Are all six strings the same??

[whathefunk]

Hey guys,

I recently got 2 new six strings, a Brice Fretless and an Ibanez 6 string (sr706)

Lately I've just been feeling that whenever I play a 6, they're just uncomfortable.. (obviously for slapping) but for fingerstyle too.

When I say this, I don't mean they're unplayable, I just mean when you switch to a 4 string you just get that (Oh my godddd) feeling of comfort.

I've been playing 6 for a while now so it's not because I'm not used to it..

Anybody else feel the same way?

 

[Big_Daddy]

Try out a few other 6 strings at your local music store. That'll give you a good idea as to whether or not it's just you are if it's the bass.

I personally would prefer a 4 string. That's my pocket of comfort.

 

[5string5fingers]

sounds like you just have a problem with wide necks. In which case yes,all 6 strings have wide necks.

 

[JimmyM]

i can never get comfy on anything past 4 strings, regardless of the neck.

 

[Dr. Eagle]

I am far more comfy on the 6 string than the 4. It took a while to get used to it but I went from the 4 to the 6, got a second 6 string and later got several 5 strings as well.

 

[perfektspace6]

For comfort, the "floating thumb" technique is nearly a requirement when playing a 6. I don't find it hard to play a 6 and it actually feels really weird going back to a 4 now.

 

[whathefunk]

perhaps I am a bit uneasy on a wide neck.

I've tried a bunch of 6 strings in shops, I assumed I didn't like them because they're usually all set up wrong, after I set up mine, I had the same feeling.

It's not hard to play, some songs are easier to play on a 6 string (donna lee for me) but in general when I pick up a 4 string it just feels like home

I was actually wondering if it was maybe my basses.

My fretless is comfy to play, but that's maybe because the action is lower than life itself... but my ibanez (which are known to be easy to play) Just doesn't give me what I want in terms of comfort and playability.

 

[DougD]

I got big hands so I'm actually uncomfortable on a 4 or thin necked 5 My 6 and 7 string feel like home to me (at least for my left hand)

 

[DougD]

perhaps I am a bit uneasy on a wide neck.

I've tried a bunch of 6 strings in shops, I assumed I didn't like them because they're usually all set up wrong, after I set up mine, I had the same feeling.

It's not hard to play, some songs are easier to play on a 6 string (donna lee for me) but in general when I pick up a 4 string it just feels like home

I was actually wondering if it was maybe my basses.

My fretless is comfy to play, but that's maybe because the action is lower than life itself... but my ibanez (which are known to be easy to play) Just doesn't give me what I want in terms of comfort and playability.

Could be your basses. But a 6er ain't for everybody. Have you tried a 5? You could string it E-C and still have most of the range of a 6er.

 

[mikeyswood]

I really love the wide spacing on my Aria and the narrow spacing on my BC Rich:

A well made instrument is the key.

 

[bassbenj]

Hey guys,

Lately I've just been feeling that whenever I play a 6, they're just uncomfortable.. (obviously for slapping) but for fingerstyle too.

When I say this, I don't mean they're unplayable, I just mean when you switch to a 4 string you just get that (Oh my godddd) feeling of comfort.

I've been playing 6 for a while now so it's not because I'm not used to it..

Anybody else feel the same way?

I sure don't! Comfort is a bit related to neck width so I find from that aspect a 5 most comfy, a 6 also comfortable but just a tad less and a 7 somewhat more "strain" to play. This all based on neck width.

But when I play a 4 (And I played ONLY a 4 for MANY years), now it just feels SO limited. There are things I just commonly do with 5, 6, and 7 almost without thought that are simply missing on a 4. It's a different concept in a bass instrument. Is this "good" or "bad"? I don't think you can say. I mean do you have to stretch like mad to make banjo chords? You bet! (banjos are tuned in 5ths not 4ths) Does that make guitars better than banjos...OK bad example!

The point is I really don't get all the people here whining about how "comfy" their basses or their necks or their straps or whatever are. I've got a BUNCH of basses with different numbers of strings from 4 to 8. They've got all kind of necks and string spacing from super thin to fat and chunky. There ARE differences in "feel" between all of them.

But would I just chuck them all and just pick the most "comfortable" one for everything? Well that is sure throwing the baby out with the bathwater! In my view the player is there to try to serve the music in the best way possible! There are a GREAT many things in music that are NOT "comfortable" but are absolutely astounding in performance.

Hey, not practicing at all is the MOST comfortable way there is to "play" bass. Why torture yourself putting in hours and hours on your instrument when you can just go down to the corner for a beer? And now that I've decided that is the way to play bass, are there any TBers out there who will agree with me and justify my giving up the woodshed? Thanks I knew you were there!

But that point made, let me ALSO make the point that YOU get to choose what instrument you are going to play. If it's banjo or 4 string bass, fine. That's what you are doing. But then you've got to APPLY that instrument to the music. If you can make it fit, fine. IF it doesn't fit, you'd better expect your playing to not be particularly appreciated. Hey, I actually play banjo, bass, and e-drums and even *I* have some serious doubts about Bela Fleck and the music they are doing!

 

[Munjibunga]

This is the sixer you want.

 

[Jester's Fury]

Maybe it's not the width and thickness of the bass neck, but the string spacing and/or scale. I have an SR506 and can only play it with a pick or "flamenco style" strumming. Some call it rasqueado. It's like flicking the string like you would a marble. Check out Abraham Laboriel's technique.

My wider (19mm) spacing TRB-6P six string feels like home no matter what I play. I switch between two 4's and the 6 rather easily due to the similar string spacing.

 

[joe vegas]

The new Alleva-Coppolo 6 is great. 34", traditional P style neck feel but wide and flat, and it's 19mm spacing with a wide nut. It's a new standard, a whole different sound than the TRB/JPII- big modern P bass sound, tight and punchy, but just as wide all around, dimension-wise. the yamahas are classic and built beautifully, but this is the new different kid in the sandbox. Once cats start playing it, word will spread.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

4 bangers just feel wrong now. They still slap easier but I've been a 5 to 6 guy so long the wide spacing feels wrong!
I recently strung my Ken Smith 4 BEAD for relevance- so I can actually play it- I love the bass but I can't pedal between a B string and and E as my lowest string...but it still feels too wide most days.
I do want to swap the nut out on the Smith so I can gig with it BEAD- I truly want to !@#$ up a guitarist or two up with the out of position playing. Its not like we havent taken heat from guitarists for a lifetime! I want to be able to say "what all those strings and you can't transpose a simple tuning when you look at my hands? heres the run on the B string...Open B, closed C, D, E, F, and now for the flats and sharps..."

 

[unclejane]

Hey guys,

I recently got 2 new six strings, a Brice Fretless and an Ibanez 6 string (sr706)

Lately I've just been feeling that whenever I play a 6, they're just uncomfortable.. (obviously for slapping) but for fingerstyle too.

When I say this, I don't mean they're unplayable, I just mean when you switch to a 4 string you just get that (Oh my godddd) feeling of comfort.

I've been playing 6 for a while now so it's not because I'm not used to it..

Anybody else feel the same way?

If by uncomfortable you mean causes pain in your hand/wrist, you shouldn't play it. I recently went back to 4 string full time for exactly this reason - I've played primarily 6's for the last few years but finally realized my left hand/wrist just can't handle it. The neck is too wide and I have to crank my wrist around too much. So I just can't play "ERB's" anymore.

I love the range I can get with a 6, but I don't love the injuries it causes to my hand/wrist....

LS

 

[spade2you]

Comfort can be a bass design thing, but it usually boils down to technique. This generally offends most guitarists and bassists when I say that technique is lacking, although if you didn't spend much time focusing on technique, how could you be upset if you don't have it while not working on it?

I have very small hands. Due to my technique, I can play a 4, 5, or 6 without problems. Since I've spent a lot of time on my 6, I feel at home on them.

 

[seungkoo]

Everytime I play a 4 string my fingers feel akward and cramp up. 6 strings just feel blah for me but 5's feel just at home

 

[Drifta]

after almost 2 years on a 35" 5 string (with normal spacing) a 4 string feels like a twig to me i'm ready for a six.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I wouldn't think all 6-strings are the same, -with as many builders and companies that offer 6-stringed models, I'm sure there's a bit of variance between brands.

I'm actually more comfortable on my 6-strings, but it took a bit of time, and a lot of determination for me to get there.

The necks on my Ristola Exotic 6 and my Roscoe SKB3006 have similar string spacing, both have 24 frets and a 35" scale and their profiles feel similar.

The only problem I have switching between them is the Ristola has a longer upper body horn and balances on a strap nicely whereas the upper body horn on the Roscoe is shorter and it's a bit neck heavy.

Each bass has a different sound and I like both.