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How many bass should i have

JDaSilva

JDaSilva

Guest
Feb 10, 2016
5
1
45
#1
I am coming from guitar playing and I have more than one guitar , I know bass is the same , we all like variety , but generally speaking , once I buy a 6 string bass that i like , will I have use for a four strings bass?
How many of you completly left the 4 strings permanently after playing with a 6 strings

My question is because I own a Geddy lee signature bass , made in Japan , I was not so happy with the very thin neck , i am considering selling it , will i miss it ? sense now I own a 6 strings bass ?
 
#3
Old Blastard said:
Keep the 4 unless you need the money. That's a great bass and there may be some gig or project where the 6-string just won't work.
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+1 Especially if the 6er has soapbars or something in it. One day your gonna be looking for that j bass sound and you'll have it. Everyone on here is different. Some guys make 1 bass do what they want, other guys need 10 basses to do what they want. It's all preference and depends on what type of work you are doing.
 
#4
There is no possibility of anybody giving you a relevant and/or definitive answer as to a specific number of instruments.

Everyone is different, their tastes, playing style, needs and musical requirements are all different.

You need as many or as few bass guitars as :

A) Makes you happy

B) You can afford

C) Meets you musical needs/requirements

Good luck whatever you decide.
 
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#9
Keep the CIJ Geddy. It's not worth a ton in resale but it's well regarded and they don't make them anymore. You will kick yourself someday.

You need a lot more basses. Stick around and you will soon realize how crazy it is that you've made it this far without lots and lots of basses.
 
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#10
Joe Nerve said:
As many as you can afford.
As many as you can charge.
As many as you can fit in your house; closets, under beds, and attic included.
As many as your significant other, or parents will allow.

Did I miss anything?
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Affording things comes simply if you live at home: sell a younger sibling. Dont tell your parents.

I swear. Some people could hide their own easter eggs.
 
#13
JDaSilva said:
How many of you completly left the 4 strings permanently after playing with a 6 strings
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I permanently left 4 string basses behind when I switched to 5 string basses. Well for the last 25 years. I couldn't play in 2 of my bands without the B string. I don't know what the future holds but I can't see me changing back voluntarily.

Technically you only need a 6 string bass to cover everything you need to play as a bass player, but different basses have different sounds, feelings and vibes. That's the usual reason for owning more than one bass.

I'd just say you need at least 2 basses, a main and a backup. I get easily confused so my backup bass is always the same format (5 strings) as my main bass.
 
#16
Your wife will know how many you should own.
If you don't have a wife, your wallet will establish your limit.

I got a 6 for down tuning to F# but I didn't like it because I don't really like the wide neck.
It sits in my closet now. It is a Cort curbow. Really cool bass, just not my "cup o' tea."

I'm happy with my 4 string and hipshot D-tuner. I could almost go for a 3 string, but not quite.
Also I discovered that D was about as low as I wanted to go anyway.
Below that I just had a hard time getting the fundamental amplified cleanly
while still maintaining my tone in the upper mids and highs.

I also find that more strings equals harder to maintain tonal balance between strings.
I'm using a slightly fanned fretted solid graphite neck and that helps a lot.

But if you like a 6 stringer, you should play what you like.
 
#17
If he doesn't like the Geddy Lee, he doesn't like the Geddy Lee. I don't see any reason to tell him not to sell it and get a bass he does like. It really comes down to what you want for what you're playing. Some people are playing the same 4-string P bass they've had for thirty years and have no interest in trying anything else. Others have collections of dozens of basses. If you want a 6, get a 6 and try it out. Only time will tell if you're happy with it to do everything you want or if you start wanting something else.

I went over to 5-strings pretty early on, when I'd only been playing a couple of months. Played them exclusively for a few years, then, I don't know -- something just made me crave having a traditional four-string again. GAS, I guess. Eventually got one I really liked, and gradually it took over as my main bass. I still have the 5ers and pull them out from time to time, but there's really nothing I'm playing now that absolutely needs them. There was up till a year ago and might be again in the future. The current collection is two fours (a Carvin SB4000 and a parts P bass/J neck), two fives (a Yamaha BB415 and a John Toon custom), and a fretless acoustic (Godin A4). Those cover everything I'm interested in doing and assure that I have a backup at any gig, and I don't have any major GAS except some curiosity to maybe get a Rickenbacker some day (gotta have your +1, right?).
 
#19
If you don't like Geddy lee bass, you may just sell it and get another one, but I don't see you really need a 6. Some people have 5 string /6 string bass but they play their 4 most of the time. If you like a thicker neck, just get a bass with a thicker neck. There are plenty of options - a P bass, another Fender jazz, Warwick ...... just try them out and you'll know which one is your next bass.
 
#20
buldog5151bass said:
You NEED one bass. Only your budget/significant other determines the extent of your WANT.
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Exactly this.

To play bass, you need one bass.

What you do (or don't do) after that is entirely up to you.

Addendum:

A 6-string bass is not a 4-string bass with two extra strings. IMO it's an entirely different instrument despite its obvious similarities. It has a distinctly different feel and vibe. And many players can tell you it calls for an entirely different mindset and approach, along with a subtle differences in playing technique, to get the best from it. It's also better suited for some styles of music than others.

So by all means get a 6-string if that's what you want. Just be aware it's its own thing - and not just a 4-string on steroids.
 
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