If you play 5 or 6 (or more) stringers, do you ever play 4 string? If so, why?

[Britsie]

Yes, but I tune them B-E-A-D. I mentally need the B string more than the G.

This.

 

[nFinnyD]

I bought a 5string because the 4string neck on that model felt too small, an Ibanez SR. It's my main bass and I now love the additional strings and 24 frets, the low B and C seemed too... not great.. maybe it's just my amps. I'll just use my synth(and do pretty often) if I need to go that low for a riff. So I tune DGCFA#, and tune my four 4strings all in standard.

My newest bass is a 4 that I sought out, it doesn't come in 5 so I'm not sure which way I would've gone if I had the choice. But I will say that it is way different because it's a 4, the neck feels like my 5, it's only got 20 frets, but dang does it slap well. So it is henceforth my slap/classic bass. And my SR655 is my modern bass.

I learn techniques and songs that already have bass lines more on my 4, but I write my own songs and those for my band more on my 5.

I can never get too far from 4s because I play upright pretty often!

 

[JW56789]

My main axe since about 1995 has been a Yamaha TRB6P. It stays out on the couch to tempt me into playing. It's the only 6-string I own. I also have nice 4-strings and 5-strings, but I usually keep all of them cooped up in their cases. My Tacoma Thunderchief stays here with my computer in case something comes up on Talkbass that requires a bass in hand. I rarely play it more than a few minutes. Sometimes I just open the case and fret a few notes without lifting the bass out.

I am getting the bug to buy an upright. That's pretty much the only reason I can imagine playing 4-string, unless I am looking for specific sound that I can only get with one particular model of bass. I stopped chasing tone a long time ago.

Some background
I started on 4-string and it was a fairly long and arduous process when I transitioned to extended range instruments. I played a Yamaha BB5000 for a couple of years before I picked up the TRB6P, so I went through the transition twice. About the same time I also started transitioning from Simandl fingering 1,2,4 to one finger per fret. So I made some pretty major changes to my technique along the way. I also continued to play upright bass using Simandl for the duration.

It took me about 10 years, but now I feel more at home on 6-string than 4-string. Playing a 5-string or 4-string is not easier for me, because I have gotten comfortable using unique fingering and shift patterns that are unique to the 6-string. So when I play with less strings I have to think more about what I am doing, rather than just relaxing and playing.

Was, I got to ask: How on Earth did you go from that crazy-skinny string spacing on a BB5000 (unless you had the final version from Taiwan with the wide fingerboard and TRB style pickups?) to that diving board width fingerboard on a TRB6P ? ? ?

 

[Thumpin6string]

I haven't really owned a 4 string for over 20 years. I'll occasionally pickup one to flip, but never to play or keep. I see no reason to have one because a 6 string has a built in 4 string between the B and C strings. That said, I use the low B a lot. I find the B string helps keep my playing more in one place on the neck. I play my 6 string fretted most of the time and I did put together a 5 string fretless to get me by until I get my 6 string fretless built. No interest in ever having another 4.

 

[Elusive1]

One reason I mainly use my 5-string over my 4-string nowadays is because as a lefty, I'm limited 99% of the time to what I bring out of the house with me, so I figured it'd be better for me personally to have that additional string with me as backup, whether or not I put it to use, rather than need that string out of the blue and and get caught without it. Plus I am slightly more comfortable with the string spacing on my 5 vs my 4.

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

Despite being mainly a 5-string player, with regards to your question, my answer is: Yes, why not?

I still use my 4-string basses every now and then, mostly for different tones and stuff, and especially when I'm absolutely certain I won't need any notes below E. I think everyone who plays extended-range basses should own at least one 4-string tuned to standard so as to keep their fundamentals in check, and personally I feel being able to switch back and forth between any number of strings with minimal effort is a necessary skill everyone should possess.

 

[Lagado]

To B or not to B, that is the question. If you're only using the B string 10% of the time, what is the point of having to spend the rest of the night muting it?

 

[Wasnex]

Was, I got to ask: How on Earth did you go from that crazy-skinny string spacing on a BB5000 (unless you had the final version from Taiwan with the wide fingerboard and TRB style pickups?) to that diving board width fingerboard on a TRB6P ? ? ?

Your right about the TRB6P. The neck is pretty wide, but its not thick or hard to play IMHO. The string spacing did take a bit of time to get used to, but I like to slap so wide is okay.

I was in the military and chose from available basses I don't remember the BB5000 being super narrow at least not on the bridge side, but I was coming from a Ric 4001.

I also tried out an Ibanez 5-string that I thought sounded great, but the string spacing was way too narrow for my taste.

 

[Wasnex]

To B or not to B, that is the question. If you're only using the B string 10% of the time, what is the point of having to spend the rest of the night muting it?

What about the 10% of the time when I need/want to play on the B string and it's not there. I am at home on a 6-string at this point. So when I have a 4-string in my hands I have to think about how to modify my playing to accommodate the missing strings, and it's far more of a hassle than muting the B string. I don't even think about muting, as I have practiced enough that it's automatic.

Imagine how you would feel playing a bass with only an A and D string, and that's basically how I feel with a 4-string.

 

[Yahboy]

4 string P and 5 string Ray to me.

 

[chris_b]

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

After picking up a 5 string bass I never went back to 4 strings. IMO there really was no point.

I only want to play one bass so as a 5 does everything I want and a 4 doesn't, I only play a 5.

QED

 

[madmaskbass]

I have 3 6's, 2 5's and 1 4. A P bass because it is a P bass. Rarely gets played but i like having it. My planned basses to build/buy upcoming are a P/MM 5 and another 6 string and defs no 4's.

 

[el murdoque]

I'm another one of the B string addicts.
I can fluently transition between my 5ers and 6er, but toss in a 4 in EADG and I can play, but I constantly need to remind myself that a sting is missing. If that concentration slips, I will fret a C when you ask for a G.
My vintage fretless P is EADG and will stay that way. I need to concentrate on it anyway because it's a fretless.
The only other four banger I still own has been converted to BEAD and that really works out. I sometimes miss the G string, but I can play that bass without doing mental acrobatics at the same time.

The only reason for me to play four strings would be because I wanted some vintage instrument like a pre CBS Fender (which I don't).

 

[Steve88]

I keep a 4 string J around (actually 2, one lives at the rehearsal space for "just in case"). I do play it from time to time when it fits the music better, or I just need a fix of Fender tone and feel. Otherwise I play my Lakland 5594.

 

[Fingerz]

For me, a four string jazz is 'home'. Not just physically, but in the band, and in the mix - whenever I hear a recording back the engineer is much more happy to push/trust a four string as it doesn't interfere with the mix so much. Granted if I found the same tone in a 5er then i would stand corrected, but to date I just haven't, even though I have had plenty of lovely ones.
I only use 5 if it's a show really, and requires the range.

 

[jchrisk1]

I play both. My p/j is a four string and wears TI flats with dimarzio pickups, and is my favorite bass and the tone I like the most. My trb 1005 wears TI rounds and also sounds good. I use it when i want rounds sound. It's very rare that I actually need the B string, but it's there if I need it.

 

[teh-slb]

Imagine how you would feel playing a bass with only an A and D string, and that's basically how I feel with a 4-string.

Sometimes I spend half an hour or so seeing how far I can walk some random standard using only A and D strings. Just for fun, of course.

 

[Dave W]

I play 5s almost exclusively these days. I have some 4 string Basses but only play them at home occasionally.

There are a couple that I can't get rid of that are the best examples of a P, J, and Stingray that I've ever come across. I used to play them all the time but these days I only I take them out to gigs every once in a while.

 

[Frank77]

I pretty much learned on a 5, and for about 15 years that's all I had. Eventually, listening to guys like Michael League, Tim Lefebvre, Paul Jackson, and Chris Wood gave me the P-bass bug and so I went out and bought one.

Playing a 4-string bass has really given me a creativity boost. It makes me play a certain way that I enjoy much more than how I sound on a 5. More character, more attitude. It is "my" sound.

I still have my 5-string and I bust it out when I need that big, active bass with humbuckers type tone, or if there's no way around needing a B string. Otherwise, 4-string Ps and PJs are where it's at for me.

 

[Susqmike]

First a disclaimer: In my collection I have yet to own a P bass. An oversight, I'm sure, and something I think I regret. But having said that, I currently have 5 basses, one 4 string jazz, a 5 string jazz (both with Aguilar Noiseless pickups) an Ibanez BTB, a Yamaha TRBX605 and a Gio 6 string.

I think I got my first 5er 2 years ago (?), and two more 5ers in short order. And while it took me a bit of time to be fully comfortable with it I have found myself playing my 4 banger less and less. In fact, I'd pretty much left it at school for when I need it when coaching jazz band when needed without notice. During the lockdown I've been making an effort to play the Jazz 4 more, but then I'll feel like I'm missing the convenience of that extra string low B. I could sell my Jazz4 and not miss it for a second.

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

I play mostly 6 string. I have two 5'ers that i like to keep around and i have my old 4 strings (gibsons & G&L.) I still go back to 4. It's just a different beast; you play very differently. On 4, i'm running up and down the fretboard, whereas on 6 i can stay in position more. But i always have a blast picking up a 4.

 

[garp]

I mostly play 5-string basses, but for some types of music, 5 and 6 is just overkill. I wholeheartedly agree with the general philosophy that you can use almost any kind of bass to play almost any kind of music. However, there are certain situations where walking into an audition with anything other than a 4-string bass will virtually guarantee that you won't get the job, even before you've played a single note. And that is why I will always own at least one 4-string P and one 4-string J.