4, 5 or 6

[bassbenj]

I try to play the bass that bests fits the music and my vision of that music. Currently It's mostly my fretless 5 string G&L L2500, A while back it was "bar bass" G&L fretted Tribute L2500. And before that it was my Carvin AC50 strung EADGC because I wanted chords and solo and did not own a 6 string semihollow body or ABG. So I"m a 5er guy, right? Nope. Also a while back I played my 6 string Fretless Alembic a lot. and switched it up with my Ken Smith 6er. If you need stratospheric solos, hey, you need them. The only reason I dropped back to 5 was it's just a bit more comfortable than a 6 when you don't need upper range and also I love the tone of the G&L. Hey,, I can see where I might get some gigs with coffee house originals and have to woodshed my 7 stringers. OR I might get involved with some classic rock and have to go back to 4 strings again. However, having spent MANY years feeling the limitation of 4 strings I try to avoid going back there, but I would if I had to.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I have basses of 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-strings. I enjoy playing them all!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

I prefer 4 only, but I'd never propose everyone should use. only 4. I say play what works for you.

 

[Element Zero]

I have 2 5s. My wife has a 4. It’s fun to mess around with the 4 but I always go back to my 5s.

 

[tfer]

When fretted, it’s a 6.

Fretless is a 5.

 

[Don M]

Currently a short scale 4......it's just hobby so the boss says I'm only allowed to have one bass! Thinking about trading out to a different bass, but not sure on the direction I want to go (though a Schecter CV-5 is in the lead).

 

[B-Mac]

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?

I have 4, 5, 8 (0ctave) and 10 (Octave) String basses

Someday a 6 and a 12 (Octave)

Play predominantly 4 string and dabble with the others although I do play the 8 (Octave) and 5 string fretless (E,A,D,G,C) more than the other multi string basses for obvious reasons

 

[el murdoque]

I own 4, 5 and 6.
My 6 gets played the most, my 4 is strung BEAD.

 

[mark beem]

Five string basses only for me.

 

[bluesblaster]

Having owned several 5 strings I'm well aware of the mechanics of playing one, that being said I just prefer a four because, well just because. That and there was a hell of lot more music made on those than any ERB. Most of those really low notes get lost in the mix and if you need those really high notes perhaps you should have taken up the guitar or the mandolin. The real money is still made just the way it always was. These are my opinions, your certainly at liberty to do whatever works for you.

 

[zombywoof5050]

4-Banger Forever!

 

[TolerancEJ]

I own 4, 5 and 6.
My 6 gets played the most, my 4 is strung BEAD.

Of my basses, the 6-Strings are being played the most. But I still dig my other instruments.

 

[nnnnnn]

My first bass was a 5-string, and I'm still playing that specific instrument twenty-five years later, but this year I finally got a 4-string too to see what the 4-string fuss is about.

 

[GreyBeard]

I started playing 5 string 20 some years ago and I haven't looked back.

 

[Stumbo]

I like the 1.5" width Jazz necks so I'm pretty much in the 4 banger category.
I've tried a 5 but never really got serious with it.

 

[Nashrakh]

I own 4, 5 and 6.
My 6 gets played the most, my 4 is strung BEAD.

Exactly my configuration.

 

[JohnArnson]

At the moment I exclusively play 4 string bass, well and 6 string guitar, but it's not like I have anything against more strings on a bass, have considered a 5 string tunes E-C, or a Bass VI type instrument tuned E-E.

I have more use for extra high strings than a deep B as it is.

 

[dabbler]

Why not have all three?

View attachment 2970506

I must admit though, I mostly play 5 string these days. I find fours a bit limiting, to the point that even my ‘73 Rick only gets to a gig occasionally these days. I like noodling with the 6 at home but find that I don’t need it on gigs, so fives it is. I have another fiver as a back up to my main player (GB Rumour 5 - in the middle) and a five string fretless - so I’m sorted.

Yeah! Variety is the spice of life!

 

[Nephilymbass]

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?

Ive owned just about everything including 4,5,6,7, and fretless. But I’ve come to the conclusion over the 25 years I’ve played bass that I’m primarily a 5 string guy and I do play 99% of my gigs on the 5 strings. I do have an acoustic 4 string fender. Acoustic bass is a bit of an oddball though imo. You have to spend considerably more money for a decent sounding acoustic 5 than an equally good sounding acoustic 4. I’ll probably replace my acoustic with a 5 someday but being that acoustic isn’t very useful for my main gig at the moment it’s not a priority. Lately I’ve mainly just used the acoustic for noodling around the house unplugged.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I have no use for a 4-string as my 5-string can literally do everything a 4-string can, and then some.

I play modern music so a 4 won't cut it for me unless I go BEAD, and I'd really miss having the G. On a 4-string I always feel severely limited.

I’m pretty much in the same boat with my band. Modern rock/metal. They tune their guitars to b so there’s a lot of low b string work. I kind of considering the g string as the “extra string” at this point because I’ve been playing in bands like this with low tuned guitars for two decades now.