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How many strings/frets do you play? [poll]

How many strings do you play?

  • 4 strings

  • 5 strings

  • 6 strings

  • more than 6 strings

  • 20 frets

  • 21 frets

  • 24 frets

Results are only viewable after voting.
#21
I have three basses. In order of how much play time they currently get, they are:

5 string, 21 fret (Yamaha BB 735)
4 string, 20 fret (Fender P bass special)
4 string, 24 fret (Ibanez SR800)

I favor the 5 string at this point because 1) it's new and I'm still getting used to it, so trying to play it exclusively for a while but mostly 2) my band plays a lot of songs in drop D and I got sick of changing tuning every time I shift from standard to drop tuning.

I wish I liked the Ibanez better. As far as craftsmanship goes, it's the best instrument I own. It's light and comfortable to hold and it looks beautiful too (it's a natural ash finish). I just haven't figured out how to get the sound I want out of it.
 
#22
5 strings, 20 frets. Because that's how a 5 string Ric is made.

2-5s.jpg
 
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#25
6 strings, 24 frets because you have too look really hard for a sixer that comes with fewer frets.

I find I have some diagonal "dusty bits" on the board, usually the lower frets on the g and c string, and the upper frets on the b and e strings. The former because I'd rather shift, the latter because I have short stubby fingers that won't reach.
 
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#26
Nashrakh said:
6 strings, 24 frets because you have too look really hard for a sixer that comes with fewer frets.

I find I have some diagonal "dusty bits" on the board, usually the lower frets on the g and c string, and the upper frets on the b and e strings. The former because I'd rather shift, the latter because I have short stubby fingers that won't reach.
Click to expand...

I've got the same thing on my basses - it's like an aircraft carrier, where the landing strip is diagonal to the main vessel. That's the part that gets the abuse. I would really like to use the lower strings more in their upper range, as I have seen musicians utilize this to great effect, but between the inharmonicity and the positioning due to the neck pocket it often isn't practical. I do have one bass, a neck-through, that has amazing upper fret access across all strings, but I never gig with that bass.
 
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#29
Strings? Usually just one at a time. Occasionally more, because, you know, I get frisky.
Frets? Likewise. Usually max out at 4.
Highest fret? Whaddaya got? You got it, I'll play it. If "because it's there" was good enough for Mallory, it's good enough for me. Sometimes I play the far side of the nut. Does that count as negative numbers?
 
#30
Mostly 5 because I love the low notes below E without losing the range of the G string. About 5 years ago I bought some 4s and occasional play them for fun at home but never live.

Frets: In order I prefer 22, 24, and then 21 frets. I avoid anything less because I find comfort in knowing there's a high E at the end of the G string...
 
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#32
tb-player said:
How many strings do you play/prefer?

Also, how many frets do you play/prefer?

Any particular reason you choose the combination you play?
Click to expand...

Four strings, zero frets. That’s what started on and I’ve never had any compelling reason to change. I do own a fretted fiver with 24 frets but I’ve only ever gigged with it twice, with the only person who ever requested it. I think she just wanted a change of pace after a couple of decades of playing together, because I suck at playing it for sure. ;)
 
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#35
GTHintz said:
Haven't seen it yet but we need an option for 0 frets. Fretless counts too.
Click to expand...
Haha. Nice. I thought about that after-the-fact. But unless you only play open strings, fretless basses have varying fret positions so I guess that counts. :thumbsup:

skortch said:
Frets: In order I prefer 22, 24, and then 21 frets. I avoid anything less because I find comfort in knowing there's a high E at the end of the G string...
Click to expand...
Sorry. Not sure how I missed 22 frets in the poll. Oops! :bored:
 
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#36
I usually play 4 strings (lately) but I also have 5-ers which sometimes see a lot of use, depending upon the project.

I’ve never given a whole lot of thought to how many frets I have, to be honest. I have basses with each of the three options and have no preference whatsoever. I don’t spend a whole lot of time up past 16 or so. I also have a lot of basses with no frets at all! ;)
 
#37
Five strings and twenty-four frets. Moved from four strings to five strings in a band that continued downtuning to accommodate a singer who was losing his range. I was used to playing ESP-LTD basses and they were twenty-four frets so that's what I stuck with when I transitioned to five strings.

In my current band I play all over the fretboard but spend most of my time in the first twelve frets and could easily get away with only twenty-two frets. In my previous band I used the whole fretboard on almost every song.
 
#38
Voted 4, 5, 6 strings, 20, 21 and 24 frets (have 22 fret basses as well) and some of them don't have frets on the fingerboard {the blue 5 string below}

4-5-6.jpg


edit/ my main electric bass is 6 string/24 frets since long time ago but I use my american std fender jazz bass and my ebmm stingray quite alot. /edit
 
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#39
5 string bass with 24 frets. I utilize the B string a lot since I got so used to the range of a tuba in high school that it's hard coded into my brain. 24 frets makes the higher register much more comfortable than on my P-Bass. Not to mention the neck is wider and flatter.
 
#40
Easy answer for me. 4 strings. I can't remember the last time I played a note higher than the 12th fret so total number of frets is not a thing for me.
I played a 5 string bass for a couple of songs during an impromptu guest appearance. I didn't like 5ers before that and I still don't.
I really don't want to piss other folks off here...if I wanted to play 6 strings, I'd still be using a Telecaster.
 

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