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Does it make sense to own the same bass in different string combinations ?

#21
I'm a believer in getting one bass, getting a tone that you (and the sound person) like, and going with that. I'd much rather have my two good basses than a dozen lesser ones.

craigie said:
I have one jazz fretted and one fretless I use and I like that they have the same output and similar tone (enough so that the room EQ isn’t thrown off).

I’m planning on bringing three basses to an audition this week and am wondering am I nuts?
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Unless there was some discussion of this, I wouldn't. Bring the one you are most comfortable with.
 
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#22
craigie said:
I have one jazz fretted and one fretless I use and I like that they have the same output and similar tone (enough so that the room EQ isn’t thrown off).

I’m planning on bringing three basses to an audition this week and am wondering am I nuts?
Click to expand...
A little :D I would bring your most populist bass and tell them you own a fretless should they ever need it. Psychology plays a very big part in landing gigs.
 
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#24
Personally, I play exclusively* 5s. I still have my first bass, a fender 4 string zone. Sentimental reasons.

That said, I would probably recommend you sit in a shop with a 4 and a 5, and play for at least 20 minutes on each. I find that I enjoy finger picking more with a 5, and using a pick more on the 4 string.

Also, have you considered restringing your 4 string as BEAD instead of EADG?

*I also have an Ibanez SRC6 (Bass VI). I mention this because you're a guitar player who moved to bass, and you mentioned a fondness for Ibanez. However, it's tuned EADGBe (sound familar?) so it may not fulfill your needs.
 
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#25
JimmyM said:
A little :D I would bring your most populist bass and tell them you own a fretless should they ever need it. Psychology plays a very big part in landing gigs.
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He gave me some songs and one suits fretless best so I’ll bring it. Just because you have a fretless doesn’t mean you can play it

I’ve worked hard on the vocal harmonies as well so I’m going to blow him away.

OP: sorry for the derail.

My opinion is if it fits your needs and budget more than one bass is fine.
 
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#26
For me, no. And I have the same bass in 5 and 6 string versions. I never play the 5 anymore. I recently put rounds on it for a different tone. Still nothing, it’s not “my” sound now.

An exception may be made for alternate tunings, however. I have my 4 string (different style of bass) tuned a step lower just for something different. My idea behind all of this now is I have a standard tuned and strung bass (5 string w/rounds), a 6 string for anything requiring the high C string (6 string with flats), and a downtuned bass (r string with flats). I have every possible tone at my fingertips.

In reality, however, I play my 6 string 95% of the time or more. I say find “your” bass, get as many strings on it as you want, and go. I have had to make my 5 string serve a different tonal purpose to justify keeping it, hence the rounds on it.
 
#27
IMO, it makes sense to own as many basses as you feel good playing.

Get the 5, use it for the songs you want. A few months down the track, if you find you never pick up the 4 any more, sell it. But if you're like me, you may find you enjoy playing the 4 more, so you use that 95% of the time and just reach for the 5 for a handful of songs where you really need it.
 
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#30
Seems like if you end up adapting to the 5, the 4 would not be that useful. Then again I’m a minimalist and love simplicity. Right now I rock a P bass with a de- tuner to get me to low D. I still think about just going to a 5 at some point. If I do, and I adapt well, the 4 will be on the auction block.
 
#35
In my opinion, a 5 string is a different bass - even if it is the same model as the 4 string.

The only relevant question will be:

Once you bought the 5 string and got used to it, can you justify keeping the 4 string?

When there is some application where you need the four strings for whatever reason and you keep it, then the answer to the original question is yes.

When there is none and you can do all you did with the 4 string plus more and you decide to sell the four string then the answer is no.
 
#36
StatesideRambler said:
If it's what you want, why would it need to make sense to anyone else? You do what you want for yourself and tell them to mind their own business. Frankly, I think it's a cool idea.
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Because you are auditioning for them. If for any reason they don't like what they see/hear, you wasted your time.
 
#39
craigie said:
I have one jazz fretted and one fretless I use and I like that they have the same output and similar tone (enough so that the room EQ isn’t thrown off).

I’m planning on bringing three basses to an audition this week and am wondering am I nuts?
Click to expand...
Chances are, you'll only play one. But, underprepared is much much worse than over prepared. I say
 
#40
buldog5151bass said:
Because you are auditioning for them. If for any reason they don't like what they see/hear, you wasted your time.
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According to what the OP says, he isn't auditioning, he's already a member of the band. He says he's looking to adapt himself to the repertoire they play and his question is whether it's acceptable to play both 4-string and 5-string versions of the same instrument. I've not read a convincing argument against doing so. As long as he serves the song he's supporting the band.
 
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