The 8 string Non Reverse!

TBird1958 · September 24, 2009, 02:16:59 PM

Okay,

Here are some pics of Bionic Joe's beautiful 8 string Non Reverse that he graciuosly decided to sell to me. I'm REALLY enjoying it! Wonderful tone as he says Harpsicord/Freight Train, I think it's the ultimate big angry piano!
I've been dialing it in on my Line6 pedal, it gets it's own model preset based on an Acoustic 360 amp simulation, within that preset I can use a parametric eq function and really fine tune my sound and volume. The pedal is a great tool if you regualy use a lot of different basses and switch during shows as you only have to step on the pedal to bring up the right setting for any particular bass - very handy if you break a string and have to quickly change basses!

One important thing is to have a constant reference point and for that I use this '77 for it's nice well balanced tone and volume output - yeah George! Thanks for this one

Barklessdog · September 24, 2009, 02:24:24 PM

Really nice bass, love the color & headstock.

Dave W · September 24, 2009, 02:35:38 PM

You are getting quite the collection.

godofthunder · September 24, 2009, 03:11:05 PM

That is freak'n awesome

I wish I could have bought it !

Hornisse · September 24, 2009, 03:24:19 PM

That is a great looking bass Mark! Congrats!

exiledarchangel · September 24, 2009, 03:26:46 PM

Now all the people in your audience will think "there's that cute little girl with that HUGE sound"!

OldManC · September 24, 2009, 04:12:33 PM

Mark, I'm happy you bought both basses! As hard as it was to let it go, it felt (and still feels) good to know my bass went into such loving and capable hands.

You totally scored on that 8. I want one BAD!

Chris P. · September 25, 2009, 12:00:38 AM

I see too many eight strings around lately. I want one!!

Congrats! Great bass and it really suits you and your collection, my dear.

pamlicojack · September 25, 2009, 06:56:34 AM

I've always been intrigued by 8-string basses but have never pulled the trigger on one. What are the pros and cons?

uwe · September 25, 2009, 07:14:07 AM

Pros: Sounds like nothing else. And you can play notes with it that would sound out of place or harmony with a regular bass (that is why JPJ likes multi-string basses).

Cons: Not everything that sounds good on a 4 string works on an eight-string. It pretty much restricts a bassplayer in the way a 12-string restricts a guitarist (how many solos on a 12 string have you heard?, I remember one, from John McLaughlin, everybody else uses it as a rhythm guitar). You can't be really rhythmic in a subtle way with it either (not for reggae or funk players then), bending is impossible and that very much "there" sound can grate a little after a while. In a band with two guitars, an 8-string can begin to sound cluttered pretty quickly and due to the octave-strings' prominence or blurriness, it doesn't seal the bottom of the frequency spectrum as much as a 4 string does. Turn down the treble to make the octacve strings less prominent and the sound has less focus than any four string. Though it is probably only a trick on the ears, a real four string sounds deeper. Also, an eight string won't have the sustain of a four string in the middle and upper registers, something in the way regular and octave strings interact I guess, it always has a percussive note to it due to the prominent attack.

And while there are exceptions to the rule, an eight string really isn't for finger players. Only a pick will bring out the doubled octave characteristic.

From what I've heard of Mark's playing in the Nasty Habits, his playing should adapt quite easily to the eight-string and I can imagine it sounding pretty stellar on something like White Wedding. If the guitarist lets him, that is!!!

gweimer · September 25, 2009, 07:47:45 AM

I think Uwe covered it pretty well. It's a major leap for a finger player. I tore the crap out of my fingers the first time I took mine out. After that, I worked on my picking (not my forte) and used it only for select songs. The other thing is that the string tension is pretty significant. An 8-string bass requires a bit of effort to go through a night.
Still, they have a unique sound and place. Finding the right song for that sound can pay off hugely in the end. I would also think that running multiple amps, as players of multi-course basses seem to (Tom Petersson, Doug Pinnick) , helps bring out the full tonal range.

And my humble Dean, which was lost in the shine of Mark's new toy, is still available, for anyone wanting to take the plunge.

uwe · September 25, 2009, 08:29:33 AM

An eight string played without restraint
Will lead to carpal tunnel pain

You're bound for more attendance
But watch out for those tendons

Chris P. · September 25, 2009, 09:23:30 AM

If you want to try an 8-string, try the new Hagstrom reissue, called the HB-8. Shortscale, two humbuckers with six pick up configurations, quite cheap and nice sounding. I've got a bit of GAS..

gearHed289 · September 25, 2009, 09:31:59 AM

Even as the proud owner of a Fireglo 4003S/8, I'm a little jealous Mark! That bass.... WOW! Nice work Baz! Can't wait to see the korina.

Dave W · September 25, 2009, 11:25:33 AM

Quote from: Chris P. on September 25, 2009, 09:23:30 AM
If you want to try an 8-string, try the new Hagstrom reissue, called the HB-8. Shortscale, two humbuckers with six pick up configurations, quite cheap and nice sounding. I've got a bit of GAS..

Or, at about half the price of the Hagstrom, you could buy gweimer's Dean Rhapsody 8.

The 8 string Non Reverse!

Hornisse