Fretless 8-string

[Lenny B]

Does anyone make one? Has anyone tried one?

I'm playing a lot of fretless at the moment in a world music band - so lots of unison riffs with Ouds with quarter-tone scales. I'm using the octave pedal quite a bit, but was thinking that having the up the octave chime could work nicely on some songs.

I've seen a few relatively-budget 8-strings (ESP, Dean etc), but no fretless models. Anyone tried one? Worth experimenting with de-fretting one or are there good reasons why no-one seems to be doing them....?

Cheers

[Lenny B]

Anyone?

[franzbassist]

I would imagine the main issue here would be intonation. While fretted 8s are okay I guess if your intontation is out on a fretless 8 it'd sound pretty nasty?

[Lenny B]

[quote name='walbassist' post='1188681' date='Apr 5 2011, 09:52 AM']I would imagine the main issue here would be intonation. While fretted 8s are okay I guess if your intontation is out on a fretless 8 it'd sound pretty nasty?[/quote]

That was a thought, but was just wondering if anyone had played one and can say how difficult this would be...

[BigRedX]

IIRC there was someone on TalkBass who had one made. The outcome was not particularly good, although from what I remember a lot of it was down to the crapness of the luthier he chose to use. It might be worth heading over there and looking for the thread.

[Lenny B]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1188847' date='Apr 5 2011, 12:07 PM']IIRC there was someone on TalkBass who had one made. The outcome was not particularly good, although from what I remember a lot of it was down to the crapness of the luthier he chose to use. It might be worth heading over there and looking for the thread.[/quote]


Cheers, will do

[DaveB]

if you want a cheap 8 string to buy to de-fret see my sig matey

[Lenny B]

[quote name='DaveB' post='1189034' date='Apr 5 2011, 02:19 PM']if you want a cheap 8 string to buy to de-fret see my sig matey [/quote]


Thanks, got a bit excited there, but it's the other kind of 8-string - I'm talking about the type with an accompanying string up the octave.

Can't believe that no-one here is tempted by yours though!

[Delberthot]

Not an 8 but Tony Senatore has a fretless [url="http://www.12stringbass.net/"]12 string[/url] made by Rothstein

Warmoth can do you a fretless 8 string neck.

The main intonation problem that i can see is that if you fretted the note at a slight angle, it would result in one of the notes being slightly out for either a nice chorus effect or 'bag of cats' effect depending on how much of an angle your finger was.

[Lfalex v1.1]

I reckon you'd definitely want inlaid lines on the fingerboard, just to keep you straight.
Worse still, any failings in your intonation will be made all the more obvious by the higher of the pair of strings as they'll be easier t hear due to their higher pitch. Add to that any "beating" sounds caused by a variance in the pitch between the two octave strings, and your technique will have to be spot-on to avoid these issues.

Don't be down-hearted. Fretless guitars exist. Vigier make them. If you're playing chords on those, You'd have to be Sh*t hot to get them to ring true. Still, if guitards can cope....

[Lenny B]

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1189504' date='Apr 5 2011, 07:26 PM']I reckon you'd definitely want inlaid lines on the fingerboard, just to keep you straight.
Worse still, any failings in your intonation will be made all the more obvious by the higher of the pair of strings as they'll be easier t hear due to their higher pitch. Add to that any "beating" sounds caused by a variance in the pitch between the two octave strings, and your technique will have to be spot-on to avoid these issues.

Don't be down-hearted. Fretless guitars exist. Vigier make them. If you're playing chords on those, You'd have to be Sh*t hot to get them to ring true. Still, if guitards can cope....[/quote]


All true - I think defretting a cheap 8-string and seeing what happens will be the way to go...

[thisnameistaken]

Isn't the gauge of the octave strings going to be an issue? I wouldn't like to have to stop notes on two Es at once with a single fingertip with the difference in string gauge.

[RhysP]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1190579' date='Apr 6 2011, 03:11 PM']Isn't the gauge of the octave strings going to be an issue? I wouldn't like to have to stop notes on two Es at once with a single fingertip with the difference in string gauge.[/quote]
I was going to mention this too. There have been some people on the Hamer forum who have had custom 8 & 12 string fretless basses made & they all say the difference in gauges with the octave strings was a real problem.

[Lenny B]

This is why I'd really like to try one or speak with someone who has one.

Will have a look at the Hamer forum, thanks

[RhysP]

Might be worth a look here too:
[url="http://www.12stringbass.net/"]http://www.12stringbass.net/[/url]

Also, Mark Egan used to play a fretless Pedulla 8 string - might be worth looking for some info on that.

Edited April 6, 2011 by RhysP

[Lenny B]

[quote name='RhysP' post='1190629' date='Apr 6 2011, 04:09 PM']Might be worth a look here too:
[url="http://www.12stringbass.net/"]http://www.12stringbass.net/[/url]

Also, Mark Egan used to play a fretless Pedulla 8 string - might be worth looking for some info on that.[/quote]


I heard about the Mark Egan one and had a look at the Pedulla site - they offer one, but for $5,000!
I came across the 12 string site just before, so will ask a few questions there. I haven't found the Hamer forum yet, I think it may have shut...?

[RhysP]

[quote name='Lenny B' post='1190633' date='Apr 6 2011, 04:16 PM']I haven't found the Hamer forum yet, I think it may have shut...?[/quote]
They just don't like strangers......

[url="http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/"]http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/[/url]

It can be a bit temperamental - sometimes it'll say you are not permitted to access the site, other times you can get on there fine. Patience is needed.
It's a great forum (VERY US-centric though). I haven't been on there for a while since I sold my last Hamer guitar.

[Lenny B]

[quote name='RhysP' post='1190643' date='Apr 6 2011, 04:24 PM']They just don't like strangers......

[url="http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/"]http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/[/url]

It can be a bit temperamental - sometimes it'll say you are not permitted to access the site, other times you can get on there fine. Patience is needed.
It's a great forum (VERY US-centric though). I haven't been on there for a while since I sold my last Hamer guitar.[/quote]


Great, thanks again