this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
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Mildly Interesting

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[–] [email protected] 104 points 2 years ago (5 children)

I have no idea if this is the same as the one at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra but for anyone else who was curious about the specs on this beast:

  • HEIGHT: 3.6 m (11.10 ft.)
  • LENGTH OF THE SOUNDBOARD (uppermost board): 2.06 m (6.76 ft.)
  • WIDTH OF THE SOUNDBOARD: 1.11 m (3.64 ft.)
  • LENGTH OF STRINGS: 2.18 m (6.56 ft.)
  • NUMBER OF STRINGS 3: (A-E-B)
  • DIAMETER OF STRINGS: 5/16 in. (7.94 mm). 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) et 3/16 in. (4.76 mm)
  • WEIGHT: 131,54 kg (290 lbs.)
  • NUMBER OF PARTS: There are hundreds of parts, of which 237 make up the complex mechanism of this precision instrument.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: The octobass is the lowest-pitched and largest-sized instrument of the entire string family. The performer must climb up on a small stool in order to access the neck of the instrument, and it is only by means of levers and pedals - not with the hands that the strings can be reached and sounded. The octobass bow is longer and heavier than the bow of an ordinary string bass.

Apparently it can do as low as 25Hz. That would be badass to experience in person.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago

Man, that's deep ;-)

I've seen a youtube video on that Octobass once, and it was amazing. Having to climb some stairs to play this absolute beast was something that shocked me. And the levers to play it.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Holy hell, I thought this was a joke at first.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It still can be, roll a bard that only plays it. Your party and dm will probably hate you but it's a funny one-off, or if they're fun you can try to work around the limitations together like making str/dex checks to get it through a narrow cave. Even better, make it a halfling that needs a step stool to play it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Basically as cumbersome as a one man band!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

Thanks for the stats

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

The YouTube said 16 Hz, infrasound. You can see the vibration mode.of the string, super cool.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I wonder where they produce these things

[–] [email protected] 88 points 2 years ago (5 children)

May I present the contrabass saxophone:

[–] [email protected] 48 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That's one whisper you shouldn't be careless with.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

Careful scream

[–] [email protected] 33 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Is this the instrument that does the dramatic horn sound that Christopher Nolan forced to use every 20 seconds in his movies?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Small chance it was used for the Reaper main cannon in Mass Effect.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 2 years ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

Here's another that's slightly less terrifying than the above sample https://youtu.be/jCEYPyUBDAU?si=4rhnEk6ZZhZrQgtq

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Shit this is even the guy from the photo isn't it?

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The only string instrument that can save more than two people in a flood.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago

I'd market it as the Safe-T-Bass

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

They'd have to plug the holes though

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 years ago

Keyboard players: hold my beer

1000007902

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 years ago

The violin she tells you not to worry about

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That's awesome.

That one plays in the same league as the hammer.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

There's still hope I can fulfil my dream of playing in an orchestra!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 years ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Of course Davie found the biggest base possible

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Hopefully he gave it the biggest SLAP

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Indeed he did.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Very cool! Never heard of that thing before. Very impressive to see it in action!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Don't drop that bass. It'll surely break apart.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago

Sad.

It's not being played by an octopus.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 years ago

Primus sucks.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago

They could have been nice and put the levers a bit lower.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I don't think you can actually hear the fundamental of the lowest note. It's lowest note has a 16hz fundamental, and people can usually only hear down to around 60hz.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Overtones. Bowed string instruments have a lot of harmonics. I can't imagine it sounds very good, but I bet it's interesting.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah exactly. I thought it sounded pretty cool from the recording, but you'd probably need to be there in person to get the full low frequency effect.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Near where I grew up there are these caves on a cliff side on the ocean. At the right time of day, the tide is such that the water rushes in and creates these amazing subsonic booms. You can't hear them, but if you go down one of the walkways into the side of a cave, you can feel it. It's crazy. Probably a similar thing.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (3 children)

And yet only three strings....

Seems strange they didn't make the key levers more ergonomic.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago

The giga bass

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

This is just little people with a normal double bass and violins.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

The guy she tells you not to worry about...

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Dick measuring. Pure dick measuring.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

Big-ass bass

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

He got that super bass

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

Comically large cello

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Octobass, nobody suspects a thing 🎶

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