Why?

[J. Dan]

 

[Eric VB]

Why have a keyboard with more than 35 keys? And why play keys with more than one hand?

 

In fact, bands should have 3 keyboardists: one to play LH bass only, one to play chords only (i.e. "rhythm" keys) and one to play RH leads only.

 

Granted the fret-with-one-hand-and-strike-with-the-other interface is not as efficient as keys (or even harp, for that matter). You could go the two-hand tap route but there are instruments better engineered for that kind of playing (Chapman, Warr).

 

Still, if you want to play a nice solo piece on your musical interface of choice, this could fit the bill. [edit: especially with a looper.]

[kenfxj]

Our own Jason (G7TZ) could probably rock that sucker quite nicely.

 

Six is my personal limit on both bass strings and Schitezngruben.

[Richard W]

uh oh. somebody's compensating.

[b5pilot]

Why not? Not my cup o' Joe but somebody will love it.

[Cthulhu Fhtagn]

If you build it, they will come.

[jeremy c]

I've got an eight string bass, but mine is strung in octaves like a 12 string guitar. It's not hard to play and it sounds huge.

[hurricane hugo]

I would tune it in thirds.

[EddiePlaysBass]

Doesn't this belong to the guy who plays the theme from Zelda and Tetris or something, on it? Think I saw it on the 'tube.

[jcadmus]

Two quote the Zen philosopher-poet Tom Hamilton: I used to think five-string basses were for eggheads. Now I think six-string basses are for eggheads.

[BargeOn]

Not different in its way from this

 

http://www.mateus-lutes.com/image/baroque/ts13_front.jpg

 

It's the new Baroque

[Danzilla]

If it ain't Baroque, don't fix it.

[kenfxj]

[Nicklab]

If it works for someone? Go for it. I can say categorically that a 10 string bass like that isn't something I would personally find useful for making music the way that I want to make it.

[Basshappi]

I am a fan of the extended range bass "movement" (if it could be called that). I think that it is great that there are musicians who are experimenting and expanding the boundaries of our instrument.

 

I have a 5 string but I am primarily a 4 string player and always will be. And yet, I have a bass strung with piccolo strings, I have a fretless, I also use different tunings and a fairly large array of effects pedals. All of these things were scorned at one time as "not the proper role" of bass, a predjudice that still exists.

Those that dared to challege those perceptions were/are often denigrated.

 

If it's not "your thing" that's okay, no one is coming to take away your instrument, requiring you to play something else or alter how you play. Play whatever you want and listen to what you like.

 

But the history of bass guitar has been fraught with resistance to acceptance and respect. It seems that everytime that a player has ventured beyond the dogmatic bounderies that others have placed on us they have been treated like some uppity stepchild with compensation issues. It is bad enough coming from our fellow musicians, it's a real shame when we do it to ourselves.

 

Music doesn't need purists and boundaries, it needs inspiration.

 

[Michele C.]

From what I have tried, I would say that 4 and 5 strings are OK for everyone.

You can play a 6 or 7 strings bass in your own band or in a trio.

In every band I have been so far they wanted foundation.

[Basshappi]

 

The same strings that are on a standard 4 or 5 string bass are also on a 6+ string bass. The "Foundation" is up to the player not the instrument.

[Wally Malone]

I am a fan of the extended range bass "movement" (if it could be called that). I think that it is great that there are musicians who are experimenting and expanding the boundaries of our instrument.

 

I have a 5 string but I am primarily a 4 string player and always will be. And yet, I have a bass strung with piccolo strings, I have a fretless, I also use different tunings and a fairly large array of effects pedals. All of these things were scorned at one time as "not the proper role" of bass, a predjudice that still exists.

Those that dared to challege those perceptions were/are often denigrated.

 

If it's not "your thing" that's okay, no one is coming to take away your instrument, requiring you to play something else or alter how you play. Play whatever you want and listen to what you like.

 

But the history of bass guitar has been fraught with resistance to acceptance and respect. It seems that everytime that a player has ventured beyond the dogmatic bounderies that others have placed on us they have been treated like some uppity stepchild with compensation issues. It is bad enough coming from our fellow musicians, it's a real shame when we do it to ourselves.

 

Music doesn't need purists and boundaries, it needs inspiration.

 

What Basshappi said!

 

Wally

[Bottom End]

I'd love to have an 8 string, or 12 string, strung for octiaves, I've heard both live and they fill the sound scape in a way no chorus pedal can.

 

If I was a much better player, one who knew all the chords and theory, I could see why I'd want one of these basses.

 

JoJo Garza of Los Lonely Boys regularly plays a 6 string in a power trio setting, and it works very well.

[butcherNburn]

I'd love to show up with that thing and play the same five notes on two strings all night.

[jeremy c]

I want a one string bass. I will take it to the NAMM show and demo it by playing whole notes.

 

Since no one will have ever seen anyone do anything like that at NAMM, I will draw huge crowds and become famous.

[Basshappi]

I will applaud your one string, whole notes only revolution!

[Paul K]

and become famous.

 

You already are.

[Cthulhu Fhtagn]

I'd love to show up with that thing and play the same five notes on two strings all night.

 

I know some four string owners that do the same thing.

[EddiePlaysBass]

I'd love to show up with that thing and play the same five notes on two strings all night.

 

I know some four string owners that do the same thing.

 

For the 18 months I was with the pop band, I felt like that: played my 5-string Jazz for most of the gigs we did (except one) and always wondered why I needed three extra strings.

 

Say what you will about blues and rockabilly but I played a lot more notes when I played those genres, and had loads more fun

 

Having said that, for me the 5-string has become a bit of a crutch / comfort zone. I could get by on a 4-string for most of what I play but I prefer the feel and layout of a 5'er.

[hurricane hugo]

I want a one string bass. I will take it to the NAMM show and demo it by playing whole notes.

 

Since no one will have ever seen anyone do anything like that at NAMM, I will draw huge crowds and become famous.

 

You rang?

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/turquoisemoleeater/More%20Guitars/AtlansiaSolitaire-1_zps68a30838.jpg

[J. Dan]

If my math is right, and relative string tuning was at standard intervals, that thing would cover something like a 5-octave range. I just don't see how you could really make use of it - strikes me as more of a novelty.

[jeremy c]

The people who play these things are solo instrumentalists.

 

[video:youtube]

 

[video:youtube]

 

 

[J. Dan]

pretty cool stuff, but kind of begs the question....is it really a bass, or a guitar that goes down to the range of a bass. The reason why I say that, is in the examples, it's really being played more like a guitar, and the higher notes sound more like a guitar. Obviously you're not going to use something like this to play traditional bass lines....I mean you could, but...

[Basshappi]

Yes, it is a bass.

A bass guitar.

 

Bass guitar;

http://www.vintageguitars.fr/media-mini/Fender-telecaster-basse.jpg

 

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/images/eb2014/thumbnails/SR256_PW_27_01.png

 

http://conklinguitars.com/custom_shop_basses/bass_pictures/custom_8_string_bass_birdseye_maple/custom_8_string_bass_birdseye_maple.jpg