EBMM and Six String Basses

[bovinehost]

Frankly, I have quite enough to worry about with four and five string instruments, so this is not really a question from me personally. I have just seen so many discussions elsewhere about the subject...."Why doesn't EB build a sixer?"

People have their own opinions about the answer, and so do I and I think I'm absolutely right, but this is one of those questions that comes up periodically and while I of course welcome opinions, I would be very interested in responses from Dargin, BP, et al.

Again, I suspect I am completely right in what I think, but it would be nice to have all this firmed up.

So - with all the new models to be introduced shortly, with the groundbreaking design of the Bongo, with the obvious willingness to go out on a limb and test new things - why no real six string bass?

(Again, I will never own a six string bass, so this is not for personal reasons.)

(And yes, I am ignoring the Silhouette, which is sort of an in-between thing.)

Thanks!

Jack

 

[eric B]

ill chime in since no one else has.

i think people look at 6 string basses as specialist instruments (at least i do) so the demand for them probably isnt high enough to justify mass producing them. i could see a 6 string bongo in my head....but i couldnt picture a 6 string stingray ever. its just such a classic design...just like the p bass or something like that.

it just seems pointless for a big company like EB to invest in 6 strings when you know that the majority of the market is only concerned with 4 and 5 stringers.

and yes, i too frequently ignore the silhouette.

 

[SterlingFan]

Six strings. I still get confused with 4. But a EB sixer would be cool.

 

[phatduckk]

probably the same reason the Sparkles are gone ... im guessing EB's market research yada yada has shown that there's not enough business upside to justify production on a 6'er.

 

[DR. Cheese]

I believe a six string would sell. Since EBMM uses pretty close string spacing, they be able to take Gerald Veasley away from Ibanez as an endorser.

 

[AnthonyD]

I have a hard enough time accepting 5 stringers...

 

[Big Poppa]

Kids
Here is the resaon why no six string basses. RETAIL. There are only so many hooks on the wall. The only way we would make a six string is if an important endorsee required one. Much like the silhouette bass was made for Keith Richards. Thats it I have nothing against the 6 string bass, but the market is very, very limited

 

[DR. Cheese]

That makes sense. You could defintely sell a six if someone like Tony Levin were out playing it.

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

I wouldnt by a sixer and I doubt it will sale because there arent alot of six string players and even if theyre are not many that have 2000 to throw around on a good bass. I mean it would be sweet if they did like a limited edition and only made like 200 or something that would sale

 

[MingusBASS]

There are plenty of six string players out there and even quite a few "extended range bassists" with 7 or more. I prefer playing 5s but I wouldn't mind adding a 6 string EBMM to my roster if that should ever happen.

 

[phatduckk]

i honestly think id have a hard time getting my hands around the neck of a 6 ... ive seen a few out stores that look way too wide

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

There are plenty of six string players out there and even quite a few "extended range bassists" with 7 or more. I prefer playing 5s but I wouldn't mind adding a 6 string EBMM to my roster if that should ever happen.

Ive seen this guys with a 11 string i was like god... How do you get strings for those things? buy guitar and bass strings lol. I dont know I mean Since its EB i may by one to support them but i dont know it would have to have something on it that there other basses dont to give me a reason

 

[oldbluebassman]

I know quite a few regular 6-string players who could well be interested. Just imagine what a dual pup SR6 or a Bongo 6HH would be like. It would be cool but a string too far for my small hands.

 

[TSanders]

I think there would buyers of an EBMM 6 string (not me, I can barely handle a 5), but a very very small perecentage.

Howver, as a part time CNC programmer/operator I know just how much work goes into "tooling up" a new job, so I can easily understand why a small percentage of people desiring a 6 string EBMM isnt enough to get one on the market.

Its all about business and numbers. EBMM basses are respested and regarded as an indusrty standard. Theyre all over the place, from Sheryl Crow, to MxPx. Im sure if it were a good profitable business decision for EBMM to release a 6er, there would be one hanging on shelfs right now.

 

[tkarter]

I wouldn't mind having an EB 6 to play. I changed from 4 to 5 and I ain'ta going back.

tk

 

[midopa]

I'd tune a EB 6 to F#BEADG.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

There are plenty of six string players out there and even quite a few "extended range bassists" with 7 or more. I prefer playing 5s but I wouldn't mind adding a 6 string EBMM to my roster if that should ever happen.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that statements like this likely aren't true outside of the bass forum community. How many active bassists are active in posting in bass forums? My guess is not that many when considering the entire pool of active bassists. So while it may seem as if there are "quite a few extended range bassists," it's likely we're talking about a number in the low hundreds. And while I'll agree there are "plenty of six string players out there," how many are we really talking about.

 

[MingusBASS]

It's hard to say really and I don't really care how many 7+ string bassists there are as that's just not my style. I do like the idea of a 6 string Bongo or Ray though.

Andrew

 

[dlloyd]

 

[TheDirtyMoocher]

i'd rather just buy another bongo or ray 5 and tune it EADGC...except the compensation nut might be an issue then...

(maybe offer a different nut for that tuning if it makes that much of a difference)