Krappy version of an NS/Stick?

[keithb]

I'm contemplating having Krappy build me an 8 string with the intention of tuning it like an NS/Stick - (low to high) BEADGCFBb. Can anyone comment on the suitability of the Krappy touchstyle instruments for mixing plucking and tapping techniques?

[zauberuba]

I'm contemplating having Krappy build me an 8 string with the intention of tuning it like an NS/Stick - (low to high) BEADGCFBb. Can anyone comment on the suitability of the Krappy touchstyle instruments for mixing plucking and tapping techniques?

Sorry to revive this old thread, but I did recently inquire about building an instrument like this.

Kevin responded quickly. The Pinnacle body style would probably work best for a tapper, but there's obviously a lot of options there. He could even do a half-fretless, and stereo pickups are kindof a given on an instrument like this (though if you want actives you'd have to retrofit them after delivery).

The difficulty is, to play fingerstyle (plucking) on the same instrument, I feel it's really helpful to have the bass strings further apart. I play both styles on a Megatar now, but the string spacing is less than ideal--I have larger hands and miss by a 4th more often then I'd like. :rolleyes:

FWIR, It's well worth it to find a local luthier to do the final set-up and dressage when you buy one of Kevin's instruments. They're so ridiculously inexpensive for what they are. I didn't pull the trigger only because the spacing issue, but YMMV. :)

[K Rex]

Fwir?

Ymmv?

Eh?

K

[traktor]

FWIW = For What It's worth

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary

:)

[K Rex]

I knew that!

Don't you think I knew that?!?

Well, I did!

YMMV means what you said, and I knew that!!!

[eeeskildsen]

I'm contemplating having Krappy build me an 8 string with the intention of tuning it like an NS/Stick - (low to high) BEADGCFBb. Can anyone comment on the suitability of the Krappy touchstyle instruments for mixing plucking and tapping techniques?

i'm aware that this might be a bit out of your budget, but the only instrument that i've come across which is perfect for mixing all techniques(tapping, picking, plucking, slapping. you name it) is the touch guitars U8.

http://www.touchguitars.com/

[glints-collide]

I totally agree with Erik.

Better save longer and you will never have to buy another string instrument again.

[arsacane]

Nice instrument but overpriced IMHO.

Just my 2 cents, Daniel.

[Poncho]

As much as I love the U8 and would like a U10 (only reason I dislike the U8 is not enough strings) I have to agree on the price point. I worked out that for the price of a U8 I could order a neckthru Warr (which I would also love).

Back to the topic tho, there is nothing at all wrong with Kev's instruments, rather a whole lot of right. True, it is best to spend extra on a local setup but even so it's a perfect instrument for getting into tapping for a reasonable price. And Kevin will do just about anything you ask without question. I was only just thinking today, I could buy a U10 (when they appear) a Warr, a Beartrax and a Stick and I'd still play my Krappy. Sure it looks like a piece of krap, but the sound is quite impressive - the sustain is ridiculous. So I'm a happy Krappy tapper that can definitely give you the thumbs up on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ponchred

[K Rex]

To be fair, I don't think they look that bad... and considering he will follow whatever template provided for him it seems pretty reasonable indeed.

The U8 is ridiculously expensive even as far as tappers go. I'd get a Warr Phalanx for that money. If you're playing in 4ths anyway, you'd be foolish not to.

Of course, you could save a whole lotta clams by calling Kevin, whose skills get better with every instrument he builds.

Kev

[mcnutt]

I recently got a krappy 10 string, and I've found that works well for all those techniques, especially plucking.

[Wiecher]

Hi,

Today I joined this forum. Some weeks ago I received my 8-string Krappy Touchstyle Bass.
I ordered this bass going for a more cheap touchstyle instrument compared with the well-known brands like Chapman, Mobius, Warr etc..
Question: how can this instrument be set up properly?
Now a lot of unwanted sounds are produced while tapping. Of course the string heights can be adjusted, but this is the only option I see. Do I overlook here something?

[zauberuba]

Hi,

Today I joined this forum. Some weeks ago I received my 8-string Krappy Touchstyle Bass.
I ordered this bass going for a more cheap touchstyle instrument compared with the well-known brands like Chapman, Mobius, Warr etc..
Question: how can this instrument be set up properly?
Now a lot of unwanted sounds are produced while tapping. Of course the string heights can be adjusted, but this is the only option I see. Do I overlook here something?

First of all, what are the "unwanted sounds" like? I think some amount of rattling buzzing on the nut side of your fretting hands may be expected. I get some from time to time on my NS, if I have the action cranked ridicuously low. If this is the case it's not actually a problem since the sounds won't be amplified through your pickups. If the noise is on the pickup side of your fretting hands then yes, some adjustment is probably necessary...

...first thing I've heard (and done in practice) is to make sure your truss rod is adjusted properly, then worry about string height. For tapping a really flat "playing field" is quite critical.

Also, I should point out I think I did Kevin a disservice earlier in this thread. I had thought he wasn't able to do different string spacings, but he e-mailed me directly and it turns out that he does. So first, my apologies, Kevin! :( And secondly, while I didn't end up purchasing an instrument from him, I'll vouch again (like many others) for his professionalism and communication. :D

[jammadave]

I have a Krappy 8-string up for sale - I love lots about it, but it seems I can't play touchstyle to save my life. The string mute is removable so that it can be used for a more traditional playing style as well. I just can't seem to make my fingers play nicely with this thing =0(

[glints-collide]

Now a lot of unwanted sounds are produced while tapping. Of course the string heights can be adjusted, but this is the only option I see. Do I overlook here something?

The key is the basic technique of tapping/touchstyle where playing a note has 3 phases:

Touch - Release - Move


Touch - you hit the note with your finger, the speed of your movement determines the volume/dynamic. You can now let go of all force and just let the finger rest on the fret

Release - you lift the finger while still remaining on the string till the string has stopped movement

Move - you are now free to move the finger to any location on the fretboard


This is the fundament of all touchstyle-playing and has to be practised until it's applied to every note you play. It's not to be confused with hammer-on or pull-off, which is a different kind of technique and NOT tapping :)

[Poncho]

I have a Krappy and it's fine. It's been my main guitar for quite a while now.

Also I must say I am enjoying the posts from our U8 lovin' buddies and I agree with everything except that 8 strings is enough. What if you're like me and you want 2 different sounds going at once? I'm not sure the U8 would be the best choice in that scenario (which is why they should pull their finger out and do a U10)...

[cirkusfreak]

My two cents... I have an 8 string Krappy, and it sounds and plays great. The neck is very comfortable and rounded (I don't care for the angled neck profile of the tapper made by SE). As pointed out earlier, Kevin will make the body to your specs. The bridge may not be ornate or have fancy chrome finish, but it works quite well. The pickups sound just fine, though like most any tapping instrument, you usually need some compression to help even out the disparate volume levels between thinner and thicker strings. I think that this may be the biggest difference between the Warr's I've had and played, vs. a Krappy. The Warr's had a pretty awesome balanced output, which I am sure has a lot to do with Jim's setups, as well as some pricey internal pre-amps. But hey- you can get a Krappy and a compression pedal and get a darn good sound for 800 bucks. If you're in to swapping out PUPS and tuners the Krappy is also a great buy, as the wood deosn't have a lacquer on it, so it's easy to make mods and try out new hardware.

[Jesús Auñón]

glints-collide,please,
Could you explain what is hammer-on and what is tapping? What is the difference?

[glints-collide]

Also I must say I am enjoying the posts from our U8 lovin' buddies and I agree with everything except that 8 strings is enough. What if you're like me and you want 2 different sounds going at once?

I also asked that question 1 1/2 years ago and it was one of the reasons I got a 10 string Warr first. However, in which case do 2 seperate outputs make sense?

1. You want to be two instruments in one, play clean bass and distorted guitar.

Why? Don't you have a good bassist or guitarplayer around? Is it just for your egos sake? In my opinion, the way of approaching the touchguitar as two instruments doesn't lead anywhere. Play it as one single instrument, even when playing multiple lines.

I also tried playing with two outputs and two amps, switching FX during the parts and everything, when I got the U8, all the stress of being two players (which was always there when playing a two region instrument, even when playing mono) dropped and my playing instantly got so much better.
It's like breaking free from a cage.

2. You want to have a different sound on different notes.
Work with two FX-circuits (many multifx-units have one)? Use a Filter/Wah to emphasize certain frequenzies? Use a EQ before a Delay to block the low notes to spam your Echo? With a wellbalanced instrument you don't have any problems of not hearing the notes or a muddy sound, even when playing distorted.

glints-collide,please,
Could you explain what is hammer-on and what is tapping? What is the difference?

The difference between hammer-on and tapping lies in the three phrases I described earlier: Touch-Release-Move

When you play with hammer-ons, you don't release the note, meaning that the string doesn't stop before hitting a new note. Thus you're binding the notes, making one constant sound. The aim is to be always conscious about the notes, which have an beginning AND an end. Of course hammer-ons are a really useful technique, but it's not tapping/touchstyle.

If you look/hear closely on the following video, you see that each note is
seperate from one another, even when played fast:

http://vimeo.com/14363410


By the way, at the end Markus plays a section of Tubular Bells, where he plays two parts. It sounds great and very clear even though he doesn't use two amps or FX. A good (or great) instrument can change everything.

[Poncho]

I also asked that question 1 1/2 years ago and it was one of the reasons I got a 10 string Warr first. However, in which case do 2 seperate outputs make sense?

1. You want to be two instruments in one, play clean bass and distorted guitar.

Why? Don't you have a good bassist or guitarplayer around? Is it just for your egos sake? In my opinion, the way of approaching the touchguitar as two instruments doesn't lead anywhere. Play it as one single instrument, even when playing multiple lines.



No, we don't have decent bassists to play with here and I do have a massive ego which is the reason I play a 10 string stereo instrument. I don't know how old you are but you don't have to attack peoples preferences just because they differ from your own. Further to this, perhaps if Touchguitars actually cared about it's target market (ie :us) and offered a few different choices rather than just one instrument that forces you to play a particular way rather than your own way, they might sell some more.

[Poncho]

Also if playing 2 different voices on the instrument 'takes you nowhere' you might want to tell that to Randy Strom or Jim Wright. Or just about 90% of tappers on this forum. Personally I don't think you really know what you're talking about.

[glints-collide]

No, we don't have decent bassists to play with here and I do have a massive ego which is the reason I play a 10 string stereo instrument. I don't know how old you are but you don't have to attack peoples preferences just because they differ from your own.

Ah come on, don't take it so seriously, I didn't want to attack you. Like I wrote, I also started with 10 strings and the reason I started playing it was because I was really fascinated
by the music of Trey Gunn (and maybe my big ego ;) ). In addition I really didn't find any good (or better reliable) bassists around, so doing two things at once came out of a need. I also defended 10 strings for a long time and you can make excellent things with it. I just discovered that I can do all the stuff I want with 8 strings, which is really cool and has some benefits.


Further to this, perhaps if Touchguitars actually cared about it's target market (ie :us) and offered a few different choices rather than just one instrument that forces you to play a particular way rather than your own way, they might sell some more.

Best if you write to them. I'm not part of the company nor do my opinion reflect anything else than my own. So blame me for my post not them.
In addition, I think they're working on a 10string model. But like I wrote, I'm not part of that buisiness, I just like and play the guitars.

[glints-collide]

Also if playing 2 different voices on the instrument 'takes you nowhere' you might want to tell that to Randy Strom or Jim Wright. Or just about 90% of tappers on this forum. Personally I don't think you really know what you're talking about.

It's not about NOT playing 2 different voices, I'm happy with many interlocking figures or multiple motives or whatever. And of course the players you metioned are excellent, no question. For me it's more a point of perspective, whether you
see it as one instrument or as multiple instruments. So far I see that many tappers are simulating other instruments (for example playing the bass and the guitarpart of a jazzsong). Which is cool and often astonishing, however what I would like to see is something that is more essential to playing the touchguitar.
Something that is not or hardly replicable on a different instrument.

Sorry, if you find my posts insulting, they were meant to stir things up a bit, but it was no personal attack at you.