Recordings with an 8-string?

surfrat · Post by **surfrat** » Sat Dec 21, 2002 2:02 pm

Somebody asked me today if I knew of any recordings that had been done with a Rick 8-string. I'm drawing a complete blank. Any ideas?

landon · Post by **landon** » Sat Dec 21, 2002 7:32 pm

Chris Squire on the live version of Roundabout from "Classic Yes" and "Going for the One" from the Going For The One cd. A white 8-string 4001.....?

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 2:53 am

Mark,
I only know of a CD featuring exclusively 12 st. basses---just ordered it from your site. Think I'll be thrilled when I receive and listen to it.
Sorry I can't help with your question.
BTW, great site of yours. I was educated there.

Best Regards.

surfrat · Post by **surfrat** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 2:37 pm

Thanks Landon, I've passed that info along.

And thanks to you Paul for your comments about my website (www.fretless12.com) and for ordering the 12-String Bass CD! Just as a quick 'commercial' in addition to lurking here on this site I'm also the editor of the 12-string bass website at http://www.12stringbass.com. Last month we released the first-ever compilation album featuring 12-string bassists from throughout the USA and Canada. I have a song on that CD, and out of necessity I played my fretless Hamer 12-string. But if Rickenbacker made a 12-string bass, I'd be the first to buy it!

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 5:45 pm

Mark, I love your sight and visit often. I own 3 Ric basses and 2 Hamer 12-strings. I also own a Robelli 8-string and have owned 2 other 8-strings in the past. if you could find room on your site for 8-string players as well it would be most appreciated.

surfrat · Post by **surfrat** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 6:22 pm

Nigel, I'm glad you enjoy the 12-string bass site, it's been a lot of fun helping out with it! Like you I have 3 Ricks and I just made a deal for my second 12ver. A great Christmas present!

Incorporating 8-string info onto the site has been brought up before but 8-stringers really need their own site, for a number of reasons. The first consideration is the extra time that would be required, which neither the founder of the site (the Low-End Monster) or myself has at this point. LEM is currently serving his Country in Afghanistan as a member of the Canadian Air Force, and even after his return his time will be limited. I've just made arrangements on a recording schedule that will eliminate my extra time for the foreseeable future. I've wanted to get my fretless 12-string into a 'real' studio for quite a while, it should be interesting to see where that leads.

The second (and in my opinion primary) consideration has to do with how we've defined ourselves. We've even gone so far as to narrow the focus to 4-string / 3-course basses, since the 6-string / 2-course basses like those played by John Paul Jones while having 12 strings really are closer relatives to the 8-string than 'our' 12-strings. I'd rather see a small site with a more narrow focus than a much larger one that can't do justice to the topic. There are only a small number of 12-string manufacturers but we've managed to build a fairly sizable site around them and the players that use them.

To introduce 8-string info would be to significantly increase the number of variables into the equation. Many more companies have produced 8's than 12's and many more players have used them. I'd bet that we would multiply the complexity by several times at least. And all of that information takes time to obtain, compile and edit. Plus it gets us into a new area that we would have to learn from scratch, since my 8-string experience is limited to my Rick and the LEM has never played one.

So maybe here's an opportunity for you to set up an 8-string bass website! If not you then I'm certain that sooner or later somebody else will do it. And if you have any original songs you've played on your 12, keep in mind that soon we will start working on our second 12-string bass compilation album. The more participants we can get the more fun we all have!

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 2:46 pm

Hey Mark, good reasons, I might just start an 8-string site myself. If you ever run across a CD by my last band, 9Worlds, called "It Can't Rain Forever", all I play is my Hamer B-12S. Nice shot of the headstock in the booklet, too. It was in Blockbuster all over the US, so you might find one somewhere.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 2:58 pm

Hey Nigel, it's your chance to be the first person to set up an 8 string bass site. I encourage you to do it.
The B-12S sure is a fine looking one(prefered by me over the B-12L Chaparral). What's the finish of yours? How's the playability and sound with its 30 1/2" scale? Care to shed some light?
Please drop me a mail if you don't want to discuss it in the RIC holy ground here.

Best Regards.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 3:01 pm

Nigel,
My email:[email protected]

westcoastphil · Post by **westcoastphil** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:15 am

For a couple of great 8 string bass songs, check out the Who's "Who By Numbers" CD with the song "Success Story" written by John Entwistle. Furthermore on the "Who Are You" CD, there's "Trick of the Light" which sounds like the 8 String Rick again.

banta · Post by **banta** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 8:57 am

I've recorded a few songs on a Ric 4003S/8. Huge sound, but I didn't particularly care for the bridge which is basically a standard four string Ric bridge with grooves for two strings in each saddle. That means you have to hope intonation just works out ok for both strings sharing a saddle. I parted with mine last year and use a Zon Legacy 8 now.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:32 pm

Hey Brad,
I wonder if the new 8 strings(4004Cii) have a new bridge/saddle assembly?

banta · Post by **banta** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 6:51 pm

I don't know that they've determined anything yet as I keep asking and getting no response.

I figure they will have some sort of derivation of the combi bridge they use on the other 4004s.

Any update info on either the 4004Cii5 or 8 would be greatly appreciated.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 7:14 pm

Brad said: "Any update info on either the 4004Cii5 or 8 would be greatly appreciated".

Probably after the next NAMM show which will be in a few weeks, updates will be available on the 4004Cii5 and 8.......I hope.

jal · Post by **jal** » Wed Jan 01, 2003 10:35 am

Hi Guys , I just thought I'd pass along that there's a quick shot of what I swear is a Ric 8 string being played by Tom Petty in a video for a song from Johnny Cash's last CD, I don't have the CD so I can't tell for sure if it's on there or not,
Cheers & Happy New Year,
Jaime