Is 6 strings too much?

[Bryan R. Tyler]

This Gary Willis quote is referring to fretless 6 strings, but I think his point about the sound of a high C is valid IRT fretted basses too.

"I'm compelled give you my opinion about the sound of a fretless C string: It kinda sounds like a cat. And I don't mean that in a good way.
-snip-
Really, except for the 5 extra half steps that don't exist on the G string, every other available note on a C string sounds much better if it's played on the G string. So, if you can get over the sound problem, is it really an advantage? If I find myself unable to finish an idea because it includes notes above the high G then I'm usually able to get to that note with false harmonics."

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Gary's one of my very favorite bass players, but that theory has way too many holes in it. The high C on a fretless can sound bad, particularly in my hands, but look at Michael Manring- a lot of his most beautiful work on fretless bass is with piccolo strings, so he's playing way above high C yet creating some of most beautiful bass sounds around. Also the advantages of having a high C string are the same as having a low B as far as horizontal movement goes- it's a lot more economical to go vertical up to the C rather than horizontal up to the high end of the G string; this is particularly useful on fretless because intonation gets really iffy the higher you go.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Oh, but they do;

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Keep in mind that that bastard bass from the depths of hell was so evil that it set itself ablaze alomg with the whole barn around it.

 

[CGremlin]

I was playing my 88 string half an hour ago, sounded really nice...very piano like

You're missing a few if you've only got 88. ;-)

 

[sg101]

with the kind of stuff I play, I feel as if I need more than 6 strings

 

[RedMoses]

I had a 6, you really don't use that High C unless you are doing some solo stuff. I played 5 for years, its way more useable but I prefer a 4 for many years now.

 

[twoByFour]

Everyone must play one of these. Anything less is just a child's toy:

 

[wmheilma]

Try it out and see what you think! I like playing 6 strings.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Keep in mind that that bastard bass from the depths of hell was so evil that it set itself ablaze alomg with the whole barn around it.

Yeah, he lost a lot of goodies. Sad. For the curious, here's a link to the story.

• My old Fender Precision, circa '50s, serial #48,000-ish. Had my blood on it from when P.G. bashed my head by mistake.

• Super Silver Bass with interchangable necks. The Sledgehammer bass.

• 3 String Custom "Harley" bass.

• Pick Bass. Custom picks from around the planet embedded into finish.

• Clevinger upright

• Status Graphite walnut 4 string

• prototype NS Upright Electric

• Guild Ashbury "Rubber Bass". Used on P.S's "Lovetown"

• Bogart Custom frettless

• Half Frettless custom Chapman Stick

• Polycarbonate Stick12 String Stick

 

[GIBrat51]

For me? Yes, 6 is too many. For what I like to play, 4 is just right, and for some things (like "White Rabbit"), don't really need that many. But I would never tell anybody else not to have a 6er; or 5, 8, or anything else. On the rare occasions I want to play 5 strings, I have a nice vintage Ode banjo; 6 strings? I have guitars. 8 strings? A very nice mandolin. I even have a 12 string guitar... but for a bass, 4 is all I need or want.

 

[tonemachine]

There is an ibanez 6 string bass from their "budget line" on craigslist that I have my eye on. I was wondering, do you guys think 6 strings is too much? I have a 5 string and love the wide neck, but this 6 string really looks like a cutting board. Is it worth it to check it out, or is it not worth it? Share your thoughts on the subject.

Play as many strings as you want. I'd play one if they were narrower-necked. Many great players play 6 or more so...

 

[Shanannigan]

Jaco only needed 4, but his son uses 6 and he's no slouch.



I've been playing 6 pretty much exclusively for about 10 years, and no it's not too much. Too much or too little is dependent on what you do with the instrument.

 

[Matthew_84]

I've got my BTB7 on my lap right now.

Get the 6. It's fun. Jaco only needed 4, but you're not Jaco, and I bet he'd have fun messing around on a 6.

He would have loved the C string for sure.

I played a BTB7 in a store a week ago and was surprised at how navigational I was on its neck. I don't think it's for me - I'm currently looking for an SR 6 string and I think that should be all I need. But the BTB7 is definitely a beauty that seems to be very under-priced for what you get.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

If it works for you, go for it

 

[Watchootognbout]

For those who don't need or want one,yes.
For those who play the minimum.Or maybe even less.Sure.

But wait!There are those who don't use the D and G strings.Four strings is too much.
Maybe there should be a two string bass.

Or a bass with only five frets.For those who never play above the fifth fret.24 frets are too much.

How about a one string bass played with only your plucking hand.ONE NOTE.For those who only play the note E.Too many notes that aren't E.

And then you could walk into the room once a year and play ONE note.And then leave.

Too many notes.PERIOD!

Less is more.
Less is more.
Less is less.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

And then you could walk into the room once a year and play ONE note.And then leave.

You just described Adam Clayton's career.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Adam who?

You just described Adam Clayton's career.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Adam who?

No, Adam Clayton. Adam Who plays in the Whoville Funkonauts and is a much busier player.

 

[jim777]

You're missing a few if you've only got 88. ;-)

That's true, but when I say "88" everyone knows I am talking about a piano. If I said "my 236 string" I would have gotten a lot more head scratching Still, a valid point well taken Sir!

 

[bassbenj]

Everyone must play one of these. Anything less is just a child's toy:

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Am I the only one here who thinks this thing escaped from an Animusic DVD?

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[Doc Mojo]

I had a Yamaha 6 string that you could land planes on and Peavey Cirrus that had real close string spacing that would rub the tops of my fingers raw (right hand picking). I used to switch between a 4, 5 and 6 string bass at every gig but I was just confusing myself. Long story short, I came right back to 4's because it's just easier to find a good one and strings are cheaper.