8 string single course build.

[heavy7-665]

Well I recently discovered a build thread by another member on here(tonywozere) of an 8 string headless guitar. I was very VERY impressed at the work and hit him up with some ideas. He sent me a rough sketch:

I loved the idea.

Here are the proposed specs

Scale: 35-32 fretted.
Tuning: G C G C F A# D# G#
Pickups: Two custom Villexs
Woods: Not decided yet.
Neck-thru.

I know I'm missing stuff but my brain is in a rush lol

Opinions/comments? Also go check out tony's other fantastic builds

 

[heavy7-665]

I forgot to put bass in the title Can mods drop it in there pwease?

 

[TemjinStrife]

Man, I'd consider going longer. My Dingwall is 34-37" and sounds and feels amazing on the low B without being too much of a compromise to play (and I have small hands).

Going down an octave and a 3rd from that is going to require some serious strings, and if you're going fanned already it'd probably be easier to go longer and get some more tension that way.

 

[heavy7-665]

Man, I'd consider going longer. My Dingwall is 34-37" and sounds and feels amazing on the low B without being too much of a compromise to play (and I have small hands).

Going down an octave and a 3rd from that is going to require some serious strings, and if you're going fanned already it'd probably be easier to go longer and get some more tension that way.

Im not going down an octave My lowest note is actually just B dropped to G.

Its the higher strings im worried about.

 

[anthonyferguson]

Just done an MDF mockup, ill take some photos and upload them!

 

[heavy7-665]

Just done an MDF mockup, ill take some photos and upload them!

Sounds Fuck yeah-tastic

 

[anthonyferguson]

Just a quick mockup. It's really helped me to visualise the final shape, i hope it does the sme for you!

 

[SD83]

I can't help but this, like most 8-string bass designs has a body that looks way too small for the neck... I'll be honest: I do not like the body shape. At all. The headstock on the other hand looks nice
I have a bit of trouble to understand your tuning... the two lowest strings are B & E string tuned down 4 semi-tones, the six higher strings are normal 6-string bass (B,E,A... etc) tuned up 8 semi-tones? (G0, C1, G1, C2, F2, A#2, D#3, G#3 if I got it right, someone please correct me if not). If that is the case, I wouldn't be worried at all about the high strings, the octave strings for the "other" 8-string basses can handle G3 on 34'', so G#3 on 32'' should be no probleme. In fact, I guess they should be able to work on 34'' and G# as well.

 

[anthonyferguson]

Not for everyone then...
the key part is:

'like most 8-string bass designs has a body that looks way too small for the neck'

Thus, it's a bit tricky to make the body look in proportion, as it would be too big to make comfortable.

 

[Andrew_B]

might be a bit neck heavy? mght be worth reworking the top horn and slide it foward a bit

 

[anthonyferguson]

yeah maybe.. i ran out of MDF lol

 

[bostjan]

I think it looks pretty sweet.

If you made the body proportional to a guitar body, the body would be super huge.

 

[heavy7-665]

Just a quick mockup. It's really helped me to visualise the final shape, i hope it does the sme for you!

Tony you beautiful beautiful man. I love it.

 

[heavy7-665]

I can't help but this, like most 8-string bass designs has a body that looks way too small for the neck... I'll be honest: I do not like the body shape. At all. The headstock on the other hand looks nice
I have a bit of trouble to understand your tuning... the two lowest strings are B & E string tuned down 4 semi-tones, the six higher strings are normal 6-string bass (B,E,A... etc) tuned up 8 semi-tones? (G0, C1, G1, C2, F2, A#2, D#3, G#3 if I got it right, someone please correct me if not). If that is the case, I wouldn't be worried at all about the high strings, the octave strings for the "other" 8-string basses can handle G3 on 34'', so G#3 on 32'' should be no probleme. In fact, I guess they should be able to work on 34'' and G# as well.

Take a standard 6 string bass(BEADGC) and add to extra high strings (F, A#)

so take that and tune it down a full step (ADGCFA#D#G#)

Now drop the A and D to G and C.

The guages are 135(145) 115 85 65 45 30 20 12.

Im worried about the 12 mostly on a normal scale.

 

[defchime]

I actually think the body compliments the neck very well.

I'll have to keep an eye on this thread...lets see some exotic woods and crazy inlay work.

 

[scherzo1928]

I think it looks pretty sweet.

If you made the body proportional to a guitar body, the body would be super huge.

This, im digging the shape. Somehow it reminds me a bit of cataclysmichael's ilustrated 8... Its probably that scoop at the bottom

As for the size I think It's fine. I'm facing the same problem on my build. The way that I believe works best is the one with the body being disproportionate to the rest. It looks odd, yeah... But its the good kind of odd I think. And, it wont be 100 pounds

 

[heavy7-665]

This, im digging the shape. Somehow it reminds me a bit of cataclysmichael's ilustrated 8... Its probably that scoop at the bottom

As for the size I think It's fine. I'm facing the same problem on my build. The way that I believe works best is the one with the body being disproportionate to the rest. It looks odd, yeah... But its the good kind of odd I think. And, it wont be 100 pounds

Weight is indeed a concern.

 

[SD83]

Take a standard 6 string bass(BEADGC) and add to extra high strings (F, A#)

so take that and tune it down a full step (ADGCFA#D#G#)

Now drop the A and D to G and C.

The guages are 135(145) 115 85 65 45 30 20 12.

Im worried about the 12 mostly on a normal scale.

I had a .40 for (bass) G and a .20 for the octave string on my 8string, and if I'm not mistaken, the octave string is only one semitone below your G# (which is, if I got it correctly, one semitone above the guitar G string, right?). I gotta say, I never tuned it up above the E, and it's rather tight, but still it's made to work as an octave G string on 34''.

 

[Winspear]

Looks awesome! I'd also suggest going longer scale going by my experiences:
35" 130 gauge in B - perfect. I wanted to drop to A and it was awful. a 145 was perfect. I now play in G# and would want a slightly longer scale with this gauge string. Going to G I would recommend 36.5 or 37" and 145 gauge.

 

[anthonyferguson]

Possible wood for the top.