A double-neck...bass? 4/5? I mean WHY???

[Duane Reese]

Okay, I'm not insinuating that it isn't a good deal or a reputable seller, but seriously..

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What does one do with a double-neck bass, with a 4-string and a 5-string neck? It's not like the 5-string doesn't have all the strings of the other plus one. Furthermore, most people get used to one string spacing or another so I really don't know what the variety is going to do for a person... To make matters even more ridiculous, it's in the same instrument! Usually on a hand-held guitar, you'd have to need to switch back and fourth quickly between necks on the same song to justify the added weight, size and complexity...so when are you ever going to need to quickly go from a 5-string that can do it all for you, to a 4-string with a wider string spacing that you probably are out of feel with anyway?

I thought maybe we could be looking at alternate tunings, but then I had to remind myself that it's a bass, which is more for single note work or simple chords, so what alternate tunings...? Methinks this is more of a fashion thing...and then the person realizes how silly it is later on.

So someone go ahead and tell me why I'm so wrong for scoffing at this monstrosity...

[Jerry Overstreet]

Weight training and strengthening your back and arms. I dunno, seems redundant to me, but different strokes, ya know? There must be a logical reason?

[Dave Mudgett]

It's because they each have extremely different inherent tone. I mean, like, 5 strings has 25% more inherent tone than 4, right?

Myself, I want one that goes to 11.

[Steinar Gregertsen]

The main reason for making a double-neck 4/5 bass is quite simple really,- somebody's going to buy it...

[Duane Reese]

The main reason for making a double-neck 4/5 bass is quite simple really,- somebody's going to buy it...

That is the obvious answer. I just hope that company had the sense to only make one...

You know if they had made a 4/8 or a 5/12, one neck having octave-tuned paired strings like on 12-string guitar and some basses, that would have made a world of sense by comparison. In fact, for bass focused styles like funk or jazz fusion, it really would have some use...it would actually be good not to be stuck on a paired-string bass throughout a song when playing live.

Hey...should I buy it just for laughs?

Naaah.

[Bill Hatcher]

You can set one neck up as a 5 string bass B to C and you can set the other neck up with a lighter set of strings and tune to more of a piccolo bass like some of the guys are using these days to play melody and solos on.

[Clyde Mattocks]

Most of the bass players I encounter don't seem to have any trouble playing lead on the ones they have. I just hope somebody'll make one for just playing bass.

[Duane Reese]

I know that there is such a thing as a "piccolo bass", but that seems like such an oxymoron.

Man alive — someone bought that thing...

Oh no wait...they just re-listed it.

Hey you know, there are some basses on there made by the same company that have 4/5 and the 4-string is fretless. That makes a little more sense, but I think I'd just play the fretless all the way through a song (I've seen some guys play them all night). There's even a Steinberger 4/4 with one fretless...that would help on the weight for sure but I don't like the idea of using those double-ball strings.

I saw a Boston concert back in '95 and Gary Phil used a double-neck 6/12 Steinberger on a couple of songs, as I recall...

[Brint Hannay]

Anyone know where I can get a bass piccolo?

[Donny Hinson]

Like Bill said, maybe it's for different tunings? Or, I could see a player have flatwounds on the 4, and roundwounds on the 5, for some really different tonal aspects - sort of the best of both worlds. "Thrummmmmmm thrummmmmm" on one neck, and "poppity snap boing flap" on the other!

[Joe Casey]

Hey the guys got two hands don't he?..One for each hand.. Then he can fret with his...er..

[Don Drummer]

The late Allen Woody from the Allman Brothers Band picked up an 18 string from a California builder during their tour wth George Thorogood and Destroyers in 1990. Used it on one song. What a beast! Don D.

[Jay Fagerlie]

Here's something you can do with one....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cbd4X_r ... re=related

Enjoy



Jay

[b0b]

Yeah, I can understand if one of the necks is fretless. I know guys who bring two basses to the gig, one fretted and the other fretless.

[Mat Rhodes]

Well, if one ever had to do a cover of "Big Bottoms" (This Is Spinal Tap), I'm sure it would come in handy.

Here's another totally unnecessary instrument:




(a bassmanjotar)

[Tony Glassman]

Well, if one ever had to do a cover of "Big Bottoms" (This Is Spinal Tap), I'm sure it would come in handy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzsWuqNlLK4