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Do You Prefer 4 String, 5 String, 6 String?

#41
Martin89 said:
This is the same for me; couldn't really get into the 6's and haven't tried anything larger than that. I find my 5 comfy enough and very versatile for many styles(church songs in Eb, Nu-metal in D or B, etc.); if I know it will be all pretty standard stuff I really enjoy my 4 though. I like my 4 a lot more for slap/solo stuff.
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Ditto - I don't need the additional upper range a 6 string offers, nor do I want a neck any wider than my 5ers... Although I'm quite comfortable on my 5ers, my 4 strings are easier to play - they definitely seem like less work... I pretty much only play my 5ers when I need to go lower than D - if the music I'm playing at the time doesn't require noted lower than D, the 5ers stay home...

For most Eb stuff, I actually prefer to use a 4 string tuned half step down - I really prefer the sound of an open Eb on a 4 string over a fretted Eb on a 5er... It took me a few months to become "fluent" on a 5er, with more than a couple of frustrating moments along the way - but once I did, I've found it to be so much better than trying to get down to Db, C, and B - than trying to get there on a 4 string... I don't care much for the idea of a BEAD tuned 4 string, as I'm not willing to give up my G string for such a setup... I'm prefectly at home with 34" 5ers with necks that aren't too wide - EBMMs and Ibanez cover my 5er needs quite well, while Fender, EBMM, and Gibson handle my 4 string needs very well, too...

Anyways, use whatever gets the job done for you, I say...


- georgestrings
 
#42
4-string fretless. Tried a 5 the other day (actually, I very cheekily took down every bass in the shop and tried all of them!) and the fingerboard just felt... Flat. And wide, I didn't feel comfortable and the neck just didn't fit in my hand properly.
 
#43
Showdown said:
I prefer 6 string, but have had to switch to 5 string as my primary bass because of rheumatoid arthritis. The wider 6 string neck causes pain in my hands.
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If you want to get back to 6s you might try either an Ibanez Soundgear or a Carvin. They have smaller necks and tighter string spacing so they can feel like a wide-spaced 5.
Edit: Just looked at your profile and saw you have an Icon. That's a pretty slim neck-the only one I know of that's a little slimmer is the Ibanez or a Modulus Quantum 6.
 
#44
Roy Vogt said:
If you want to get back to 6s you might try either an Ibanez Soundgear or a Carvin. They have smaller necks and tighter string spacing so they can feel like a wide-spaced 5.
Edit: Just looked at your profile and saw you have an Icon. That's a pretty slim neck-the only one I know of that's a little slimmer is the Ibanez or a Modulus Quantum 6.
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I'd think if custom is an option, a guy like Stambaugh or Bordwell can build a smaller neck in terms of width and optionally in scale length. Stambaugh has a good 33" scale and Cliff Bordwell seems to be known for his 32" scale basses with low B.
 
#45
Roy Vogt said:
If you want to get back to 6s you might try either an Ibanez Soundgear or a Carvin. They have smaller necks and tighter string spacing so they can feel like a wide-spaced 5.
Edit: Just looked at your profile and saw you have an Icon. That's a pretty slim neck-the only one I know of that's a little slimmer is the Ibanez or a Modulus Quantum 6.
Click to expand...

I also have an Ibanez GSR-206. (maybe I forgot it on my profile, I need to check that). Still, reaching for that B string (which I tend to use a lot) can hurt.

I think that 6 stringers make me use my fingers more flat when I finger the lower strings, and thus I don't get the leverage I would get with them more curled (I don't know if you can picture what I'm talking about). This requires more pressure on the joints in my fingers and causes pain after I've played for a while (like a half hour). A 4 hour rehearsal can really start to get me.
 
#48
Showdown said:
I also have an Ibanez GSR-206. (maybe I forgot it on my profile, I need to check that). Still, reaching for that B string (which I tend to use a lot) can hurt.

I think that 6 stringers make me use my fingers more flat when I finger the lower strings, and thus I don't get the leverage I would get with them more curled (I don't know if you can picture what I'm talking about). This requires more pressure on the joints in my fingers and causes pain after I've played for a while (like a half hour). A 4 hour rehearsal can really start to get me.
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A drag. The Soundgears have a little thinner yet rounder neck than the Gio basses, but maybe getting a custom would be the way to go. On of my students has a Stambaugh and they're really nice, Pete Skjold has really comfortable necks on his basses too. Finally, these folks make a really weird looking bass but they can create whatever neck angle you want and pride themselves on the player's comfort being paramount.
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#49
McBassHead said:
I've been a 4 string player for 42 years. Never thought about getting a 5 or 6 string bass to be honest..
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It's just what you prefer. I only wonder about people saying that ''basses shouldn't be allowed to have more then 4 strings'', what's make them really have a love for there instrument. I mean if basses never would have more then 4 strings, then a lot of music today wouldn't have exist..
 
#50
Roy Vogt said:
A drag. The Soundgears have a little thinner yet rounder neck than the Gio basses, but maybe getting a custom would be the way to go. On of my students has a Stambaugh and they're really nice, Pete Skjold has really comfortable necks on his basses too. Finally, these folks make a really weird looking bass but they can create whatever neck angle you want and pride themselves on the player's comfort being paramount.
Link Removed
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Thanks.
 
#51
Mr_Music90 said:
It's just what you prefer. I only wonder about people saying that ''basses shouldn't be allowed to have more then 4 strings'', what's make them really have a love for there instrument. I mean if basses never would have more then 4 strings, then a lot of music today wouldn't have exist..
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You are 100% right. Just because I never got into the 5 string thing doesn't mean they shouldn't exist. It's just not my personal cup of tea :)
 
#55
I play (and only have) 5-strings these days, but a 4 would probably cover most of what I do. When I was doing covers I found that a 4-banger was probably all I needed, but doing originals now, I find myself writing more and more in ways that include the 5th string. A 6-string would probably be cool as hell, but I am so used to a 5-string now, that I see no news to go back to a 4 or move up to a 6. But that's just me.
 
#58
Roy Vogt said:
A drag. The Soundgears have a little thinner yet rounder neck than the Gio basses, but maybe getting a custom would be the way to go. On of my students has a Stambaugh and they're really nice, Pete Skjold has really comfortable necks on his basses too. Finally, these folks make a really weird looking bass but they can create whatever neck angle you want and pride themselves on the player's comfort being paramount.
Link Removed
Click to expand...

Actually, now that I think about it what I would like to do is string my Schecter Hellcat VI (a Fender Bass VI style bass) B-C instead of E-E. It has a narrow neck like a guitar with string spacing at the bridge the same as a Les Paul guitar (it uses a Tune-A-Matic style guitar bridge with saddles cut for bass). I don't think it is feasible though, I think finding a B string that would fit (guitar size tuners, so you need string made to fit) and be tight enough at 30" scale would be hard. Especially with the narrow string spacing the B couldn't be floppy.
 

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