Can anyone identify this 8 string bass (with trem!)?

[Angel]

This is a video that I often put on at work as it's great background music, it's a live concert by two superb Japanese jazz fusion bands- Casiopea and T-Square. They all take to the stage at once and just share out duties.  Anyway, I was watching excellent bassist Sutoh Mitsuru and for the first time I paid a bit more attention to the instrument that he was playing. It's an 8 string, and has a trem (!). I've been trying to find the bass on line but I've had no luck so far, so I was wondering if anyone recognises the shape? I'd just like to know what it is.

 

The whole video is around 2h 44m long, but your best look at the bass in question is at 2h 14m when the bassists do a bit of showboating. Sutoh is the guy with glasses and a green bass. The other bassist is Yoshihiro Naruse, both very good!

 

Anyone got an 8 string bass? What are they like to play? What does it give you extra sound-wise?

 

 

[velvetkevorkian]

I think it might be a Tune, based on the body shape? Can't find any 8 strings or trems on their site though...

[itu]

From the web: his main bass is Moon.

I am on the same side with @velvetkevorkian: that green one looks a lot like Tune. 

 

Multistring basses, I think you can find fine instruments here made by @Basvarken. 

Edited 21 hours ago by itu

[velvetkevorkian]

Aha! Different name but looks like the same band and bass???

 

[Angel]

Tune is a reasonable suggestion, but I don't think it's a Tune.

 

I had a go at a screenshot, this is the best I could find

 

[Basvarken]

Looks like Marleaux maybe? That string anchor behind the bridge is typical for Marleaux.

 

 

[simisker]

I'm pretty confident it IS a Tune; something based on the TWB line, by the looks of it.

 

That tapered headstock with an elliptical logo; the slender wide-set horns [very elegant, IMO], and that rear strap-button 'hook' area of the body, like a reverse Dingwall shape.

 

In fact, here you go:

 

https://reverb.com/item/51095896-tune-japan-phoenix-twxt-8-qm-tremoro-pink

 

Edit 1: Phwoarr!

 

Edit 2: "Tremoro"?!?  😄

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by simisker

[itu]

7 minutes ago, simisker said:

Edit 2: "Tremoro"?!?  😄

In Japan people do pronounce R very close to L, which they do not even have in their kanji, hiragana, or katakana. Therefore the seller looks a lot like a Japanese person. 

 

I have heard that they have learned English with their own writing, where intonation is important. Many speak English, but if your intonation fails, some do not understand you. 

[Delberthot]

This is one of my favourite videos on YouTube with Abe Laboriel Sr on an 8 string Ibanez I think

 

 

[kodiakblair]

3 hours ago, Angel said:

Tune is a reasonable suggestion, but I don't think it's a Tune.

It's a Tune, just look at the logo on the peghead.

 

Lad from Casiopea has been playing them for years, so long there's even a model named after the band he plays in.

 

I've a vague memory he's actually a dentist in real life 😃

 

 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by kodiakblair

[kodiakblair]

http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~tune/tune/twx.trem/twx.trem.html

 

That's the stock model but custom options are no problem.

[Angel]

I stand corrected on the Tune suggestion! What do I know!

 

many thanks people

[MichaelDean]

5 hours ago, itu said:

In Japan people do pronounce R very close to L, which they do not even have in their kanji, hiragana, or katakana. Therefore the seller looks a lot like a Japanese person. 

 

I have heard that they have learned English with their own writing, where intonation is important. Many speak English, but if your intonation fails, some do not understand you. 

Slight tangent, but I once spent way too long at a bar in Japan trying to get a gin and tonic. I was asking for a "gin ando toniku". Took me a while to re-read the katakana and it was just "gintoniku". Dude got it immediately after that 🙄