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[Bass of the Week] Juehne Marco 7

See the business listing for this bass builder here

The original idea for this bass was to build a 9 or 10-string, but ended up with 7 instead.

Builder Thomas Juehne writes:

You featured the bass I built for my son in a Best Bass Gear email “How a father made his son a dream bass guitar”. Thank you for sharing this letter with the rest of your readers. I was quite shocked to see it. It was surreal to see the image of my son Marco and the bass.

I thought I might share a bit of the bass story, some photos of the bass and images of the design and build.

To begin, my son asked if I could build him a 9-10 string bass. I had built a guitar for myself, but did not know the first thing about bass.  For example, guitar scale length 24.75″ Les Paul with mahogany body has a nice crunchy sound and 25.5″ Strat ash body creates more twang. What scale length and wood make for a good bass tone? Then I thought who needs that many strings, that’s just crazy. My first response was “No, it is way too big and too complicated. It is beyond my skill set” I told him, “at best I could attempt a 7-string build, but he needed to tell me what it was he wanted.” At the time he was busy with school and I never heard another word.

Six month out from his graduation, I decided to design and build him a bass. The design took the most time. The lines, the shape had to wait on scale length and neck attachment. What about the neck attachment; set, through or bolt on and scale, short or long?  How should I support the neck, with single or dual truss rod? Below is what I settled on:

I want to say thank you again to Max and Best Bass Gear for help in choosing the electronics and pickups. I also wanted to thank Max for his insight, knowledge and conversations. BTW the sound of this beast is incredible; I should have built the 10-string.

the-build

top-detail

back-detail

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headstock-detail

front-detail

Well done, and we were happy to assist!

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26 thoughts on “[Bass of the Week] Juehne Marco 7”

    • 7 strings isn’t too many (I own two of them) but I’d say 8 strings or more are. The problem is that for my hands anyway, 7 strings is about as wide a neck as my hands can comfortably navigate. To go to a wider bass neck pretty much says you have to change styles to tapping. Not that tapping can’t be made to work, but it’s a different thing.

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  1. 5 strings or more is too many and unnecessary. Most.of the times any strings about the E is mostly used as a thumb rest while playing. If you play using the D string and below most of the time, you better off getting and playing a guitar.

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    • Actually disagree Michael, certainly for 5 string. I think a lot of people miss the one the major benefits of playing 5 string bass which is to be able to shift the pattern, it is not just about a few extra notes. For example if you want to utilize the low E on a 4 string bass you have to use an open string, and can’t use the same bass patterns you would use if for example you were playing in G or A. Being able to drop that to a standard pattern starting on the 5 fret of the 5th string gives you a consistent pattern, and more uniform tonal output. It also allows you to take a bass shape at say the 3rd fret on 4 and shift it to the 8th fret on 5 if you want. The overall pattern remains the same, but the tone is fuller and mellower as you are playing on thicker strings. It also give you immediate access to full octave in a 2 fret range you cannot get playing the low G on a 4 string bass.

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    • I love how 4 string players insist that’s all you need. I have a 4, 5, and 7 string, and I play my 7 string 99% of the time, and my 4 and 5 are objectively better instruments.

      Why? Well I can play anything on my 7 that I can on my 4 or 5. But I can’t play half the stuff on the 4 or 5 that I can on the 7. It took some practice to get used to it, but not too bad. I can even play rhythm guitar, even lead if I wanted, but I don’t.

      They are much more flexible instruments, and can do more, but you have to learn them. It’s a different instrument that you need to treat as different from your 4 string.

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    • I echo the comments below about number of strings. First of all, it depends on the kind of music you play. For some folks, all the group wants is a 4 string player. However, for numbers of types of music – R&B, funk, electric/fusion jazz, gospel, as an example – a 5 string with a low B is almost mandatory. For those old enough to remember, the 5 string evolved as a response to the use of synths that could produce notes below the low E on a 4 string bass. That sound is still very popular. I live in Detroit, where we had a Detroit Bass Players event two weekends ago. The majority of players there – mainly R&B and funk – played 5 or more string basses.

      A large segment of country bassists also play 5 string basses.

      I have a number of 5 and 6 string basses. I play the 6 string most of the time, playing largely jazz, R&B, and anything else I can get into. That allows me to switch to playing a solo that has a range that a 5 string doesn’t have. Many great players like Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Bunny Brunel, and a host of others play 5 and 6 string basses. Fender designed a 5 string bass for Marcus Miller (along with a 4 string model) that is a highly sought after instrument and sound. His Sire line of basses features both 4 and 5 strings.

      There is absolutely no comparison between the playing style and sound of a 5 or more string bass and a guitar. I also play guitar. The sound you get from the shorter scale of any guitar is radically different than that which you get from a bass. The string spacing, neck size, pickups, and a wide range of other factors make any guitar and a 7 (or more) string bass very different sounding and playing. So does the scale length – a 35″ scale bass almost a foot longer than a 24″ scale guitar. Apples and oranges.

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    • I’ve played bass since 1968. I started playing nylon string as well as e.guitar in 1973. I found my voice with fretless bass in 1976 and going more towards a fretless 6-string bass. I had sort of a design but would build it for me [I didn’t know Carl Thompson started building custom basses]. I finally had mine built 1982 but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. The luthier and I weren’t on the same page BUT it is a unique sounding instrument and I’ve used it many times. Now EVERYBODY makes multi-string basses. I’ve concluded if I were ever to do this again, I would play a 7 string bass and it makes absolute sense to me. I’d have my low string tuned to B and tune the rest like a guitar. I’d love to play this bass! And Bowman, I’d be ashamed for showing my ignorance with that broad brush you paint with. “5 strings or more is too many and unnecessary”. Are you serious? My guess would be that you are limited in your thinking/playing and have no vision. We’re innovators on here. Go find your knuckle dragging constituents somewhere else.

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    • Very limited way of thought. A bassist playing in upper registers sounds like a bass player, not a guitarist. Listen to Stanley Clarke or Wayman Tisdale play a tenor bass or piccolo bass. Granted, these styles do not lend themselves to blues or root note playing (totally on board with the right style for the song) but there’s so much more to explore beyond E, A and D.

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  2. No one is wrong or right about how many strings you need or want on a bass. You want 2, 3, 4,5, 12 whatever. There is a certain prejudice for anything with more than 4 strings in the bass community, which is a bit arrogant and closed minded. It’s about music, what you do with what you have or don’t have. So go with 4 or go with 24, it’s your bass. Ignore the trolls of closed mindedness and play music with whatever amount of strings you have.

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    • Spot on. I’ve been playing for 35 years. Learned to play a 5-string only by keeping the 4’s under my bed and in closet so no back door on gig. Then I hear John P. He nails the 6-string within the bounds of the music he does/ did before Chic. Then Melvin Davis, a guy who could play Stanley Clarke cover tunes in his sleep– he goes to a 7… Or is it 10?
      I’m a 4-5 string player who thinks about the tune and sonic range… What will fit what is called for. Dang 7+ strings…. If it sounds great, who cares??????

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    • It is quite sad how some don’t mind being small minded with the cliché negative name calling. Nothing wrong with passion or preference when it comes to playing 4, 5, 6, or more strings. The key is to have fun playing, for the number of strings presents a wide range of challenges. But, a simpleton will call people trolls to show an “expansive vocabulary.” I love the challenge of a 4-string which I use for practicing, with my sweet spot being 5 and reach stops at 6 strings. What matters is having a bass that best fits the application and enhances the musical experience! No need to limit the number of strings on either end of the spectrum. Let mastery determine limits.

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  3. Gorgeous! Can you adopt me and make me an 8? As far as too many strings… No! If it allows you to play what you hear then it’s the right amount. Anyone who tells you anything else needs to just be quiet and focus on their own instrument.

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  4. Anything more than 5…..your not really playing bass. There should be a different category for anything more. How big a hands are required to play such an instrument anyway?

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  5. As a working bassist for over 30 years, I’ve never encountered a situation where I needed more than a 5 string bass to get the job done successfully. That being said, this is a beautiful instrument, and in the right hands I’m sure it can make beautiful music as well!

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  6. A beautiful example of an extended range bass guitar! I love the opportunity to ‘run’ all over the additional strings on a 5, 6, or 7 string bass using the same basic patterns as a 4 string bass. It does take a bit of getting used to the additional strings adjacent to the ‘fundamental 4’, including hand position and attack.
    You typically have to use a lighter touch on the heavier gauge strings……….as far as the criticism, well constructive inputs are always welcome, but negative feedback is not really going to help anyone!
    Thanks for listening – keep playing Da’bass, take care, David

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  7. I also play 4,5,,6,7 string basses, the 7 string is a lot of fun and allows you to play higher up the neck for a more rounded sound, Of course the majority of the music we are required to play does not require the higher range of the 7 string, but it is great fun to doodle around on at home!
    I am a 74 year old musician and still enjoy experimenting.

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  8. Have as many strings as you like. But at some point, it ceases being a BASS guitar, and the player ceases to be playing the actual role that a BASS should play in the mix.
    That said…Amazing, BEAUTIFUL looking instrument, fine craftsmanship all the way around.

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  9. Pianists have 88 keys to choose from, and a piano is nothing more than a wide range guitar on wheels. That said, I don’t have a problem with a bass player having an instrument with 7 strings. And while I love the figure of the top-wood chosen for the headstock and body, I’m not too crazy about the overall look of the bass. But to each their own…kudos to the builder for the courage and creativity.

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  10. I have been playing a 7 string bass since 1995 and love it.Since then I own 6 of them .it is the perfect bass for me ,does not have to be for you..
    This is also an inspirational tool for creating music .

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  11. Once you have more than 5 strings, starting at B, you have a Guitar with a neck like a Boogie Board. Yeah the wood looks great but is it practical. Nice piece of Art to display, but I’ll keep my 4 and 5 string Tobies.

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  12. Thank you for the kind words and I am enjoying the robust conversation. My two cents, it does not matter what or how you play. Find your voice and always stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. It is the only way to grow. The range, tones and color my son is able to produce with this bass are truly mesmerizing and expressive. It is like listening to a great painting. Thank you again and support BBG. Bass Details below:

    Neck Through sandwich design
    Hand built and hand carved 7 string
    Dual truss rod
    30 frets
    34 in scale
    B-E-A-D-G-C-F
    Bubinga fret board with Spalted Curly Burl Maple inlay
    Curly Maple and Mahogany laminated sandwich neck through design
    Neck sandwiched between a back of Curly Maple and Mahogany laminate. Top Spalted Curly Burl Maple top.
    Delano SBC 7 HE/S-4 Pickups
    Aguilar Pre amp.
    Hipshot bridge and tuners

    Reply

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