JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum Anyone play Extended Range Bass?

Anyone out there play extended range basses? I play a 6-string and would never go back. I hear a lot about four string, but just curious if anyone else out there is playing 5 or 6 string basses!

www.soundclick.com/chipboaz

Boaz,

I play a G&L 5 string with the low B. I use the low string mostly for convenience when I'm up the neck, only occasionally dropping below a low E note. 6 strings look intriguing, but my next large instrument purchase would most likely be a 5 string upright bass. Bob Gollihur at www.bobgollihur.com sells a fully carved 5 string upright that sure looks pretty to me. Bob, by the way, has a great site about the upright bass. He sells only a few items, ones which he, as a working bassist, likes and uses. I've already bought a few products from him and have been very satisfied.

Years ago, I almost bought a used electric bass with a C extender. It was pretty cool, anyone remember those?

All the Best,
Mike


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Mike Dunbar Music

Wow, a C extender, that's a blast from the past. I remember seeing them, but I was kind of young then - do they stay in tune alright? How do you like the G & L by the way? Haven't really played with those too much either. I guess I found a few basses that I like, and I just stick with them. I'd be curious to see how the five string upright sounds too. I had a friend who used to play a 6 string upright and it was an interesting instrument. I'll have to check out that site, thanks for the link!

I know this seems like overkill to some, but remember, 5 and 6 string basses used to seem like overkill too. So, does anyone play a 7, 8, 9, or 10 string bass? I've heard some interesting recordings and I am very curious. Don't know what I would do with them, but, I think it could be fun!

www.soundclick.com/chipboaz

I've played other's 5 string basses, both for fun and on stage, but only own standard 4 string basses. I really don't see much need for the extra notes. Many sound systems have problems reproducing the lower notes and they frequently sound muddy or thin. I also rarely play above the 12th fret, so the higher notes don't seem necessary. Also, after over 30 years of playing, there is still so much to do and learn with the notes I've got, why add more? Plus, I have short fingers, which makes the reach a problem.

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Stone Marmot
www.stonemarmot.com
Stone Marmot on Soundclick
Alternative pop-rock music:
Definitely rock, somewhat pop, but a bit more experimental.

I play a Conklin GT-7. It's an awesome instrument and I'd recomend it to anyone who's in the slightest bit interested in playing one. If you want to hear how it sounds then I suggest you go and listen to 'Voyeur' on my soundclick site. Every part is done on the 7 string

You should check out a web site I built - and frequent - all about ERB's - extended Range Basses - http://www.extendedrangebassist.com - We'd love to get your opinions in the forum too - http://www.ExtendedRangeBassist.com/forum

thanks!

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_Wes
http://www.extendedrangebassist.com

I play 4 5 6 8(non doubled)and 15 string(5x3)Bass.feel free to check out my site(in the music section you will find music and video's of my music)

jauqoiii-x.com

here is me and my 15 string Bass

http://www.12stringbass.net/master.htm?http://www.12stringbass.net/Jauqo.htm

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JAUQO III-X
jauqoiii-x.com

Yow! A 15 string!! I'll have to go listen to your music...I'd like to get a 6, but right now I only have my good old 4-strings (although I have quite a few of those!) I do have a hipshot D-tuner on my Jazz, and I use that a good bit. Finding the right 6 is sort of a trick, though, isn't it? I played a beautiful Pedulla a while back and would've got that, but a friend of mine bought it instead. On most of the jobs I play, though, they really seem to want just the 4 string (or the upright), but I play lots of RootsRock and Blues and old R&B, where the extended range just isn't that applicable. But sooner or later....

hey all,

my name's Stew and I play 8 and 10 string basses. you can see 'em at my site if you're curious:

http://www.subcontrabassist.com

I'm on tour at the moment, so my time's a limited just now. I can tell you that these are my main basses (unless someone wants me to specifically use something else for a gig or a session). they are all I'm using on my upcoming solo album.

if anyone has specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I will mention that all the cats who play instruments like mine, with super low strings (F# and C# below B), owe a huge debt to Jauqo III-X! he's the cat who pushed the string companies to try these things and the luthiers to make instruments that could handle them!

got to get some rest before tomorrow's show, but I hope you are all doing well!

from the lows,

Stew
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'No matter where you go, there you are.'

-- Buckaroo Banzai

[This message has been edited by Subcontrastew (edited 02-07-2005).]

I also play a GT-7. I love it. Easy to play -- monster tone!

I love my B string. I miss it when I play the four string. I don't use the C string much, except for guitarish noodlings that never find a place in a gig, but sometimes a weird track on a studio tune.

Boaz,
I play a 6 string Yamaha RBX-6JM and have for about 4 years. My other bass is a 1970 Fender P-bass that I have owned and played for about 30 years. I rarely play my P-bass live and occasionly when I'm recording I will use it. After playing the six string, the neck on the P-bass feels like a broom stick and I really like the tone of the Yamaha and it's active pick-ups. The P-bass is sweet and has it's place but I feel more comfortable now playing on 6. I use the B string for songs calling for the low register and the differant tones higher on the neck. The high C works well for chording and harmonics as well as ease of fingering.


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Bumping some useful older posts

Here is my Spector Rebop 5 string.