Certainly not but I am seeing a trend towards 6 bangers and I suspect that there will be a multitude of them on the used market as they are not for everyone. 5ers are here to stay.
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Are 5 strings on the way out?
- Thread starter Doug Bright
- Start date
Well they can get someone else if they are such a wanker that they care more what I play than how I play. You're giving them too much power.
The only band I've been in with a BL was my wife's and she would have cared how I played rather than what I played.
Whatever. I'd say the same as above; "did I play it well?" "Yes" "Then sod off".
Feeling inadequate much?
I would not rate myself at all, but once I fond an instrument I'm comfortable on and like, isn't that the best one to use?
If you're not making a joke, you need your meds upped.
I looked at that bass and immediately heard Bugs say "what a maroon".
Thanks for that. Even though I have a GT5 in the same colour and I'd seen Bill in the brochure, oddly enough, that was the first time I'd seen him play. He's obviously compensating for his poor timing and technique with lots of strings. /sarc
So since this thread got dredged up, I figured I'd take a pic of my latest addition from a couple months ago. It's going to undergo a pickup mod in a month or so (Duncan CS SPB-1 for a 5), but I did the coolest mod already taking care of that white pickguard:
Yamaha BB235, spur of the moment decision just because I had to have a 5 that sounds like a proper PJ after years of swearing I'd never own another one besides my old 91 Guitar Factory 5 with its new black/gold ceruse finish:
A killer bass for an active 5 neck-thru-body but I had to have a more trad 5 one night and ordered the Yammy before I could think twice about it. Great little bass as it is, but I wanted a happening alnico 5 P pickup with that early 60's sound. Only about another 5 weeks I have to wait...
Yamaha BB235, spur of the moment decision just because I had to have a 5 that sounds like a proper PJ after years of swearing I'd never own another one besides my old 91 Guitar Factory 5 with its new black/gold ceruse finish:
A killer bass for an active 5 neck-thru-body but I had to have a more trad 5 one night and ordered the Yammy before I could think twice about it. Great little bass as it is, but I wanted a happening alnico 5 P pickup with that early 60's sound. Only about another 5 weeks I have to wait...
When you take gigs, you might want to consider what 'they' want too.
In my experience, you get away with a 5 if it does the Fender sound.
So, a P bass and Jazz singles covers most gigs.
If you don't know what they expect, play it safe. You will not go far wrong with 'Fender'.
Some of these old guys swear by Marshall, Vox, Fender so will know what they want to hear.
It's just one more thing not to get wrong... like notes, dress code and stuff LOL
In my experience, you get away with a 5 if it does the Fender sound.
So, a P bass and Jazz singles covers most gigs.
If you don't know what they expect, play it safe. You will not go far wrong with 'Fender'.
Some of these old guys swear by Marshall, Vox, Fender so will know what they want to hear.
It's just one more thing not to get wrong... like notes, dress code and stuff LOL
My life doesn't depend upon the income, so if I can't play what I want, I'll walk. FSO are just damn uncomfortable ergonomically, I'd rather never touch one again, and I'm so used to playing across the neck rather than along it, if you insisted on a 4 player for the aesthetic vibe, and that's the only reason why you'd insist on someone using one, you'd be better off with someone else.
Everything was built from the fours but today's music relies on 4, 5,6 and 7's.
Sounds like a dance number counting off!
In the studio session game, if you are wanting the super low notes, you can use synths and other stuff for the nether regions of bass, so bass guitars are used to get that "purposefully vintage" sound, like a throwback to the old days, so 4 strings are more common. That's probably why it's a more common sight on youtube behind the scenes, sessions, or pics of studio sessions. The audio aesthetic for a "real bass" just tends toward the vintage sounds that folks like to mix in with more modern produced music to give it some human/organic elements.
5 strings are still the go-to for a live musician who needs flexibility of the range, preamp functions, etc, and of course are still used on sessions everywhere.
5 strings are still the go-to for a live musician who needs flexibility of the range, preamp functions, etc, and of course are still used on sessions everywhere.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Are you saying that 5 strings are officially 'vintage' now?
Well, think for a moment about how long 5-string basses have existed.
;-)
Alembic was producing 5 string basses in 1976. 5 string double-basses have been around for about 300 years.
Atta-boy!
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Well anyway, here are my 5’s. They are normally on the way out….of the house for the gig.
That MTD looks great!Well anyway, here are my 5’s. They are normally on the way out….of the house for the gig.
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I've been playing for over 40 years now. The trend over that time frame is towards 5 strings, not away from them. In my world (church gigs) the trend is definitely accelerating over the last couple of years. 5's now outnumber 4's, the reverse was true a couple of years ago.
My herd reflects this trend - I have one lonely 4 string in the corner at this point, which doesn't get a lot of gig time. 5's have gone from non existent to a strong majority in 3 years.
My herd reflects this trend - I have one lonely 4 string in the corner at this point, which doesn't get a lot of gig time. 5's have gone from non existent to a strong majority in 3 years.
