8 string

General discussion of all things left hand bass.
Post Reply
wolfkeller
Posts: 368
Joined: November 25th, 2011, 3:09 pm

8 string

Post by wolfkeller »

I've always wanted to play an 8, never really came across one I liked. What are some options out there? Noting boutique or super expensive.
User avatar
tim
Posts: 2975
Joined: August 1st, 2015, 6:36 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA

Re: 8 string

Post by tim »

I think the one you're most likely to see pop up is a Schecter Stiletto Studio. This is the last one I saw:

https://reverb.com/item/55943335-schect ... _sold=true

You could set yourself an alert. They don't tend to sell quickly, even when priced well.
User avatar
pjmuck
Posts: 3964
Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
Location: West Orange, NJ

Re: 8 string

Post by pjmuck »

There's a Schecter Stiletto 8 listed on ebay (and Amazon) right now. Same asking price, so I'm guessing it's the same seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255644885596?c ... HUQAvD_BwE
wolfkeller
Posts: 368
Joined: November 25th, 2011, 3:09 pm

Re: 8 string

Post by wolfkeller »

I'm not at all a fan of that schecter. That's all I come across.
User avatar
jayceofbass
Posts: 372
Joined: November 20th, 2011, 7:56 am
Location: Toronto, ON - Canada
Contact:

Re: 8 string

Post by jayceofbass »

Those Schecters ain't actually half bad. It might be a great way to at least test the waters before getting somethin more bespoke. There really isn't much else out there for us lefties besides the Dug Pinnick 12 string. (Also a Schecter.)

My one other suggestion - if you have a spare Fender body or bass hanging around - is to reach out to Warmoth via email or phone. They used to do an 8 string neck. It's off their website now, but they would still have all the tooling and programming for it. They might actually make one if you call them. They will do 'off menu' stuff on occasion if it ain't too wacky. (I got them to do a gold top, natural back/sides finish on a body that wasn't 'on the menu' in the website.) Then you'd just need a bridge and some tuners. I see there is a Schaller 8 string bridge on Reverb now for less than $100. https://reverb.com/item/4782134-schaller-s471c-8-string-bass-bridge-2010s-chrome

Here's my 8 string with that neck on it....
Attachments
8.4.JPG
8.4.JPG (263.28 KiB) Viewed 11564 times
8.3.JPG
8.3.JPG (230.02 KiB) Viewed 11564 times
8.2.JPG
8.2.JPG (269.56 KiB) Viewed 11564 times
8.1.JPG
8.1.JPG (263.16 KiB) Viewed 11564 times
Sometimes I think, maybe I'm lucky I'm left handed. If I could play any bass I wanted, my collection would REALLY be out of control.

http://whitecowbell.com
http://www.facebook.com/southpawl.jones
http://goo.gl/rMTPk
User avatar
pjmuck
Posts: 3964
Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
Location: West Orange, NJ

Re: 8 string

Post by pjmuck »

Hagstrom also offered lefty 8 strings. And, yes, they're also difficult to find.

I've never played an 8 or 12 string bass, but honestly, I think it's a niche instrument and multi stringed basses would be a pain in the ass. (I'm basing my opinion on 12 string guitars I've owned). Takes forever to string them up, and then how often do you need that sound anyway?

I found that pedals like the polyphonic EH POG got me very close to the same results whenever I needed that sound. Where I could see it getting interesting would be tuning the syncopated string(s) to 3rds or 5ths, for example, creating double stops/chords on a single fretted note.
LefThanDed
Posts: 254
Joined: May 12th, 2008, 5:55 pm

Re: 8 string

Post by LefThanDed »

Still have an old 8 string Warmoth neck on a jazz body.
Parts is parts...
Attachments
Screenshot_20221108-220846_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20221108-220846_Gallery.jpg (207.17 KiB) Viewed 11514 times
"Still trying to find some wine-tasting-style way to describe the almost-Jaco tone the bass player had going on."
Post Reply