How many metal bass players use a 6 string or more?

[madbassplaya]

Before you answer that question, please do not say "you can play metal with any bass." I realize that. That's why i'm not asking; "which bass is best for metal?"

I recently aquired a 6 string bass that I am playing and absolutely love it. It goes very well with the church praise team that I back up. The looks, tone, and aesthetics are really amazing and I am very happy with it.

I have just been asked to possibly join a metal band that a couple of guys I know will be starting. The singer/guitarist is utterly amazing. He knows his stuff and is a pleasure to work with. The drummer is also very good. He is getting a master's in music education and knows his stuff. He is very versatile!
The guys are wanting to play some classic metal i'm sure such as Ozzy and Sabbath, but our focus will be bands such as Killswitch Engage, maybe some Five Finger Death Punch type stuff.

I know Killswitch tunes to C. I was asked if I would play a 4 string and tune to C or play a 5?

I'm not sure about this because a lot of killswitch songs seem to be written with that open C note being pretty dominate.

So, I'm not sure if I should get a 4 and tune to C or play a 5 string (can you tune a 5 to C by tuning up) or just bring my six and rock that.

I can't think of any metal player other that John Myung that uses a 6 and I play nothing like him! He is far more technical than I am.

 

[Robs1887]

I've never played a 6-stringer, but I can tell you that dropping a 4-string into C is not really a great experience. I played with a show with a metal band last week that tuned to C and I had all sorts of problems getting my bass set up. Floppy strings and serious neck adjustments. Pain in the ass.

I'm not sure if tuning up a 5-stringer is better or not. If it were me, I'd rock the 6er.

 

[madbassplaya]

I've never played a 6-stringer, but I can tell you that dropping a 4-string into C is not really a great experience. I played with a show with a metal band last week that tuned to C and I had all sorts of problems getting my bass set up. Floppy strings and serious neck adjustments. Pain in the ass.

I'm not sure if tuning up a 5-stringer is better or not. If it were me, I'd rock the 6er.

Well, if I did buy a 4, I was thinking about tuning it BEAD.

 

[MrMe]

The bassist of Obscura plays a six string fretless Thumb, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

for that I'd tune a 4 to C, some riffs would be impossible to play otherwise

 

[madbassplaya]

for that I'd tune a 4 to C, some riffs would be impossible to play otherwise

that's what i'm thinking. now would it work better to do this with a standard E-G or B-D?

 

[Robs1887]

Well, if I did buy a 4, I was thinking about tuning it BEAD.

Thanks makes more sense. I would say bring the 6-string, and if it doesn't work out then get a 4 and tune it up. Although, if you were going to tune up a 4 to C, then why not tune up a 5?

 

[countrybassist]

Go for it bro!! Use the 6

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Not sure what you mean by that, I'd go C-F-A♯-D♯

 

[stflbn]

Personally, I think the more appropriate question is... "How many metal players really need or make use of a 6-string bass".

 

[madbassplaya]

Thanks makes more sense. I would say bring the 6-string, and if it doesn't work out then get a 4 and tune it up. Although, if you were going to tune up a 4 to C, then why not tune up a 5?

Would that work out ok? I don't have a ton of experience with Drop tunings. I have always used a 5 string and the lowest tuning I played in was D. So, I never downtuned.

Would tuning a 5 string to C work?

 

[DeliriumTremens]

You'd be tuning it up a semitone, you'd probably want lighter gauge strings or there or they might feel too tight or affect the neck. You'd definitely need to have it set up

 

[madbassplaya]

Not sure what you mean by that, I'd go C-F-A♯-D♯

that's what i was asking. would it be better to tune a standard E-G down or tune a B-D up?

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Ah I see. I'd go down personally

 

[countrybassist]

The style of music that I play doesn't require drop tuning, but even if it did, I'm not a fan of tuning too differently. I don't want to put uneven tension on the neck. I'd just leave the 5, if your not going to use the 6, in standard and play the C on the 1st fret.

 

[madbassplaya]

Ah I see. I'd go down personally

that would mean the bass would have to be completely set up for that low C tuning then? how much of a hassle is that?

 

[DeliriumTremens]

probably just a case of loosening the truss rod a little bit and setting the intonation. A set of 50 - 110 or 55 - 115 would do the trick for gauges I think

 

[madbassplaya]

probably just a case of loosening the truss rod a little bit and setting the intonation. A set of 50 - 110 or 55 - 115 would do the trick for gauges I think

interesting. i appreciate the clarity. not really what i was wanting to hear.

 

[Robs1887]

that would mean the bass would have to be completely set up for that low C tuning then? how much of a hassle is that?

It definitely takes a little bit of setup work. If you're going to leave the bass in that tuning then it's not the end of the world. If you use it for other projects and you're going to need to change it frequently, then it's a huge pain.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Get them to tune to B and use your fiver - problem solved!