The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Dave W on May 11, 2023, 09:45:14 PM

Title: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: Dave W on May 11, 2023, 09:45:14 PM
https://youtu.be/EAf597il5i8
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: Basvarken on May 12, 2023, 05:09:56 AM
Pretty cool!


EDIT:
even if that guy has no clue Woody's been dead for 23 years...
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: morrow on May 12, 2023, 05:17:32 AM
With six string basses all over the place it might make a nice Epi project.
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: uwe on May 12, 2023, 06:29:43 AM
He plays it like a baritone guitar - more Tony than Geezer - which I guess you should. It's not that the E, A, D & G strings (if you use bass and not baritone tuning) can't provide a bass sound on it (though nothing even close to the might of a mudbucker), but the narrow spacing makes it feel entirely guitarish and the C and F strings (or B and E if you use guitar interval tuning, I can never make up my mind whaat makes more sense on these) do sound quite differently and very un-bass'ish. It really is an instrument for which you have to rethink your style and approach.

Bruce Springsteen started out with one of those and not realizing that it was a bass tuned it EADGBE at the guitar octave (not the bass octave!). He forever wondered why he had such a hard time pulling strings  and could only chord with a lot of strength on his 30" scale 'guitar'. Until one day someone told him!  :mrgreen: (Perhaps the bass tuners should have made him think.) I would wager the guess that playing that thing like a guitar did influence his forceful rhythm guitar approach.
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: Basvarken on May 12, 2023, 07:11:05 AM
Quote from: uwe on May 12, 2023, 06:29:43 AM
Bruce Springsteen started out with one of those and not realizing that it was a bass tuned it EADGBE at the guitar octave (not the bass octave!). He forever wondered why he had such a hard time pulling strings  and could only chord with a lot of strength on his 30" scale 'guitar'. Until one day someone told him!  :mrgreen: (Perhaps the bass tuners should have made him think.) I would wager the guess that playing that thing like a guitar did influence his forceful rhythm guitar approach.

I remember that from his autobiography.
I assumed it was the semi-acoustic version with smaller guitar sized tuners.



Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: uwe on May 12, 2023, 08:36:47 PM
I couldn't find a picture, I remember reading SG somewhere. In any case, playing it strung one octave higher would have been equally hard, they both have a 30" sale.
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: Basvarken on May 13, 2023, 04:55:21 AM
I know. But I meant to say it is easier to be mistaken for a guitar than the one with six of those huge elephant ear tuners.
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: uwe on May 13, 2023, 09:51:37 AM
I think we can all forgive Bruce his misunderstanding, the story is cute. Too bad he doesn't dig out a 30"er tuned an octave too high today anymore for. say, one song live. I wonder how it sounded with that extreme string tension.

And if it had proven a successful idea it might have saved us all from the tapping craze!  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: EB-6 video from CME
Post by: TBird1958 on May 17, 2023, 08:47:08 AM


Eb6  ;D

(https://i.imgur.com/cdTWAqg.jpg)

The "other" EB6 in my inept hands!

(https://i.imgur.com/jQr6mBW.jpg)