Bring back 8 string bass necks

[bricksnbeatles]

And maybe even make a headstock option similar to the ‘65 12 string.

Bring back that low-end jangle (would you call that ‘jongle’?) please!

 

[J-Bones]

8-string necks went away and are unlikely to return for several reasons:
- Schaller discontinued the bridge
- Demand was among the lowest of any product
- The neck blanks were very specialized

 

[NedRyerson]

I've been researching a build for an 8-string bass lately.  All I can come up with right now is using an import 5-string bass kit as a base (sorry) and a Chinese knock-off bridge off of eBay.  Plug the holes in the headstock and drill for the repositioned tuners, replace the nut with a blank and cut my own slots.

Or just suck it up and buy the one from ESP (not a fan of the Schecter's body shape).  Just not too enamored of spending $700+ for what's probably going to be a one-trick pony in my collection, which means any build I do would have to come in at way less than that to make any sense.

 

[TBurst Std]

I too was looking into an 8 string bass.  When I saw the bridge discontinued, I shelved the idea.  What’s commercially available doesn’t suit what I want.

 

[TBurst Std]

Except, I do have an idea. Just no time or money to explore at this time. 

 

[NedRyerson]

I've been researching a build for an 8-string bass lately.  All I can come up with right now is using an import 5-string bass kit as a base (sorry) and a Chinese knock-off bridge off of eBay.  Plug the holes in the headstock and drill for the repositioned tuners, replace the nut with a blank and cut my own slots.

Or just suck it up and buy the one from ESP (not a fan of the Schecter's body shape).  Just not too enamored of spending $700+ for what's probably going to be a one-trick pony in my collection, which means any build I do would have to come in at way less than that to make any sense.

I was chatting on another forum about this conundrum, and he helped talk it through since he'd played an 8-string before. His opinion was that, while it's nice and unique, it's not very versatile.  So unless my plan is to be both rhythm guitar (of sorts) AND bass at the same time for more than just one or two songs, redirect the money elsewhere.  Sort of like the bass+guitar double-neck; an interesting if impractical idea.

So I redirected my money elsewhere because I found a Conklin Groove Tools 4-string suddenly come up for sale. Given how rare the GT series is nowadays (anyone who owns a Conklin doesn't sell their Conklin), I had to jump on that one.

 

[swarfrat]

8-string necks went away and are unlikely to return for several reasons:
- Schaller discontinued the bridge
- Demand was among the lowest of any product
- The neck blanks were very specialized

You forgot "good taste" and "harmonizers"

 

[The Lurker]

8-string necks went away and are unlikely to return for several reasons:
- Schaller discontinued the bridge
- Demand was among the lowest of any product
- The neck blanks were very specialized

When I reached out to Schaller a year or so ago, they told me they'd discontinued the bridge because nobody was making necks.... :doh:

I've been wanting an 8-string Pbass for ten years but kept putting it off until I had the money and an excuse.... now I can't find any parts  :sad:

I can't even find any NOS ones, for them, ABM or Hipshot. You almost wonder if someone has a cave full of 8-string parts that they're sleeping on, Smaug-like.

 

[BroccoliRob]

You almost wonder if someone has a cave full of 8-string parts that they're sleeping on, Smaug-like.

yeah its called the landfill lol



nah i'm just jk joking

 

[Chopkinsbass]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but if you’re prepared to cut out your own headstock shape then you could always go for the 5 string paddle neck

 

[NedRyerson]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but if you’re prepared to cut out your own headstock shape then you could always go for the 5 string paddle neck

What's the context for your reply? Not sure who/what you're directing this to.

 

[bonesofwrath]

I have a $100 Cozart 12-string taking up space on the rack to remind me that, No, even though I love the idea, I don't play it, and it keeps me from spending $1200 for a Warmoth 12-string electric.

 

[Rick]

Bass player in Cheap Trick plays a 12 string bass (4 courses of three strings). When I saw them just after Covid, it sounded good.

 

[BroccoliRob]

have you seen their ticket prices lately? more like Expensive Trick

 

[Rick]

Nope, I guess at the time they were desperate to fill the seats. Things must be back to normal.

 

[bottoms_up!]

I know I'm resurrecting an oldie here, but I just landed a quirky 8-string Warmoth build (8-string neck converted to 12-string, and a Warmoth TBird-like body. It looks like these have BOTH gone the way of the dinosaur and I can't find any info anywhere, so I thought I might pick the expert's/historian's brains here.

Was this neck manufactured to fit into a standard 5-string bass body neck-pocket? Or did Warmoth offer 8-string bodies?

There are 2 skunk-stripes on the back of the neck. Because it has a single truss rod down the center, I am assuming these skunk-stripe channels contain stiffener rods? is this true? Were there options for the type of stiffener back then (standard vs graphite)?

Thanks in advance for any information you might pass along.

 

[Knorris]

I know I'm resurrecting an oldie here, but I just landed a quirky 8-string Warmoth build (8-string neck converted to 12-string, and a Warmoth TBird-like body. It looks like these have BOTH gone the way of the dinosaur and I can't find any info anywhere, so I thought I might pick the expert's/historian's brains here.

Was this neck manufactured to fit into a standard 5-string bass body neck-pocket? Or did Warmoth offer 8-string bodies?

There are 2 skunk-stripes on the back of the neck. Because it has a single truss rod down the center, I am assuming these skunk-stripe channels contain stiffener rods? is this true? Were there options for the type of stiffener back then (standard vs graphite)?

Thanks in advance for any information you might pass along.

View attachment 63522

Bottom's Up. I can tell you a few things. They were constructed the same way as our 4 string necks, but they were a 5 piece laminate neck. Single truss rod, standard steel stiffening rods. They were made to fit our standard 4 string neck pocket. We sold very few of these to maintain the manufacturing expense.

 

[bottoms_up!]

Perfect! Thank you for the info!

 

[Zinck]

Yes, bring back the 8 string option. Here is the Warmoth 8 string my bass player and I built for our band back in 1988-ish. We had a hotrod pinstripe guy do the paint job. No, it is not upside down. We thought it would be cool to do a upside down look (like Joe Perry Project guitar, with Warmoth neck, by the way, or Hendrix.) Unfortunately, this made it very neck heavy, especially because it was a 34" scale. And it was heavy because of the all maple body. Controls got in way also, but it was cool so we used it. Just this year, I switched neck to a Squier Jazz Bass Body. Will send photo later. I'm playing it in a Pat Benatar cover band. LOVE IT. Huge sound thru SVT, using a DUG Tech 21 pedal. 34" scale 8 String is not easy to play, especially for a little guy like me. Building a 32" scale now, but, had to find a neck elsewhere. Still haven't found the perfect specs. Sure wish Warmoth would do a custom for me but, so far, they said, "No."

 

[aarontunes]

Yes, bring back the 8 string option. Here is the Warmoth 8 string my bass player and I built for our band back in 1988-ish. We had a hotrod pinstripe guy do the paint job. No, it is not upside down. We thought it would be cool to do a upside down look (like Joe Perry Project guitar, with Warmoth neck, by the way, or Hendrix.) Unfortunately, this made it very neck heavy, especially because it was a 34" scale. And it was heavy because of the all maple body. Controls got in way also, but it was cool so we used it. Just this year, I switched neck to a Squier Jazz Bass Body. Will send photo later. I'm playing it in a Pat Benatar cover band. LOVE IT. Huge sound thru SVT, using a DUG Tech 21 pedal. 34" scale 8 String is not easy to play, especially for a little guy like me. Building a 32" scale now, but, had to find a neck elsewhere. Still haven't found the perfect specs. Sure wish Warmoth would do a custom for me but, so far, they said, "No."
View attachment 63527

Love this paint job! Who did it?