I agree with that, but I have actually tried both and didn't really care for them... Haven't tried the Quake yet, but I'm 99% sure that I'll hate it...
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The Knuckle Quake 39.5" Scale Bass Thread
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I agree with that, but I have actually tried both and didn't really care for them... Haven't tried the Quake yet, but I'm 99% sure that I'll hate it...
JAUQO III-X
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I for one, would welcome the opportunity to try one. I will probably have to wait until I travel the States before that happens. It is fun to try new things 
The big difference there would be how the arm and wrist are positioned...the stretch for the fingers would be the same. I think DB's have a different way of fingering notes, but still...you understand the point I'm trying to make. The concept of these things doesn't seem at all unreasonable to me...in fact I wouldn't mind giving one a try, if I could afford it.
Is amplifying this bass an issue? I hear crappy bass sounds live too often when I go see folks play out. I would think the lower notes would be hard to get across, especially with all the really bad soundmen out there.
These basses have fascinated me for a while. I really want to get my hands on one, but being stuck in Cleveland has many, many downsides. The idea that you can get clear, powerful sound from lower-then-B strings is something I've been seeking for a while.
Heck, we all play bass don't we? Isn't the point of bass to be low? Then why the hate against these things? As far as their cost, they're a little more then some other custom builders but not Fodera ridiculous.
Heck, we all play bass don't we? Isn't the point of bass to be low? Then why the hate against these things? As far as their cost, they're a little more then some other custom builders but not Fodera ridiculous.
Yes and No...
If you're dealing with a bad soundman as you say, even a standard 4-string is likely to sound crummy -- so all bets are off. But if you have a rig that sounds good on the low B, going a few notes lower is not going to be a big problem. This has been argued to death on other threads BTW, so I'm not going to go too deeply into it, but this Wikipedia article talking about the missing fundamental may shed some light if you are interested.
On the other hand, there are some people who, for artistic or scientific/technical reasons, are interested in trying to faithfully reproduce the extremely low frequencies created by a subcontrabass (a bass that goes sustantially lower than the low B). This can be done using the Bag End INFRA system, and perhaps by other methods I'm not aware of. Again, this is a controversial topic (debated in several other threads) and there are some naysayers who claim that this is a pointless or even counterproductive pursuit. While I can understand some of the concerns from a sound reinforcement (PA) standpoint, I think people need to remember that this is *art* we are talking about here. We need the occasional musician to push the envelope and pioneer concepts/sounds/approaches that haven't been done before. In music, to say that something is "impractical" is a bit weird. We aren't here to be practical, are we? If so, maybe we should have been accountants instead...
BTW, in a couple months I'll be getting my own Quake with a low F# string, and I plan to *try* using it with my current amp rig. I expect that it will work pretty well, but I'll report back on the results when I have the bass. I may end up getting myself a Bag End INFRA sub just because I'm pretty interested in the idea, and I'd love to hear/feel real sub bass for myself.
Skips design incorporates a very long upper horn, hence a strap attachment point pretty far up in relation to the neck. Therefore, the first fret is nearly in the same position as it is on your everyday 34" scale. I have very short arms and I don't have to reach at all.
I'd find it easier to respect your opinion if you had come right out and said that you hated it, rather than dismiss the whole idea and claim that it will be gone in less than a year... but I respect your opinion anyway.
If you ever find yourself wanting to go lower than usual, you may want to someday give a Quake a try. Extended scale aside, it's an extremely well built instrument and does not disappoint at any point on the fretboard. Low notes are clear and big. High notes are clear and big. I'm a pessimist and I'm in no way endorsed by Knuckle, so if there was a downside to this bass, I'd be glad to share. You have to hear it to believe it. You have to play it to be a believer.
Ed already did a great job answering your question, but I'll add my own experiences.
Most places with even a halfway decent sound system will have equipment that goes lower and louder than anything you could own anyway. If your rig can do it, and your playing at a place that requires more volume than your rig has, you really don't have to worry. You still have to worry about the competence of the soundman, that's always a concern, but as was already said, they can easily screw up the sound of a 4 string tuned standard.
There are definitely lots of arguments and discussions around here regarding reproducing low frequencies. The key is that you need to get the very low frequencies separated AND louder than your full range signal, since they are naturally much lower in volume than higher frequencies... sounds negative and difficult, but on the other hand most of what you're hearing when you hit, say an open B string, are the the 2nd and 3rd overtones... and any rig can reproduce those.
Right now I'm playing through a Carvin B1500 head, a Carvin LS1503 cab (with the Kappalite 3015LF driver) and occasionally an old Carvin 2x15 behind it. I play an open G# (below a standard B) and it is reproduced very clear. In fact it is so useable, I'm not even sure I'm going to experiment any further with my rig. I was thinking about going the bi-amping route, but I'm not sure it's even worth the investment at this point, that's how good it sounds.
I'm sorry that I came a little rough...
I just can't find myself wanting anything lower than a low B. I actually have a bass that does low A and I have never used it. I don't think there's any amplification system that can reproduce these frequencies nor any human being that can hear them with good intelligibility, but to each their own, I guess... If it rocks your world, go for it...
LOL, I'm a Steelers fan, so I won't even go there
To answer your question, I'm not sure why all the hate. I guess there are just alot of people who are afraid to explore the boundaries of sound, afraid of change. Maybe alot of people just have the "if it aint broke" mindset, and that's fine. If they have no need to push the envelope, then why should they?
Doesn't bother me, I'll just sit here and enjoy the hell out of my Quake
Well, a bass tuned lower than low B is not my thing but I am not going to begrudge anyone for having a Knuckle. An instrument like this is unlikely to become mainstream, but I am sure there will be a few people out there who will find use for it. At least I hope so, because if they were to go under, I can't imagine finding strings that will fit from another company for existing owners!
How does it perform as a standard tuned bass (BEADG)?
How does it perform as a standard tuned bass (BEADG)?
I've played three of Skip's basses at this point, and they've all been beautifully done. For some reason, the scale length is not at all difficult for me to deal with - but I play upright too, so I'm used to stretching. By way of contrast, a friend of mine had an old 35" scale alembic that always felt awkward when I picked it up, and none of Skip's basses has struck me that way.
Another cool thing - they keep getting better. The most recently built one I've tried (the one owned by the hammer) was clearly the nicest of the bunch. Anyone interested in going for the super clean low fundamental would be well advised to check out a quake.
Another cool thing - they keep getting better. The most recently built one I've tried (the one owned by the hammer) was clearly the nicest of the bunch. Anyone interested in going for the super clean low fundamental would be well advised to check out a quake.
You man, sounds just fine and showcases the song in any case. I noticed from your studio pic that the guitarist is using a POD. They have a really wide frequency range and can really suck-up a huge amount of ear space in a mix, especially down low(something we bassists should be concerned with!). There's no doubt it's a easier than isolating and micing a cranked-up amp but it's really challenging to mixdown some of the modeling that sounds so good live. I recommend always recording a clean track(straight out of the guitar) so it can be re-amped later on if needed. Keep plugging away!
The pod in the pic was just for the scratch track, when the guitarist played along so we could lay down the bass and drum tracks. When we recorded the guitar it was done traditionally by micing up cranked amps. That pod track was tossed out once we were done with drums and bass.
No, I doubt you'll ever see everyone running around with Quakes, but there are so amny bands out there that drop tune, I'm sure one of them will eventually strap on a Quake and hopefully they'll become more common.
Strings really aren't a problem, even if Knuckle Guitar Works went under. I live about 20 minutes from the Fodera plant, and they're willing to wind just about anything for what pretty much amounts to standard prices. There are a few companies that are capable of winding strings long enough. I'm also curious to find out if upright strings will work. The winding length isn't all that far off, and I prefer flats over rounds. That would be an expensive alternative, but one set of upright strings on this bass would probably last years and years.
I have not yet tuned it standard, so I can't answer your last question based on experience. I can say that the build quality at least rivals that of those precious Fenders and Rics and whatever else out there is held in such high regard. I've never handled a bass that felt more solid, stable or better built. I would imagine that at standard tuning, you'd still get the gorgeous huge tones of an extremely stable well built bass. Probably with more clarity than you'd be used to.
this thread should be shut down permanently.
It's not nice to inflict gas on scandinavians,
Now, because of you I'll probably end up getting a Quake
It's not nice to inflict gas on scandinavians,
Now, because of you I'll probably end up getting a Quake
