most strings on a bass guitar you've ever seen

[543432321234]

Has anyone seen a bass guitar with more than something like 10 strings? I am trying to find a bass guitar for my friend that plays a 10 string and says he needs more variety. any help?

 

[Phalex]

A bass only has four strings!

 

[bhass]

18
http://guitars101.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/18telli1.jpg
11
http://www.gopromusic.com/git.php?id=1235

 

[jaywa]

Yeah, Allen Woody's 6x3 monster wins the prize with me.

 

[spade2you]

A bass only has four strings!

...and a real bassist only needs two of those 4.

 

[Vendele197]

...and a real bassist only needs two of those 4.

+1

 

[ronster91]

A bass only has four strings!

Amen!

 

[RTL]

Oh stop it, you grumpy quasi-purists! Those kind of beliefs can have one banished to the DB forum.

 

[WalterBush]

...and a real bassist only needs two of those 4.

Two?? What's wrong with you people, I've got I, IV, and V on only one string!


EDIT: okay, Conklin has made both 13 and 15 string basses, and people actually play them in public. If I remember right, Warrior and Benavente have both made 11 string basses...come to think of it, I remember someone telling me that Warrior made some sort of 20-string monstrosity just to show off that they could. Jerzy Drozd and Bee Basses would be good makers to look into for ERB's, too.

Maybe your friend could look into a Chapman Stick, as well? They've got a 12 string model with bass-like spacing designed by Ned Steinberger these days...I've got an eye on that, myself.

 

[543432321234]

Two?? What's wrong with you people, I've got I, IV, and V on only one string!


EDIT: okay, Conklin has made both 13 and 15 string basses, and people actually play them in public. If I remember right, Warrior and Benavente have both made 11 string basses...come to think of it, I remember someone telling me that Warrior made some sort of 20-string monstrosity just to show off that they could. Jerzy Drozd and Bee Basses would be good makers to look into for ERB's, too.

Maybe your friend could look into a Chapman Stick, as well? They've got a 12 string model with bass-like spacing designed by Ned Steinberger these days...I've got an eye on that, myself.

Good idea. his lowest string is only a low B and a chapman stick would be better/cheaper than a custom made monster.

 

[john turner]

EDIT: okay, Conklin has made both 13 and 15 string basses, and people actually play them in public. If I remember right, Warrior and Benavente have both made 11 string basses...come to think of it, I remember someone telling me that Warrior made some sort of 20-string monstrosity just to show off that they could. Jerzy Drozd and Bee Basses would be good makers to look into for ERB's, too.

i've never heard of conklin making a 15 string instrument.

 

[WalterBush]

Good idea. his lowest string is only a low B and a chapman stick would be better/cheaper than a custom made monster.

What 10 string does he have that can't take a low F#? Just curious, since I've been thinking of removing my high F in favor of gaining a low F# ever since my church installed subs that would project it well.

 

[WalterBush]

i've never heard of conklin making a 15 string instrument.

I'm probably wrong and thinking of someone else, then, but didn't Jean-Paul Baudin have one made for him? Or was 13 his maximum so far?

And, more importantly to the OP, would Conklin make a 15 string if someone had the dough?

EDIT: The Google search I should have done before posting reveals only a company named Tennesee producing a non-coursed 15 string bass, apparently reviewed on Harmony Central.

 

[Flatty Banks]

...and a real bassist only needs two of those 4.

Actually, a real bassist only needs one string. The other three just make it easier!

 

[Ben Lesser]

Weren't both Jean Baudin and Garry Goodman getting 13's built? Whatever happened to that?

 

[jaywa]

I can appreciate the skill that goes into making these mega-string creations -- and even more so into playing them -- but after a certain point you just want to tell a guy to go play the d**n piano...

 

[spade2you]

I can appreciate the skill that goes into making these mega-string creations -- and even more so into playing them -- but after a certain point you just want to tell a guy to go play the d**n piano...

because you can't tie a piano to your crotch.

 

[rcarraher]

Has anyone seen a bass guitar with more than something like 10 strings? I am trying to find a bass guitar for my friend that plays a 10 string and says he needs more variety. any help?

12, anymore than that and it quits being a guitar and becomes a harp!

 

[Blueszilla]

Jeez...

 

[jaywa]

because you can't tie a piano to your crotch.

Of course you can... they just haven't invented the right strap for it yet