Thread: 10 string or 12 string bass

Oh I broke the golden rule forgot to post pics

Wearing a new hat
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And the 8 string bass
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Why not a harp bass? ie a Harp guitar but with bass strings and tuning.

How about a bass version of Linda Manzer's 42 string Picasso Guitar......it was made for Pat Methany

Originally Posted by Jeff Mills

After building a 8 string bass (4 string double octave) I'm debating my next build...

Should I tackle a 10 string (5 string double octave) or a 12 string (4 string triple octave) bass?

I'm really bored with building 4 strings here lately.

Maybe you could knock up one of these.

Looks like a lobster banquet!

The action is too high on that whatever its called

Originally Posted by Jeff Mills

The action is too high on that whatever its called

Action is really irrelevant when mechanised fingers are doing the fretting. In places the high action is required to cross over other sets of strings.

You probably need to weigh up whether you'll use the low B or prefer the beast that is a 12. Either has its own little quirks that you would need to accommodate. Haven't heard many 10 strings, but I have heard 12s and they sound awesome. Couldn't imagine playing one myself though.

I do know that unless building your own bridge for a 12, they can be either hard to get a hold of or cause issues with intonation i.e. the Hamer 12 bridges that are one saddle per group:

Originally Posted by IWieldTheSpade

You probably need to weigh up whether you'll use the low B or prefer the beast that is a 12. Either has its own little quirks that you would need to accommodate. Haven't heard many 10 strings, but I have heard 12s and they sound awesome. Couldn't imagine playing one myself though.

I do know that unless building your own bridge for a 12, they can be either hard to get a hold of or cause issues with intonation i.e. the Hamer 12 bridges that are one saddle per group:

I fully appreciate what you are saying... 8 strings with individual saddled were hard enough to intonate.

I'm now starting to think I may try a lap steel instead. But haven't decided yet.

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