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Four strings to die?

F

Funkize you

Nov 4, 2003
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Westminster Ca.
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#1
Hey, I have been noticing lateley that more and More players are sporting 5 string basses, Most of the "Featured" players at any bass site, and around here... Galleries like "Show your Bass" or whatever have a Majority of 5 string basses, also now most "Professional" bassists use 5 strings as well. It seems that 4 string use is on the Decline, and (I may be wrong) but I think sales on the 5 string is More than on a four string...

So for all you Multi-String people Jonh Turner and Progzilla (Mark Beem) you may one day just be like everyone else... So maybe "Progression" is actually "Regression" huh?
 
#2
Meh. I see what you mean, but Victor Wooten keeps me alive :-p I think a lot of pro's use 5's because they are in nu-metal bands and they detune so they like the lower string. I think there are plenty of 4 stirng users you just notice the 5's because you are looking for them. If you were thinking that 4 striingers were taking over the 5'ers, you'd problem notice an abundance of 4's.
 
#6
Hmmm...If you look at the "what kind of bass do you own/play" thread way up top, the number of 4-string players is twice that of 5-stringers.

I primarily play a 5 myself, but one day I'd like to add a premium 4-string to my future arsenal, because I find slapping/popping easier on a 4 than a 5.

But I must agree that the number of people playing 5-strings has gone up since I started playing a 5 back in 1995 or so. Because of that, it's much easier to find affordable fivers than it was a decade back.

Still, a lot of modern/ high profile rock bands prefer 4's (particularly vintage 4's). Jet, The Vines, Opeth, Von Bondies, Godsmack, Velvet Revolver, Slayer, The Strokes, Chili Peppers, and others do very well with 4's. So while 5's are being used by more people, the 4 is still the mainstay.

But I do wonder based on analogies of other mediums. I wonder if something like this is what Funkize's trying to get at: Should the pushrod engine have died due to the introduction and wide usage of Dual-Overhead-Camshafts? GM doesn't seem to think so. Should 2D video games have died now that 3D graphics are all the rage? Handheld systems like Game Boy don't seem to think so. But then again, are GM and Game Boy truly the last bastions for pushrods and 2D gaming respectively? But perhaps musical instruments are a whole different beast than, say, automobiles and game consoles.
 
#7
I'm mostly a 4-stringer too. I have an SR-5, but I have'nt spent enough time to get used to it. Plus the gigs I'm playing don't require the added 5 notes :D . But if playing a 5 becomes necessary for me to get a gig, I'll start woodshedding. :bassist:
 
#9
Funkize you said:
Ok go to Norstrands Site, or F bass... Most of the Featured instruments are 5 strings, Most High end basses and Custom basses sold are 5 strings. Just bringing it up as a Point of interest.

(IS this topic out of place Mod's)
Click to expand...

That's because it's much easier to find a decent four than a five... so people will pay more to have a nice five built.
 
#13
I believe Gard has said that five-stringers are the most popular at basscentral.com. But anyway, the fact is that more and more bass lines in popular music are traveling below low E... it's true for blues, pop, and country, not just jazz and heavy metal. Someone here mentioned that five-string is now the standard for studio musicians and that makes sense.

Four string will not disappear. And I would never say that five is "better"... however it is more versatile. So, that's why I recommend that beginners start on 5 if at all possible.... it'll increase their marketability.
 
#15
Fuzzbass said:
I believe Gard has said that five-stringers are the most popular at basscentral.com. But anyway, the fact is that more and more bass lines in popular music are traveling below low E... it's true for blues, pop, and country, not just jazz and heavy metal. Someone here mentioned that five-string is now the standard for studio musicians and that makes sense.

Four string will not disappear. And I would never say that five is "better"... however it is more versatile. So, that's why I recommend that beginners start on 5 if at all possible.... it'll increase their marketability.
Click to expand...
When songs are in a key below E, it's more convenient from a bass point of view to have those extra notes. It's quite annoying to go down a D scale until open E only to have to go back up to 5th fret on the 2nd string. The B string is quite useful, in this case.

However, it can be done without a 5. It's just a matter of choice, but many people today seem to prefer the lower, 5 string option.
 
#16
I have yet to play a 5 that I am happy with, either the string spacing is too narrow or the neck is too big. Les Claypool said something like "the bass you play the most is the one you are most comfortable with" and that is the truth. I can't get comfortable on a 5. I don't think I am the only person who feels this way therefore I don't think 5's are going anywhere. However, if you look at the evolution of the bass they did start out with 3 strings and now a 3 string bass is something that when it comes up gets 8 threads in one day ;)

Of course the 3 strings of olde were DB and not BG.
 
#18
4s will always live. Know why?

Because there's something about a 4 banger, slung around your waiste, digging in a little harder than normal, making the pocket scream.

Note, however, that I usually play a 5 well above my belt line. I've slung it low too, and it just doesn't feel the same as a 4. It's a vibe thing. Can't do that with a 4.

I'm also cool with 6,7 and 8 bangers. I don't care. It's about the vibe, the time, and the place. There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
 
#19
I think the four will always be popular. All the stuff I write, play, and the majority of what I listen to is within the realm of four strings.

I have no plans to switch to a multi-string any time soon. I have only played two five strings that I thought the B string was "musical." (Corvette Pro Fretless and a SR5) Also, short of a starting or joining a Primus cover band, I don't think I ever will need more than a four string.
 
#20
I think most of the folks that play five and six string basses still do the majority of their playing on the traditional four. It seems to me that a lot of people use B strings as thumbrests and not that many people really play sixers. I stopped playing sixes because I found myself too tempted to noodle all the time. I like the feel of multi string basses better than fours though, so a five seems like a pretty good compromise. I have recently, though, been keeping a four on hand for when I play with new people. Other musicians seem to be more comfortable when bass players use four strings. I don't think that the musical community at large will let the four string die. I think most guitarists would prefer bassists only have two strings and very few ideas.
 

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