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Does it almost feel weird to see 4 stringers anymore?

PasdaBeer

PasdaBeer

Nov 2, 2002
1,694
13
Santa Rosa California
#1
So over the last couple weeks, ive started construction on 2 5 strings basses, along with ordering a custom threw michael dolan guitars.

Now the wierd thing. I own one 5 string bass, its my back up. But for some reason, seeing a 4 string non J or P style bass is strange to me. To me, nothing feels better then a thick P style 4 string neck! But i feel so pulled towards building/buyin 5+ string basses ( and even wierder.....tuned E to C : / )


Anyone else feelin it? :ninja:
 
#2
No, I find nothing unusual about it at all.
You are used to thicker, beefier necks, so it understandable you would like the same in a four. The P is the perfect thing for you then.:smug:
Funny, due to some joint problems I have gone to short scales for the majority of live playing, but the neck of my 54 P bass reissue feels easy to play without the usual discomfort, even though it has the dimensions of a baseball bat. The only thing I can figure is the vintage frets make it easier to finger and play.:confused:
Nothing weird about a 5 tuned E to C either. Many are not happy with The big B and find the tuning more comfortable to play. I would put a Hipshot detuner on the E so I could drop down to D as well. Have fun!
 
#5
sorry, its late, spelling doesnt work in my head well...

The feel of a 4 is deffintly what i like. But i dont know, they just almost look odd to me when not a P or J styled body.

I was cutting the neck woods for a singlecut im working on, and it sorta hit me then... "why the hell am i making this a 5...its for me, and I play 4s..."
 
#7
I recently ordered a 4, having started on 5, I always leaned towards the 5+ strings, but I think 4 are beauty and for most of the music I play are more than enough... I don't think they will ever disappear and I still think they will be the largest bass market
 
#11
I think it's legitimate to regard the role of the bass as mostly resting on roots and fifths, covering a range of about an octave but as low as possible. A 5-string allows that octave to move down a fourth, lending a deeper bass line when playing in C or D.

I know an excellent bassist who's been playing for decades, owns 18 basses, and has one 6-string. He's never actually played the C string at a gig, and doesn't really understand why anyone would want one. He doesn't even use the G string much anyway. And for those whose understanding of bass matches his, extra strings only get in the way and add confusion.
 
#13
I got rid of all of my 4 string basses years ago ... When I play a 4 string bass it feels like a whole string is missing ... oh ya ... it is missing a string ...

I like the 4 string p-bass neck so much that I put 5 strings on them ... it works quite nicely ... I get 2 5/8" at the bridge and the 1 5/8" at the nut ... perfect for the left and right hands ...
 
#14
Nah. 4 is right on. I have a 6 so I have nothing against them; but most of the time, I'm playing my 4. Visually, a 4 doesn't stand out at all. However; IMO, a 6 stands out a little bit in many settings. There are a lot of 6's out there, but I would hesitate to call them mainstream yet.

Peace,
Joe
 
#15
5 string basses aren't simply a 4 string bass with an added string, theres's something about them which alters your style of playing in my opinion.

There will always be a market for 4 string basses and it is my guess that they will always be more popular than 5 strings.
 
#19
Not really weird, I play 4s and most of the people in my scene do also. I know a lot of other people prefer 5s for the low B.

When I see more than 5 strings its a little unusual to me but they're for people who like the extended range, chords, ect; its just not my thing.

And I also love the size of the P neck.
 
#20
"Does it almost feel weird to see 4 stringers anymore?"

No, not at all. They're freakin' everywhere. Still. They're all over the place.

It maybe no longer feels weird to see 5- or 6-string basses. Maybe. They're common, but I'm still not sure you can claim they're ubiquitous.

It still feels weird to see 7-, 8-, or 9-string basses, especially if they're in a band situation playing meat&potatoes basslines.
 

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