Four bangers on the decline?

[bluesdogblues]

Seems like it to me. I can't say if they'll ever go "extinct" but I don't see anyone playing them around where I live. And beyond that it seems like most custom builders are building many more fives than fours. What say you, TB?

IME yes it decline... But not to 5 or 6 string basses, but to 'programmed synth bass'.. At least in recording situations.
But good player (of good 4 string bass) still in demand tho, sometimes in the recording situation (esp. Band production) and more in live performance, although it competes hard w the 5/6ers.

Just my 2 cents

 

[macribas]

Last night I played in a festival with 10 bands. Out of 10 bass players, I was the only one playing a 5-string bass.
So I guess it really depends where you hang out.

 

[type C basses]

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.

I have to say, nit-picker that I am, that this poll shows the total amount of basses that people own. It does not represent what the people consider to be their go-to bass, just what can be found in their bass collection. You may have noticed that the percentages exceed 100%, as each person could select several basses. To say that more people rely on only 4 strings than 5 may be true but is not proven in this poll. Not trying to bust your balls, this poll has been brought up a few times in this thread.

 

[JehuJava]

I recently just got rid of my 5 and 6's for nothing but 4's. I'm so much more happier now.

 

[benthughes]

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.

You're right, I'll sell that POS USA Spector and see if I can't pick up one of those Squier basses you speak of

 

[fretlessguy]

After 11 years of playing fretted and fretless fives, I have returned to my beloved passive Fender 4 strings. In these parts I rarely see 5s anymore, but mainly fours and a few six stringers.
NOPE. I think it will be the standard for many years to come.

 

[CrankenStein]

Sounds to me like it might be your area or music scene, I hardly see 5's around here.

 

[johndough247]

I agree that 4's will continue to dominate for many years to come, but there are several other genres that regularly use 5's and 6's as part of that 'sound': Modern Gospel, R&B, Reggae, Soca, Merengue and several other Caribbean styles just to name a few, and that's just in my neck of the woods...

Not to play devil's advocate, but maybe the reason why they're so dominant is that most of the bass legends (and a large group of members on TB) were born into a virtually 4-string only world, and that subsequently became their comfort zone (this is NOT saying Vic or Marcus or Stanley etc. couldn't kill on a 5 or 6, but it'd be a change of pace from the norm i'm sure). Not to mention you couldn't walk into most studios without a 4-string Fender until the last what...20 or so years? (could be wrong, someone correct me on this)

As for the younger generation like myself, IMO we were either A) was taught by the older crowd, who encouraged learning on 4's first (again, not necessarily a bad thing IMO)...B) Learning about the same Bass legends and in an attempt to emulate them, buys a 4 banger...C) Heading to the nearest music store and noticed an abundance of 4's...which offers more variety/seems a little less daunting than 5's to the newbie.

For all these reasons I believe the whole "crappy B string/tonally different" argument is moot when faced with such odds in favor of 4's before that phase is reached (I mean, how many of us were truly on the epic quest for Tone we suffer from today the first time we picked up a bass?). Don't get me wrong though: I love 4's, there's a bit of romanticism with the whole thing, and I agree if the style/songs you play don't require the low notes/extra position then use a 4. But I learned on a decent Ibanez 5 in high school so there's no 'getting used to it' issue...as one person said, moving from 5 to a 4 feels like you're flying.

 

[NordyFan99]

I don't know,sometimes people like to use the 5th string as a thumbrest .
And I'm quite serious.
People also sometimes like the smaller spacing,so they buy a 5 string or a 6 string.
And those that do have 5 or 6 string basses don't use the extra strings so much.

Those that play 7 or more strings use it for solo projects...Then they use the extra high strings alot,but...really?

I'm using now a 4 string bass,but I'm thinking of getting a 5 or a 6 because my hands are huge so the 4 string neck feels really small to me.
I also like the idea that I can change my playing style and "move" a little less all over the fretboard.

 

[JimmyM]

4 strings on the decline? kwesi, i think you shouldn't drink

 

[Gintaras]

I also got rid of my 5 and 6 and know have (3) 4's. I go to a lot of shows and the dominate bass seems to be the 4. Actually would like to see some 5 and 6's played more often.

 

[wumusic]

I have to say, nit-picker that I am, that this poll shows the total amount of basses that people own.

Right. But, don't you think there may be some correlation between what is owned and what is played? Just maybe?

The thread is very subjective. The poll, while not scientific by any means, provides a certain measure of objectivity. I believe that there is some statistical significance in the results - more significance than "I haven't seen many people use 4 strings anymore, are they on the decline?".

It does not represent what the people consider to be their go-to bass, just what can be found in their bass collection.

This is true. From the poll we do not know the % of people that own a combination and out of that sample, which choose their 4+ strings over their 4s. We could probably find that out since they track the user name to response. But who has time for that?

An overwhelming majority of people own a 4 string. And again, there has to be a correlation between ownership and use. I don't think you should completely dismiss that 80% of this population own a 4 string. Furthermore, manufacturers would not be producing 4s if they weren't selling. The vast majority of players would not be buying them if they weren't using them.

Of course I could wrong: maybe the vast majority of the TB bass playing (or should it be bass owning) population are primarily collectors and don't actually use what they buy...

You may have noticed that the percentages exceed 100%, as each person could select several basses.

Righto. So?

To say that more people rely on only 4 strings than 5 may be true but is not proven in this poll.

Agreed. However, the results from this poll shed a little more light on the conversation than "I don't see a lot of people playing 4 strings, are they on the decline?".

Not trying to bust your balls, this poll has been brought up a few times in this thread.

And you may have noticed I put a disclaimer on my post stating that "this may be a re-post" as I didn't read through the entire thread. By stating this are you meaning to say that I shouldn't have posted anything at all?

 

[Aussie Player]

All the idols we have play 4 strings. The subtle yet technical bass runs we hear on record and see played live are the reason we play. None of us idolized an "oompah" thumb player who follows root chords, we like to hear subtle notes that are complimentary to the melody line. Most 5 string player which includes the great majority of metal players are just rhythm players pounding out the root chord with a pick and are not only boring, but very uninventive and non conplimentary in the least to the song.

Compare the dope in Metallica to John Paul Jones for example. Thunderous boomy root notes lost in the mix compared to tasteful melodic "chosen" notes that display technique, tone, separation and drool.

In the 50 years bass guitar has been gaining its own audience, 99% and right up to today have been done on a 4 stringer becuase it is faster, easier to move around on the fretboard, encourages deliberate hard played chords, and seems to carry superior tone control over any 5 or 6 I have heard.

So, at least in my house, as long as my ass point to the ground, it will remain 4 string territory.

 

[()smoke()]

All the idols we have play 4 strings. The subtle yet technical bass runs we hear on record and see played live are the reason we play. None of us idolized an "oompah" thumb player who follows root chords, we like to hear subtle notes that are complimentary to the melody line. Most 5 string player which includes the great majority of metal players are just rhythm players pounding out the root chord with a pick and are not only boring, but very uninventive and non conplimentary in the least to the song.

Compare the dope in Metallica to John Paul Jones for example. Thunderous boomy root notes lost in the mix compared to tasteful melodic "chosen" notes that display technique, tone, separation and drool.

In the 50 years bass guitar has been gaining its own audience, 99% and right up to today have been done on a 4 stringer becuase it is faster, easier to move around on the fretboard, encourages deliberate hard played chords, and seems to carry superior tone control over any 5 or 6 I have heard.

So, at least in my house, as long as my ass point to the ground, it will remain 4 string territory.

lots of sweeping generalization here, no?

 

[dogofgod]

lots of sweeping generalization here, no?

There might have been a lot of generalizations, but I agreed with everyone of them

 

[boynamedsuse]

The guys who stick to 4-strings are the ones who used to yell at me to get off their lawn.

 

[Kwesi]

lots of sweeping generalization here, no?

Loads of them . Aussie Player's post made me chuckle.

 

[Aussie Player]

The guys who stick to 4-strings are the ones who used to yell at me to get off their lawn.

To Quote John Wayne (Also an older influence) "Sounds like good advice".

 

[cassius987]

Loads of them . Aussie Player's post made me chuckle.

Yes indeed, but the OP was also pretty funny.

You guys should tour together! The TalkBass Stand Up Comedy Tour. Think about it, this place is a gold mine of material, for a rather limited audience.

 

[Kwesi]

Yes indeed, but the OP was also pretty funny.

You guys should tour together! The TalkBass Stand Up Comedy Tour. Think about it, this place is a gold mine of material, for a rather limited audience.

I can only speak of my own experiences, not anyone else's. And in my experience, four string use has gone down. I just wondered if the same trend was happening elsewhere.