Eight-string bass guitar
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An eight-string bass guitar is a type of
8-string bass guitars
The eight-string bass guitar was invented by electrical engineer and musician Eric Krackow, who had played with Al Kooper's early band, The Aristo-Cats, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It bothered Eric that 50% of the quartet would be tied up with the guitar doubling the bass line while playing tunes like
In 1967, Eric and business partner Steve Wittels brought it to Sid Hack of Univox, the company that imported Hagström guitars. Hack liked the idea, and ordered a trial run of 500 units. The success of that test run resulted in further production and sales. From 1967 through 1969, Hagstrom made 2,249 eight-string basses.
Standard tuning is usually thus:
- high e, low E,
- high a, low A
- high d, low D
- high g, low G
Chris Squire of Yes often tuned his Ranney 8-string bass eE-aA-aD-dG, so that notes played on the upper two courses sound as open fifths.
Eight-string basses are usually fretted; however, fretless basses have infrequently been made. Many well-known guitar manufacturers offer eight-string basses, including
Often, the 8-string bass is played with a
Guitarist
10-string bass guitars
10-string basses incorporate a high b and low B string (like that of a regular 5-string bass, but double-stringed).
- high b, low B
- high e, low E
- high a, low A
- high d, low D
- high g, low G
Michael Manring plays a 10-string bass made by Zon Guitars. He uses a variety of tunings, but rarely uses octaves, instead preferring thirds, fourths and fifths. John Paul Jones used a 10-string bass made by Manson guitars at Led Zeppelin's 2007 reunion concert.