Is it "cooler" to play a 4 string bass?

[5StringBlues]

5 string basses are ugly.

 

[nomaj]

There was a time that it wasn't cool to play electric bass, regardless of whether it had 4 strings or not. An upright bassist believed anything with frets on it wasn't a bass. Over the years, music changes, technology changes, times change. Now it's, is it 4, 5, 6, etc....passive/active electronics, etc.? Leo's Precision bass took a while to catch on and gain acceptance. It was launched in 1951 but it wasn't until well into the 60s that it became commonplace, and even then some bands used both(tic tac bass).

True, and now it has perhaps come full circle, to where double bass is the coolest again.

 

[crabfunk]

I have endless respect for guys who play 5s or 6s (Patitucci, Alex Webster, Tom Kennedy, Richard Bona); I played a 5 for several years and it never worked for me as much as I would have liked. Now I only own 4s, and every time I listen to Victor Wooten, Jaco or Rocco, I'm kind of reminded that I still have much to learn, and I can learn best on a 4.

 

[DenisLM]

4 string basses are cooler because they looks simple (basic models like J and P). I do miss my P black n' maple that I sold years ago and one day I'll buy another. I love my rick 4003, Stingray(4)... buuuuut my main bases are Bongo 6s and I also "play" the Chapman Stick...
At the end regardless of what is cooler, it's all about what works for you.

 

[Bassheart365]

Funny you should mention ToP.
I was at a Dave Garibaldi/Rocco Prestia funk groove clinic a few years ago, and someone asked Rocco if he ever played a 5 string. He didn't make an audible reply, but everyone got his answer: he pretended to puke.

You completely missed my point! What is hip ("cool") today, WILL become passe with the passing of time. That is the very nature of fashion.

 

[jonpowl]

I saw Adinda Meertins play a Kala Ubass Koa 5 string fretless with Monsieur Perine last week, and it sounded fantastic. From NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: Monsieur Periné hails from Colombia, a country known for its Afro-Colombian cumbia, as well as New York-style salsa. Instead, however, the band has embraced 1920s-era, guitar-driven jazz from the U.S. The unlikely inspiration has resulted in a large and international following, as well as a Latin Grammy not too long ago: Monsieur Periné was named 2015's Best New Artist.

 

[2112]

As a life-long 4-stringer, I can absolutely confirm without reservation that playing 4-string is cooler than playing any other kind of bass.

Except maybe 3-string.

 

[Gaebrial]

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That is a good looking bass. The only thing that would make it look better is if the fretboard wasn't dumbly wide to accommodate that 5th string.

It does look good, but 5 string fretboards are disproportionately wide which makes them look lame. Kinda like pickup trucks nowadays that try to look really bulky to look powerful.

 

[speedcrank]

So I've played 5 strings for years and have about 6 of those basses sitting in my living room right now. But I just bought a nice Fender P bass with flats from the classifieds last night because of what I'm starting to notice.

Over the past few years I've seen a lot of "cool" young bands seem to only have bassists with 4 stringers. I know that "cool" is totally subjective, but they're usually bands that stir up a good bit of publicity in the pop and indie rock worlds.

Bands like...

Vulfpeck with Joe Dart. He always has a variety of basses, but they are only 4 strings:



Michael League of Snarky Puppy is almost always seen with one of his classic P basses:



The band Pomplamoose:



The 1975:



Greta Van Fleet:



Even the brilliant music educator Adam Neely has switched over to a 4 string P bass with flats:



Of course, these are just a handful of modern bands and players. We could make a list miles long of all the bands that have 4 string bassists.

I primarily play 5 strings and my jazz ensembles band leader constantly rags on me for having a 5 string bass. There are of course, lots of cats in Nashville who play 5 and 6 string basses, but the trend seems to be toward playing a 4 string P bass with flats.

A few months ago I even went out and got a Fender American Pro 5 string and put Chromes on it. I love the bass, but I still get strange looks from people. It's hard to believe that in the year 2018 there seems to be a bias against bassists with multiple strings. You saw them everywhere in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays you seem to only see extended range basses in the Jazz/Fusion world, Gospel, and in Metal bands. Hardly ever do you see them on a stage with a band that's considered "modern" and "cool".

So is it just me, or is anyone else noticing a trending bias against extended range basses in favor of the 4 string? Even more interestingly, do you feel that bringing more than 4 strings to an audition might cost you the gig?

 

[speedcrank]

So I've played 5 strings for years and have about 6 of those basses sitting in my living room right now. But I just bought a nice Fender P bass with flats from the classifieds last night because of what I'm starting to notice.

Over the past few years I've seen a lot of "cool" young bands seem to only have bassists with 4 stringers. I know that "cool" is totally subjective, but they're usually bands that stir up a good bit of publicity in the pop and indie rock worlds.

Bands like...

Vulfpeck with Joe Dart. He always has a variety of basses, but they are only 4 strings:



Michael League of Snarky Puppy is almost always seen with one of his classic P basses:



The band Pomplamoose:



The 1975:



Greta Van Fleet:



Even the brilliant music educator Adam Neely has switched over to a 4 string P bass with flats:



Of course, these are just a handful of modern bands and players. We could make a list miles long of all the bands that have 4 string bassists.

I primarily play 5 strings and my jazz ensembles band leader constantly rags on me for having a 5 string bass. There are of course, lots of cats in Nashville who play 5 and 6 string basses, but the trend seems to be toward playing a 4 string P bass with flats.

A few months ago I even went out and got a Fender American Pro 5 string and put Chromes on it. I love the bass, but I still get strange looks from people. It's hard to believe that in the year 2018 there seems to be a bias against bassists with multiple strings. You saw them everywhere in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays you seem to only see extended range basses in the Jazz/Fusion world, Gospel, and in Metal bands. Hardly ever do you see them on a stage with a band that's considered "modern" and "cool".

So is it just me, or is anyone else noticing a trending bias against extended range basses in favor of the 4 string? Even more interestingly, do you feel that bringing more than 4 strings to an audition might cost you the gig?

 

[speedcrank]

dunno if its 'cool' or not...i own nothing but 4 strings (i roll my own)...i'm gonna 'offend' some out there but to my simple way of thinking, 5-strings are also acceptable, but any more strings than that, it's a guitar.

 

[ADee Waddell]

So I've played 5 strings for years and have about 6 of those basses sitting in my living room right now. But I just bought a nice Fender P bass with flats from the classifieds last night because of what I'm starting to notice.

Over the past few years I've seen a lot of "cool" young bands seem to only have bassists with 4 stringers. I know that "cool" is totally subjective, but they're usually bands that stir up a good bit of publicity in the pop and indie rock worlds.

Bands like...

Vulfpeck with Joe Dart. He always has a variety of basses, but they are only 4 strings:



Michael League of Snarky Puppy is almost always seen with one of his classic P basses:



The band Pomplamoose:



The 1975:



Greta Van Fleet:



Even the brilliant music educator Adam Neely has switched over to a 4 string P bass with flats:



Of course, these are just a handful of modern bands and players. We could make a list miles long of all the bands that have 4 string bassists.

I primarily play 5 strings and my jazz ensembles band leader constantly rags on me for having a 5 string bass. There are of course, lots of cats in Nashville who play 5 and 6 string basses, but the trend seems to be toward playing a 4 string P bass with flats.

A few months ago I even went out and got a Fender American Pro 5 string and put Chromes on it. I love the bass, but I still get strange looks from people. It's hard to believe that in the year 2018 there seems to be a bias against bassists with multiple strings. You saw them everywhere in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays you seem to only see extended range basses in the Jazz/Fusion world, Gospel, and in Metal bands. Hardly ever do you see them on a stage with a band that's considered "modern" and "cool".

So is it just me, or is anyone else noticing a trending bias against extended range basses in favor of the 4 string? Even more interestingly, do you feel that bringing more than 4 strings to an audition might cost you the gig?

I play a five and wish many times that I had a four, just can’t afford to buy another right now. I play lead six string too and I have to watch myself closely to make sure I’m on the right string. (smh) I learned from Adam Neely that when you have a good drummer you do better to play up an octave anyway. I actually started in a band with no drummer, then we got one and I noticed that we did kinda cancel each other when I grabbed a low D on the B string. But, all that being said, I think you play what you like and be your own “cool”.

 

[the bat]

Totally cooler

 

[Chris Szatny]

You completely missed my point! What is hip ("cool") today, WILL become passe with the passing of time. That is the very nature of fashion.

It's the very nature of life.

 

[Bassheart365]

It's the very nature of life.

I try not to make life choices based on what is fashionable at the moment.

 

[Chris Szatny]

dunno if its 'cool' or not...i own nothing but 4 strings (i roll my own)...i'm gonna 'offend' some out there but to my simple way of thinking, 5-strings are also acceptable, but any more strings than that, it's a guitar.

Cool to go low...you wanna go up higher? Grab a guitar.

 

[Christcr]

For example, if you are still wearing ... bellbottoms you probably look like a dork. That's just how it is.

Also, in my humble opinion, there simply isn't anything cooler looking then a classic Fender Precision or Jazz bass.

Hey, I play a Jazz bass (among many others) ... and wear bellbottoms. So am I half cool and half a dork?

Interestingly, I remember a time (back when bellbottoms were still an "in" thing in the early 80s) when using a plain old Precision or plain old Jazz was considered somewhat out of touch and "grandpa-ish" by the younger set (of which I was a part at the time, but never shared that sentiment). As you say... styles change.

And if you think bellbottoms are so dorkish, try buying a decent pair of levis denim bell 646s on Ebay. Generally anywhere from 100 to 300 dollars a whack. I always keep my eye open for a good deal on them.

One of the "coolest" looking musicians these days, IMO, is Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke...who nearly always wears BIG bellbottoms (I wish I knew where he finds them--probably on Ebay at 300 bucks a pop).

Anyway, carry on. Signed, Half-A-Dork

 

[Jhoof]

I think it just fits that styles of music that people may consider “cool”, but there are plenty of “cool” bassists that play more than 4. I would argue that Thundercat is pretty damn “cool” and he plays a 6 string.

 

[GroovyBassist]

Can we all just agree that if you play bass (no matter how many strings) and sound good on it, then you probably are cool.

 

[Mookyj]

Take any bass of any design, any number of strings and you play cool, nothing but tone and chops it's cool and totally dope. In the hands of a talented and capable player gear means little than a means to a purpose.