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

[7615]

With the absolute necessity of the low B-string in these various genres, it makes one wonder how the bassist before about 1975 got along without one.

I mean, really, when you need a C#, you only have one choice, right?

(Be gentle... at times, beavers say inappropriate and highly inflammatory things. They don't know any better.)

Some of the best music ever was played on 4 strings - they got along by playing great bass parts.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Some of the best music ever was played on 4 strings - they got along by playing great bass parts.

If the electric bass had started out with 3, 5 or 6 strings you would have used the same argument.

 

[Bizorballs]

Went from guitar to bass many moons ago, but still pull out the thin stringer now and then.
The biggest challenge for the guitar to bass guy is:
1. LESS IS MORE, and
2. YOU ARE THE POCKET
Once you’ve got that the fun starts. The rest is musicality.

 

[7615]

If the electric bass had started out with 3, 5 or 6 strings you would have used the same argument.

That's an "if" argument - not a legit argument.

Almost no acoustic instrument can reproduce that low note except a piano which does it with very long strings. 5 string stand ups exists but that note is essentially for a 9 piece bass section. I play some classical and one bassist has a low B. When he goes down - no one can hear it.

The reason 4 came first - physics!

Actually a 3 string standups came first

Guitarron goes to A - because that is about as low as an acoustic instrument can produce.

In absence of a electricity - 5 string does not exist.

 

[Ironbar]

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.

I play a four string because that's what I WANT to play. I'm not even in a band so it definitely 'aint for the cool factor.

 

[Les Fret]

I have been in several bands where five string were not allowed or considered cool. Think indie bands or blues and vintage style bands. These guys are not waiting for five or more string players in general. Mostly because they associate them with fusion or prog metal.

 

[RickJones]

I agree and the chicken definitely came first.

Actually, it was the rooster. Trust me on this one.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

That's an "if" argument - not a legit argument.

[snip]

In absence of a electricity - 5 string does not exist.

I won't argue about the validity of my statement because frankly, I don't care if you consider it legit or not. I stand by what I said: the initial design of the instrument dictates the general opinion held.

I am however pretty convinced that this thread is at least implicitly about electric bass so I wonder why the rest of your post is about acoustic basses? I found it an interesting read, but it seems to be beside the point of the OP.

Having said that, I play 4- and 5-string. I'm definitely not a cool person and on stage my dancing and prancing only reinforces that. No amount of strings nor the lack thereof will change that.

 

[BruceWane]

That's an "if" argument - not a legit argument.
.................
In absence of a electricity - 5 string does not exist.

So you're saying if there were no electricity, 5 string basses wouldn't exist?

What kind of argument might you call that, and would it be legit?

Almost no acoustic instrument can reproduce that low note except a piano which does it with very long strings. 5 string stand ups exists but that note is essentially for a 9 piece bass section. I play some classical and one bassist has a low B. When he goes down - no one can hear it.

The reason 4 came first - physics!

Actually a 3 string standups came first came first

Guitarron goes to A - because that is about as low as an acoustic instrument can produce.

You have experience with one 5 string double bass. That's not a very good amount of information to use in coming to any conclusion about the usability of a low B.

You see more 4 string DBs with B extensions than 5 string DBs; low Bs are by no means uncommon in the DB world.

5 string double basses are less popular mostly because arco is quite a bit harder - you can only get so much usable arch at the bridge because body of the bass sets the limits of your bow angle. Reducing the body width isn't a viable option, it affects the tone of the instrument too much. So you're dividing that limited range of bow angle among 5 strings instead of 4, which makes it much more difficult to bow single strings cleanly. This applies to the entire orchestral string family - there's 5 and 6 string violins, cellos, etc. out there too, but they're not real popular because the physical and geometric limitations of the instrument make them much more difficult to play well.

Arco is obviously not a concern for electric bass guitar players. Since there's little or no difference in playability, (especially since most builders got away from squeezing 5 strings on to a 4 string neck), 5+ strings became much more popular in the "slab" world relatively quickly once the idea - and the strings - got out there.

 

[BruceWane]

Oh, and yes, it does seem that 4 string basses - especially Precisions - are much "cooler" amongst a certain group. It's a fairly complete aesthetic that starts with trying real hard to look like your primary clothing retailer is Salvation Army, and also seems to include going to bars and drinking cheap garbage beer. Schlitz? Lone Star? Really? If that's really all you can "afford", why are you at a bar paying 2 or 3 or 4 dollars for a frigging can of Schlitz?

 

[fretno]

If I did what other people told me I'd be a different person today , I also wouldn't have this long hair at 50 and I wouldn't have the girl I love going on 17 yrs. married.... Y'all can do what you want or what people tell you . Choices , we has them...

 

[Christcr]

Oh, and yes, it does seem that 4 string basses - especially Precisions - are much "cooler" amongst a certain group. It's a fairly complete aesthetic that starts with trying real hard to look like your primary clothing retailer is Salvation Army, and also seems to include going to bars and drinking cheap garbage beer. Schlitz? Lone Star? Really? If that's really all you can "afford", why are you at a bar paying 2 or 3 or 4 dollars for a frigging can of Schlitz?

As opposed to what? Buying your clothing from the tailor that makes Disney costumes or country club smoking jackets? No thanks. I'm good with jeans and a tee, Salvation Army or not.

So now playing a 4-string bass is synonymous with being trashy? Or broke? Or swilling cheap beer?

Where will this enlightening conversation go next? Or have you just had one too many delicate crystals filled with Armand de Brignac Brut Gold?

 

[BruceWane]

As opposed to what? Buying your clothing from the tailor that makes Disney costumes or country club smoking jackets? No thanks. I'm good with jeans and a tee, Salvation Army or not.

So now playing a 4-string bass is synonymous with being trashy? Or broke? Or swilling cheap beer?

Where will this enlightening conversation go next? Or have you just had one too many delicate crystals filled with Armand de Brignac Brut Gold?

Jeez, lighten up a bit there. Have an Old Milwaukee or two.

The funny thing is, I would bet that some of the "cool" pop bands mentioned earlier in this thread probably have some clothing that came from Salvation Army, picked out by a stylist and then tailored to fit just right. Best of both worlds, right?

I'm not saying that "playing a 4-string bass is synonymous with being trashy? Or broke? Or swilling cheap beer?"........ I'm saying it's funny to me how some people and some bands will choose a bass and even a bass player based on how well the visual style fits, when the overall visual style seems to be "raging apathy". Caring a lot about making sure that you're perceived as not caring.

Pretty much everybody makes choices in their appearance. Even those who choose to make an effort to look like they're not making an effort. Even going so far as to pay inflated prices for crappy beer in a bar 'cause they like the way the can looks with their outfit.

 

[RMacBass]

I personally think the “New” 4-string movement (if you overlook that they never went out of style for many grumpy bassists) has to do with bassists wanting to emulate their 60s-70s musical idols. Their retro instrument, clothing and hair styles all harken back to the days of yore, when bassists were manly and had moustaches.

I switched over to playing my Fender knockoff 4-strings because I love the feel of the thinner necks, as well as it being easier to dial in great tone on a Fender-style bass because the sound itself has been around for 60 years. On 5-strings with comprehensive preamps, I often find myself experimenting with EQ when I don’t really have time to.

I do miss the use of the low DB-D-Eb especially for reading show gigs, but amongst my stable, the pickups/preamps in the more modern 5-stringers struggle to produce vintage sounds. Both of my 4-stringers reproduce classic tones, and they knock it out of the park.

All that being said, even with the amount of love I’ve given my 4-strings lately, I think a “Vintage 70s”-style P/J 5 might be the perfect compromise.

 

[bluesblaster]

Things change, people want something to set them apart , I'm fine with that, however there has never been a time nor will there ever be a time when a good old 4 string bass aint cool. You can have as many strings as you can lay your hands on but you still have to play "bass" cause that's your job. If you are doing something besides that than I don't know what to tell you.



It has nothing to do with your personal identity whatever that may be.

 

[bluesblaster]

Pretty much everybody makes choices in their appearance. Even those who choose to make an effort to look like they're not making an effort. Even going so far as to pay inflated prices for crappy beer in a bar 'cause they like the way the can looks with their outfit.[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry what ? Who the hell does something like that ?

 

[Brad Johnson]

That's an "if" argument - not a legit argument.

Almost no acoustic instrument can reproduce that low note except a piano which does it with very long strings. 5 string stand ups exists but that note is essentially for a 9 piece bass section. I play some classical and one bassist has a low B. When he goes down - no one can hear it.

The reason 4 came first - physics!

Actually a 3 string standups came first

Guitarron goes to A - because that is about as low as an acoustic instrument can produce.

In absence of a electricity - 5 string does not exist.

Wow.


That was like watching a magician pulling a never-ending stream of fabric out of his mouth.

 

[countrybass5]

As far as I'm concerned, being a bass player is what's cool in and of itself.

I don't care how many strings.

Agreed...you should play what you feel comfortable playing and not worry what others think.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

With a few exceptions, just about every gig I've played in the past 15 years has required or has been made exponentially easier by playing a five-string. For instance, I just did a Beach Boys theater tribute last month that used the low B (played Fun, Fun, Fun and Sloop John B in their original keys that use a low Eb). It avoids the necessity of multiple tunings or having a cadre of basses for a gig (IME, any bass tuned below D needs its own specific setup, including specific string gauges, that are not necessarily optimal for 440 - I can avoid worrying about that with a five-string). Also, as a bass player, I find having all strings tuned in 4ths to make my world the easiest.

As far as coolness factor goes, it definitely does limit some access to some "cool" basses. I'm not a vintage guy per se, but I wouldn't mind a a vintage Fender. Problem is for such an expensive investment - even if I save some coin on a refin - it's not going to get much use. I felt like I spent forever finding a Thunderbird Studio 5 and I probably even overpaid a little for it. Finding a Precision V even took a little longer than I would have liked. I'm excited about the new Rickenbacker five-strings, since that's such an iconic instrument that really didn't offer much choice in the past regarding five-string models.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

You know, before Monday, I would have said a 5 was cooler in every way. Kind of like, which is cooler to ride? A Harley, or a Moped?

However...

On a couple of songs my band does, that extra string gets in the way. I am not usually a pick player, but use one for those songs, and that top string just gets in the way. So I got a four string set and restrung one of my basses that was strung up BEAD and worked on the songs again in EADG. I have decided that I really like the way I play them better. It's going to mean taking a second, different bass to the gig now, but I have a new found appreciation for four string basses again. I'll probably fix up another one I have laying around as a four too.

BnB