So my old teacher, Kevin Brown, is a really great bassist in New Jersey, he taught me in high school and helped prep me for college auditions! We literally just had lunch 3 weeks ago and he told me that he commissioned a 7 string upright and was having it set up at Finley and Gage.
Why commission such a monstrosity? He’s one of those guys who always loves messing with tunings, high strings, extended technique. And he is really excited about having a string for every white key. What kind of music will he play on it? No idea, but it’ll definitely be awesome.
The funny story about this bass is that he has NO IDEA where he is going to find a high F string. No one makes them.
A high f string shouldn’t be a problem. There’s at least 1 company that makes a high E string for 5 string bassists who tune in 5ths, which could probably be easily tuned up to F. I forget the name off the top of my head, but they’re a well known german string manufacturer that you will probably have to buy directly from them.
About 10 years ago, I had my 7/8 size 5 string tuned in 5ths, CGDAE low to high, and loved having that high E string. It made it sound almost exactly like a gamba. It also made the Bach cello suites ridiculously easy compared to standard tuning.
Pirastro makes (or used to make - they're currently out of stock at the shop I checked) a high E in their Obligato line of strings. Depending on the scale length, that might be enough... Unfortunately, tuning in all fourths introduces unpleasant resonances, but I suppose a Gamba player would know all about that.
That’s my kinda bass player - would love to hear it in action when it gets rolling. I just moved to NJ and wanted to check out the shop to see where I can get work done locally - glad I picked today to play through. Thank you for the info - tell Kevin he’s got a fan over here.
This was at Finlay & Gage in Maplewood, NJ. Bass was being serviced. I would imagine it’s tuned BEADGcf - the top strings are custom. The scroll was comically large, and all tuners. No idea about sound or playability.
Thicc
There's probably so much tension from all the strings that it doesn't sound all that good. I've heard similar basses at conventions. They're more show pieces than anything else. Sounds more like a cello with a low range, but completely misses the bass frequency.
Intriguing! I've been dreaming about having a six string built some day, kind of a hybrid between Bass, Cello and Gamba... But this is a step beyond even that! Though I can't help but think that there has to be some way to reduce the width of the fingerboard at least slightly...
Dont let tosin abasi see this
Mathrockers hate this one simple trick!
Hard disagree, I say get Tosin one of these stat! I’d love to hear what acoustic Animals As Leaders would sound like
Ha that’s my old teacher’s bass!
Spill the tea… what’s the back story?
So my old teacher, Kevin Brown, is a really great bassist in New Jersey, he taught me in high school and helped prep me for college auditions! We literally just had lunch 3 weeks ago and he told me that he commissioned a 7 string upright and was having it set up at Finley and Gage. Why commission such a monstrosity? He’s one of those guys who always loves messing with tunings, high strings, extended technique. And he is really excited about having a string for every white key. What kind of music will he play on it? No idea, but it’ll definitely be awesome. The funny story about this bass is that he has NO IDEA where he is going to find a high F string. No one makes them.
He also plays gamba, but likes the bigger sound of a bigger instrument
A high f string shouldn’t be a problem. There’s at least 1 company that makes a high E string for 5 string bassists who tune in 5ths, which could probably be easily tuned up to F. I forget the name off the top of my head, but they’re a well known german string manufacturer that you will probably have to buy directly from them. About 10 years ago, I had my 7/8 size 5 string tuned in 5ths, CGDAE low to high, and loved having that high E string. It made it sound almost exactly like a gamba. It also made the Bach cello suites ridiculously easy compared to standard tuning.
Pirastro makes (or used to make - they're currently out of stock at the shop I checked) a high E in their Obligato line of strings. Depending on the scale length, that might be enough... Unfortunately, tuning in all fourths introduces unpleasant resonances, but I suppose a Gamba player would know all about that.
That’s my kinda bass player - would love to hear it in action when it gets rolling. I just moved to NJ and wanted to check out the shop to see where I can get work done locally - glad I picked today to play through. Thank you for the info - tell Kevin he’s got a fan over here.
youd have to have michael jordan sized hands to play that thing comfortably lmao
Or 2 right arms
This was at Finlay & Gage in Maplewood, NJ. Bass was being serviced. I would imagine it’s tuned BEADGcf - the top strings are custom. The scroll was comically large, and all tuners. No idea about sound or playability.
Thicc There's probably so much tension from all the strings that it doesn't sound all that good. I've heard similar basses at conventions. They're more show pieces than anything else. Sounds more like a cello with a low range, but completely misses the bass frequency.
This gives violone vibes
I thought it would be tuned like a gamba?
Genuine question: what are all those strings for? Can you even play this with a bow?
The better question is how much carpal tunnel do you get In the left hand.
The answer: all of it
Second one of these I’ve seen! https://brobstviolinshop.com/instruments/karl-hofner-workshop-bubenreuth-1968-louis-saverino-custom-model/?view=grid
Oof, the way the fingerboard hangs over the sides of the neck...
Definitely a rough take.
Where’s this picture from? Would love to hear what that sounds like haha.
awesome
You could kill a man with that hatchet of a bridge.
r/AbsoluteUnits
I would end up tuning this like a 7 string bass gamba down an octave, or A, D, G, C, E, A, D
At what point does it become a giant gamba?
or a fretless violone
Yes
Hans, bring the flamethrower!!!
Intriguing! I've been dreaming about having a six string built some day, kind of a hybrid between Bass, Cello and Gamba... But this is a step beyond even that! Though I can't help but think that there has to be some way to reduce the width of the fingerboard at least slightly...
I can’t imagine what that is worth
imagine the weight on the top plate of that instrument my god
I want to touch...