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Fodera Club Part XXVII

#4,047
So A few weeks ago I strung my walnut Monarch E-C and my mango Monarch is B-G..... now I want a 6er.:woot:

I am spending a lot of time working on my technique and doing some serious shedding (very few gigs for the remainder of the year as we are replacing our singer and the new singer is just getting up to speed), but I now have the 6 string bug. I gigged a Roscoe SKB 6er and a MTD Kingston 6er for a solid year or so, but that was 6-7 years ago. I just couldn't get comfortable with the 6ers back then and went back to 5ers.

If I do buy a 6er, it will likely be a cheapie to start. I don't want to do something potentially dumb like trading one of my Fodera 5ers for a Fodera 6er just yet as I would likely regret it.

Have any of you had an initial 6er experience that was less than stellar but later adapted/embraced the extra string(s)?
 
#4,048
Baird6869 said:
I was just thinking the same thing.

Specifically, that white fretless NYC Empire 5er is killing me for just over $2k. I have been so close to pulling the trigger, but I have 2 great fretted Foderas (both under a year old), a cool fretless FBass and a few other basses. Not sure another bass just before Christmas is a super idea!
Click to expand...

I wanted to make him an offer when it was on eBay for 2400, then it went to 3400, and he raised the Talkbass price from 2400 to 2800, and I just sort of thought I'd give it a month to settle down somewhere.
 
#4,049
Baird6869 said:
So A few weeks ago I strung my walnut Monarch E-C and my mango Monarch is B-G..... now I want a 6er.:woot:

I am spending a lot of time working on my technique and doing some serious shedding (very few gigs for the remainder of the year as we are replacing our singer and the new singer is just getting up to speed), but I now have the 6 string bug. I gigged a Roscoe SKB 6er and a MTD Kingston 6er for a solid year or so, but that was 6-7 years ago. I just couldn't get comfortable with the 6ers back then and went back to 5ers.

If I do buy a 6er, it will likely be a cheapie to start. I don't want to do something potentially dumb like trading one of my Fodera 5ers for a Fodera 6er just yet as I would likely regret it.

Have any of you had an initial 6er experience that was less than stellar but later adapted/embraced the extra string(s)?
Click to expand...

I would also suggest you try a cheaper 6, or a few if you can. Over the years I went from a 36" scale bass with 19mm spacing and a wide nut to what I have now, a 33" scale with 16.5mm spacing and a 2" nut width. This was over many years of just playing 6's. You really have to find what works for your body as well as what you want sound wise. For me, the smaller scale and spacing work for both. I came to my measurements from other basses I had played over the years with specific specs that I really liked. I got a cheap Ibanez 6 to play for a while that had narrow spacing before I had a custom built and that was the last piece of the puzzle. It took time but now I have an amazing bass that feels like home every time I pick it up. My other suggestion would be to, once you find a comfortable 6 to play, just play that bass for a long period of time. You will get comfortable with it and you'll start to feel and hear it's possibilities.
 
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#4,051
Baird6869 said:
Have any of you had an initial 6er experience that was less than stellar but later adapted/embraced the extra string(s)?
Click to expand...

I've now bought and sold five different 6-strings, and have borrowed another two. I finally have come to the conclusion that a 6-string would require a significant change in my technique and I'm not willing (or necessarily able) to go there. I currently have decent left-hand position but the way that my hands/joints work, the extra real-estate from 5 to 6 is just a bit too much. I'm ok living without the C-string at the moment. I am glad I spent the year or so with the MGS strung E-C, but for now I'm preferring just moving between 4-string and 5-string with low B. Having to retrain my brain so I don't have to think with the B-string but that's coming along.

But that's just my personal experience. Clearly a lot of people have zero issues with playing a 6'er.
 
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#4,053
Baird6869 said:
So A few weeks ago I strung my walnut Monarch E-C and my mango Monarch is B-G..... now I want a 6er.:woot:

I am spending a lot of time working on my technique and doing some serious shedding (very few gigs for the remainder of the year as we are replacing our singer and the new singer is just getting up to speed), but I now have the 6 string bug. I gigged a Roscoe SKB 6er and a MTD Kingston 6er for a solid year or so, but that was 6-7 years ago. I just couldn't get comfortable with the 6ers back then and went back to 5ers.

If I do buy a 6er, it will likely be a cheapie to start. I don't want to do something potentially dumb like trading one of my Fodera 5ers for a Fodera 6er just yet as I would likely regret it.

Have any of you had an initial 6er experience that was less than stellar but later adapted/embraced the extra string(s)?
Click to expand...
FWIW, I've owned a total of 6 - six string basses including the emperor I am playing now (Smith, Roscoe, Cirrus, MTD, Carvin). The first 5 basses didn't work, the smith and mtd were closest. This one works for me because of 17.5mm spacing, 33" scale, asymmetrical neck, tighter nut spacing, and offset body. Not just for solo stuff, it is getting used for some smooth jazz session work as well, which doesn't include any slap stuff, or Id be back on the 5 string. So while I like the idea of picking up a less expensive bass, it never worked out for me, but it might for you. For me, the 33" scale means a lot when you reach for a low C and its an option I had to take a leap of faith on with an entry level Fodera. Hope that helps.
 
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#4,058
it is brazilian rosewood. i have a monarch from the same piece. number 34 and a friend has a guitar from that same peice also.. i remember that bass in the shop back in 83....

foderabrazilwalnut3.jpg
 
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