What's the appeal of 6, 7, 8, and 12 string basses?

[uwe]

  I herewith grovel and apologize: Pearl Jam is not Soundgarden and Pearl Jam's harmonies are alright. I'm shattered ...

[patman]

After playing a sixer for a couple of years, I'm pretty sure God meant basses to have 4 strings.  He never stipulated how to tune them, though.

[Pekka]

I herewith grovel and apologize: Pearl Jam is not Soundgarden and Pearl Jam's harmonies are alright. I'm shattered ...

Also, "Jeremy" was a big hit and while not many average listeners instantly know it's a 12-string bass on the intro I bet not too many know about the 12-string Rickenbacker on the "Tambourine Man" either.

[nofi]

roger mcquinn's ric is iconic. fans who may not know gear specifics certainly know that guitar and what it sounds like. being a hit or not is irrelevant.

[TBird1958]

I herewith grovel and apologize: Pearl Jam is not Soundgarden and Pearl Jam's harmonies are alright. I'm shattered ...

Here's a nice thread derail......

Soundgarden took it's name from a wind sculpture at Seattle's Warren G, Magnuson park ( Once called Sand Point Navel Air Station, used as a training facility for many years incliding WWII. As Aircraft Carriers were retrofitted or repaired at Bremerton Navel Shipyard across Puget Sound their Air Groups were often stationed here for training. Of note the USS Enterprise and Saratoga's fliers flew from here. Training accidents resulted in several planes ending up in the adjacent Lake Washington - including one F-4 Corsair that was dredged up, restored and is now on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight.

Soundgarden the band took it's name from this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aGUPZc53cQ&feature=related

[leftybass]

Was in a 3-piece back in the 90s, I played Hamer 12-string basses only. They were great for filling up sonic space when the guitarist would switch to hurdy-gurdy or penny whistle.

[uwe]

This thread made me dig out my LP 8 string (amazing how well the neck holds up to the extra pull) for a rehearsal and I played it as we rearranged The Cranberries' Zombi. Yeah, it sounds impressive and dominating in that song, but after a while it's quite enough. Rhythmic nuances are carried better with a single strings instruments, but then most 8- and 12-stringers aren't rhythmic and most rhythmic players aren't 8_ or 12 string players. That said, my LP 8-String was pre-owned and -played by TM Stevens whose funky enough. Wonder what he did with it.

[Bionic-Joe]

I think 12 string basses are cool ....but for me...they tend to get muddy...swishy....I've played Tom Petersson's Electrical Guitar Company 12ver on stage through his rig during soundcheck...as well as his Peacock Waterstone 12ver....Nice instruments, especially the EGC...but I tell ya...It still has the tendency to get drowned out and muddy.  I like the B12A acoustic body 12ver the best...BUT.....I have Tom's Old Candy Apple Red Hamer Thunderbird 8 string bass, the only T Bird 8 string  Hamer ever made, and I can play that baby (with a Pick) on ANY song. Period. It cuts through like a knife, but can also sound Like a Sherman tank!! VERY versatile for me...But then again...Chip Z'Nuff from Enuff Z Nuff plays his 12ver with  his fingers...So..I really think it all boils down to what each indibidual band likes. My last band, which I left, didn't like the 8 on most songs. The guitar player preferred a bassy tone as opposed to my Cut throat Crunch Buzz Saw bass tone. Whether a T bird 4 String or a T bird 8, I have a raw dirty tone....No effects.....Just raw dirt.
    So....I too have my issues with any bass that is other than 4 8 or 12...Like 5vers...I don't get it....But however I do dig those Fender Bass VI's!!! That what makes us all so COOL!!! We like different basses!!!

[Pekka]

I think 12 string basses are cool ....but for me...they tend to get muddy...swishy....I've played Tom Petersson's Electrical Guitar Company 12ver on stage through his rig during soundcheck...as well as his Peacock Waterstone 12ver....Nice instruments, especially the EGC...but I tell ya...It still has the tendency to get drowned out and muddy. 

Maybe it's because Tom nowadays favours the neck pickup only? I had my Waterstone converted into stereo and it works perfectly that way. The neck humbucker is the stock model that provides enough warmth and the bridge pickup is a Charlie Christian -type single coil that's great for the overdriven sound.

[Pekka]

Rhythmic nuances are carried better with a single strings instruments, but then most 8- and 12-stringers aren't rhythmic and most rhythmic players aren't 8_ or 12 string players.

Like John Paul Jones?

Palm muting is a very handy technique with the 8- or 12-string. Helps to play more rhythmic of funky stuff if needed.

[Hörnisse]

Speaking of JPJ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSgAtOHRTOA&feature=related

[hieronymous]

That what makes us all so COOL!!! We like different basses!!!

Hear hear!

[TBird1958]

I have only the bass Baz built to make any comparisons with, it is quite different sounding than its sister - my Orville 'Bird which shares indentical pickups and construction. The Orville is quite defined, and growly in a modern way, Baz's loving creation just rawrs, a bit less defined and wider - I love the differences!

[Highlander]

Diamanda Galas...

Even my daughter thought that was wierd, and that's saying something...

[Nocturnal]

I saw the tour with JPJ/Diamanda Galas. She was something different. It was great watching him and some of the music was pretty damn cool. But her? Not my taste.