Who plays these things??

[cdb]

We have all seen pics of these instruments... but I can't say I have seen one on stage. The closest I have seen is Tony Levin with a Stick in King Crimson. Has anybody seen or know of a band in which one of these actually gets any stage time... beyond a novelty song or 2, maybe?
http://www.phatduckk.com/images/NAMM07/NAMM-Images/26.jpg

[MBIYF]

Who plays these things??

Harps?! :confused:


Teehee. I jammed with a guy who played a stick once. It was very interesting.
http://www.chez.com/ronbaggerman/
Oh, and there's this guy from a local nu-metal band that plays a stick on stage too. The last time I spoke him he was planning to play full shows with the stick.

[basshunter]

Nope. Can't imagine.

[bassesofalessergod]

Bassplayers for Cirque De Soleil and Vegas show bands.

[cdb]

Bassplayers for Cirque De Soleil and Vegas show bands.

Really, have you seen that? Or are these things built just to look cool at NAMM?

[bassesofalessergod]

Really, have you seen that? Or are these things built just to look cool at NAMM?

It's always been my theory that these basses are built for cirque du soleil and the like.

[ModmanQ6]

It's always been my theory that these basses are built for cirque du soleil and the like.
Is this in reference to the requirement of being a contortionist to play it?

[steveydevey]

Jean Baudin?

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/10/28/super_mario_bros_pla.html

[bill]

I though some dude over at TB played one. Well at least I hope so, he has a pic of about 10 of them all on his couch.

EDIT:

found some info over at TB
check out this pic

http://lordonly.net/Images/John/jtfamilyx2.jpg

Here is a link to the thread and you can take a look around yourselfshttp://lordonly.net/Images/John/jtfamilyx2.jpg

[knuckle_head]

I saw this particular bass get played by nearly 2 dozen people, and quite adeptly too may I say.

These instruments are by and large solo instruments so I would suggest that it is likely you will see them with very few accompanying instruments.

Take a look at John Turner's stuff - he's all 7s all the time.

These things are a very small portion of the bass world - y'all just can't seem to keep yourselves from pointing and.... what ever you do once you've pointed at them.

[cdb]

I saw this particular bass get played by nearly 2 dozen people, and quite adeptly too may I say.

These instruments are by and large solo instruments so I would suggest that it is likely you will see them with very few accompanying instruments.

Take a look at John Turner's stuff - he's all 7s all the time.

These things are a very small portion of the bass world - y'all just can't seem to keep yourselves from pointing and.... what ever you do once you've pointed at them.

I guess its because I, personally find them fascinating... never played anything more than a 6 string, because I have never seen one of these behemoths in person, and they look very cool, but scary-- the sheer width of the fretboard alone just looks so intimidating, also I am not a tapper, which seems to be a common technique for these instruments-- i hesitate to call them basses... extended range basses, maybe... and besides a few YouTubes, I have never seen anybody play them. Just wondering if they are simply craftsman show pieces or what, and why

[4stringaxeman]

4 strings too many for me
not to mention the things probably weighs a ton

I dont see the practicallity in 8 string basses
why not a double neck guitar with a bass and a 6 string, would be a whole lot more practical and much easier to play IMO

maybe good for noodleing on it across your lap is about the only use I see for one
expensive gimmic comes to mind:badidea:

[takeout]

This type of bass lends itself to a style of playing that doesn't hold much interest for me. Sure, these guys can play three different parts at once on them - but all the parts have the same timbre. A band can do the same thing, with unique timbres per player, hence more interesting to my ears.

Calling these "harps" is an insult to harps.

[tim the enchanter]

the cats are cute, but that is about the most unattractive/undesirable collection of basses i've seen.

[4stringaxeman]

the cats are cute, but that is about the most unattractive/undesirable collection of basses i've seen.

http://forums.maxima.org/images/smilies/+1.gif

[cdb]

I dunno, I like the one that looks like a jazz, personally...

[The Lurker]

guys on talkbass, jazz snobs, gear whores, and people who play mostly in churches or their bedrooms?:P


Oh wait....:smack:






(I know, unfair stereotyping of TB members-- dig the stoner rock discussions there in the Recordings section)

[4stringaxeman]

I dunno, I like the one that looks like a jazz, personally...

Ya if i had to choose one it would be the one that resembles the Fender Jazz bass

[Jugghaid]

To each his own............ I personally may never get into 7+ strings, but hey, play what you like. Insulting the instruments of others makes soem of you guys no better than those you call "Gear snobs'. :2c:

[cdb]

To each his own............ I personally may never get into 7+ strings, but hey, play what you like. Insulting the instruments of others makes soem of you guys no better than those you call "Gear snobs'. :2c:

I would like to make it crystal clear that I did not start this thread to insult these basses or the people who play them. I am curious as to who plays them and if anybody has ever attended a show (not NAMM, I mean a concert) in which they have seen one played. that is all.

[Jugghaid]

I would like to make it crystal clear that I did not start this thread to insult these basses or the people who play them. I am curious as to who plays them and if anybody has ever attended a show (not NAMM, I mean a concert) in which they have seen one played. that is all.

I know you didn't Chuck. That was not aimed at you at all.

[basshunter]

I would like to make it crystal clear that I did not start this thread to insult these basses or the people who play them. I am curious as to who plays them and if anybody has ever attended a show (not NAMM, I mean a concert) in which they have seen one played. that is all.

Your curiosity was clear Chuck, IMO. I think they are really interesting, I just can't ever see playing one myself. What I do find interesting is the skill that the luthiers must exhibit to pull something like that off. :2c:

[Grant Sharkey]

Too much for my tubby little hands - but i can see the appeal - I've moved down from 6 to 4 now - only using the 6 for older songs - 7+ would just boggle my mind on stage and i'd be more of a fuck up king than i already is.

[sunburstbasser]

I played James Hart's 7 string Bee for a moment. It was too much for me, and it even has standard 4-string spacing I think, so very huge.

I could never use one to its full potential, so you'll probably never see me onstage with one. I truly admire those that can use them though.

[82Daion]

The 6's I've played have been pushing the limits of what my hands can handle, especially if they're of the modern variety with really wide string spacing. I'd like to play Kevin's Modulus 6 just because the string spacing is so tight-I don't slap much, and I'd like to see what I could do with that kind of range. A 7-string or larger would be too much, I fear.

Now, for those who can handle such instruments, more power to you-I'm not sure I have the imagination or technique to handle one. However, since I've never had much time to try one, it's difficult to say.

[tim the enchanter]

:shrug: i don't like 'em. they're not for me.

YMMV.

[bnyswonger]

Trey Gunn held down the bottom for King Crimson after Tony Levin left for a while. He plays it about as well as anybody...he's an incredible musician.

I've talked to him about the difference between what he does and what I (as a more traditional bassist) do. The musical function is the same - the advantage to the hammer on thing is complexity - you can play two lines at once or intervalic stuff more easily. The disadvantage is you pretty much always have to play through a compressor which kind of limits your dynamic range...kind of like playing bass on a clavinette. So much of what I do is right hand oriented I don't think I'd care for it, but I'd love to have one to experiment with.

[King Kashue]

Harps?! :confused:

It's clearly a lap dulcimer...

[4stringaxeman]

I know you didn't Chuck. That was not aimed at you at all.

Probably aimed at me and tim and the enchanter

My comments were not to insult any one or their choice of insturments, I simply stated my opinion and I make no apoligys for doing so however my hat is off to anyone who can play one of these behemoth's :wave:

[basslord1124]

Not for me, plain and simple.

And I must say, that guys collection is overkill IMO. It's not a true collection without a Daisy Rock bass in it. :P But yeah, it all looks like an exotic overpriced highway of strings. I'd rather groove.

[Drippin' Robin]

Take a look at John Turner's stuff - he's all 7s all the time.

He is a venerable virtuoso. Does some real tasty stuff with those 6+ string basses - barely any wanking involved. Plus, he's a cool guy. I keep forgetting his screen name at HCBF.

[ironfist]

I think they look cool. It must be hard getting strings though.

[Otis The Bulldog]

My old bass teacher actually had one. I "played" it. Meaning I touched a few strings without knowing what I was doing.

But I did see his solo performance with it. He would do a bunch of looping.

[knuckle_head]

It's not a true collection without a Daisy Rock bass in it.

Daisy Rock makes a 7?

:confused:








;)

[BassMaster General]

He is a venerable virtuoso. Does some real tasty stuff with those 6+ string basses - barely any wanking involved. Plus, he's a cool guy. I keep forgetting his screen name at HCBF.

I believe he hides behind the screen name john turner:D