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

[bearfoot]

"cool" is totally subjective, but I think it may be more impressive, showmanship-wise, to play impressive technique on a 4-string.
Bring up a 5, or especially 6 string+ , and I think people are more likely to expect it. But coaxing piano-like range out of a 4-string, harmonics, and with classical guitar and tapping techniques, it looks like magic.

 

[Copperhead]

Cool is as cool does
What is hip ? Tell me tell me if you think you know... cause what is really hip, the passing years will show. (TOP )

 

[SteveC]

I find that having only 4 strings "forces" me to use the entire fingerboard in a more creative way, which has lead me to better, more interesting basslines.

Maybe. I have played 5's for a long time now. I often think I "should" play a 4 like (insert names here) as they are famous and awesome or whatever. Sometimes I pay a 4 and think that certain lines "feel' better or "lay" netter on a 4. And I've tried the "force me to be more creative" thing, too. Maybe it is true, I don't know.

I know I can choose to not use the B string and pay more creatively on the rest and still have my B when I want it. I know the neck on my Roscoe 5 feel better than ANY I have tried....and it's been almost all of them.

To each their own as always, but I guess for now I am not cool as I can't find a 4 string I like or does as much as my Roscoe 5.

 

[twc1313]

LOL, like this?

The irony is that Paul Denman - seen here playing with Sade - played bass lines considered by many to be the epitome of 'cool' within that particular genre - early 80s pop. Alas, he seems to have diminished the coolness factor by playing on stage with a strap that was 18 inches too short. On a positive note (no pun intended) he played a MM Stingray.

The T-Rex arm uncool factor is negated by the fact that his bass isn't even plugged in. Paul Denman is so cool that he can coax that warm, funky tone from his Ray WITHOUT AN AMP.

 

[bluesblaster]

Today I played a very nice Carvin 5 string, I'm not convinced the B string is a must have, its not in the way but I could do without it and be just fine. 4 string for me please

 

[bassbully]

I have yet to ever have anyone comment of how many strings are on my bass.

 

[knuckleduster]

I am cool.
I play the 4-string bass.

Therefore, through my extensive sampling methods and statistical analysis, anyone who does not play the 4-string bass is a giant nerd.

 

[nostatic]

I have yet to ever have anyone comment of how many strings are on my bass.

I've had it happen multiple times at gigs when playing a 5 or 6. Usually they are musicians of some sort (often lapsed players) and they've always seen guys with 4-strings.

unlined fretless with extended range gets bonus comments.

 

[5StringBlues]

I've had it happen multiple times at gigs when playing a 5 or 6. Usually they are musicians of some sort (often lapsed players) and they've always seen guys with 4-strings.

unlined fretless with extended range gets bonus comments.

Guys that can pull a swordfish out of their pants are free to play as many strings as they want.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

The T-Rex arm uncool factor is negated by the fact that his bass isn't even plugged in. Paul Denman is so cool that he can coax that warm, funky tone from his Ray WITHOUT AN AMP.

No way Jose'

The performance is mimed - the uncool factor is doubled.

 

[NeonVomit]

As someone who plays both a 4 and a 6, I can say people who can do stuff on a 4 that I would need a 6 for have mad respect from me.

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, I certainly think so. But, I think these guys were pretty cool, too. So...YMMV, I suppose...

 

[Eilif]

Is it cooler to play a 4 string bass?

Yes, yes it is. I base this on the fact that I only play 4 string basses. Do with that what you will.

Even more interestingly, do you feel that bringing more than 4 strings to an audition might cost you the gig?

Totally depends on the gig, but you know that if I'm going to try out for a country, Americana, indie rock, etc. gig it's a 4 string Fender that I'm bringing to the audition.

4 strings Fender basses are the accepted look for many of styles of music. When it comes to getting the gig and playing the gig bringing the bass is as important as wearing the right outfit.
Reminds me a bit of a spirited conversation we had some years ago...
In defense of "showing up with the right bass"

 

[Jim Carr]

No way Jose'

The performance is mimed - the uncool factor is doubled.

In defense of Mr. Denman and Sade, they were doing a "live" TV broadcast, even if the music was not live—the though the distinction is pretty much bogus, as any TV broadcast is at some point "live." Oh, well—not cool, but in 1985, it was big opportunity for Sade and co. to reach a German audience—they didn't have any choice if they wanted the PR, which is, let's face it, an essential part of any successful career in music. At least they didn't have amps and cables on stage to make it completely dishonest. I've seen that, too.

from wikipedia...

Der Musik Convoy war eine wöchentlich montags von Januar 1984 bis September 1985 ausgestrahlte Live-Musiksendung im Vorabend-Programm des Westdeutschen Fernsehen (WDF) in insgesamt 80 Episoden.

Moderatoren waren Alan Bangs und Robert Treutel (heute bekannt als Bodo Bach), Nancy Diehl, Karin Sarholz – sowie Xaõ Seffcheque, der Xaõs Quiz präsentierte: Als Hauptgewinn winkte jeweils der Besuch bzw. die Teilnahme an einer der nächsten Sendungen. Innerhalb Nordrhein-Westfalens besuchten die Moderatoren mit einem amerikanischen Bühnen-Truck meistens Kleinstädte, um dort nachmittags, zum Beispiel auf einem Marktplatz, mehr oder weniger bekannte Musiker zu präsentieren. Die 48. Sendung fand allerdings am 28. Januar 1985 in der Düsseldorfer Philipshalle statt. Der Truck verließ das Sendegebiet aber auch für einzelne Veranstaltungen in Berlin (8. Oktober 1984 und 9. September 1985, jeweils zur Internationalen Funkausstellung) oder München (26. November 1984). Der Musik Convoy verhalf Gruppen wie zum Beispiel den Ärzten zu einem Karrierestart. Die jeweiligen Musik-Acts die auf der Bühne des Trucks präsentiert wurden, wurden nicht live, sondern playback (lip-syncing) dargeboten.

und...

The music Convoy was a weekly Monday from January 1984 to September 1985 broadcast live music broadcast in the evening program of Westdeutsche Fernsehen (WDF) in a total of 80 episodes.

Presenters were Alan Bangs and Robert Treutel (now known as Bodo Bach), Nancy Diehl, Karin Sarholz, and Xaõ Seffcheque, who presented Xaõ's quiz: The main prize was a visit or participation in one of the next programs. Within North Rhine-Westphalia, the moderators usually visited small towns with an American stage truck in order to present more or less well-known musicians in the afternoons, for example on a marketplace. However, the 48th broadcast took place on January 28, 1985 in the Düsseldorf Philipshalle. The truck left the broadcasting area but also for individual events in Berlin (8 October 1984 and 9 September 1985, respectively to the International Radio Exhibition) or Munich (26 November 1984). The music Convoy helped groups such as the doctors to start their career. The respective music acts that were presented on the stage of the truck were not performed live, but playback (lip-syncing).

 

[dagrev]

Ask Dunn, Jamerson, Hood, etc!

As for the young dudes...they want to look cool like the old dudes (see above)!

 

[dave64o]

I'm middle-aged, male, and a father. No matter how cool a four-string bass is, it will never have enough cool to enable me to cross the threshold from uncool to cool. So, since it simply doesn't matter in my case, I just enjoy playing my uncool fives without worrying about the level of cool I project.

 

[JesterJoker010]

I don't know if it is cooler, but it's all I and several other bass players need, and personally I don't like the look of 5 string basses.

Also 4 strings is/was good enough for Victor Wooten and Jaco.

 

[5StringBlues]

Not caring about what others think is cool is cool.

 

[Durham52]

Regardless of how many strings a bass has, when exactly did playing any bass make any of us cool? Surely only bass players think any other bass players are cool?

 

[chris_b]

Is this thing still running? That's not cool at all.