How Many Strings do You want?

Vertikal · Post by **Vertikal** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:00 am

Good morning all.

I've been playing Guitar, on & off, for 15 - 16 years now, I love 6 String Guitars, well you kinda have to, and I love 7 String Guitars, but I'm playing 6 more often these days. I own an Ibanez 7 String and I love it to bits, I've had it for... as much as it makes no difference, 10 years & its never let me down, a bit worn with playing, some rust marks on the Fixed Bridge, a few small dents here and there but it's a good mate, never part with it.

However, when Ibanez released the 8 string a few years ago, the RG2228, I was curious so I had to have a go, I did, and hated every inch of it, sounded like continuous fart, the EMG pick-ups were/are awful, as are all EMGs - sorry to EMG fans, but they are. It really was less fun than drowning to death in a pool of your own vomit. So, 8 String Guitars were not my most favourite thing.

During NAMM '13, Ibanez had a 9 string Guitar on show, a prototype. Many thought it was just a Gimmick that we won't see the following year, and after experiencing playing an 8 string, I was hoping I wouldn't... *Fast forward to NAMM '14*... and oh dear, we have, not by one company, but several...

...And I ask you. Why? I can understand 7, I can kinda understand 8 but they sound awful... But 9. I've just watched a demo of one and it's absolutely awful. If they sounded decent enough and you could make out what notes and chords were being played, then fair enough, but they just sound like Shrek farting in a mud bath...

Is anyone on the same page as me or am I just sounding like a grumpy old so & so at the tender age of 32?

a.hun · Post by **a.hun** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:08 am

Good morning Vertikal.

I'm always happy with the standard number of strings, four for bass (my main instrument) and six for guitar.

I just don't like the sound of a low B on bass, even with a good bass through good amplification. Unfortunately certain types of music sometimes demand it. If needed I'll use a low octave pedal but I'm not planning on buying a 5 string bass. And 6 is more than enough for me to do what I want on guitar too.

Not sure how the number of strings defines the sound on a guitar. Seems more likely to me that you just didn't get on with the 8 stringer because of the pickups etc.

On EMGs, sure they aren't for everyone. Not for me either normally. But while there probably is a 'typical' EMG sound you can't really just lump them all together as just giving one sound. Some great players get some sublime sounds using EMGs, but that is also down to their own instruments, other gear, and fingers.

Also all EMGs are really not the same at all. I have an inexpensive Korean Fenix (Young Chang) 'J' style bass which I fitted with the EMG JV (Jazz Vintage) set. (Two active pickups + passive volume and tone pots + wiring.) This set has been around for about 20 years now and is one of the best kept secrets in bass-land. They don't sound like normal active EMG pickups - at all - but are specifically set up to sound and work like really good vintage Jazz pickups. And they do, purring when played softly and growling and compressing as you hit the strings hard. Thing is that you can fit them to any more than half decent 'J' and they'll work really well. They cost roughly what I paid for the bass (s/h), and it is now one of the best sounding basses you could ever hope to play, a real favourite of mine and others who play it. Also no RF interference noise which is handy for me with a transmitter a couple of hundred meters away, and no shock risk either.

So yeah, pickups are important. But so is the player, the rest of the rig, the recording, etc etc. However many strings are involved...

Andy.

Vertikal · Post by **Vertikal** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:19 am

Hello, A.hun.

Yes, it could have been the pick-ups on the 8 String I played, although I must say, I didn't earlier, it was very comfortable to play - I love Ibanez's Wizard Necks, as are all RG Series, especially the 7 Strings. Thinking more about it, they were/are very high output Pick-Ups and although I'm a Metal chap at heart, I can't get away with such Pick-Ups. For my main 6 stringer, I play a Fender Telecaster Classic Series Deluxe '72 with Fender's (two) Wide Range Pick-Ups which are pretty low/mid output - compared to others, which I love to bits, and have a set of Heavy Rotosound 52 - 12 strings (four wound strings instead of the normal three) Drop Tuned to B#, sometimes Drop A# then I'd go for a set of 54s or slightly thicker. So I enjoy the low end stuff.

I think if the 8 Stringer had different Pick-Ups I would have enjoyed it more, it's fair to say. But even still, I tried a few different tones through different Amps for Clean and tried using as many settings as I could to clear things up but it just sounded odd. I couldnt alter the tunings on the Guitar too as it was Floyd Rose type set up, albeit a Fixed Bridge so maybe that had something to do with it as well. It's also probably down to the way these Guitars are promoted, even though I'm a heavy player I'm not a Chugga-Chugga-Chugga player, so to speak. I just get the feeling manufacturers are just trying to go 'one-string-better' than the other every year without paying enough attention to the instrument.

Yes, that's very true about EMGs, or any other pick-up for that matter. I guess I woke up a bit moody without Coffee and needed a rant. Maybe I were a bit harsh on EMG, I was generalising a bit which is unfair... Still not a fan though, I think of Pick-Ups aimed at Metal players is more of the point than overall in general

I must admit, I'm not up to speed with Basses, (odd Musicians... Kidding of course!

), but your Korean Fenix does sound rather intriguing. It just goes to show, no matter the price of the Guitar or where it's made, the Pick-Ups and wiring etc. make a world of difference, they just need a little extra love and attention. So is this Bass more of a spare Guitar for gigging, or a main Guitar or a bit of both maybe?

Regards.

Spaceboy1 · Post by **Spaceboy1** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:43 am

I've owned 6, 7, and 8. They can all sound good. The instrument is never at fault, it all depends on the creativity of the player. I will say that 7 strings are an easy step for standard guitars, they play similarly and it's really not hard to adjust. But, 8 strings are another beast altogether. You have rethink your approach to really et the most out of that low string. If you attempt to play it as you would a standard guitar, it certainly will sound like a big fart. Also, Orange amps are awful with 8 strings. They signature Orange character makes them too loose and inarticulate for those low notes on a guitar. I would enjoy playing a 9-string, particularly if it added a high A and was one of those multi-scale length/fanned fret builds.

a.hun · Post by **a.hun** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:15 pm

Vertikal wrote:I must admit, I'm not up to speed with Basses, (odd Musicians... Kidding of course! ), but your Korean Fenix does sound rather intriguing. It just goes to show, no matter the price of the Guitar or where it's made, the Pick-Ups and wiring etc. make a world of difference, they just need a little extra love and attention. So is this Bass more of a spare Guitar for gigging, or a main Guitar or a bit of both maybe?

Regards.

[OT - apologies!]
I'm mainly a fretless player, but that fretted 'J' is very much a go to for live or recording. Gets a lot of use. The neck is a shade wider than a genuine Fender Jazz but feels very nice and is very stable. The bass is a little heavy for my tastes and the original p/ups were rubbish sounding, but otherwise the general build, sustain and resonance, components and playability are all fine.
Young Chang mainly make high quality pianos though around the late '80s though early '90s they made guitars and basses too, both Squiers for Fender as well as their own (? better quality) Fenix brand. A friend has one of their 'Strats' which is genuinely one of the best playing 'S' type guitars I've ever played. Even the p/ups are good. I think it is an ST-20, something on those here:
http://planetbotch.blogspot.nl/2012/07/ ... strat.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've never given a monkey's what it says on the headstock, as long as it works. If you come across any they are definitely worth checking out.
My bass was bought in Scotland so was likely part of the batch of 1000 mentioned in that article.
[OT]

Yeah, Ibanez can make great guitars (and basses!

). I'm not sure where the 8 / 9 string ones are aimed at. I'd have thought maybe prog metal specialists, but who knows. Not really my thing anyway.

Andy.

Sergeantsnowball · Post by **Sergeantsnowball** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:29 pm

If I remember correctly, the bassist for Cheap Trick has been using some sort of 12-string bass contraption for the longest time. I would assume it's most likely not a standard production model, as I've never seen them anywhere else.

myboss57 · Post by **myboss57** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:26 pm

When the Metal Gods came down from Valhalla and invented metal, they did it with 4 string basses and 6 string guitars. That's all one needs. Anything more and you're just showing off!

Honestly, never played a guitar with more than 6 strings (aside from strumming a 12 string acoustic once or twice in my life) and don't see the point of a 7 or 8 or 9 string guitar. I know some of the mathier metal bands use them, and they seem to sound okay I guess. But I don't see them doing anything really too creative or different, it just sounds like a really heavy down tuned guitar.

And for bass, anything more than 4 is too much! I was a bass player for a long time before switching to guitar a few years ago, and think that 5 or 6 strings is too much. Again, maybe I've just never seen/heard a 5 or 6 string bass player playing creatively enough!

Hubaxe · Post by **Hubaxe** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 4:06 pm

Sergeantsnowball wrote:If I remember correctly, the bassist for Cheap Trick has been using some sort of 12-string bass contraption for the longest time. I would assume it's most likely not a standard production model, as I've never seen them anywhere else.

Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam uses the Hamer Chaparral bass, 12 strings. It's in fact a four string tripled with octave up string. You can appreciate the sound on the intro of "Jeremy" song.

About guitars, as someone says upper, it's all a question of creativity. I personally don't think that playing an instrument that cover from the bass guitar range until the mandolin is really necessary in a band context.
Now for youtube guitar acrobats, they can even play 20 string instruments, I really don't care, and find it useless (just my opinion).

I can understand 7 strings guitars, moreover along with 5 string basses.

shupe13 · Post by **shupe13** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:20 pm

I'm lucky to almost know how to use 6 on a guitar and 4 on a bass. But there are those out there who could probably conquer 20 strings if that were the case and sound awesome doing it!

I'm in awe watching guys like Tosin Abasi, Fred Brum, and Shawn Lane just to name a few. Djent is a style I really enjoy too.

philhed · Post by **philhed** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:36 pm

i think it´s the same as with razorblades

thelatrobe33 · Post by **thelatrobe33** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:48 pm

Sergeantsnowball wrote:If I remember correctly, the bassist for Cheap Trick has been using some sort of 12-string bass contraption for the longest time. I would assume it's most likely not a standard production model, as I've never seen them anywhere else.

His 12 string is a signature model from the Electrical Guitar Company. It's a bit over the top

I've never been able to understand the fascination with guitars over 6 strings. I'd rather play a 6 string and tune down. Even a 7 string neck feels like a tree trunk to me.

What I could see being really cool, although impractical, is a 9 string guitar with the G, B & E strings doubled like a 12 string. You could get some nice chimey highs I'd imagine.

Randy Bass · Post by **Randy Bass** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:36 pm

philhed wrote:i think it´s the same as with razorblades

I've never been interested in 7 or 8-string electrics, but I like playing 5-string bass a lot. The key is to use the low B sparingly rather than using it as a foundation for drop-tuned mud.

megalithic · Post by **megalithic** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:55 pm

I'd love to try a tenor guitar and string it like the lower 4 strings on a guitar. I'm sure I could play a ton of cool riffs, and leads would be more challenging. Only problem is they cost more than 6 strings, the only new one is that Eastwood and it's not that cheap.

Les Paul Lover · Post by **Les Paul Lover** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:30 pm

Having tune one of my 6 strings guitar like a 7 stringer minus the high E (B to B), i must say..... That low B sounds ace on its own or in power chords. Massive fartage in normal chords, so not really an option for me.

I'd like one still - but wouldn't have the time to play it these days - have enough troubles fiding time to practice on my 6 stringers.

jace1 · Post by **jace1** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:24 am

6 strings is good for me, but i would like to try out a 7 just for fun. I think Meshuggah makes 8 strings sound pretty decent the way they play them. They could prob use a 9 string and make them sound good.

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