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Famous players that only use four string?

earlofmar11

earlofmar11

Jan 25, 2012
41
3
Brussels, Belgium
#1
I've been playing bass for about two years now (after more than 35 years of guitar) and only played 4 string basses until now. Recently I've been getting gas for a 5 string. So I'm trying to convince myself that I don't really need it. Restriction can be a good thing...

To support this, I've been thinking that there must be quite some famous bass players that stick to 4 string basses. I may be mistaken, but I think that some of my favourite players never use anything else: people like Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, Geddy Lee or Pete Trewavas...

Is this correct? Do you know other famous examples (speaking of course of the time since 5 string basses are widely used)?
 
#8
Actually the question should be who doesnt play 4 string.

Multi string basses are not more common than 4.

I have always played differently on a 4 string-as a 6 and 7 string solo player-I see them all as different instruments.

I also see the 6 and 8 string guitar as completely different instruments and I play them differently.
 
#9
i guess i don't play 4 strings.
at least when i can get around it.
if you waved your magic wand and said the words, and my remaining two 4 string basses are turned into 5ers, i'd actually thank you. It's hard to get the sound of my vintage P fretless from a modern instrument, so that's the only 4 i play occasionaly.
 
#11
deernaes said:
My opinion has always been that if you can't do it on a four string, you definitely can't do it on a fiver.....
Click to expand...

bassteban said:
Disagree. Assuming for the sake of argument we are talking EADG tuning on a four, and no detuner, hit a low B, C, C#, D or D# on one. Slap in any of these keys.
Some basses can absolutely do things others cannot.
Click to expand...

+1 for bassteban.

I enjoy playing on a 4 string, but during my days in two cover bands playing 6 nights a week for over 2.5 years, a 5 string was absolutely essential. The low B string just gives you so much more options and some songs would simply sound lame if you could not play a low B or D and had to play them on the A string.
 
#15
Most bassists you see playing straight ahead rock will be playing four stringers. Not to say that there won't be a five string in there but four is still the standard it seems. Just off the top of my head here are a few...

Matt Freeman
Mark Hoppus
Tony Franklin
Dee Dee Ramone
Stu Hamm
Steve Harris
Herbie Flowers
Pino Palladino
 
#18
Sheesh!

Will Lee
Marcus Miller

IME the 4 with the Drop tuner will cover any club gigging cover band playing tunes that are popular. Notes below Low D are not required.

4's vs 5's: there are trade-offs. The lower notes on the detuned E string use a longer string length vs same note on the 5 and sound less compressed to my ear. The 5 lets players nominally play with fewer position shifts. However, a mature player eventually figures out that position shifts are required anyhow to execute lines not written for bass guitar. So, this rationalization is less important to me.

I personally will play the 4, 5, or 6 depending on no particular reasons I have to explain to anyone. However, I find the 4's to be generally useful in most situations and not at all displaced by the 5. I do have the HipShot on all my 4's. Even my 62 J.:D
 
#19
6stringpanda said:
I have always played differently on a 4 string...
Click to expand...

This is a big thing in the debate for me. I have been playing 5's for a long time. When I play a 4, I play differently. Not better or worse, just different.

bucephylus said:
Sheesh!

IME the 4 with the Drop tuner will cover any club gigging cover band playing tunes that are popular. Notes below Low D are not required.
Click to expand...

I am finding that while I occasionally use B and C in church, for MOST of my playing, a low D covers 99% of my needs.

I am debating going to or adding a P bass to my tools. I have been listening to Pino and Jamareo Artis (Bruno Mars) lately and they lay down some ridiculous groves and licks on their passive 4 string, 20 fret P basses.
 
#20
bucephylus said:
IME the 4 with the Drop tuner will cover any club gigging cover band playing tunes that are popular. Notes below Low D are not required.

4's vs 5's: there are trade-offs. The lower notes on the detuned E string use a longer string length vs same note on the 5 and sound less compressed to my ear. The 5 lets players nominally play with fewer position shifts. However, a mature player eventually figures out that position shifts are required anyhow to execute lines not written for bass guitar. So, this rationalization is less important to me.
Click to expand...

Plenty of stuff requires notes below D. Even modern country. That may not be the case IYE but I would say that that has more to do with the breadth of your experience and less to do with what reality actually is.

And as a "mature" player who also sings alot (lead and BGV's) that "rationalization" is quite valid as I see no need to jump all over the fretboard to play stuff on a 4 when I could be in one position on a 5.

And yes I own both 4's and 5's. And if I don't know the set before hand or need to be flexible or need to sing I'm taking a 5.
 

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