so It wasnt a problem.
I've been watching some people play extended range on youtube and I really like how they approach it and how they get a totally different sound as compared to a normal 4 or 5.
I had a Conklin 7-string once for a couple of weeks. It seemed pretty useless and inconvenient in a "normal" band context, unless you play in a fusion trio or quartet.
And for solo work, I rather have a smaller fretboard, and tune a 4 -or 5- string bass with a high C. (And while in that high range, I might as well just play a guitar.)
The wider board and tighter string spacing needs adjustment, and even after I adjusted, I preferred having more normal dimensions. I would guess that if your have long fingers, this would be less of a problem and you would could adjust easier.
But worth a try, nevertheless. Maybe when you have one in your hads you feel right at home and decide to stick to it and develop it.
And for solo work, I rather have a smaller fretboard, and tune a 4 -or 5- string bass with a high C. (And while in that high range, I might as well just play a guitar.)
The wider board and tighter string spacing needs adjustment, and even after I adjusted, I preferred having more normal dimensions. I would guess that if your have long fingers, this would be less of a problem and you would could adjust easier.
But worth a try, nevertheless. Maybe when you have one in your hads you feel right at home and decide to stick to it and develop it.
I dont remember, I'll have to look it up again, im sure its starfire or something like that, they had reveiws on haronycentral.com and apparently its pretty good.
edit: galveston
While I agree with this post to a point, I have to add that I've been playing my 6 in a classic/southern rock band for a while now, and have really enjoyed the versatility of the 6 string. The stuff that I am playing however could SURELY be played on a 5 string, or heck even a 4 string if I tuned down slightly. I honestly think that all the ERB does is changes your approach more than anything. I have to admit though that I feel kinda foolish playing "Sweet Home Alabama" on my 6 string especially due to the fact that I sing that tune, so there's NO room for "steppin out".
Peace
That's a Galveston ....
To Eric Killinger: If you do buy that bass be careful with the bridge saddles. Unless they made a design change, the saddles are a pressure mount and have a tendency to move around, as well as fall off when changing strings.
Will do, they couldnt be as bad as the saddles on a squire bullet, which, by the way- you have to completely dissasemble when changing strings, and not only that, the springs that hold the screw to the saddle have a tendency to shoot off and fly around the place. But of course, the bullet is pretty crappy anyways.
the thing I really like about it is how the strings go through the body before going to the bridge, it seems like it would make changing the strings alot easier then when I change the strings on my sx, the problem I have with that is when I feed the string through the little hole, its very hard for me to get the string actually ON the saddle, and sometimes certain strings (ernie ball slinky's, for example) are too wide to even go through them.
im curious though, where are some online retailers where I can buy strings for extended range basses? I've only heard about conklin.
the thing I really like about it is how the strings go through the body before going to the bridge, it seems like it would make changing the strings alot easier then when I change the strings on my sx, the problem I have with that is when I feed the string through the little hole, its very hard for me to get the string actually ON the saddle, and sometimes certain strings (ernie ball slinky's, for example) are too wide to even go through them.
im curious though, where are some online retailers where I can buy strings for extended range basses? I've only heard about conklin.
I'd say the good or bad of it is based on the requirements of whatever music you're playing, how adept you are at wrestling with that many strings, and whether you get a decent return for the extra effort of dealing with it.
I have a six string bass. I like the range it gives me for certain types of music but I quickly decided to use it for recording only. As a gigging bass it can be a handful and more trouble than it's worth if I'd rather just be on autopilot. For playing out, I have two 5 strings on stage, one strung with low B, the other with a high C. Most of the time even that is overkill, but it looks cool.
Sonic Strings is a TB advertiser ( Link Removed ). You can also buy sets and single strings through Just Strings ( [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] )
what about cases? I notcied that most cases have a place where you fit in the neck, and because a 7 string neck would be wider, would I have to worry about this?
Yes .....
Galveston makes a hardshell case just for the 7's & 8's, don't know what it costs or how good it is, though. Check on Ebay for the 7 & 8 string Galveston sellers ....
I tried, no luck, the only galveston cases I found were for violins or triple neck guitars.
I tried, no luck, the only galveston cases I found were for violins or triple neck guitars.
Check here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Hard-Shell-...emZ110043575779QQcategoryZ41409QQcmdZViewItem
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