Eight String Custom T bass build > to Z Bass
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amigarobbo
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yep, and it's still neck heavy! :doh: And to be honest they're not the smoothest tuners either, they work and keep it in tune so maybe I should shut up but they don't feel the finest. Materials for weight reduction I suppose.
Anyway, wanna hear it?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIiBYy3JXDs[/youtube]
Very quickly done, via a Ditto Looper. I think I recorded it encoded and uploaded it faster than the running time, I'm not attempting to play anything just noodling to give you some idea about the sound. At 30 seconds I turn off the Lace Alumintone Coil split/tap/dunno which is why it goes more bassier. Tone on full. I'm still setting it up actions too low hence the buzzes and I've not even started on the intonation, and I cut the sustain on the last chord (oh yes!) as I was getting bored listening to it.
Oh my groovless, pointless, cliché ridden playing :sad1:
Anyway, wanna hear it?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIiBYy3JXDs[/youtube]
Very quickly done, via a Ditto Looper. I think I recorded it encoded and uploaded it faster than the running time, I'm not attempting to play anything just noodling to give you some idea about the sound. At 30 seconds I turn off the Lace Alumintone Coil split/tap/dunno which is why it goes more bassier. Tone on full. I'm still setting it up actions too low hence the buzzes and I've not even started on the intonation, and I cut the sustain on the last chord (oh yes!) as I was getting bored listening to it.
Oh my groovless, pointless, cliché ridden playing :sad1:
Cagey
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So, I'm sitting here listening to this bass clip thinking "hmmm... y'know, he's got some kinda octave/pitch shifter thingy on there that sounds a lot better than I would have expected with a bass." All the while, I'm staring at a bass headstock with 8 tuners. Then, it dawns on me that I'm an idiot... :laughing7:
stratamania
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It sounds good already. Love the octaves with the eight strings.
amigarobbo
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For completeness I suppose I might as well shove these pictures in here as well:
Got the intonation sorted out, but the high d string broke, it's the second one to snap at the tuneing peg, it did it for the guy who put the slots in the bridge, I assumed that was because it was he turning the wrong peg, but apparently not..
I can't feel any burr on the machine head, but I'll give it a light sanding. :icon_scratch:
I'm out of those strings now, :sad1:
Got the intonation sorted out, but the high d string broke, it's the second one to snap at the tuneing peg, it did it for the guy who put the slots in the bridge, I assumed that was because it was he turning the wrong peg, but apparently not..
I can't feel any burr on the machine head, but I'll give it a light sanding. :icon_scratch:
I'm out of those strings now, :sad1:
What a beautiful and unique instrument! I was reading your post at work but couldn't see the pics. When I got home and saw them it was so different that what was in my head! In a good way. Love the brass too. And I dig those lace sensors, that's a new one on me. From what you posted, sounded very clear. How's the neck dive? I'm about to start a 5 sting but I've been dying to build an 8 string strung BEAD and wondering if I should go all 8 tuners same size or drop in some guitar tuners for lighter weight. Congrats.
amigarobbo
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It's not that neck heavy, remember it's a lightish hollow bodied guitar, and even worse the upper horn is really short, I think if it was a jazz bass shape it would be fine.
The G&L Asat, which is a err.. similar shape has a similar problem, resulting in:
I don't feel I'll need to do that, I think a lot of the weigh is in the neck itself, rather than the tuners, I'd be tempted to go for Graphite rods maybe.
I prefer the look of 8 identical tuners, and it gives the option of reversing, or experimenting with the string orientation. Which is a whole world of pros and cons and compromises!
I've ordered some more replacement strings, I'll try to put in another youtube video up, now the intonation is improved and pickup raised, and with a plectrum. Really should practice Big Bottom I suppose...
The G&L Asat, which is a err.. similar shape has a similar problem, resulting in:
I don't feel I'll need to do that, I think a lot of the weigh is in the neck itself, rather than the tuners, I'd be tempted to go for Graphite rods maybe.
I prefer the look of 8 identical tuners, and it gives the option of reversing, or experimenting with the string orientation. Which is a whole world of pros and cons and compromises!
I've ordered some more replacement strings, I'll try to put in another youtube video up, now the intonation is improved and pickup raised, and with a plectrum. Really should practice Big Bottom I suppose...
amigarobbo
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sanded the edges of the turning peg, Strings turned up, broke one at the peg while tuning up, sanded the peg again, very, very gently tuned up again, and it's at pitch. and I'm not touching it again. I think the .030 is too heavy for 'd' , the tension seem rather higher than the other strings.
Anyway, have a sample with pick playing, you can play either string or both
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UOaLF_Vpwo[/youtube]
and with a bit of gain
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjFTdcri4Q0[/youtube]
I ain't gonna lie, I play it like an tuneless elephant. :sad1:
Anyway, have a sample with pick playing, you can play either string or both
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UOaLF_Vpwo[/youtube]
and with a bit of gain
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjFTdcri4Q0[/youtube]
I ain't gonna lie, I play it like an tuneless elephant. :sad1:
amigarobbo
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Well, I think it's time to wind this up, Almost forgot, might as well have a double rear view of both my Warmoths, yep I've left the plastic on the back panels.
I have no more worlds left to conquer... :sad1:
Maybe 12 string F*nder XII styleé guitar :rock-on:
I have no more worlds left to conquer... :sad1:
Maybe 12 string F*nder XII styleé guitar :rock-on:
amigarobbo
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Right it's finished, so some last thought.
To be honest I was going for a 8 string Rickenbacker 4005
moi with said bass.
I think I aesthetically I would have preferred an all maple body, the top is loverly, but I prefer the back to the front. And it would have set off the the bubinga fretboard off loverly.
The abalone fretboard markers are beautiful, as are the ones on the side, translucent green to purple to an almost pink, beautiful! :glasses9: it's just a shame they so hard to see! On the bubinga fretboard I wouldn't go for Abalone side markers.
I'm not sure in terms of the tone it's a bit too good, the hollow body imparting a richness and fullness to the tone, that a solid body wouldn't, you know it sounds great, but something like a solid walnut or maple body would have a 'simpler' more direct sound. Maybe. that would suit a 8 string better. Possibly! Also it would fix the neck heaviness of it. Which I think is due to the shape rather than a really heavy neck.
I suppose the advantages of a bolt on neck, I could get a new solid body, Walnut with a high gloss finish, and something like a fretless tele neck for the body! Hmm.. the possibilities! :toothy10:
Actually, I probably won't. :guitarist gif:
Also hardware looks great, slight irritated by the octave D sting breaking at the tuner, still not quite sure what was causing that.
And lastly on the octave below the main string, i.e. inverted.
It's surprisingly easy to play the fundamental string, and then wrap the finger around to bring in the octave string, which is really nice, I think this arrangement makes fretting the G and D as easy if not easier than traditional octave above. A string about the same, but the E can be a bit tricky. Maybe the hybrid suggested at the 12 string bass people is the way to go:-
http://www.12stringbass.net/master.htm?http://www.12stringbass.net/strings.htm
Anyway, it's great! I'll finally shut up now except to say, 8 sting fretless? :laughing7:
edited to add this picture:
Quite a small body isn't it? not much larger than my Esquire thing I built. Not Warmoth, but I'm guessing it's normal standard sized.
To be honest I was going for a 8 string Rickenbacker 4005
moi with said bass.
I think I aesthetically I would have preferred an all maple body, the top is loverly, but I prefer the back to the front. And it would have set off the the bubinga fretboard off loverly.
The abalone fretboard markers are beautiful, as are the ones on the side, translucent green to purple to an almost pink, beautiful! :glasses9: it's just a shame they so hard to see! On the bubinga fretboard I wouldn't go for Abalone side markers.
I'm not sure in terms of the tone it's a bit too good, the hollow body imparting a richness and fullness to the tone, that a solid body wouldn't, you know it sounds great, but something like a solid walnut or maple body would have a 'simpler' more direct sound. Maybe. that would suit a 8 string better. Possibly! Also it would fix the neck heaviness of it. Which I think is due to the shape rather than a really heavy neck.
I suppose the advantages of a bolt on neck, I could get a new solid body, Walnut with a high gloss finish, and something like a fretless tele neck for the body! Hmm.. the possibilities! :toothy10:
Actually, I probably won't. :guitarist gif:
Also hardware looks great, slight irritated by the octave D sting breaking at the tuner, still not quite sure what was causing that.
And lastly on the octave below the main string, i.e. inverted.
It's surprisingly easy to play the fundamental string, and then wrap the finger around to bring in the octave string, which is really nice, I think this arrangement makes fretting the G and D as easy if not easier than traditional octave above. A string about the same, but the E can be a bit tricky. Maybe the hybrid suggested at the 12 string bass people is the way to go:-
http://www.12stringbass.net/master.htm?http://www.12stringbass.net/strings.htm
Anyway, it's great! I'll finally shut up now except to say, 8 sting fretless? :laughing7:
edited to add this picture:
Quite a small body isn't it? not much larger than my Esquire thing I built. Not Warmoth, but I'm guessing it's normal standard sized.
amigarobbo
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I haz decided, I think the semi-hollow body has an effect on the sound*, gives it that nice tubby sound, which is good, but not what I want for a 8 string, the top string isn't cutting through, it's wooly and warm (not itself a bad thing) when I want in your face power and aggression for a 8 String.
It's also slightly neck heavy, not as bad as you'd imagine, but still...
To this end I will buy a solid body in something heavy and bright sounding probably a Z bass in solid maple, which I'll do the finish myself in try-oil to match the neck, also the vintage copper stands out nicely against the lighter wood. And possibly active EMG pickups, a pair so I can add the bridge pickup in to brighten the sound.
Don't worry, nothing of value will be lost! I'll also get a Telecaster style neck possibly fretless so I'll be able to use the body and pickup, a nice semi-acoustic fretless, ooh, yes!
:turtle:
Won't be for a while though, I'm a bit skint.
*I don't really believe this, but I'm going with it, OK?
It's also slightly neck heavy, not as bad as you'd imagine, but still...
To this end I will buy a solid body in something heavy and bright sounding probably a Z bass in solid maple, which I'll do the finish myself in try-oil to match the neck, also the vintage copper stands out nicely against the lighter wood. And possibly active EMG pickups, a pair so I can add the bridge pickup in to brighten the sound.
Don't worry, nothing of value will be lost! I'll also get a Telecaster style neck possibly fretless so I'll be able to use the body and pickup, a nice semi-acoustic fretless, ooh, yes!
:turtle:
Won't be for a while though, I'm a bit skint.
*I don't really believe this, but I'm going with it, OK?
DangerousR6
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I agree, weeeeengie just sounds stuuuuuupid....I like my henge with wenge...amigarobbo said:
