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The First 7 String Electric Bass

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#261
Actually it doesn't appear to be a close-spaced 7 at all. Joe C. is saying that the fingerboard is 4-1/2" wide. That's about 1/2" wider than my Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass 6, a very wide bass. Here's the only mention of it in the actual JT interview:


Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Well, this instrument is going to allow me to come up with some new things.
Sometimes an instrument can be a breakthrough in creating new sounds, new concepts. Sometimes an instrument can do that. Well, this instrument in particular with the combination of the stereo and how you can play it in the high register and also in the low register the combination of all that can become interesting to the ear.. So just based on that ya know I like to be very current.


Joe Campagna: Well, this is definitely the world's first seven electric string bass. They may have made a seven string upright a couple of hundred years ago or so, but I don't know that for sure. You got used to that 4-1/2" wide fingerboard pretty damn quick. Did you ever play upright? How long have you been playing bass?
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I don't know if Joe C. is still around or if Jamaaladeen can verify this. Or if Beaver ever got the info he requested.

I'm just relaying what's in the First Bass magazine that I received way back when;)
 
#262
Though I haven't been a part of this thread, only a reader, I must say that what Brad has posted from the magazine is proof enough for me that Ninestring's Tobias was NOT the first "real" 7 string. I'm not really sure what string spacing has to do with anything either. It seems to me almost every extended range bass that came out back then had tight spacing, it was normal. I think Ken Smith even claims to be the first to offer a wide neck 5.
 
#264
i most certainly invented the seven string back in 1942, which was immediately destroyed so that the question of,"who built and played the first seven string" would remain unanswered for another sixty one years.

so there the truth has surfaced at last.
:spit: :D

just kidding, but honestly aside from a personal need for recognition why do you keep driving it into the ground that you were the first.

Call Guiness they need some new records.
 
#266
Originally posted by Peter Parker
Though I haven't been a part of this thread, only a reader, I must say that what Brad has posted from the magazine is proof enough for me that Ninestring's Tobias was NOT the first "real" 7 string. I'm not really sure what string spacing has to do with anything either. It seems to me almost every extended range bass that came out back then had tight spacing, it was normal. I think Ken Smith even claims to be the first to offer a wide neck 5.
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Actually I wasn't posting it as proof of anything... I happen to still have my copy of this fairly rare magazine for reference and it does seem to identify the luthier of the pictured bass on the cover. As to when whatever actually happened, I don't know. I also can't and won't speculate on the motives for building the bass.

I agree about the string spacing, I've never considered narrow spacing a desirable thing, even back then. It's why I disliked most 5+ string basses at the time, they always seemed like basses with extra strings squeezed into the same space:D
 
#271
Originally posted by Peter Parker
Though I haven't been a part of this thread, only a reader, I must say that what Brad has posted from the magazine is proof enough for me that Ninestring's Tobias was NOT the first "real" 7 string. I'm not really sure what string spacing has to do with anything either. It seems to me almost every extended range bass that came out back then had tight spacing, it was normal. I think Ken Smith even claims to be the first to offer a wide neck 5.
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ok -enough is enough

Bob Lee who actually worked onTobias 7 string bass serial # 975 in 1987 posted that i ordered the bass. The magazine article is dated Winter 1989. So some guy says teo tears later that that bass is the first 7 strng-and you swallow it just like that.

Who are you to tell me my seven string Tobias is not a real Bass? You don't know what you are talking about. I use a .130 gauge for my low B_Is that not a real bass string ? I have worked professionally with that bass ,hired as a bass player using that bass since the mid 80's. If you can't provide real hard evidence -you shouldn't post here. Jamaaladeen is a friend of Jauqo's. You know the guy who started this thread? he toldd Jauqo the strings were too close ,it had close string spacing.

Try reading the entire thread before posting this stuff.
 
#272
Originally posted by abark000
i most certainly invented the seven string back in 1942, which was immediately destroyed so that the question of,"who built and played the first seven string" would remain unanswered for another sixty one years.

so there the truth has surfaced at last.
:spit: :D

just kidding, but honestly aside from a personal need for recognition why do you keep driving it into the ground that you were the first.

Call Guiness they need some new records.
Click to expand...
Jauqo wants to know. a picture and article came out in 1989 saying that was the first 7 string bass. Ask Bob Lee or Michael Tobias about building a 7 string for me in 1987. i am not "driving it into the ground " but some of you are really hoping to prove me wrong . The luthier of the bass on the magazine cover is Dave Patterson ? I did a search and he only made 4 5 and 6 strings for sale . Why would a guy who invented the 7 string bass-not ever sell them ?

Once again Jamaaladeen told Jauqo the bass had close spacing ,which btw doesn't affect the range of the bass and make it a baritone. Then Peter comes on with :that photo and article from 1989 is proof enough for me the ninestring doesn't have the first "real" 7 string bass comments. What's not real about it ?

I'm 50 years old now, how old is the guy with the Tobias 7 string in the picture ? take a guess if david Patterson can't come up with veriyable documentation for his 7 string predating my 7 string built by Michael Tobias, and no one was playing if it did exiist until 1989

then can we stop this nonsense ? I was at NAMM IN 1986 and 87'-I went to every booth and no one offered a 7 string bass. Saying Michael Tobias didn't build a "Real" bass is nonsense.
 
#273
Originally posted by Brad Johnson
Actually I wasn't posting it as proof of anything... I happen to still have my copy of this fairly rare magazine for reference and it does seem to identify the luthier of the pictured bass on the cover. As to when whatever actually happened, I don't know. I also can't and won't speculate on the motives for building the bass.

I agree about the string spacing, I've never considered narrow spacing a desirable thing, even back then. It's why I disliked most 5+ string basses at the time, they always seemed like basses with extra strings squeezed into the same space:D [/QUOTE

That is a realistic post. Thank you. String spacing does not not determine whether a bass is "real" or not ,and we have our own preferrence for that. I know Jauqo wants to "get to the bottom" of this (pun intended) and this is the kind of no nonsense post I like to see. No nonsense.
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#274
Originally posted by abark000
i most certainly invented the seven string back in 1942, which was immediately destroyed so that the question of,"who built and played the first seven string" would remain unanswered for another sixty one years.

so there the truth has surfaced at last.
:spit: :D

just kidding, but honestly aside from a personal need for recognition why do you keep driving it into the ground that you were the first.

Call Guiness they need some new records.
Click to expand...
because recognition is important to some people and thats ok. just like jaco said he invented fretless bass and stanley came up with the piccolo bass.

ken smith came out with his ad in bass player of firsts that his company came out with. if people came out and jokingly dismissed his accomplishments as people have done with gary when he first started posting on talkbass, im sure ken would defend himself with some of the same fire.
 
#275
well that is a point. but shoving it down somebody's throat is arrogance at it's worst.

in regards to the aspect of recognition, if you know it in your own heart to be true then why force it upon people when it is dismissed by them.

and while jaco had boatloads more talent than i ever will, from what i have read and heard about him, he was a arrogant about every accomplishment he had ever made. which doesn't not mean he was not a good man,(i dont know hardly enough to make assumptions) just that he reportly had an arrogant nature.

but with the continued posting of this thread which boasts of accomplishments and inventions the "first" seven-stringer player ,however talented and well respected, seems to become more and more arrogant and petty.

keep in mind the invention in question is not one that i would consider having great merit in the long run of inventions and discoveries.

For example if you invented a reliable cheap alternative to gasoline then i could understand the reason behind proving your claim, but to fight this much over who invented an instrument that is still widely unaccepted even in bass-playing communities such as this seems ridiculous to me. (Not a poke at extended range instruments either, i plan to buy a six string in the near future)

I took time to respond to this and believe it well thoughtout response with good points but in the end it is only my humble opinion.

PS. Happy holidays to all parties
 
#278
Originally posted by abark000
this is a public forum, therefore i have the right to post anything that is not considered to be offense to any party.

so next time you would post something as such just dont ok
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Ahh, but you're sounding (and typing) like a child among adults trying to have a serious discussion. Better you just go play with something than open your yap.

Plus, I think Garry was probably offended by your immature (and really unneeded and juvenile) remark.
 
#279
you have the right to beliefs and opinion, and i to mine, when somebody questions mine i get a little ticked off so just stop ok.

i am a eighteen year old man with very little interest in having a typing war with another person, (not a child who is trying to stir the pot
) so no further responses from you will be needed.
 
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