https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Electric-Bass/MOD-RAM021182/Octane-Sparkle
Weirdass Wednesday special. $4K will get you both a 3-point bridge AND a bar tailpiece. The "Octane Sparkle" looks like Pelham turquoise with glittery bits. The whole thing has a strong surf vibe.
(https://images.ctfassets.net/m8onsx4mm13s/4Jgy5s1JUPq7BGKryhQIF4/afe671936ab51569bc2154a57ac117c8/RAM021182-2.jpg)
(https://images.ctfassets.net/m8onsx4mm13s/7uEahI9Lh4YhoPIYqj0YBI/a120f804fc70ab04f09a9840962d3735/RAM021182-6.jpg)
Interesting way to anchor the other four strings.
Quote from: BklynKen on May 24, 2023, 09:12:04 AM
Interesting way to anchor the other four strings.
They could have gone this way:
It will never intonate properly. No individual saddle per string.
And both strings have to go though the same anchor slot, which is a bad idea really.
Yet, I like it, be still my wallet!
Quote from: Basvarken on May 24, 2023, 10:59:47 AM
It will never intonate properly. No individual saddle per string.
And both strings have to go though the same anchor slot, which is a bad idea really.
If you play it like Tom Petersson (i.e. as a sub-low rhythm guitar), you're never ever even gonna get near a higher fret where intonation might become an issue. And if truth be told, a lot of stock 8- and 12-strings don't have a second set of saddles for the octave strings though it's undoubtedly not optimal and could/should be done better. Alas!, not everyone is a Dutch luthier, that is a nearly impossible standard to attain.
I do like the look though. Something daring and original for once.
Did Gibson ever offer an 8-string bass?
Well, that's different! I do like the color. Looks closer to turquoise than Pelham to my eyes.
At that price, one ought to expect better intonation.
Neck dive will be epic by the way. 8 bass regular bass tuners instead of 4 lightweight bass tuners and 4 smaller guitar size tuners.
I reached out to Gibson's Customer Service team to offer a better bridge option for future builds. If somebody has a better contact, I'll be happy to take it.
If you don't already know, Lowe Custom Guitars manufactures the only currently available 8-string bass bridge that offers intonation and height adjustment for each individual string. ;)
https://reverb.com/item/67600748-lowe-custom-guitars-8-string-bass-guitar-bridge-chrome
They should have used your bridge Brad.
Get in touch with Jim DeCola, head luthier at Gibson.
He's at Facebook / Instagram.
Quote from: Basvarken on May 24, 2023, 02:12:13 PM
Neck dive will be epic
Not many bass designs can handle an 8 tuner headstock without significant neck dive. Small Hofner-like tuners could help, and a body with an extended upper horn. Or the BC Rich trick with four of the tuners at the body end.
That is a matter of using the right tuners. There are plenty lightweight tuners on the market.
I have built several 12-string bass guitars. And none of them suffer neck dive.
I use Gotoh Res-o-lite bass tuners. And Gotoh Stealth tuners for the octaves.
Because I kept getting comments from people who were sure my twelve strings bass builds would be one big neck dive fest, I did a little slap-stick in one of my demo videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedq07QRYi0
:mrgreen:
Quote from: ilan on May 24, 2023, 11:45:56 AM
Did Gibson ever offer an 8-string bass?
Uwe has one. Great Story. Uwe?
Quote from: ilan on May 24, 2023, 11:45:56 AM
Did Gibson ever offer an 8-string bass?
A custom-modified active Les Paul Standard Bass for TM Stevens - it found its way to an unknown German former köllectör.
Quote from: Basvarken on May 24, 2023, 03:09:04 PM
That is a matter of using the right tuners. There are plenty lightweight tuners on the market.
I have built several 12-string bass guitars. And none of them suffer neck dive.
I use Gotoh Res-o-lite bass tuners. And Gotoh Stealth tuners for the octaves.
Because I kept getting comments from people who were sure my twelve strings bass builds would be one big neck dive fest, I did a little slap-stick in one of my demo videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedq07QRYi0
:mrgreen:
You cheat! It's near to impossible to get the Explorer shape neck-heavy! :mrgreen:
But you did well nontheless.
A Thunderbird then
https://youtu.be/HjfIw6Iifm4
Missed it by that much :mrgreen: classic Gibson, it will of course not intonate, oh the irony :rolleyes: despite it's flaws I'm tempted. I supose I'll just be happy with my Cataldo three pickup 12 string NR. Image Url = https://i.imgur.com/KpnZxma.jpg
This Image was Uploaded by - http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=imgur_upload.upload_image_to_imgur
This may be the most daring bass-related thing I've ever seen Gibson do. Not the best body style to do it on, but it does look cool. FWIW, my 8 string Ric with 8 full size tuners has zero neck dive, but I don't expect the same on a non-rev 'bird!
Quote from: gearHed289 on May 25, 2023, 08:07:29 AM
This may be the most daring bass-related thing I've ever seen Gibson do. Not the best body style to do it on, but it does look cool. FWIW, my 8 string Ric with 8 full size tuners has zero neck dive, but I don't expect the same on a non-rev 'bird!
I'd argue that making a left-handed Thunderbird on its 50th anniversary was more daring than that.
Quote from: Basvarken on May 24, 2023, 09:50:25 PM
A Thunderbird then
https://youtu.be/HjfIw6Iifm4
Such a cool bass.
Rob, weird question, but about how wide is that room you're in in the video? My wife and I are aggressively looking for a new apartment, and one thing I need is a room big enough to have my desk to work from home and also my music stuff for practicing.
2 meters wide.
Should have made it 2.5 meters
It is really too narrow.
Thanks. Even 2m seems wide enough to walk around with a Thunderbird. Carefully.
Did everyone forget that I made a Non Reverse Thunderbird 8 string bass 20+ years ago?? They way Gibson SHOULD have done it....
They've even copied the color from my latest custom Thunderbird 8 string bass.
Imitation is the biggest form of flattery.
We've already discussed this on Facebook. But remember you imitated Gibson in the first place ;-)