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Four bangers on the decline?
- Thread starter Kwesi
- Start date
I own three 5 strings and number four is being built. I own six four strings and wont be getting anymore of those. Honestly I keep a log and make sure I play each of them about the same... But my 5 string ray gets most of the calls...
It seems to me that a great number of big players rely on 4 string basses as their workhorses, I can't see that changing. Having a 5th string can be handy but a low "B" often has a timbre that doesn't always jive with the other strings. Many makers also seem to think that 35" scale is key to a good sounding "B" string where I don't find that this is necessarily true and really don't care for the feel of the added tension. I can play a 19mm spaced 35" 5er but I hate the feel.
I love my 4 string basses when playing out. They are lighter weight and feel faster in my hands, they practically play themselves. When I go from 5 to 4 I feel like I'm flying. I think 4 string basses will always be a staple.
I love my 4 string basses when playing out. They are lighter weight and feel faster in my hands, they practically play themselves. When I go from 5 to 4 I feel like I'm flying. I think 4 string basses will always be a staple.
I didn't read through all the responses for this topic, so this may be a re-post:
TalkBass Forums - View Poll Results
According to this TB poll, 81.62% of the responding population play a four string fretted bass and ~9761 TB members play a 4 string (fretted or fretless).
At least among the TB peeps, 4 string is still the most popular.
TalkBass Forums - View Poll Results
According to this TB poll, 81.62% of the responding population play a four string fretted bass and ~9761 TB members play a 4 string (fretted or fretless).
At least among the TB peeps, 4 string is still the most popular.
You can do that with a four string as well.
I play nothing but four strings.
My P-bass is tuned F#BEA.
Thunderbird and T-40 are tuned BF#BE, sometimes AF#BE (I know, weird tuning), and for one song ZF#BE (Z being the bomb note, where the lowest string is tuned down to slack, so it sounds like bombs going off every time you hit it).
My Aria shortscale is anywhere from standard to drop C.
I used to have a couple five strings, one passive, one active, both midrange quality Ibanez basses. The tone was just sterile and too modern sounding for me. They sounded good, but it's just not the sound I want for anything I'm doing.
I see mostly 4 strings around my area ... At the moment I have a few 4's & a 5 & have also owned a 6 string that I gigged with for a year. These days I gig with a 4 string only ...... the 5'er stays at home ... overall I find 4 strings to be the most fun.
Four, no more, no less. Four shall be the number thou shalt play.
Five shalt thou not play, six is right out.
Five shalt thou not play, six is right out.
If I were to take a look back at the past 50 shows Ive played, I can remember a 5 being used maybe twice. 4's aren't dead or dying and never will.
I can create every phrase,lick,riff, and bassline I need with 4 strings, drop D is as low as I go. I play metal and rock/blues/jazz.
Really? I have yet to play a bad a American Deluxe V that I would call anything less than "good." I've played quite a few at this point.
I didn't think of that till after I wrote my post. That's probably a better way to look at it.
I don't like retuning my bass lower. It just doesn't make sense for what I like to do or the music that I play.
I found myself solely playing my 5 string jazz.
The solution to this predicament was to put flats on my short scale 4 string SG reissue to get as absolutely different basses as possible.
Without the rounds on it I want to play both again.
The solution to this predicament was to put flats on my short scale 4 string SG reissue to get as absolutely different basses as possible.
Without the rounds on it I want to play both again.
NOT to forget Prestia, Grahm, Collins, Squire, Palladino, King, Hellborg, Lee, Lesh, Bruce, McCartney, Cassady,etc., etc., etc. (this could go on all day)
A Majority still seem to play 4s for traditional reasons, but that IS changing. It's just like a lot of drummers still play traditional grip even though snare drums haven't hung on a sling for eons. (The reason for trad grip).
Let's face it the only reason bass guitars came with 4 strings is that upright basses mostly have 4 strings. But uprights ALSO have the same limitations that 4 string bass guitars have. So symphony guys solve that with extenders and 5 string uprights and the like. The problem is nobody asked how low SHOULD a bass go? How low does a Piano go? Is a piano "musical". Does it need a hipshot on the low keys? Drop tuning? 4 string basses are religion, not logic!
If your B string has a different timbre from the other strings. If your open strings have a different timbre from fretted notes. If the high frets on your B string sound noticeably different from the SAME notes on the E string. The problem isn't 5 strings, bunky. The problem is you need to sell that "Hondo" bass and buy at least a Squier.
I do agree that a 35" scale is no way needed for a good sounding B. My Ken Smith has a 34" scale and B string to die for. Maybe it makes a difference when you get to the Dingwall range but that 1 Inch has never seemed to make any difference to me either in tone or playing. As for neck size and shape and string spacing who gives a crap? Yes, slapping gets rough on close spaced strings but they really have to get close to really interfere. But the limited range of a 4 string and the way it forces you up and down the neck is SO uncomfortable! When I go from 4 to 5 I feel like I'm flying. I also feel like I just got out of prison!
Sure there will always be people who will play 4 strings. Just as there are people who still play the lute. But when you really want to cut through the mix, a lute is never my first pick!
That's hilarious... I always see way more fours than fives in store inventories, and when I play out, the bassists in the other bands are just as likely to have a four as a five. (What's funnier is most guys who play a five never use the low B.)
I never saw the need for a 5 string other than the advantage of not having to move about the fretboard as much without changing left hand position. Other than that it's 5 lower versions of notes that are already available on a 4 string. Am I missing something?
As a 4 banger, I only play 4 bangers not 5 bangers or 6 bangers. When I bang, I like to bang 4. Banging 5 would be 1 bang too many and 6 bangers is 2 more bangs than I like to bang.
I'm mainly a 4 string player. 5's are nice but will never replace 4's...unless nu-metal becomes the only form of music
I'm mainly a 4 string player. 5's are nice but will never replace 4's...unless nu-metal becomes the only form of music
*shudders*
