Extended Range Madness: 13 strings (really?!)

[Triad]

Hello! I've been waiting for this project for a while now... I'm going to finish a 34" scale 12 strings but was disappointed by the fact I couldn't tune as I wanted (from C# to Ab) due to the excessive tension on the thinner string. This time, knowing the maximum tension bearable by that skinny thing, I'm going to make the bass multiscale.

These should be the specs:

Scales: 35"-28"
13 strings tuned from G# to Ab.
24 frets
Bubinga or Wengé fingerboard, still have to decide.
Zebrawood neck thru body with Wengé toneblock
semi-hollow wings (standard on my upcoming instruments), probably Zebrawood with some stunning top/back.
Black hardware
15.5mm spacing at bridge, maybe 16
Low Z Ceramic humbucker in the sweetspot, Bartolini TC3 booster with passive controls. Pretty basic.
It will probably be a singlecut... I have about a dozen different body shapes in my line so the choice is pretty wide.
I expect a 6kg weight, more or less. My 12 is 6.6 and my former multiscale 10 was 6.5 and both are solid and made with Ovangkol and other very heavy timbers.
I know many of you could ask "WHY?!". Well... there are a few reasons, one of them is that what's worth doing is worth overdoing. And it looks like I could be the first builder making a 13. Looks like a few tried but nobody finished the build, for some reason (a reason I could even discover LOL!).

I think the Bubinga fingerboard would be sick on the Zebrawood neck... maybe with a thin Wengé accent between them. Oh, I'm also considering to add side leds... I need a battery anyway (for the booster) so no harm done.
I should start in a few days but the project will take a while as I'm already busy building and finishing other instruments...

 

[PaPaVB20]

Itriad you know I will keep an eye on this thread.... Good luck, I bet it will be an amazing bass!

 

[Musiclogic]

Sounds very cool Triad, looking forward to it.

 

[pilotjones]

Cool. Can't wait to see what body shape you choose to go with that enormous neck!

I think Adler has made a 13, maybe even a 14.

 

[Triad]

As far as I know there's no working/complete 13 strings bass around... but please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. If it exists I'd like to see pics!

This is the 12 (still rough, obviously):

 

[mark roberts]

Subbed. Good luck on these ERB projects!

 

[FiskFisk33]

Oooh, sub for incredoulutastic craziness!

 

[pilotjones]

As far as I know there's no working/complete 13 strings bass around... but please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I guess you're right! Garry Goodman's Adler is a 12, Jean Baudin's JP is a 12 and his Hideous Claw is an 11.

 

[Triad]

Jean told me that he had a 13 under construction but the project fell thru...

 

[flameworker]

HOLY poopie YOU ARE MY HERO<3.

 

[reverendrally]

We should take up a collection for your back...

But what the heck. Love to see people getting TOTALLY carried away!

 

[Triad]

You can see the finished bass in my avatar... I completed it a lot of time ago, must say. And it wasn't much heavier than a 70s Jazz bass... less than 6kg.

Oh, forgot to add that in the meantime I left the 13 strings project fall for two reasons:

1) I don't like the thin string, it's actually too weak if compared to the others;
2) The "fan" needed was huge... 10". So playability would become a big issue.

So it was a project that needed some deeper thought. I'll eventually build one but won't spit out an unplayable monster just for the sake of it LOL.

Anyway I've been told by some strings maker that they've made sets for 13 strings basses YEARS AGO so I guess yeah, somebody made one (or more than one) in the past. Don't know if it was Adler or somebody else, though, the guy didn't give me this information.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I see no earthly reason to build this, other than the pure joy of craft, as is your God-given right. Enjoy! Now all you have to do is grow 9" long fingers on your left hand to reach the bass strings.