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The Short-Scale Six-String Clubfor the original six-string basses!
- Thread starter lunarpollen
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Not genuine Steinbergers...I had Hohner copies, but with licensed bridges. My 5 string had a really good sound to it...and the string spacing was the same as on a 4 string, so you could play chords if you wanted. This copy was made of wood instead of graphite...which may have attributed to the sound. One thing I didn't like was that the low B was really floppy...and the only way you could get a heavier gauge was to order LaBellas...me being thrifty I used the Music Yo 5-String set which were of decent quality (and great price...$12 a set...I ended up selling all of them on eBay after I traded the bass off and made a profit on them in fact since Music Yo closed). So at times I tuned it E-C instead...
Honestly though, I don't really miss it...I picked them up relatively cheaply when I was in college and traded them off about three years ago. I like the idea, but when its all said and done...I don't think he did enough with the design to make something that really stands out as necessary...I don't think most people saw the advantages of the double ball strings over their current guitars and therefore stuck with them... Not to mention the guitars were usually butt ugly...or had features that only appeal to a specific audience (EMG pickups...). And there was really no variety in string gauges...I don't like 9s on a guitar...
Ned's electro-acoustic instruments have always looked kind of interesting to me...but I haven't really got a practical use for one (I'd like a bass cello..) nor can I justify the purchase price. My fiance played upright bass in school and she had a cello (acoustic) for a few years which was kind of interesting to mess around with, but it didn't end up seeing all that much use so we got rid of it. I like fretless instruments but I don't really play the right kind of music for it so I've never ended up buying one. Kurt has a fretless 8-string guitar on the Rondo site...wonder what the story is behind that...?
Mine has the relief.
The Oceanic 30 seems like something I tried to get Eastwood guitars to consider...but they wouldn't have it. It looks like it'd be really cool...I bet a hand-crafted instrument like that isn't cheap though..
My Hellcat VI (2004) is the first type; my regular Hellcat (2005) is the second type. Why do you ask?
which one is the first type and which is the second?
i ask because i see both types of neck plates on hellcat VIs that come up on ebay and i wonder which they're supposed to come with and if there's something fishy going on.
See your original question:
I don't think there's anything fishy going on, Schecter just changed the plates they use, possibly between 2004 and 2005. I really don't think you have to worry about counterfeit Hellcat VI's.
by first and second i wasn't sure if you were referring to the pics or the way i worded it. so your VI is plain silver and your regular hellcat has the black centered plate.
i'm not worried about counterfeit hellcats, i'm wondering if owners might've changed the neckplates on the used ones.
Stereordinary
Commercial User
Well, any handcrafted instrument is certainly more expensive than a factory-made one. But, I've always tried to keep thing reasonable and work things out with people whenever possible. I've worked for trades and sold off stuff for cheap, just to get my name out there. Now, I've got my name out there more than I can keep up with, but eventually I'll get an Oceanic 30 finished. I saw some guys around here making necks from Ash. I was surprised because I'd never heard of that before. I just might have to give that a shot on this body I have here...
I understand that for sure and that's what I said what I did...I'm not saying that the premium is not justified...just that I am not on a level where I can afford or justify a hand-built instrument for myself. Surely a factory built instrument is inferior to a well-built handmade instrument...but even the best I can afford still are in that lower price bracket. Out of respect for your craft and services, I always assume that a handmade instrument is going to be out of my league (I want to keep my guitars under $1k..and I only have one who's values reaches half that) because I'm pretty sure most folks that take all the time to put together an instrument like that aren't going to give it up for $1/hr labor (I know I wouldn't). I build custom pedals/electronics for people and it would be...not worth my effort if I decided to give away all of my products at a price competitive with the likes of Boss or Danelectro...nor should I because in theory at least...my pedals are of substantially greater functionality and quality to a mass manufactured piece. If my assumption is inaccurate though, what would something like this (with standard features, nothing extraordinary) cost to purchase? Or what kind of trades would you consider?
Just subscribed. i found/played a Schecter Hellcat VI a few weeks ago at a music store in Columbus, GA. and was impressed. The only drawback (other than not having the $) for me is that the string spacing is a little too close, especially the low strings. Can't really play the bass strings finger-style.
Then I found the absolute bass of my dreams. It's a custom build by a guy in Atlanta named Bill Hatcher. 6 string, not sure if it's a 30 or 32" scale, string spacing slightly less than a standard 6 string bass, but not as tight as the schecter. Like comparing a classical guitar to an electric. He uses 2 EMG jazz bass pickups (not sure exactly which ones) that span all 6 strings and he uses an EMG guitar pickup that spans the 5 high strings, wired to it's own volume & tone control, and to a separate 1/4" jack so you can run the guitar pickup to a separate amp/effects. I don't even know how much it costs but I WANT it!
If I can figure out how to re-grow my kidneys I can sell mine on the black market & use the $ to buy it.
Is that wrong?
Then I found the absolute bass of my dreams. It's a custom build by a guy in Atlanta named Bill Hatcher. 6 string, not sure if it's a 30 or 32" scale, string spacing slightly less than a standard 6 string bass, but not as tight as the schecter. Like comparing a classical guitar to an electric. He uses 2 EMG jazz bass pickups (not sure exactly which ones) that span all 6 strings and he uses an EMG guitar pickup that spans the 5 high strings, wired to it's own volume & tone control, and to a separate 1/4" jack so you can run the guitar pickup to a separate amp/effects. I don't even know how much it costs but I WANT it!
If I can figure out how to re-grow my kidneys I can sell mine on the black market & use the $ to buy it.
Is that wrong?
I don't think the Hellcat VI/et cetera are really intended to be played finger style...most that I am aware of play with a pick, including myself. I'll play finger style on a normal 4 string for sure...but I don't play my Hellcat like I would bass. The string spacing I think is about perfect for playing chords/et cetera...before I bought my Hellcat I was writing (for a bass VI) on m 4 string...and the string spacing while playing like that turns your hands into meat really quick...playing like that the Hellcat is reasonably comfortable/substantially improved over the 4 string.
Just for clarification...is the 6 string bass you are looking at of the 30" E-E tuned variety or something off topic?
That bass sounds like you would have phase problems with running into different amps from different pickups...doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Not really sure how useful that would be even if it did work well.
The custom I was looking at was either a 30 or 32" scale, I don't recall exactly but it was definitely shorter than 34 but longer than a baritone guitar, and tuned E - e. The guy who had it started out as a classical guitar player so he wanted the string spacing wide enough to play it classical-style. The strings were close enough to chord on but wide enough to play finger-style. At the time I heard it he had both outputs plugged into a 2 channel combo amp so he didn't have any sort of phasing or comb filter problems. He had literally just picked it up from the guy who built it and brought it to the music store to find an amp. He owned it all of about 30 minutes (including the drive from the builder's house to the music store) when I heard it and he was kind enough to let me play it. Way awesome.
I probably go against the grain here, since I almost exclusively play my VIs fingerstyle. When playing regular basslines, I usually just use my index and middle fingers (just like I would on a more commonly styled, four string bass guitar). If I'm to play chords, or in a more guitar-y manner, I mostly use both thumb and fingers, much like a classical guitarist would, instead of a plectrum.
It's probably correct to assume that VIs weren't intended to be played fingerstyle by their original designers, though.
I have small hands and I think it would be a bit of a challenge to play finger style with the Hellcat...but considering I play it more like a deep guitar than a bass it makes sense for me to play it with a pick. I'm not trying to hate on anyone who does play a VI finger style...but its probably not my first choice of a finger style instrument...
"I play it [...] like a deep guitar" - I like that description, and would probably say something similar about my own VI playing.
(at least when I'm not using it in a band context, where I've played it as a bass, thus far)Also, I hope that I didn't come across as patronizing in my earlier post. As far as I'm concerned, any technique employed when playing a VI is a good technique.
When I had a Jag Bari I did a lot of fingerstyle with it. I would use basically classical guitar technique on the right hand and play two note figures, a bass line and a tenor line about a tenth above the bass note. Another idea I tried was using my first and second fingers like I would on a P-Bass etc, but having a thumbpick on so I could play Spaghetti Western leads if I needed to.I probably go against the grain here, since I almost exclusively play my VIs fingerstyle. When playing regular basslines, I usually just use my index and middle fingers (just like I would on a more commonly styled, four string bass guitar). If I'm to play chords, or in a more guitar-y manner, I mostly use both thumb and fingers, much like a classical guitarist would, instead of a plectrum.
It's probably correct to assume that VIs weren't intended to be played fingerstyle by their original designers, though.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
A 'VI's varied tonality invites a varied playing technique borrowed from other instruments (tremulous balalaika & mandolin trills too).
I find that if I play mine finger-style and think & feel bass, then it sounds like one.
A big +1 on twangy Spaghetti Western leads sautéed in reverb!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
A 'VI's varied tonality invites a varied playing technique borrowed from other instruments (tremulous balalaika & mandolin trills too).
I find that if I play mine finger-style and think & feel bass, then it sounds like one.
A big +1 on twangy Spaghetti Western leads sautéed in reverb!
That's very much how I approach it. If I think of it as a bass; then it's a bass. If I want a twangy "octave guitar" for Spaghetti Western sounds I think in those terms when I'm playing it and (of course) pour on the reverb.
My new Bass VI is supposed to arrive any time now so I've had a lot of time to pre-think this.
That's very much how I approach it. If I think of it as a bass; then it's a bass. If I want a twangy "octave guitar" for Spaghetti Western sounds I think in those terms when I'm playing it and (of course) pour on the reverb.
My new Bass VI is supposed to arrive any time now so I've had a lot of time to pre-think this.
Two words: strangle switch.
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