nickbass79 said:
Looking forward to those pics. That's a real eye grabbing piece of buckeye. Very nice..
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
Looking forward to those pics. That's a real eye grabbing piece of buckeye. Very nice..
Please, do yourself a favour: spend some quality time with the hi-C string.
About one year ago I bought a cheap 6 strings with the only purpose of investigating what both the extra strings (low B/high C) had to offer.
While at first I was intrigued by that extra 5 low notes and by the ability to play the same notes in a more comfortable neck area (e.g. playing an F on the 6th fret of the B string instead of the 1st fret of the E string) the high C was a real revelation.
It offered istantly the opportunity to add embellishments and nuances while staying in "the groove area" (frets 1 to 7) without the need to shift position and, more important, it forced me to investigate the wonderful world of chords. It definitely expanded my horizons on the instrument and helped a lot in understanding harmony in general.
Can't live without that spaghetti string!
I've been spending a fair amount of time visualizing where/when I'd use the string and I've got specific goals (including chords) so I'm going to give it some time and directed effort.
Oddly enough I've gravitated away from liking/wanting a B-string. I agree that having low F on the 6th fret is really nice. But beyond that I don't think I miss it. With the MGS the 33 scale should bring the nut a bit closer (which makes playing low F on the E string even more comfortable) and the hipshot will give me a low D, which I do miss from time to time.
Mine should be "imminent" and I splurged for overnight shipping so the poor thing doesn't end up sitting in a FedEx truck in the middle of summer.
Oddly enough I've gravitated away from liking/wanting a B-string. I agree that having low F on the 6th fret is really nice. But beyond that I don't think I miss it. With the MGS the 33 scale should bring the nut a bit closer (which makes playing low F on the E string even more comfortable) and the hipshot will give me a low D, which I do miss from time to time.
Mine should be "imminent" and I splurged for overnight shipping so the poor thing doesn't end up sitting in a FedEx truck in the middle of summer.
hey,
if i may, i think it's really important to give yourself some time when going to a 5- or 6-string bass. comfort with the instrument is not going to happen over night, especially if you've been playing 4-string (or 5-string) for a while. the ergonomics change a lot. so does the *mindset*, which may be more difficult in some cases.
a lot of the time i see people saying something like, "i tried a 5-string (6-string, fretless), but found i couldn't figure it out," i kind of feel like they didn't really give it time . . . or, perhaps, *make the commitment* to the instrument.
better folks than me can probably go back and forth, but i can't. but my bias also came from reading something aj said about exclusively playing 6-string if you were gonna go to 6-string (though some said he didn't . . . )—and that's the route i took.
imho, etc.
if i may, i think it's really important to give yourself some time when going to a 5- or 6-string bass. comfort with the instrument is not going to happen over night, especially if you've been playing 4-string (or 5-string) for a while. the ergonomics change a lot. so does the *mindset*, which may be more difficult in some cases.
a lot of the time i see people saying something like, "i tried a 5-string (6-string, fretless), but found i couldn't figure it out," i kind of feel like they didn't really give it time . . . or, perhaps, *make the commitment* to the instrument.
better folks than me can probably go back and forth, but i can't. but my bias also came from reading something aj said about exclusively playing 6-string if you were gonna go to 6-string (though some said he didn't . . . )—and that's the route i took.
imho, etc.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 1,168
- 33
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist : Fodera Guitars , Harvest fine leather bags & straps
When I startet to go with a E-C it took me almost 1 year to be able to "see" all my notes again 
and some month later I realized that I don't need a C string because my approach changed totaly...
and some month later I realized that I don't need a C string because my approach changed totaly...
well, if I really dig 5-string E-C then I guess I can buy more Foderas. Like a chambered MG. Not that I mentioned that to anyone in Brooklyn yet...
- Apr 23, 2003
- 725
- 17
- Disclosures
- Artist Relations/Product Specialist: Mesa Boogie
I still can't get it outta my head about Garey parting with his Koa6, sorry ..but I couldn't do it.
I found a pic of that bass with Vinnie playing it in the shop (I thought I had a few more), I wouldn't post it without the owners or Vinnies consent, but please post one Garey if you can.
People ought to see that bass one more time, fantastic work by Vinnie and all at the shop.
Here ya go!
Garey said:
Cheers Garey, that's the very same pic in question. On Vinnie's lap, the body width doesn't look overtly wide for a six, did you request a more diminutive body or is that standard. Also is there much of a difference in the body widths of the Koa Imp6 compared to your current Monarch 6?
Just curious - Thanks
- Apr 23, 2003
- 725
- 17
- Disclosures
- Artist Relations/Product Specialist: Mesa Boogie
The Imperial is standard. The Monarch seems about the same, but much lighter and all around more comfortable. I loved that Imperial, but after having a Monarch again (and a 34" scale) I remembered how much that shape suits me. I started out on Monarch 4's, went to a Monarch 5, to an Imperial 6. The Monarch 6 was like going home again : )
Thanks for the explanation, I totally understand. I could be a closet Monarch-head myself. I played a VW monarch and a YY delux a few years ago and I broke out in hot-flushes, sweaty-palms (I'm fairly sure it's not menopausal) even thought those basses were telling me "Buy Me Now", so I ran home and went cold-turkey.
It worked for a while..well, until I tried an MG5 and that was it. My Foderaholic counselling works well now and kicks in almost as soon as the symptoms appear, but I don't think I've found home as yet!
Please post a full front pic of the Koa6 if you have one.
Easy..
++1. I read the same article were AJ referred to application of the 6 and I confess, he scared the crap outta me, but he's the master and he's so right. To really embrace it you have to commit totally, so at some point I know I'll hang up my 5's, and maybe whip em out for occasions where there's a requirement for the ole slap & pop..Cringe!!
imho, the problem with switching back and forth is so much that we do is muscle memory. Made more complicated when drop tuning is involved. Just sayin' though, before everyone says they don't need the B, the fodera B is mind blowing, and you can find places to fit it in.
oldfretless said:
well, this is kinda where i come down on it too, the muscle memory is key, imho.
fer instance, after 42 years of playing 34-inch stuff, playing a 35-inch scale feels massively "off" to me, i can't feel where the notes are. similar with playing a 4-string after 27 years of doing a 6-string, my hands just don't get it.
that fodera C string is pretty nice, too.
I've owned a number of instruments with a great B-string. The quality isn't the issue, it is the change in gestalt when you add it. I find my approach changes between a 4 and a 5 - they are different instruments. It is an extra string that in some ways complicates the instrument (eg another string to dampen), and in other ways simplifies it (eg more notes available in a single position). Whether the B adds value depends on the player, not on the quality of the string (unless it is a crappy B-string).
I found switching between 30"scale and 34" scale on a gig (both 4-strings) to be problematic. I was always "off" by a couple of frets for a song or two. I could have woodshedded the problem away, but I've got other things I want to work on so instead I got rid of the 30" scale. In a perfect world I think I'd actually be like Stueart (shh! don't tell him!) in that I'd have a single instrument spec and just know it inside and out. I'm close to that at the moment with 34" scale 4-string. I'm able to pick up my 35" scale 5-string fretless (but mostly choose not to), and I'm hoping that 33" scale 5-string E-C fits in with what I'm doing and how I approach the instrument.
Some guys can pick up any bass and feel comfortable, others can't. Just depends on how you're wired and what is important to you. No right or wrong way to go about it.
on the serious end of this, that's why i was saying i felt like people often don't give enough time or should just *commit* to the 5-/6-string if they're gonna do it. the change in "gestalt" (good word choice for this, by the way) is rather difficult.
as you say, some peeps can do this, but i can't.
- Status
