The Hunt For A 6 String Bass
Over the past few months I’ve been toying with the idea of acquiring a custom bass instrument for myself. I am pretty pleased with my 5 string, and I’ll probably keep it since it’s a Tony Levin signature model. But I think it’s possible to put something together that would be sort of an ultimate fretted bass for my needs.
The major features:
- 34″ scale length
- Active electronics
- Individual bridge saddles
- Guitar tuning (E A D G B E)
I’ve actually played a few basses that were set up like guitars, except an octave lower. This makes sense from the standpoint of leveraging my guitar technique, chord voicings, and tapping style. Most basses with more than 4 strings are set up with a low B, which never speaks with any authority due to low string tension on the 34″ scale. I’ve played a few basses with 35.25″ scales that have improved low end definition, but they’re not as comfortable for me to play due to the extended scale length; and since my fretless is a 34″ scale, switching between instruments is slightly more confusing.
The candidates for sourcing this instrument include some off-the-shelf basses (Warwick, Tobias), semi-custom builds (Carvin) and fully custom (Warmoth). The advantage of a fully-customized build would be the opportunity to select each component and finish to my exact specification. But if I could find a serviceable 6 string bass, I could easily customized the instrument to my needs. I’m starting to keep an eye out for a used 6 string, and will keep the other options in mind.
Hopefully this won’t take forever. I’d like to have this instrument in hand within a few months so I can use it for upcoming recording sessions and performances.