Why would a luthier feel that a 15 string

[JAUQO III-X]

You need to find a builder who sees eye-to-eye with you, which can be a tall order, but not impossible. Just keep looking, you'll find one.

I found that builder in Oscar Prat. He definitely gets it and for that I am most thankful to him.

 

[darkstorm]

Because to the vast majority of bass players a 15 string bass would be a joke. There is no practicalness to a 15 string bass nor even guitar. Its very very much a specialty item with very very few people interested in buying one.

 

[cassius987]

Until I hear a 5x3-string bass do something that really sets it apart from a 5x2 string bass (already exotic but I can easily see how someone might use one) I can't see myself calling it practical. It sounds very unwieldy and I don't know how good the signal is going to be from three sympathetic strings, let alone the effect on technique. At that point it really doesn't make sense to put it in the same category as a Fender P Bass--it's now more of a baritone guitar or something.

To me this reeks of "Sounds fun on paper, very difficult and possibly not worth it to execute in reality."

 

[JAUQO III-X]

It's very evident that most who have posted on this subject has not read the thread at all.

 

[spade2you]

Until I hear a 5x3-string bass do something that really sets it apart from a 5x2 string bass (already exotic but I can easily see how someone might use one) I can't see myself calling it practical. It sounds very unwieldy and I don't know how good the signal is going to be from three sympathetic strings, let alone the effect on technique. At that point it really doesn't make sense to put it in the same category as a Fender P Bass--it's now more of a baritone guitar or something.

To me this reeks of "Sounds fun on paper, very difficult and possibly not worth it to execute in reality."

Given that this is basically a 12 string with another 3, I don't see why there's so much fuss. The 12 string bass has been around for a while and "works" for a finite applications.

I've never been able to do a side by side with an 8 string and a 12 string, but have played both and notice somewhat of a difference.

How much it gets used and the ultimate practicality is up to the user, but I've heard enough 12 string songs to know it "works".

 

[spade2you]

It's very evident that most who have posted on this subject has not read the thread at all (and have not played many basses beyond what they own).

Fixed/enhanced.

 

[CopperheadLXXIX]

Given that this is basically a 12 string with another 3, I don't see why there's so much fuss. The 12 string bass has been around for a while and "works" for a finite applications.

I've never been able to do a side by side with an 8 string and a 12 string, but have played both and notice somewhat of a difference.

How much it gets used and the ultimate practicality is up to the user, but I've heard enough 12 string songs to know it "works".

+1

I own both an 8 and a 12 and there is a world of difference to the sound when you compare the two side by side. The natural "chorusing" effect of a 12 is just so much different sounding (and feeling) than any other bass or guitar.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

There is a difference between 8, 10 and 12 string basses for sure and the biggest difference is how it's utilized by the individual playing it.

My 15 string is different as well(especially since it has a high C strings)but definitely related.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I don't have an aswer for why but I have noticed that bassists in general are very conservative and scared of anything non-four-string and non-root-pocket-playing.

I think it just comes down people being afraid of change in general or compeletely dismissive to the possibility of change.

YMWV

On a side note, I want a 12 string soo freaking bad. If anyone has a 12-string waterson used hit me up.

This is true... by the same token I'd bet most custom builders consider bassists far more adventurous in that respect than most guitarists.

 

[Brad Johnson]

That may be. Given that it's hard to find ready made 12 string bridges, I think theres hesitation since most luthiers aren't used to making their own bridges from scratch. BTW, does anyone sell a 12 string bridge? Been thinking about getting a 12er some day, but custom shop.

On a side note, at least this isn't through Ernie Ball's custom shop since NONE of us are remotely worthy of a custo shop EBMM.

It's actually not that hard. Hipshot makes one. That's what Kevin Brubaker used on the 12 he made. Then again that was 12 singles.

Now strings OTOH are a bear.

And there's always monorail bridges or back in the day Wilkinson could do a custom plate that would accept whatever number of string saddles you wanted.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I love the sound of a 12 string so i can see why you would want to do it.

Out of interest would you want it tuned B-E-A-D-G or E-A-D-G-C?

I could see the B being very muggy to bother trying it. You would need to be an eq genious to make it sound defined that low. I know its not the same thing but trying to hold a string as thick as you average B in a chord, even a bar would be a nightmare

B's really aren't all that low anymore.


The B should be the same as on a five string. Why do you think it would be "muggy"?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Warrior made the world first 15 string bass for me based off of my concept for such a instrument. I will always give JD Lewis and Jesse Blu O'Neal(who is no longer with Warrior) mad props for being open minded enough to give it a shot.

Interview From 12stringbass.net.

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Believe me it wasn't any luthier that I would be working with. The luthier that is building my new one is very talented, extremely passionate and more important for me he is super open minded.


One of the reasons it has taken me so long to have a new one built was the bridge situation. I wanted a bridge that would allow each string to have it's own separate movable saddle.

I have worked with a bridge designer and come up with a bridge with 15 individual saddles(which was very important to me).

How many did Warrior make? There was a used 15 at Atomic a few months back.

 

[Brad Johnson]

It's the same mentality that causes some folk to say "if it's not a Precision with Flats through a Portaflex, it's not *REAL* Bass". These are the guys that give me a hard time when I play a Six'er through a wah and a fuzz - it doesn't sound like Jamerson/Dunn/McCartney/etc. so it has no validity.

I happen to love the Precision with Flats through a Portaflex sound, but there's sooo much more out there.

I don't think it's the same mentality at all. Unless you're putting them in a pretty big tent.

 

[Brad Johnson]

A very good point. I guess what i was trying to say was that if you go to a luthier and ask for something then there is no reason for them to say no just because they dont like it or wouldn't choose it themselves. If they refuse because they feel it is beyond them, then that is totally acceptabe.

It wouldn't have to be beyond them, it could simply be something they don't want to do. Doesn't mean they can't.

 

[dannster]

Modulus made an 18 string bass as has Vox Humana so 15 should be a walk in the park.
http://guitars101.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/18-string-bass-guitar/

 

[OOZMAN]

A 15 string bass walks into a bar and the bartender says "man, you look really stressed". The bass says, "yeah, there's a lot of tension in my neck".

Just saying.

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It's really no different than keeping any other bass in tune.

Yeah the 8 other string will tune themselves magically.

What would be the purpose of such a bass ?

All you bassist out there.
How many 8-string, or 10 string basses have you seen being played live at gigs.
That would be a 4-string doubles, or a 5-string doubled.

What benefit, would three of each string give you?

Chords, and a chorus effect on the 2 high strings per 'string set' (dunno what to call it). 4 string doubled only does octaves, but 4 string tripled would do octaves+chorus effect.

Hope I explained it good enough. :/


EDIT: Oh crud its a 5x3 string not a 4x3. Whatever. Carrots etc...

 

[12bass]

Hmmm... have to wonder about all the comments from people who have probably not ever played a 12-string bass. These instruments have been around since the late 1970s, and the tripled-string idea goes back centuries. Anyway, arguments from tradition are fallacious....

My Hamer Chaparral 12-string is set up with four courses of three strings, just like a regular bass with each string tripled. So, other than the huge sound, it doesn't require an approach which is really all that different from playing a normal 4-string. Of course, the octave strings do open up a lot of melodic possibilities if one wants to do more than bang out root notes.

The 15-string is just the logical progression of the 12-string idea. I've been interested in the idea for some time, although, given how much I like the low notes on my 5-string, I'd probably go with low-B instead of high-C for the extra course. With quality strings, I've found eight saddles sufficient for good intonation, so I'm unsure of the necessity of an independent saddle for each octave string.

Anyway, will be curious to see the build pictures and finished instrument......

 

[Korladis]

I just read this thread, and I don't get what the big deal about a coursed 15 string is.

It's the same as a 12 string, it's just the version with the low B, or the high C. 12 string basses aren't common, but they've been around for a while and certainly aren't unheard of.

 

[spade2you]

Yeah the 8 other string will tune themselves magically.

Tuning really isn't that big of a deal. I used to have a 12 string/6 string guitar double neck. It wasn't a big deal to tune.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

How many did Warrior make? There was a used 15 at Atomic a few months back.

I'm not sure Brad but I think Warrior may have made 5 or 6 15 strings.