Annoying Twit Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 Now, this is a [b]REALLY[/b] extended range bass. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-String-Custom-Letts-Bass-Hipshot-hardware-Excellent-Condition-Only-1-Made-/400913142374?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d58491266&autorefresh=true Personally I'm not sure why anyone would want more than 9 strings, but clearly someone did & others still do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 Blimey. No chance of tuning that beastie in 30 seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 The finish on the body is 'orrible! It seems odd when the maker can clearly turn out really nice looking instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 4, 2015 Author Share Posted May 4, 2015 (edited) I noticed that, but wondered if the buyer wanted a properly made 13 string bass for as cheap as possible in order to try out such a beast. The quality of the finish and the non-fancy body wood may be cost-cutting. Was the finish actually done by Jon Letts, or could it be that the bass was supplied unfinished? The (I would expect from the single knob) simplicity of the electronics could also be explained by that. Edited May 4, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 (edited) Yes, it would make sense if the instrument was put together to test the concept. It looks like they've put all the effort into the neck and then just bunged a quick body together to see if it would work. Still, the listing is upfront about it and hasn't priced it ambitously, so that's fair enough. I'd certainly give this one a go before the 15-string monstrosity on that other thread! Edited May 4, 2015 by Beer of the Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 4, 2015 Author Share Posted May 4, 2015 (edited) The starting price was low enough that I put a lowball £200.X bid in I was instantly auto-outbid however. No, I wasn't expecting to actually get it for that! PS: I estimate that it will sell for £600, and be a steal for whoever gets it. Clearly anyone who wants to can check the final sale price later and see if I was anywhere in the ballpark. Edited May 4, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 That's an amazing looking beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 13 strings.....but why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 4, 2015 Author Share Posted May 4, 2015 [quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1430757196' post='2764312'] It looks like the silks run over the nut on the deepest strings. Surely that isn't good?! [/quote] It's very close, but they don't run over the zero fret, do they? Would it be bad if the silks ran over the nut but not over the zero fret? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 [quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1430752692' post='2764272'] 13 strings.....but why? [/quote] For someone who thinks outside of the normal run of things. Check this guy out - [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwMoiKaNOY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwMoiKaNOY[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 I bet if you popped into your local music shop and asked for a set of Rotosounds for a 13 string bass they'd be shoving you out the door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1430765262' post='2764420'] For someone who thinks outside of the normal run of things. Check this guy out - [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwMoiKaNOY[/media] [/quote]Wanted: Guitarist and Bassist, preferably the same person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 Rather taken with that, though I doubt I could afford to keep it in strings. Some interesting tuning possibilities if you forgo straight fourths, too — 6 string bass + 7 string guitar in one, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Call me old fashioned but I'd much rather listen to a bassist and guitarist working together than someone trying to do both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I think this is a BCers bass, looks a bit different to the last time I saw it, pretty sure it was a lighter colour for the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmanzie Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1430791103' post='2764618'] Call me old fashioned but I'd much rather listen to a bassist and guitarist working together than someone trying to do both. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1430791103' post='2764618'] Call me old fashioned but I'd much rather listen to a bassist and guitarist working together than someone trying to do both. [/quote] Extended range bass music sounds very different from what you typically get from a bassist and guitarist working together. There's no reason why we can't have both of these, and more, styles of music and performance. The bass has now been removed from eBay, and all bids cancelled. Edited May 5, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I'm quite partial to Charlie Hunter who does the extended range guitar/bass thing, though I guess he's sort of unique even among the ERB guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1430813282' post='2764688'] Extended range bass music sounds very different from what you typically get from a bassist and guitarist working together. There's no reason why we can't have both of these, and more, styles of music and performance. [/quote] Listening to the earlier example and separating the two parts, the 'bass part' was poorly intonated and the 'guitar part' was what I'd expect from a guitarist with only a few months experience. Sure, it's a neat trick, but it reminds me of a bass version of this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1430791103' post='2764618'] Call me old fashioned but I'd much rather listen to a bassist and guitarist working together than someone trying to do both. [/quote]+2. Gimmicky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1430791103' post='2764618'] Call me old fashioned but I'd much rather listen to a bassist and guitarist working together than someone trying to do both. [/quote] Yes....and badly at that. Although I am open to the possibility, that the reason the guitar and bass part sounds so unimpressive, is because the big lump of a thing he is holding is so difficult to play for a human being with normal hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 (edited) This is my bass guys, and the finish looks sh*t because I attempted to stain it myself! The wood was far too light originally... the bass has been sold privately to a great chap over in Michigan, US. For what it's worth, the bass was built purely as an experiment to see if it could be done. And it can! It does play as a bass should, just with the range of a piano. Edited May 8, 2015 by binky_bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 Thanks for giving us the insider view on the bass. I see from your sig that you've decided to settle for a ten string bass then Is it a wide range ten string, or a fiver with additional octave strings? I'm guessing that if someone made you an offer good enough to cancel the auction, that it was a pretty good price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 The offer was fair, it's now been shipped out to its new owner. The bass in my avatar is a 10 string ERB Bee Bass. An outstanding instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1430760518' post='2764362'] It's very close, but they don't run over the zero fret, do they? Would it be bad if the silks ran over the nut but not over the zero fret? [/quote]No problem with the strings. The silk just makes it over the 0 fret which is totally fine. The bass was a real headache to design and took a long long time to get my head around the many problems faced with such an extreme instrument. I was very happy with how the bass turned out. Could've used some colour on the original unstained body but cost was a very big deciding factor for me and Russ. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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