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

[mam1862]

I have always played 4 strings. Have not tried the 5 string yet, but can see the advantage of it.

 

[Russell L]

4-string only for me. I think a 5-string is too low.

 

[etechstan]

One of each!

 

[SoVeryTired]

4-string only for me. I think a 5-string is too low.

You just need to shorten your strap.

 

[deeptubes]

Had a 5 string that I never played. Tried many alternate tunings, but never got into it. Ended up selling it a couple of months ago and bought another 4. Gave it an honest try. Really wanted to like it. Just didn't work for me.

 

[gary m]

Fours and sixes at the moment.

 

[bongostealth]

All I play are 6ers, UNLESS there is a specific model of a bass that I like and it only comes in a certain number of strings other than a 6.

Otherwise, every time I play a non-6 I'm always left wanting that high C string. For me, it adds more dynamics, possibilities, and my mind becomes more creative when I see a 6-string fretboard.

 

[SantiagoGT15]

I prefer 4 strings, but recently I'm preferring the BEAD tuning, and I'm waiting for my 5er to try my luck with it, I had a 6er but it always left my left hand cramped and uncomfortable, that's when I opted for 4s only...

Would like to try a 7+ just for the fun of it tho

 

[Gus Borden]

+1 on a 10 string. I'm assuming you mean doubled. I've got an 8 string and I think I'd play it a lot more if it were more like a 5er instead of a 4. MY 8 string is a Carlo Robelli I got at a Big sale at Sam Ash on a lark. It was cheap and a good education! There are times when I really love what doubled strings can do.

I've been looking for a 10 string to really tweak out the herd but yikes. They are either WAY too expensive to justify the money on a bass like that or just plain non-existent. I"m hoping one of these days I'll run into a "Brownsville" 10 string (another Sam Ash brand) at a decent price. Even though my Carlo Robelli was pretty bad, with some mods and changes to get rid of the problems it now plays pretty good for a beater!

Yep. Dean made one for a few years, they turn up occasionally. Only other I have seen was a boutique bass but I can't remember the builder now

 

[sxaxsx]

I have only ever played/owned 4 string basses, and have no intentions of expermenting with anything else.

I think it just comes down to your approach of the bass, what you do, and what the music you play calls for. For me and the music I play, I would never get any use out of a B or C string.
My approach has always been more of a traditional rock bass, filling out the low/mid with a groovy line. I think 5 and especially 6 string players approach their instrment and the song and their part in the song differently than I or most four string players do.
It also comes down to influences, I can't think of many bass players I listen to that play a five or six string (other than Flea occasionally and Gordon from Phish). I'm sure five string players would proably say the opposite, they proably can't name many four string players that they listen too. Its just a differnt take on the instrument and the song.

 

[SoVeryTired]

I have only ever played/owned 4 string basses, and have no intentions of expermenting with anything else.

I think it just comes down to your approach of the bass, what you do, and what the music you play calls for. For me and the music I play, I would never get any use out of a B or C string.
My approach has always been more of a traditional rock bass, filling out the low/mid with a groovy line. I think 5 and especially 6 string players approach their instrment and the song and their part in the song differently than I or most four string players do.
It also comes down to influences, I can't think of many bass players I listen to that play a five or six string (other than Flea occasionally and Gordon from Phish). I'm sure five string players would proably say the opposite, they proably can't name many four string players that they listen too. Its just a differnt take on the instrument and the song.

Au contraire - probably most of the players I listen to play four strings and I play five. Although, to listen to them, I honestly don't know how many strings they're playing. I can tell when someone's gone below E but whether that's becuase they've got a 5er because they've detuned, I wouldn't know without watching them.

I do know that with a 5er I can cover what I hear 4- and 5-string players doing.

 

[cm3ohana]

I am most comfortable with a 4 but do have a 5 as well which I play occassionaly. But, if I had to pick one....it would be to play a 4

 

[Jean Baudin]

I don't like these choices.

 

[MF_Maher]

I play four-string basses. I had one five-string for a few years, but I developed hand, wrist, and forearm pain when I played it, so I went "home" to fours. If I hurt myself on fives, I can't imagine how I'd feel with a sixer...

 

[sxaxsx]

Au contraire - probably most of the players I listen to play four strings and I play five. Although, to listen to them, I honestly don't know how many strings they're playing. I can tell when someone's gone below E but whether that's becuase they've got a 5er because they've detuned, I wouldn't know without watching them.

I do know that with a 5er I can cover what I hear 4- and 5-string players doing.

I can't always tell either, the obvious ones are Les Claypool or Flea, when they play more than four its hard not to notice. But I agree I think most guys use them for the different finger position options not necessarily just for the added range.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I play four-string basses. I had one five-string for a few years, but I developed hand, wrist, and forearm pain when I played it, so I went "home" to fours. If I hurt myself on fives, I can't imagine how I'd feel with a sixer...

Well you could have brought the 5 stringer to a luthier and let the neck customized, making it A-symmetrical

 

[Gus Borden]

I have only ever played/owned 4 string basses, and have no intentions of expermenting with anything else.

I think it just comes down to your approach of the bass, what you do, and what the music you play calls for. For me and the music I play, I would never get any use out of a B or C string.
My approach has always been more of a traditional rock bass, filling out the low/mid with a groovy line. I think 5 and especially 6 string players approach their instrment and the song and their part in the song differently than I or most four string players do.
It also comes down to influences, I can't think of many bass players I listen to that play a five or six string (other than Flea occasionally and Gordon from Phish). I'm sure five string players would proably say the opposite, they proably can't name many four string players that they listen too. Its just a differnt take on the instrument and the song.

I always say: to each his own. I've often read that a 6-string opens up the range, and I'm sure it does--I just find for me that I'm at home on a 5-string.

I will say that as a songwriter and in terms of writing bass lines, I approach it the same way I did on a 4: how is what I'm playing going to fit into the band's mix, what will it add, and how can I enhance a song over all w/o crowding the arrangements?

For me, the fifth strong didn't change my playing style, it added a new dimension to it.

 

[bassbenj]

One of each!

Finally! The correct TB answer! Well, almost the correct answer...actually two of each...fretted and fretless... er well actually four of each fretted, fretless, Fender, and some other brand... er well....actually...

 

[8liter]

Two 4 strings, a 5 string and a 6 string! All unique, have very different voices and get played all the time.

The 6 stringer is growing on me though. I love the range.

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

I'm just as comfortable on a 4 string, but I play 5 and 6 string basses because I like the added range. A 4 string tuned drop D or even BEAD just doesn't satisfy my needs on a weekly basis.