What professional bassists only used 4 strings?

[jnevi9nr]

i was doing some research and seeing a lot of professional bassists with 4 string. I would think that a lot of non jazz, non fusion bass players would have 5 strings to get down to that low B.

[Pilgrim]

I'd say that 90% of all electric bass guitar players in history (meaning since about 1950) have played 4 strings. that's actually a conservative estimate - 95% or more would be more like it.

A low B is not required in that much music. I've played since 1964 (with a layoff of some years in the middle) and never needed it.

[line6man]

Jaco only needed four.

[SoonerMatt]

Originally Posted by line6man

Jaco only needed four.

But just imagine what he could have done with 6+

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by line6man

Jaco only needed four.

You have said that that needs to be said.

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

But just imagine what he could have done with 6+

Yeah, think how much cooler a Ferrari would be if it only had two more wheels. You could do more with it, right?

NOT.

[Skrapmetal]

Lots of professionals use 5 strings these days, but it's still surely a minority. The number is growing though, I imagine.

Almost all of the past and present really big "name" bass players use/used 4 strings.

[jnevi9nr]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I'd say that 90% of all electric bass guitar players in history (meaning since about 1950) have played 4 strings. that's actually a conservative estimate - 95% or more would be more like it.

A low B is not required in that much music. I've played since 1964 (with a layoff of some years in the middle) and never needed it.

thanks for the feedback.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

But just imagine what he could have done with 6+

He drew the line at 5.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by jnevi9nr

thanks for the feedback.

Understand, I'm not criticizing 5's and 6's....they're fine basses for proficient players. I just wanted to point out that most of the players out there, past and present, are happy with 4's.

[TheBasicBassist]

Originally Posted by line6man

He drew the line at 5.

mind-exploding















just kidding..

[nostatic]

Now sure how you can say they are "happy with 4's." Have you interviewed them? Done a longitudinal study on bass player equipment migrations?

Most of the guys I see playing around town are on 4s. Most I see playing on tv are playing 4s. I don't know the reason for most of them. A few I've talked to who were on 4s had various comments:

"I also own a 5 but for this gig prefer a 4"
"I don't like/feel comfortable on a 5 or 6"
"This is all I can afford"
"I find a 4 more fun to play"
"Carrots"

Historical comments are difficult because 5-string and beyond basses weren't widely available for a lot of years, nor where they obtainable for many due to price or lack of quality for cheaper ones.

Number of strings doesn't matter...it's almost like color, personal preference.

[malthumb]

Almost all professional bassists use 4 strings at some point or another. I think the OP's question was about professionals who ONLY use 4 strings. Fact is, even Jaco was experimenting with 5ers before he died.

Victor Wooten PRIMARILY uses 4 but he does do some 5 string work. Same with Marcus Miller.

Of the bassists I follow, here are 10 that I've known to ONLY use 4 strings:

• Stanley Clarke
• Verdine White
• John Entwistle
• Bootsy Collins
• Bernard Edwards
• James Jamerson (although he tried a 5 and hated it)
• John McVie
• Louis Johnson
• Prince
• Larry Graham

I'm sure there are others and wouldn't be too surprised if some of the guys I've mentioned above have thumped a B string or two.

[spade2you]

Perhaps there needs to be a line drawn (not pertaining to fretless ) on professionals vs. famous professionals. I've known professionals who use whatever they want and some who are extremely traditional. Considering most professionals can play upright and read music, I can't see an extra string or two being that challenging in the grand scheme of things.

[jnevi9nr]

ok, how what about some more modern day famous professional folks, i know that the guys from tool, muse, rhcp, and ratm are discussed here a lot. have any of these folks pick up a 5 stringer?

[camiloochoa]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Number of strings doesn't matter...it's almost like color, personal preference.

i agree with this statement, and i prefer 4 string basses also, but as the number of big players using 5 & 6 string basses grows, so does the number of records/songs with that low b sound, so i think having a 5 string bass it's becoming a must for a lot of bass players.

[jnevi9nr]

so what do you folks with 4 stringers do when you need to play a song with a low B or C. I know a lot of people do drop d?

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by line6man

Jaco only needed four.

Booohhhooo not that one again!!

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by malthumb

Of the bassists I follow, here are 10 that I've known to ONLY use 4 strings:

• Stanley Clarke
• Verdine White
• John Entwistle
• Bootsy Collins
• Bernard Edwards
• James Jamerson (although he tried a 5 and hated it)
• John McVie
• Louis Johnson
• Prince
• Larry Graham

I'm sure there are others and wouldn't be too surprised if some of the guys I've mentioned above have thumped a B string or two.

IIRC, you can add Geddy Lee to that list.

[acebase62]

12 notes.

Obviously low B string allows options, a high C allows options.

Same with altered tuning (Manring, etc).

I sometimes use a bass strung BEAD for certain songs. I might get a 5 in the future if I find one I really like.

I would think 4 string will remain the standard, 5 in second place, and 6 the minority. I love good music played on any of them.

[malthumb]

Originally Posted by jnevi9nr

so what do you folks with 4 stringers do when you need to play a song with a low B or C. I know a lot of people do drop d?

Although I mainly play 5 strings, on occasion I make it a point to play a set with just 4 strings. I try to learn songs on the 4 string that I normally play on a 5 string. Sometimes it means moving Eb, low D etc to a higher register and reshaping my bassline just a bit.

There are some songs, however, that just don't sound right to me when I do that, so I just pick up a 5 string. I personally don't bother with tuning BEAD because I have several BEADG tuned basses.

For things that go beyond fret 17-24 on the G string, I wake up the guitarist