Mark King 6 String

[Kevin Dean]

I was quite surprised to see Mark with a 6 string , I just can't get my head around mine & nearly imposible to  do 4 string slap style on , that C string really gets in the way .

Edited November 16, 2017 by Kevin Dean

[bubinga5]

I suspect Mark would make playing any stringed bass look easy. What 6 string was he playing out of interest.?

 

Edited November 16, 2017 by bubinga5

[Dood]

20 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

I suspect Mark would make playing any stringed bass look easy. What 6 string was he playing out of interest.?

 

He's been playing a Status headless 6. Very posh!

Interestingly (or not so) ten years ago (more actually) when I was looking for a new six string, I was offered a Status S2 6 string headless (16.5mm spacing) on Statii from a person from Italy (I think). Stunning instrument, but of course most people know how that story panned out!  

[Dood]

8 hours ago, Kevin Dean said:

I was quite surprised to see Mark with a 6 string , I just can't get my head around mine & nearly imposible to  do 4 string slap style on , that C string really gets in the way .

Bit of practice really I guess. I've played 6 string for so long I actually had to adjust my technique to play 4 he he he!! - What was most confusing is that I kept thinking the E string was a B! 

[bubinga5]

2 minutes ago, dood said:

He's been playing a Status headless 6. Very posh!

Interestingly (or not so) ten years ago (more actually) when I was looking for a new six string, I was offered a Status S2 6 string headless (16.5mm spacing) on Statii from a person from Italy (I think). Stunning instrument, but of course most people know how that story panned out!  

it begs the question, is he doing something different musically. why does he need a 6er.? Not that he cant do what he does on a 6 string bass, but I would so love him to do something different. Not that I don't dig what he does of course. 

[Dood]

1 minute ago, bubinga5 said:

it begs the question, is he doing something different musically. why does he need a 6er.? Not that he cant do what he does on a 6 string bass, but I would so love him to do something different. Not that I don't dig what he does of course. 

I've actually no idea. Maybe the new band/project he's involved in is making use of the extra string?

[bubinga5]

1 minute ago, dood said:

I've actually no idea. Maybe the new band/project he's involved in is making use of the extra string?

I always thought he was a 4 string player mainly. ?

[Hellzero]

The story behind Mark King playing a 6 strings bass is more "basic". He simply saw a band and the guy on the bass was using a 6 strings (slapping as fingering), he tried the bass and found the added strings interesting, ask Rob Green to make him one and the rest will become history.

Remember that Mark King is also a terrific fingers only player, just like Alain Caron who also plays fretless and only 6 strings electric basses. Listen to his "D-Code" slap anthem : 

 

 

[Cato]

I heard somewhere (probably on here) that Mr King saw Thundercat at Glastonbury and got inspired.

 

Edit:he mentions it briefly here.

 

http://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-king-you-just-need-to-remember-to-not-be-precious-and-to-go-with-it

Edited November 17, 2017 by Cato

[Hellzero]

2 minutes ago, Cato said:

I heard somewhere that Mr King saw Thundercat at Glastonbury and got inspired.

I hope that he wasn't by his clothing too. 

[Dood]

9 hours ago, bubinga5 said:

I always thought he was a 4 string player mainly. ?

 

 

I'll just leave this here and you and I can run away to the pub for a couple of hours  

[Hellzero]

I always thought that Mark King was blond. Must be because of the black and white picture, I guess ? 

[Kevin Dean]

 A friend of mine plays a 6 string & site reads , He said that He doesn't have to move his hand around so much & Mark complimented on his playing .

[Kevin Dean]

11 hours ago, dood said:

Bit of practice really I guess. I've played 6 string for so long I actually had to adjust my technique to play 4 he he he!! - What was most confusing is that I kept thinking the E string was a B! 

Is your tunning b-c ?

[Dood]

Just now, Kevin Dean said:

Is your tunning b-c ?

Yup, my 7 string is F# to C.

[Dood]

2 minutes ago, Kevin Dean said:

 A friend of mine plays a 6 string & site reads , He said that He doesn't have to move his hand around so much & Mark complimented on his playing .

That's true!! Speaking of my 7, I've done dep gigs in the past where I'd stayed pretty much in the same position all night ha ha!! That was a waste of the other 19 frets!

[Kevin Dean]

10 hours ago, dood said:

Yup, my 7 string is F# to C.

I might try Re tuning my Shuker F# -G 

[Dood]

45 minutes ago, Kevin Dean said:

I might try Re tuning my Shuker F# -G 

It’s a lot of fun!  

[Kevin Dean]

12 hours ago, dood said:

It’s a lot of fun!  

Whould I  d tune a B string or can you buy a f# string ?

[Hellzero]

Kalium sells F# strings by unity, but it will be a bit hard to find. That said I play 6 strings basses mainly because you don't have to move your left hand to play 80% of the stuff. I guess that with a 7 seven strings you go to 100% like dood said.

Kalium have two types of strings :

http://store.kaliumstrings.com/index.php/electric-bass-guitar/shop-by-material/hybrid-bass-guitar/single-strings.html?limit=all

http://store.kaliumstrings.com/index.php/electric-bass-guitar/shop-by-material/steel-bass-strings/single-strings.html

Edited November 18, 2017 by Hellzero

[Dood]

7 minutes ago, Kevin Dean said:

Whould I  d tune a B string or can you buy a f# string ?

The B string if it were heavy enough gauge you’d be able to ‘try’ the theory out but nothing will be as good as the correct gauge for the job. I use a minimum of 182 for F# and i have a 190 to drop tune to E.

D’Addario do a 170 gauge which of course will pair very well with their other sets. I’d recommend giving them a go.

I’m just using the last of my Kaliums but after that I will be having Newtone Strings make these custom gauges for me. They are very good!

 

[Dood]

Newtone have been making my Fan Fret sets and I’ve been really happy with them.

[Dood]

15 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Kalium sells F# strings by unity, but it will be a bit hard to find. That said I play 6 strings basses mainly because you don't have to move your left hand to play 80% of the stuff. I guess that with a 7 seven strings you go to 100% like dood said.

Kalium have two types of strings :

http://store.kaliumstrings.com/index.php/electric-bass-guitar/shop-by-material/hybrid-bass-guitar/single-strings.html?limit=all

http://store.kaliumstrings.com/index.php/electric-bass-guitar/shop-by-material/steel-bass-strings/single-strings.html

Kalium are great but the cost of shipping and import costs are prohibiting.

[Fivelow]

On 16/11/2017 at 18:34, bubinga5 said:

it begs the question, is he doing something different musically. why does he need a 6er.? Not that he cant do what he does on a 6 string bass, but I would so love him to do something different. Not that I don't dig what he does of course. 

He said he was watching Thundercat and thought, “I need a six”, and since he can call up Status and they give him whatever he wants... why not?

[Owen]

I went F# to G on a six string. It was an Overwater 36" and was sublime. Sadly, my head could just not deal with it. I sold it. I still miss it.