4003S/8

[jiemp]

Hi there,
I'm now the happy new owner of a 4003S/8 !
It's the first 8 strings bass I put my fingers on and my first reaction is why did they put the octave strings under the standart one ?
As the finger come obviously with an angle on the fretboard, It's necessary to press very hard in order to fret the octave string that is lower than the other.
I reversed the strings and the saddles and it feels really easyer to play, for me.

Any other experience about that ?

The bass comes from Sweden, thanks to Björn Eriksson http://www.rickbeat.com

regards
Jean-Marie From Northern France

10269640_669965899706466_8371564341908051725_n.jpg

[rickenbrother]

Congrats on your S/8! Great 8 strings basses if you find one that was cared for properly. I also have one. I don't find playing the strings too difficult as they are set up from the factory with basic note to note playing, however when I'm playing a song that has many arpeggios and bass chords like, "Jeremy" from Pearl Jam, it's near impossible. One of these days I'm going to reverse the string courses also.

[mc2NY]

I've played and owned MANY 8-string basses. IMO, it is easier to play them with the octave on the top, whether you play fingerstyle or with a pick.

When the root is on top, if you use a pick, it tends to float over the octave unless you raise the octave up pretty high and a little farther spaced from the root.

One trick I have used to reduce the harshness of the high G octave is to reverse the strings ONLY on the G, so you strike the root first...or use unison G strings, rather than the octave.

A fretless 8-string is an especially cool sound.

[jiemp]

Hello, thanks for your comments.
Another try with a picture, from previus swedish home...

[jiemp]

Hello,
I finished to modify the nut, fill up the larger slots with a mixture of cyanoacrylate and glass powder. It's looks bad but it works.
And yes, it's really realy easier to play with reversed strings !
Hope that helps...
For your eyes only, a pics of my Thunderbacker or Rickenbird. In the field of vintage motorcycles, in France, we call it a "Bitza" like a Norton with a Triumph engine...
Bye

[berth]

I had the strings reversed on my 4003/S8 quite soon. Plays a lot better.