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Is a 6 the one to rule them all?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 165050
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#141
Apologies for not reading the whole (redundant) thread, but at the risk of being redundant myself, there is nothing that can be played on four string bass that can't be played on a six string bass. The reverse is not true. If you can wrap your mind, as well as you hand around it and are willing to put in the time to master it, rather than whining about how hard or nontraditional it is, it may be perfect for you. The only people that are going to snivel about you playing a six string bass, are other bass players who can't play one.
 
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#142
I only use 6ers and have for the last 10 years.
I need the low C and D and periodically B for metal with drop tuned guitarists, and I use the high C for chording and solo work as well as octave runs moving across the neck instead of up it.

Interestingly enough, I tried a 7 the other day, and it was definitely not for me. 6 is perfect.
 
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#144
ficelles said:
So I have 4 5-stringers, 3 are fretless of which 2 are strung BEADG and since a few days ago 1 is now EADGC. So now I'm a high C virtuoso (that's sarcasm btw) I am wondering if a 6 string fretless will be the one to rule them all? I'd still keep the 5s and most of the 4s but I'm sorely tempted...

But wouldn't it look like I just want to be a guitarist?
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years ago a friend of mine told me the story of when he first started working as a tattoo artist.

he was a professional artist with a huge resume, but no tattoo experience. he asked the owner after they hired him, "am i supposed to practice on an orange peel or something?" - owner (intense old hells angels type) came over and pinched his skin in his bicep. "that feel like an orange peel to you, boy?" - then he was instructed to give his first tattoo to himself to get used to the tools.

all of that is to say - "does that sound like a guitar to you, boy?"

seriously - i play almost exclusively 6 string basses and absolutely love it.

while some of my arrangements certainly go into upper register stuff, and may be "guitar like," there's just something about that big rich sound a bass has - even in higher register- that is so special.

my .02 is that a good quality 6 string bass is the answer. but, i do understand that most people don't want to arrange beatle songs and bach fugues for themselves as well. that's why this forum exists.... my perspective is valid and many of us will disagree with it.
 
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#149
I prefer my 6 to any of my other bassists... if I need to only play one bass for all songs I will play (assuming I Can stick with either fretted or fretless the entire time, of course).

However, I play 4 better than I play 6. Always have, always will.

So I guess it's a matter of you, what you like, etc.

I do love 6 stringers though, specially so with very narrow spacing like my peavey.
 
#150
I have a 6. I stopped playing it because of a small electrical issue and my laziness :)

It went unrepaired for a long while. I got it up and running late month. I see why it went neglected, that wide neck and that high C string. I go along and it sounds like a bass until I hit that hight C then it sounds like a guitar :(
I "look" cool playing it though :)
 
#151
MikePlaysBass said:
When I do play my 6, it's mostly for chords, which are great for solo work and the right band setting, but I haven't ever had an opportunity to play it out. Chords on a fretless would be a real challenge in getting intonation on several strings right on. Double stops maybe, but 3 plus strings just increases the possibilities of one being a bit off, so lots of shed time for it in addition to the other basses. Regardless, I'm also really tempted to try a fretless 6, knowing that it would likely never leave the house.
If I run across a really great deal, I'll jump at it, but I'm not on a position to justify throwing serious money at something like that right now.
Click to expand...

I'm reference to the string price, I suppose you're right, as all my bass strings tend to be around $70 and people look at me like I'm crazy for spending it, I know there's more expensive out there, and so I can only imagine double bass needing higher quality.

As for chords being a real challenge on fretless, I play multiscale fretless 6 and play full chords quite often actually; I also have no problem switching between numbers of strings comfortably either.

We're all so different and it makes the whole bass learning experience so fun imo
 
#152
If you're really using that much range, then try it. Do not be discouraged by folks who paint their narrow view with a broad stroke. There are valid forms of music other than country and r&b. And don't fret (pun intended) over appearances, if someone is going to be critical of using a six string bass they don't know [carrots] about music.
 
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#155
ficelles said:
So I have 4 5-stringers, 3 are fretless of which 2 are strung BEADG and since a few days ago 1 is now EADGC. So now I'm a high C virtuoso (that's sarcasm btw) I am wondering if a 6 string fretless will be the one to rule them all? I'd still keep the 5s and most of the 4s but I'm sorely tempted...

But wouldn't it look like I just want to be a guitarist?
Click to expand...
A bass doesn't sound like a guitar, especially a fretless, so I wouldn't worry what people think. Instead worry about your back - 6ers aren't known for their lightness.
 
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#157
Pirate Captain said:
All together now...Mark Sandman only needed two strings...The Presidents of the United States don't have 6 strings in the whole band!
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Hey that's my line! (been in my sig since time immemorial, put it there as a rebuttal to "Jaco only needed 4" etc) LOL

But when it comes to ERBs, if I need a low B, I want a 6, not a 5. For some reason, basses with odd numbers of strings screw me up. I've had two 5s and two 7s, and just couldn't play them at all, whereas 6s feel perfect to me. I even played a Modulus 6 on the last album I recorded (ages ago) even though I never used the B or C strings once on the entire record. I just loved that bass.
 
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#158
I don't have any need for a 6-string bass.

But I've got one and play it constantly. And I've got a fretless 6-string on the way!

I'm keeping my 4-string basses since a) they sound great and look cool and b) they're plenty for my meat & potatoes gigs. But the 6-string basses appeal to my sense of adventure and creativity; pair one with a few pedals that shape the tone, shift pitch, add space, etc, and you've got a world of possibilities (that no, do NOT sound like a guitar).

Personally, I feel if you can play an EADGC 5-string, you're conquering the hardest part of learning a 6-string. Well, you'll need a big comfortable strap too but that's par for the course.
 
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#160
ficelles said:
So I have 4 5-stringers, 3 are fretless of which 2 are strung BEADG and since a few days ago 1 is now EADGC. So now I'm a high C virtuoso (that's sarcasm btw) I am wondering if a 6 string fretless will be the one to rule them all? I'd still keep the 5s and most of the 4s but I'm sorely tempted...

But wouldn't it look like I just want to be a guitarist?
Click to expand...

When I switched from 4 to 5 I no longer wanted to play 4 string basses ... I am afraid of 6 string basses because then I will have to get rid of 15 5 string basses.
 

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