String order on 8-string octave courses

[sharkbarf]

Hey TalkBass - I'm working on building an 8-string bass with octave courses. Does string order matter? That is, how much difference is there between the octave being on top versus on bottom of the fundamental string? Seems like the standard is on top. Perhaps there's a reason for the standard?

I'll primarily be playing with a pick, so that would mean I'm hitting the octave string first. Would that emphasize the octave?

I'm considering building it with all bass tuning machines so I could change the order (and the nut), but that would make the head have a lot more tuning machinery than if half were guitar tuners.

Any thoughts welcome! Thanks!

 

[nickpc]

The one I played (Schecter Omen-8) had the octave string "above" the fundamental string, so playing with a pick you'd hit the octave string first on a downstroke. Upstrokes didn't work very well, to be honest, but my pick playing isn't all that good so it might have been me. In that configuration I could also play fingerstyle and control if I hit the octave string as well (angling the stroke back toward the bass body) or just the fundamental string (angling the stroke away from the body).

Most of the 12-string/double octave course basses I've seen are the same - the two octave courses being "above" the fundamental.

 

[JimmyM]

I think it's psychological myself. The delays are pretty small and not especially noticeable if you ask me. But the ones I've seen generally have the octave strings first.

 

[CaptainLeisure]

Short version: I'd put the octaves on top (farther from the floor).

I have an 8-string with the low strings on top, I find that this arrangement works against the curvature of my fingertip, making it difficult to play cleanly. Fretting the larger string with the tip of my finger places the thinner string under the pad of the finger, where there's less pressure. This frequently makes the octave string muted or buzzy, especially when playing quickly or fretting with my little finger.

The bass originally had the octave-up configuration, but I had the string pairs reversed hoping to avoid the octave dominance you describe. But I'd have them put back to octave-up if I were to be playing this bass regularly.

 

[sharkbarf]

Thanks for the tips, everyone! Good to hear from people with experience. Sounds like the consensus is go with octave on top, like most of the manufactured versions (probably that way for a reason).

 

[JimmyM]

I'm considering building it with all bass tuning machines so I could change the order (and the nut), but that would make the head have a lot more tuning machinery than if half were guitar tuners.

Any thoughts welcome! Thanks!

By the way, skip that all bass tuners nonsense. It would make your bass super neck heavy, not only with the tuners but the peghead.

 

[CaptainLeisure]

By the way, skip that all bass tuners nonsense. It would make your bass super neck heavy, not only with the tuners but the peghead.

Oh yeah, this is true. Mine uses a Warmoth neck that requires eight bass machine heads. Except for being reversable, it's a terrible design.

 

[Bob_Ross]

By the way, skip that all bass tuners nonsense. It would make your bass super neck heavy, not only with the tuners but the peghead.

fwiw I used to own this 8-string bass with a custom neck built by Michael Dolan that used Gotoh GB-7 bass tuners for all eight strings, and bolted to a standard Jazz Bass body it was a wonderfully balanced instrument. No neck dive, and not exceedingly heavy (<10lbs iirc)

 

[Lo-E]

My late-seventies Ibanez had the octave strings on top. I think that's much easier for fingerstyle playing. I think it makes less of a difference if you play with a pick.

 

[JimmyM]

fwiw I used to own this 8-string bass with a custom neck built by Michael Dolan that used Gotoh GB-7 bass tuners for all eight strings, and bolted to a standard Jazz Bass body it was a wonderfully balanced instrument. No neck dive, and not exceedingly heavy (<10lbs iirc)

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Prohibitively heavy for me . But I guess if you use ultralight tuners it's not bad. Me, I use a Mooer Tender Octaver, but point taken, Bob.

 

[SJLee]

If it were going to be my bass, I'd want the octave string on top (farthest from the floor) because I would most likely be playing an 8 string with a pick, using down strokes. Playing a downstroke through the smaller string first will make it easier to hit both strings cleanly. While if the octave string is on bottom, it will be harder to hit once your plectrum passes over the larger string first.

 

[steve_ss]

My 8-string Rickenbacker 4003S/8 is EeAaDdGg. I don't use a pick, so the fingers are pulling up for me. This also fits with the curve of my fretting fingers (which might not be very good).