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The H8 was the first eight string bass...
The H8 was the first eight string bass, and quickly spawned many multi-stringed bass
rivals it was only manufactured between 1967 and 69, and in total 2,249 were made.
The strings were set in pairs, each tuned an octave apart, so it was played more like a
four string. It is of course possible to tune in 5ths or any other interval.
Few instruments are as steeped in folklore as the 8 string basses used by Jimi Hendrix
and Noel Redding. The story goes that their bass (or possibly basses) was purchased
in America in 1967 whilst the band was on tour. Noel used it on the 1967 album
'Axis Bold as Love' on the tracks Spanish Castle Magic, You've got me Floating and
Little miss Lover. Then came Jimis turn. After quitting a tour with the Monkees the
Experience had a few weeks to kill, so Jimi decided to hang out with his old band
Curtis Knight and the Squires. Needless to say, they jammed and recorded some great,
and some not so great tracks. The better tracks feature Jimi on guitar with some blinding
wah-wah fuelled psychedelia, but he also plays 8-string bass on some tracks
(along with some very funky 4 string bass played by the bands regular bassist - Ed 'Bugs'
Gregory). Jimis sound is slightly distorted, and in many ways he fills the role of rhythm
guitarist rather than bassist - these tracks can be heard on 'The Summer of Love Sessions.
The HB-8
Body:
44mm Mahogany
Neck:
Canadian Maple, Bolt on w. Neck Plate, Finish Pumice and oil
Nut:
Custom Design Graphtech Black Tusq 40mm x 8
Fingerboard:
Resinator Wood with Hagstrom 6mm Pearl Dot Position Marks
Truss Rod:
H-Expander
Tuning Keys:
Hagstrom 18:1 Ratio, Die Cast
Scale Length:
30,75“ (781,1mm) / 21 Frets
Pickups:
Middle: HBR–1025N Hagstrom Bass Open-H Rail Humbucker Alnico 5
Bridge: HBR-1025B Hagstrom Bass Open-H Rail Humbucker Alnico 5
Bridge:
8-String, Adjustable, Heavy Duty, String Through Body Type
Controls:
1 x Volume, 6 way Rotary P/U Selector, 1 x Tone
String Gauge:
E - .055, .095
A - .040, .070
D - .025, .055
G - .015, .040
Some Sound Analyzer for your reference:
