Have you ever been to Bass Cellar in Demark Street? haha theres loads there. I play a six string, got it from a guy in Cardiff.
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Is the 5 string a US phenomenon?
- Thread starter Sleeping Giant
- Start date
Not many 5 string players in my neck of the woods.
Some have 5s, but few play them exclusively.
Some guys I know just couldn't adjust. Not because they're lazy or poor players, just much more comfortable on a 4.
For me it depends on the need of the band and the song.
Some singers need to have the songs transposed, so a 5 becomes a necessity, others like a lot of drop D songs, so a 4 with a Hipshot Xtender is the best way to go.
Neither the 4 or the 5 (or more) is going away, and popularity means nothing to my GAS.
I like what I like, regardless of popular opinion.
Some have 5s, but few play them exclusively.
Some guys I know just couldn't adjust. Not because they're lazy or poor players, just much more comfortable on a 4.
For me it depends on the need of the band and the song.
Some singers need to have the songs transposed, so a 5 becomes a necessity, others like a lot of drop D songs, so a 4 with a Hipshot Xtender is the best way to go.
Neither the 4 or the 5 (or more) is going away, and popularity means nothing to my GAS.
I like what I like, regardless of popular opinion.
I voted!?!?!!???Yes, it's stickied at the top of this forum.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/what-kind-bass-guitar-do-you-play-re-loaded-sure-revote-426626/
Try ending a tune on a low C on a 4 string bass,
then try ending a tune on a low C on a 5 string.
That did it for me, it's not about being fancy or showing off.
Options are good, and an extended lower range is the b^%$
for a bass player.
Also makes a great thumbrest.
then try ending a tune on a low C on a 5 string.
That did it for me, it's not about being fancy or showing off.
Options are good, and an extended lower range is the b^%$
for a bass player.
Also makes a great thumbrest.
MrLenny1 said:
+1
It's not about being cool its about adding the lower register that is BASS. Extended range instruments are cool but if your playing the same notes in the same octive range doubling guitar riffs the whole song , your not playing a bass line imo.
In most states 5 strings are banned ! I lot of gigs you have to sneak them in. Most people cant stand bottom end and the government is coming for your 5 string then your guns so when you see them coming turn up the treble and turn down the bass all the way but keep em' grooving maybe they wont notice !
I wondered what that question on the last census long form was about: How many basses are in your household and list the number of strings on each...
+1
Unless, of course, the guitar is NOT playing them too! Several here have already mentioned the utility of extended upper range for solos and small sparce combos. The challenge of the ERB is always to remember to use those extra notes tastefully!
Convenience sampling is only unreliable if the sample is systemically different from the general population - for example, polling the researcher's high-income neighbourhood to determine average income of a state, or polling patrons at his favourite bar for average alcohol consumption of the state. The less systemically different, the more likely the results are indicative. Researchers use convenience sampling all the time, especially if they can account for or minimise systemic errors. Disregarding all convenience sampling with a broad brush is stupid.
In this case, TB may not be a good sample for the general bass playing public, since bassists more concerned about gear seem more likely to be members of a gear-oriented website (as I mentioned earlier). The poll itself has more than 10000 votes - a significant portion of the TB membership. It is more like a partial census of the TB membership. In any case, the systemic errors in the poll would most likely cause the results to deviate in a manner to prove my point that 5s are way less popular than 4s because (in my experience) people who are less concerned about gear, less likely to be TB members, less likely to vote on gear polls, more likely play 4s.
- Aug 27, 2003
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Sweet.... I'm like one of the laziest bassists ever.
maybe you should start a club?
I play my 5er as my main, my 6er would be my next choice and then my 4. I just find the larger neck easier to play as I am tall & lanky with long fingers. I love my 4 but just cramped for me to rip on. Plus everyone knows the more strings you have the better you are, I am surprised you folks didn't know that....
Maybe. I can't make a singer that insists on doing everything down a half-step (E flat) or more understand that on the four, E is as low as it go! So either had to play everything up an octave, 'detune' the whole instrument, or....get a 5 string. Guess I'm lazy. Singer must be lazy for wanting everything down a notch.
I've started with 4, then played 5 stringers exclusively for many years. Now I'm back to using 4 again - neck is thinner so my hands can endure long playing session easily. Bass will weight less so back is be thankful too. (not all have perfectly healthy spine)
Still need 5 at times thought...
What about 1, 2 or 3 string basses?
Still need 5 at times thought...
What about 1, 2 or 3 string basses?
I used to own a 5, but now I just tune one of my 4s to BEAD. I don't really need the extra string, I just like having the lower notes....
The only people I know here who use a 5 are the guy I sold mine to and another guy in a metal band where the guitarist uses a 7... other than that 5s seem to be pretty rare here.
The only people I know here who use a 5 are the guy I sold mine to and another guy in a metal band where the guitarist uses a 7... other than that 5s seem to be pretty rare here.
What about 1, 2 or 3 string basses?
Check this out, for a long time these guys have been pretty much Denmarks biggest rock band and the bassist has been playing 2 string basses since the 80's. They look pretty funny in this one, enjoy:
Martin
EDIT: Since this is a bassists forum, I feel I need to include a disclaimer. Stig Pedersen is not in any way an impressive bassist, but he does what he does well and is quite the showman.
I was looking forward to that video, but according to YouTube the uploader has not made it available in my country (USA). Perhaps he wants two string basses to remain a European phenomenon.
I was looking forward to that video, but according to YouTube the uploader has not made it available in my country (USA). Perhaps he wants two string basses to remain a European phenomenon.
i got the same thing... coincidence? or conspiracy?
