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Michael, How was Bills 9?

Discussion in 'Ask Steve Lawson & Michael Manring' started by Bonzai, Jul 9, 2003.

  1. Jul 9, 2003 #1
    Bonzai

    Bonzai

    Dec 6, 2002
    Michael, what did you think of Bill Dickens 9 string you played at Winter NAMM? What were your impressions of it?

    Thanks
     
  2. Jul 15, 2003 #2
    Michael Manring

    Michael Manring TalkBass Pro Supporting Member

    Apr 1, 2000
    It's a beautiful bass! It's superbly crafted and surprisingly easy to play. Conklin does great work.
     
  3. Aug 18, 2003 #3
    Howard K

    Howard K

    Feb 14, 2002
    UK
    what's the tuning, i preusme it goes one lower than low B and two higher than high C?

    the neck must be SO wide above the ocatve, like an ironing board!!

    madness! :D
     
  4. Sep 10, 2003 #4
    Stewmc5222

    Stewmc5222

    Nov 5, 2000
    Forest Falls, CA
    sorry I'm not Michael, but I was practically living in the AccuGroove booth and spent a lot of time playing Bill's bass.

    it's tuned in fourth, from F# up to a high Bb, so that's F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bb for the not conscious.

    the neck is broad, but it's profile is *very* comfortable and the action is supernaturally low, so it's dangerously easy to play!

    :D

    from the low end,


    Stew
     
  5. Sep 10, 2003 #5
    john turner

    john turner You don't want to do that. Trust me. Staff Member

    Mar 14, 2000
    atlanta ga
    bill's new 9 string has very very tight spacing - the spacing at the nut wasn't much wider than the spacing on my 7's. the bridge was custom made to allow for tighter string-to-string spacing there - i think it's 15mm, but i'm not sure.

    again, more 2c from another non-mike non-steve person :D.
     
  6. Sep 10, 2003 #6
    Stewmc5222

    Stewmc5222

    Nov 5, 2000
    Forest Falls, CA
    hey JT!

    also worth noting that in addition to tighter spacing, Bill's 9 uses slightly lighter gauge strings than a "standard" Conklin and there is a plexiglass block between the end of the fingerboard and the fisrt pickup.

    according to Mike Apperson in the Conklin shop this functions in much the same way as Gary Willis' ramp.

    I prefer bigger strings and wider spacing (and no ramp!), but for fingerstyle and chordal stuff the bass was SWEET!!

    :D

    from the intrusive depths,


    Stew