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Ricken-freak

#41
Can anyone explain a suitable application for an 8 string bass? I can't imagine it working in a band mix, although maybe it'd be good if you're seeking an unusual sound for a solo piece. I get 12 string guitars for the doubled chorus effect, but on a bass it's just.... overkill?
 
#43
I'd really like to build a Warmoth 8 string for the youth choir which I help out with, since we don't have a guitar player who'll stick around, though one of the older kids is learning.
The 8 would fill in a lot of sonic space and be more of an asset than a regular bass.
It's generally just me, the piano/organ, and a bunch of kids with various percussion to accompany the youthful voices.

As far as band use goes, Tom Petersson has used 12 and 8 string basses for a very long time to good use.
 
#47
How 'bout this Ric 12 - string
image.jpg









Okay ... Photoshop
 
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#49
paparoof said:
doods:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Tom Petersson from Cheap Trick played a 12-string. So did I guy I opened for in the early 90's from a band called "Watershed" outta Ohio.

check out:
The 12-String Bass Website
Click to expand...
I saw Tom Petersson when he had the 8-string. Really fills up the sound space during guitar solos.

I think the reason Hamer has such a big line of 8 & 12 string basses is because of Tom Petersson.
 
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#50
PTS74 said:
Can anyone explain a suitable application for an 8 string bass? I can't imagine it working in a band mix, although maybe it'd be good if you're seeking an unusual sound for a solo piece. I get 12 string guitars for the doubled chorus effect, but on a bass it's just.... overkill?
Click to expand...

Just to emphasize paparoof's post, you need to listen to some Cheap Trick and King's X. You can hear the difference in the full band mix, but when it thins out and the bass track shines through, oh...my...goodness. I wouldn't call it overkill any more than any other coursed instrument--in the right application (like so many things in music).

For some reason, I'm partial to the 8-string over the 12-string. Maybe my ears are shot, but the extra harmonic overtones seem lost to me on the 12-string version, but the pure octave chorused effect of the 8-string seems profound in a piano-like way. Early Cheap Trick is my favorite, when Tom used the 8-string.
 
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#52
I almost bought 1 of those "Musicvox" 12's at NAMM this past year.It sounded HUGE. Greg Lake used an Alembic 8 string,along with all the obvious ones. I do have a Dean 8 that I break out on a couple of songs,it enhances them. OH....Pearl Jam[Jeff Ahmet] used a 12 on "Jeremy"
 
#54
We had a new Rick 4003S/8 in the shop late 80's/early 90's. The issue we had then was that the octave /primary strings rattled together. We sold quite a few Hamer 12's & 8's, which never had this problem.

We sent this back to Rickenbacker to rectify, but it came back in the exact same condition (probably a poorly designed bridge.) After we sold it, we never re-ordered.

Not sure if others had the same issue, but something to find out about if you're considering buying.
 
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#55
PTS74 said:
Well, with 12 string basses you're really just playing a huge baritone guitar! ;)
Click to expand...

12s are actually usually strung eeE-aaA-ddD-ggG, doubling the octave string.

As far as other examples of 8 strings:
Noel Redding on Axis Bold as Love (Spanish Castle Magic, You Got me Floatin', Little Miss Lover, Crosstown Traffic)
John Entwistle - Trick of the Light, Success Story
Greg Lake - Fanfare for the Common Man
JPJ - Nobody's Fault But Mine, Achilles Last Stand, Celebration Day
 
#58
Wolfenstein666 said:
That's a real Ric?

I never would've thought in a million years. The tuners are definitely not right, unless they used different ones for this one model.
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Yes. They actually were among early makers of the 8 string bass. They have made a couple production models, the 4008 and the 4003S/8, as I recall. The tuners Rickenbacker has changed over the years a bit.

Wolfenstein666 said:
Obviously not everyone has the same needs, but Ric is already sort of a niche instrument. I would imagine it would be exorbitantly expensive brand new.

I just thought it was odd. I had never seen one before and was curious if anyone knew about it.
Click to expand...
Rickenbackers are really not that much of a niche instrument. An 8-string Rickenbacker, sure, but a regular 4003 is not that rare a bass. Certainly less common than a Fender Precision, but not an Alembic.
 
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