The Origin of the 8-String Bass

The eight-string bass guitar was invented by electrical engineer and musician, who had played with Al Kooper&early band, The Aristo-Cats, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was inspired by the 12-String Guitar, which led to the creation of the prototype being built from a modified 4-sting bass. The bass was strung with paired, octaved strings, similar to those of a regular 12-string guitar. Standard tuning for this 8 string bass was as follows from the top string down: * high e, low E, * high a, low A * high d, low D * high g, low G In 1967, Eric and business partner Steve Wittels brought it to Sid Hack of Univox, the company that imported Hagström guitars. Hack liked the idea, and ordered a trial run of 500 units. The trial was a success, thus leading to the production of 2,249 more H8s from 1967 to 1969. Many well-known guitar manufacturers offer eight-string basses, including Dean Guitars, ESP Guitars, Hamer Guitars, Schecter Guitars, Washburn Guitars, Rickenbacker and Hagström, of course. Eight-string basses are generally fretted; however, fretless basses do show up from time to time. Chris Squire of Yes often tuned his Ranney 8-string bass eE-aA-aD-dG, so that notes played on the upper two courses sound as open fifths. Warmoth Guitars also offers an eight-string "conversion" intended to make a standard bass body into an eight-strung instrument. Usually, the 8-string bass is played with a pick to give a better attack and increase the &of the...