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Slide Bass Guitar with Pedals

Z

Zane King

Oct 15, 2014
8
2
57
#1
I just signed up here today after hearing about talkbass.com from Best Bass Gear. They just did this article on my all new Slide Bass Guitar. This is a unique instrument played much like a pedal steel guitar. It has 4 floor pedals that change the strings by half and whole notes. Check it out and see what you think of this short little demo. Later, I will put more complete demos together on what this instrument can do.

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#6
lz4005 said:
Seems like a more limited, more complicated, more expensive version of fretless bass.
I don't get it.
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It cuts through differently than fretless. Plus those steel players like myself who have spent a lifetime developing skills with picks and a slide it just gives us a bit of enjoyment of doing something out of bounds!
 
#11
J Posega said:
It would seem that you didn't actually watch or listen to the video, just looked at the instrument.
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I watched the video. It's an expensive novelty for pedal steel players, not a useful tool for bass players.

If I wanted to sound like that I'd nail my shoes to the floor and play my fretless overhand with finger picks.
 
#12
lz4005 said:
I watched the video. It's an expensive novelty for pedal steel players, not a useful tool for bass players.

If I wanted to sound like that I'd nail my shoes to the floor and play my fretless overhand with finger picks.
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Hey I never said it was for everyone. As a matter of fact, I don't think it is for pedal steel or bass players. I think it is for someone who wants to do something a bit different. There's no question that there is talent in this world that could take this thing and make unbelievable music with it and just because it is already unique they would have an advantage on the first day. So the good folks at Jackson Steel are not trying to market this to pedal steel players. Goodness, they are the hardest group of musicians in the world to please. I'm a part of that community and I can tell you they are not going to embrace this Pedal Slide Bass Guitar. As for bass players, those at the beginner to novice level will likely be interested enough to check it out. The advanced players....not a chance. Why would they? So all that said, this is a new instrument for the most part. It's not a bass guitar, it's not a steel guitar.....it is a Pedal Slide Bass. There will be some use for it in some musical settings. I promise you that.
 
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#13
Wow, it's a shame, but I REALLY wanna play this thing. I don't know that I'll buy one unless there is both a specific need and appropriate financing (fat chance). I am in constant awe of good steel players.

I agree that it sounds fretless-ish, but not exactly the same. The slide does make a difference; I can totally see some applications for this in alt folk and country. Seems like the sort of thing that one could multitrack into a solo bass project for sonic texture.

I love 'em, but Pedal steel players are some of the most entrenched musicians (in terms of both gear and technique) that I've ever met.
 
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#15
This thing's totally cool! Manring does something similar with detuning levers, but this slide bass seems faster with the foot-pedals than reaching over to flip a tuning lever — you can keep both hands playing while your foot works the pedals.

Too bad some people are so frickin' close-minded they can't see the potential in something like this. Same sort of myopic [deleted] probably sneered at the Ubass.
Lots of things the pedals can do that a normal fretless wouldn't be capable of.

I bet Manring would love to have one of these in his arsenal. Thanks for expressing yourself through pedal-steel bass, Zane, very refreshing!
 
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#17
Remyd said:
Wow, it's a shame, but I REALLY wanna play this thing. I don't know that I'll buy one unless there is both a specific need and appropriate financing (fat chance). I am in constant awe of good steel players.

I agree that it sounds fretless-ish, but not exactly the same. The slide does make a difference; I can totally see some applications for this in alt folk and country. Seems like the sort of thing that one could multitrack into a solo bass project for sonic texture.

I love 'em, but Pedal steel players are some of the most entrenched musicians (in terms of both gear and technique) that I've ever met.
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Thanks so much for posting your thoughts. Right now, this is just a prototype. The company (which is a pedal steel maker) is working on a 5 string for me right now. Just because we can. I don't think there will be that much more of an advantage with 5 strings. Someday, I hope to be out on a music store circuit demoing these things so folks like yourself can play it. Thanks for compliments of steel players. I've been playing since I was a kid. All I can tell you is that we are generally speaking a tortured group of musicians. :))
 
#19
spanndrew said:
I think this is cool. Not getting the hate. If I ever had a need, like a folk/ country band, I'd be ordering one.
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Oh the hate here is far less than the folks who think this is cool and has a place somewhere in music. It's the nature of just about anything you do that is a bit risky for there always to be haters. Plus, if there wasn't a bit of criticism here and there I would know that no one is really interested. So bring it on. :)
 

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