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4, 5 or 6

Do you exclusively play one kind of bass?

  • Total voters
    85
#22
grimjim said:
Does anyone here play only one version? Like only 5 strings, or only 4 strings exclusively? I’m gonna predict more 4 string players do.

I personally play 4 and 5 strings depending on the music. 4 strings for most rock and other forms of music and 5 strings for the heavier stuff, mostly because of the deeper tuning and going with 7 string guitars.

How a bout you guys?
Click to expand...

4's only for me. I am considering at BEAD option as we are experimenting with some country options and If i can't find a Squier VM 5, my parts P will be modified for BEAD if needed.

Good Luck!
 
#23
I play a 4 string tuned to DGCF and stick a capo on it if I want EADG tuning or even just stick it on 3 strings for Drop D. I really don’t play much that goes below D so this is perfect for me...

Though, earlier today I was learning a song and found there was a note on the 24th fret of the G string, which is bended even further upwards, in a solo.

If I had more money and could buy another bass, I would probably buy a 6 as I think it would be useful for the some of the stuff I’m looking to play.

If I were to go back to fretless, it would without a doubt be a 6’er.
 
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#24
I have lots of basses, most of which I have made. My most crazy is a hollow bodied 7 string headless. It's a real looker and has a really nice tone. But my most used bass is my 6 string fretted. I just love noodling on it, playing chords and general playing. In fact after going over to a sixer, I tend to find fours and five a bit limiting. I have a number of great fives, a headless and a piezo hollow body. I have my original four, which has a MM pickup and it feels like an old friend. It's really good for slap (which I think fours do better than fives or sixers). I also have a fretless version of the same bass too...which is great for those early 80's Pino lines. So I play my six the most, but I frequent fours and fives and a seven a fair amount.
 
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#27
I’ve played 4, 5, and 6. Fretted and fretless. 34” 35” and 30.5” scale. You get used to any of them after a short while.

For a few years I was stuck on 5-string fretless. Lately, I’m back to 4-string fretted.
 
#35
If not counting the fact that I do also play guitar I have only used 4 string basses from I started out playing.

I don't really need the extra range a low B string would give me and feel that a 4 string bass is more comfortable to play.

I do count on adding a Bass VI type instrument to my arsenal at some point though and pondering if I should invest in a 5 string Ibanez Mikro.
 
#36
I am almost exclusively a six guy. I like fours from time to time, just to keep myself honest. I play a four and a six in a completely different fashion and come up with totally different lines. I have absolutely no use for a five. Every time I have a five in hand I wish it were either a four or a six, but that's just me...
 

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