Four strings to die?

[keb]

Folks have been predicting the death of the 4-string for what, 20 years now? Nah, ain't gonna happen.

 

[keb]

Exactly. I remember when I bought my first ever copy of Bass Player magazine back in 1990, one of the topics was "Is the 4-string Doomed?" with a drawing of people in a museum looking at 4 string basses in glass cages, and the question was asked for the exact same reason its being asked here, ie more people seem to be using 5 string basses. Well, time has answered that question and the answer was a definite "NO" as it is now.

Ha, you beat me to it. I remember that article as well.

 

[Dublin-Bass]

As long as I'm aroudn 4'S will never die! I want a double neck bass tuned EADG- BEAD, are double genereally like wicked expensive?

Billy Sheehan uses one of them.

 

[sargebaker]

Billy Sheehan uses one of them.

I know, he's my fav bassist. (not the best IMO, but my favorite)

 

[MacheteJames]

I don't think the 4 string bass will ever go away, any more than the 6 string guitar will go away in favor of 7 string guitars. Musicians are an inherently conservative group when it comes to instruments. Just listen to all the people in this thread saying things like "I tried a 5, but I'm most comfortable on a 4", or "6 is where I draw the line". Why put yourself and your playing into a box and "draw lines"? I've never quite grasped the reason why musicians are so conservative in this way, but it is overwhelmingly obvious. Still, I think bassists are among the least so.

I play 5s and only 5s. I started on 4s. Someone once said that every 5 string bass contains a free 4 string. If the string spacing bothers you, just get one with wide spacing (like my fantastic MTD Kingston). You don't have to use the B for just the 5 lowest notes.. there's a whole string worth of notes on it. Play it as the complete instrument that it is, not a 4 string + 1.

Again, I say... why put your playing into a box?

 

[mark beem]

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...

I don't think the 4 string will ever die out. 5 may become the norm (if it hasn't already), but the 4 will always be around

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?

7s and 8s being the norm???

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh.. Not in a million years.

 

[Dublin-Bass]

I don't think the 4 string bass will ever go away, any more than the 6 string guitar will go away in favor of 7 string guitars. Musicians are an inherently conservative group when it comes to instruments. Just listen to all the people in this thread saying things like "I tried a 5, but I'm most comfortable on a 4", or "6 is where I draw the line". Why put yourself and your playing into a box and "draw lines"? I've never quite grasped the reason why musicians are so conservative in this way, but it is overwhelmingly obvious. Still, I think bassists are among the least so.

I play 5s and only 5s. I started on 4s. Someone once said that every 5 string bass contains a free 4 string. If the string spacing bothers you, just get one with wide spacing (like my fantastic MTD Kingston). You don't have to use the B for just the 5 lowest notes.. there's a whole string worth of notes on it. Play it as the complete instrument that it is, not a 4 string + 1.

Again, I say... why put your playing into a box?

I know what you mean but I wouldn't necessarily call that putting your playing in a box. I'd be more inclined to use that phrase to describe players who only want to play one type of music and aren't open to other styles.
I have a 5 string and I use it from time to time but I guess I'm more used to a 4 string having played it for so many years, though I'm open to trying different things. I do like my 5 though as the string spacing is quite comfortable and I also admire quite a few bassist who are predominately 5'ers.

 

[john turner]

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...

nope, 4 string sales still completely out pace 5+ string sales.

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?

i wouldn't be like everyone else even on a 4 string.

seriously, first of all, i didn't start on 7 string bass 11 years ago to be different, i did it because it was what i wanted to play. secondly, folks moving up to include 5 strings in their repetoire is a far cry from someone playing a 7 or 8 or more exclusively - totally different thing, really. lastly, if it ever does happen that a sizeable percentage of the bass playing population is making good music with extended range instruments like 7 strings, i'll be proud to have been one of many who were at the vanguard of the movement.

 

[john turner]

Warmoth!
But if you think about it for a minute all you will have is a REALLY HEAVY 8 string.

actually, you'll have a really heavy 5 string.

 

[jenderfazz]

You know, I think those few notes would be quite useful in any band situation. I'd like the freedom of going low, and some songs we play are in D. And many people are finding those notes useful. The 5 string will just keep getting more popular. But the ease of playing a 4 offers just won't go away.

 

[embellisher]

<SNIP>You don't have to use the B for just the 5 lowest notes.. there's a whole string worth of notes on it. Play it as the complete instrument that it is, not a 4 string + 1.

Again, I say... why put your playing into a box?

I agree 100%. I use the lowest string a lot on my fives and sixes. I don't play notes below E that often, but I love being able to play in E, F, G, etc on the low B string. Playing in F at the 6th fret is a lot more comfortable than playing in F at the first fret. I have short fingers, and the narrower fret spacing at the 6th fret makes those 5 fret reaches a lot easier.

As far as putting your playing into a box, it seems like a lot of people like to limit themselves.

I like variety! Sure, if I am playing a blues gig or an oldies gig, a 6 string is overkill. But if I am playing at church, having C, Db, D and Eb available in a lower octave is very nice. And when playing with my originals band, some of the parts I have written are impossible to play without at least 5 strings and 24 frets!

 

[Captain Scarlet]

There's no reason to get bent out of shape over the number of strings one plays, because what really matters in the end is the music. I personally don't care how many strings a player uses as long as the music he/she plays moves me. Most people listening in the audience don't care either. I love Jamerson and Jaco, but I also love Anthony Jackson and Patittucci. In the end, it's all a matter of the music and the player.

Like many here have said, 4 string basses will never die out. Play whatever sounds good and feels comfortable to you, be it 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7 or however many strings.

 

[secretdonkey]

Another one of *these* threads... oh, brother.

Is the 4 string in decline? Seeing as how it once represented close to 100% of the bass market, where COULD its market share go, but down?

 

[Bass Tranquil]

4 strings will never die because bassists have open minds and respect their roots and past. Jaco? With a 7? Nahhhhh

But you have to remember, didn't Mike Tobias say he only built ONE 4 stringer last year?

 

[Funkize you]

I dont in any way mean that the 4 string bass will be obsolete, I am just saying it is Less common for some reason, I personally dont care what anyone plays, weither its a 4 banger or a 5 or 6 string (I have all of the above BTW) I personally enjoy playing ANY decient bass Regardless of Strings, 4, 5,6,7,8,9, Chapman stick whatever, its all good, Im just saying that as of TODAY (not yesterday) It seems that bass sales are Revolving around 5 strings, MOST custom basses are 5 strings.

And again, saying things about Legends or Living Legends (Stanley Clarke, Jaco etc...) dosent really count, because MOST of those Legends were playing FAR before there was a 5 string of ANY quality.

And JT/Mark Beem, I didnt mean in any way that you played your Conkie's to be "Different" I know its just what you prefer, I like Conlins, but *I* dont really like 7 or 8 string basses, I prefer 6 and 4 strings.

***I am in no way bashing any bass for having any strings, Nor am I bashing any player that plays a XXX string bass (Or not to my knowledge at least...***

 

[Adam Barkley]

Do you mean all the metal players you know PERSONALLY or do you mean... like all of the metal players you know...? Because if you don't mean your personal friends etc, then I think you don't know too many metal players

Friends and Local Players. I have gotten bored with metal so I haven't seriously followed it in years.

 

[lyle]

I know, he's my fav bassist. (not the best IMO, but my favorite)

and he solos like a mad man, ive heard riffs that sounded like a guitar from Billy

 

[Brad Johnson]

4 strings will never die because bassists have open minds and respect their roots and past. Jaco? With a 7? Nahhhhh

Well, not this week anyway.



As far as bassists and open minds... please. They're no more open or closed in general than anyone else's.

On the roots tip, it's hard to have respect for something you're unaware of

But you have to remember, didn't Mike Tobias say he only built ONE 4 stringer last year?

Which only proves that Mike's clients wanted more than four strings. That's all.