Mr. Preston Swift Posted July 26, 2007 Report Share Posted July 26, 2007 Recently i came across a guy on youtube that is making a 13 string bass and posting his progress. He recently finished it but all he has posted are slide shows and a video of his talking about how great it is. I think that it's just a big cover up. The 13 string bass is fretless and it's neck and body are made out of pine and it's fingerboard is oak laminate. The bridge is wood and it's string through. The body is very small and the neck is very big which leads me to think it would be incredibly unbalanced when playing. He says he built the pickup by himself but only has pics of him making the pickup cover. He has posted sound clips of the bass but the clips sounds like a bass with frets. He has no actual videos of him playing and he says he has no plans of putting one on. Me and my friend are trying to ask him questions about why the sound clips of the bass don't match up, why he isn't posting videos of him playing it, and various other technical questions but he keeps deleting them and not answering them. He says it plays like a dream and wants to sell it. I think it would be very hard to play the neck would bend 90 degrees before the end of the day. I think that the bass doesn't actually work at all and that it is poorly built and he's trying to cover it up and just sell it. I don't know why, but this is making me VERY MAD!!! I'm never usually like this though lol. Do you guys think that it actually works??? here's some links: him talking about the bass, http://youtube.com/watch?v=BXAmumqQ_t4 sound clip and slide show, http://youtube.com/watch?v=V3y73rYHdnw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubab0y Posted July 26, 2007 Report Share Posted July 26, 2007 I've seen the eleven string bass somewhere, and all that the guy could do on it was tapping. I agree, it sounds fretted- none of those smooth glissandos that fretlesses are known for- and the slap doesn't sound fretless. And it's ugly. And I agree, horribly unbalanced. It sounds too...controlled for a fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted July 26, 2007 Report Share Posted July 26, 2007 I know of the guy - he's probably lying because you just don't wing a 13-string bass like he did. It takes a GREAT deal of planning to make an extended range bass. It is extremely possible to play them, but don't expect it to play if you're just tossing a bunch of wood together. tubab0y - you're probably referring to Mike Flynn. I know of a few other bassists with 10-12 strings that can play them just fine without needing to tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAK Guitars Posted July 26, 2007 Report Share Posted July 26, 2007 Yeah this does seem a little fishy! He said he'd customized all his guitars, and then says he doesn't have an amplifier? Hmmm. I thought that he might come to the conclusion that he'd need an amp to play an electric bass... Yeah I must say I don't like the look of the thing either. Honestly I'd rather have a Chapman Stick. Anyway, he's probably a good guy and just thought he'd give it a shot, but if it doesn't work he should say that it doesn't work. I don't mean to be an angry guy but that's my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted July 26, 2007 Report Share Posted July 26, 2007 (edited) I've got no problem with anyone building anything and wanting to show it off. In fact, I think negative comments (bashing) on people's builds are in very poor taste, regardless of how bad the build looks. BUT, if the guy is trying to sell the thing (especially sight unseen over the internet), that's a whole 'nother ball game. FWIW, it looks very questionable to me. Also.... "scandal" Edited July 26, 2007 by fookgub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 There are so many things wrong with that bass, im not even going to start. This guy is the pommy version of litch. A thousand pounds is the asking price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubber314chicken Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 (edited) 26" scale legnth!!!! yeah right. that neck is gonna snap randomly Edited July 27, 2007 by rubber314chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 26" scale legnth!!!! yeah right. that neck is gonna snap randomly Nope, it will slowly turn into a bow though. Maybe it can shoot 13 arrows at once? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAK Guitars Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Maybe it can shoot 13 arrows at once? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAI6 Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Where I'm from, we call that a "butcher block"....... Scary sh*t! http://youtube.com/watch?v=lf9W8Cv4T2g&...ted&search= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Honestly, how serious build can this be? He probably dit it so he could brag about having the first 13-string bass, and (as stated earlier) he lacks lots of planning for an extended bass! If he wanted the first 13-string bass, he could've at least make a serious build of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 (edited) He may have finished the first 13-string bass, but I really wouldn't consider it a bass considering the scale is 26". A chapman stick is more of a bass than this instrument is. This "instrument" just has a bunch of strings that aren't even tuned in perfect fourths, just a bunch of bass strings in no telling what tuning. There has been another 13-string bass in the works for a couple years for Jean Baudin. I'm not sure who is making it, but Nordstrand wound the pickups for it. Edited July 27, 2007 by Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 I would almost rather take a good kick to the jimmy than play a 13-string bass on which all 13 strings are discrete strings (rather than doubled). Not meaning to push buttons again, but even just looking at those pickups and you (well, "I" ) can just feel the utter pointlessness of it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubber314chicken Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 He may have finished the first 13-string bass, but I really wouldn't consider it a bass considering the scale is 26". A chapman stick is more of a bass than this instrument is. This "instrument" just has a bunch of strings that aren't even tuned in perfect fourths, just a bunch of bass strings in no telling what tuning. There has been another 13-string bass in the works for a couple years for Jean Baudin. I'm not sure who is making it, but Nordstrand wound the pickups for it. i'd love to see those on the pickup winder. could've stalled it out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 I would almost rather take a good kick to the jimmy than play a 13-string bass on which all 13 strings are discrete strings (rather than doubled). Not meaning to push buttons again, but even just looking at those pickups and you (well, "I" ) can just feel the utter pointlessness of it all. All instruments are custom. Your specs are pointless to me as mine are to you. I see no use in a 13-string instrument, although I find more range than 4-strings rather helpful. It's all relative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Well, sure... within reason. I'm not convinced that 13 strings are UNreasonable (or in a less convoluted turn of the phrase: this time, you're probably right!) for all people. But just because somebody asks for something doesn't automatically make it reasonable. Think of "The Homer". And Rick Neilsen's 5-necked guitar... Michael Angelo's 2-neck-- reasonable! He uses them both! Michael Angelo's 4-neck-- unreasonable (well, in terms of practicality)... the other 2 are just for show. 13 strings... that's gray area. As I said, I think you're probably right this time that SOMEBODY out there could find it useful. It's definitely not a cut-and-dry case. I'm with the people that think a Stick is the right choice for somebody who thinks they need a 13-string bass. But... I'm in danger of annoying the heck out of you again. <chuckle> I'll let it be after this post, I promise. <grin> Well, unless there's pure logic to be discussed. In terms of the actual concept of a 13-string bass, not much more to say out of this mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 I'm never annoyed, just here to explain some things that make no sense to you guys (no offense). I've talked about this with some individuals and they think I'm crazy. Then I explain and demonstrate in person and it makes complete sense. Why? It works for me. Now I hear the "just play a stick" or "A stick is more practical" thing frequently. It's a silly comparison. It's no different from me saying "just go play a piano, the range is the same". The string spacing is completely different on a Chapman stick, not to mention the tuning, neck design, body design, and pickup config. It's a completely different instrument. A few ERB'ists have tried sticks and it doesn't work for them. Why? It's not a bass. It's strictly a tapping instrument. They're two worlds apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Where I'm from, we call that a "butcher block"....... Scary sh*t! http://youtube.com/watch?v=lf9W8Cv4T2g&...ted&search= He didn't even clamp the "wings" ... just two pieces of duct tape! He is the aussie Litch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Where I'm from, we call that a "butcher block"....... Scary sh*t! http://youtube.com/watch?v=lf9W8Cv4T2g&...ted&search= He didn't even clamp the "wings" ... just two pieces of duct tape! He is the aussie Litch. Dont class us Aussies with him, it will drag the rest of us down. He is from the UK. Let him drag Wez down with him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiem Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 so is there a vid where we can actualy see him play it, instead of hearing some funky bass stuff with no idea who is playing it on what... he probaly made a fretless cuz he cant fret a neck. reminds me of wishbass.com or sumtin like it, same lame stuff fretless cuz it takes no skills, and strings hanging on the edge of the fretboard... kinda pathetic imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljib Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 does anyone else foresee a wicked foot injury when the duct tape glue joint snaps at that upper horn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Preston Swift Posted July 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 He may have finished the first 13-string bass, but I really wouldn't consider it a bass considering the scale is 26". A chapman stick is more of a bass than this instrument is. This "instrument" just has a bunch of strings that aren't even tuned in perfect fourths, just a bunch of bass strings in no telling what tuning. There has been another 13-string bass in the works for a couple years for Jean Baudin. I'm not sure who is making it, but Nordstrand wound the pickups for it. Conklin is making the 13 string bass for Jean Baudin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Preston Swift Posted July 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 I'd imagine it would be very difficult to play though b/c with that many frets and scale etc. wouldn't you need to fan the frets? He prolly didn't attempt it b/c he can't fret a neck, but wouldn't you still need to play a fretless in the same manner. I think it would be so different from a regular bass's b/c the "would be fret positions" would be so far out of expected place and also having absolutely no fret or position markers. I think it would serve better use as road sign then a bass. And to answer Kiem's question: He said that he's not putting up any vids of him playing the bass. I can see myself years from now on my deathbed, dying, my last words will be "that 13 string bass never worked!!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Did anyone else notice the unevenness of the neck carve? I mean, I'm a beginner, make a lot of mistakes, etc. But I wouldn't put up a video of a build that had a neck with dips in the back/side. Or is that how it's s'posed to be? The fact that he won't put up a video of the ACTUAL INSTRUMENT in use--that clinches it. Okay, I don't play bass, but I'm building myself a bass for the heck of it. I would put up a vid of myself at least TRYING to play... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathon Posted July 28, 2007 Report Share Posted July 28, 2007 It's probably just broken and hit him in the face while he was playing it, thus he doesn't want to show anyone because it's broken! Could you ever actually learn anything for a 13 string bass though?! And you'd never use half the frets. Seems pointless. I tink a 6 string bass, maybe a 7 really is the limit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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