4 my yamaha TRB and my soon to build 5 string custom 50's P dual pups N/B i had a 5 string ibanz jazz and sold it kicked myself ever since now i wanna 5 but 50s P so i will
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Poll: 4s, 5s or 6s (or more?)
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
Pretty much just 5’s at this point. It just fits and I love the ease of transposing on the fly that it affords as well as the sub-E notes when needed. I’ve still got my first 4-string but it’s retired from the road, so I’d have to purchase another 4 if I got a gig that stipulated that 5’s weren’t allowed.
Bass tone is more than just strings. I have a variety of string number and type, hollow and solid, short and long scale, active and passive, etc...
I prefer 5s, but am currently playing 4s, primarily based on weight. Tired old refrain, but at 70, with several back and shoulder surgeries, 8 lbs and a couple ounces is my max, and I prefer lighter. I've sold all my fives, except my avatar, which stupidly has my heart. It's the lightest 5 I've ever owned at 9lbs 6oz. I play it at home, but out, I play 4s.
5's and 6's, fretted and fretless. I can not see any reason why I'd ever play a 4 again. When I pick one up they just feel so weird now. I probably play 50/50 in terms of frequency and frets.
As to why? No particular reason. Just whatever I feel like. Sometimes I'll bring my Stingray 5hh or my Wal 5 to my jazz trio gig, other times, it's a 6 string fretted or fretless Cliff Bordwell. No logic to any of it really, but who cares? I just feel fortunate to have a selection of top-shelf gear.
As to why? No particular reason. Just whatever I feel like. Sometimes I'll bring my Stingray 5hh or my Wal 5 to my jazz trio gig, other times, it's a 6 string fretted or fretless Cliff Bordwell. No logic to any of it really, but who cares? I just feel fortunate to have a selection of top-shelf gear.
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I mainly play 4-strings, I have a couple of 5-strings, and 2 Bass VI-style 6-strings. I also enjoy switching between short & long scale. But lately I've mainly been playing my 8-string!
I voted 5s. I’ve got three 5 strings: a short scale (which I’ll be giving to my kiddo), a p with flats and a j with rounds.
I also play a 4 string upright bass (one day hope to switch that over to 5 as well) and I have an old 4 string acoustic bass guitar thats been broken in a case awaiting repairs for several years now.
I like 5s cause I can easily change keys on the fly without having to retune things. Also I play at churches and sometimes I’m playing something originally written for organ, so the low B helps with that.
With electrics, I’ve been playing 5s exclusively for nearly 10 years. Before that I had a 4 and a 6. Six just seemed like too much instrument. But, I’ve always felt a 4 is somehow more ‘free’, and I like the wider string spacing and classic look (wish they made ashtrays covers for 5s too), but I’ve forced myself to stick with the 5s. FWIW, I think the key to making a 5 sound good is getting a well balanced string set. All my 5s (except the shortscale) are 34” but I’ve been really trying to balance the low B with the rest of the 4 to get it to sound right. Seems to be working.
I also play a 4 string upright bass (one day hope to switch that over to 5 as well) and I have an old 4 string acoustic bass guitar thats been broken in a case awaiting repairs for several years now.
I like 5s cause I can easily change keys on the fly without having to retune things. Also I play at churches and sometimes I’m playing something originally written for organ, so the low B helps with that.
With electrics, I’ve been playing 5s exclusively for nearly 10 years. Before that I had a 4 and a 6. Six just seemed like too much instrument. But, I’ve always felt a 4 is somehow more ‘free’, and I like the wider string spacing and classic look (wish they made ashtrays covers for 5s too), but I’ve forced myself to stick with the 5s. FWIW, I think the key to making a 5 sound good is getting a well balanced string set. All my 5s (except the shortscale) are 34” but I’ve been really trying to balance the low B with the rest of the 4 to get it to sound right. Seems to be working.
I converted to playing fives in the late 80's, I'd never felt at home on a four. Been playing fives ever since, although in the last few years I've bought a couple fours. I really don't know why. Sixes I could never see a need for the extra high string for what I do.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I have a fretted and fretless pair of both 4's and 6's and can switch with no issues. In my brain a 6 is just a 4 with an extra string on either side. The 6 string pair has rounds, the 4's have flats. I went with 4's for the flats because there just aren't a whole lot of 6 string flat options.
Only 6ers for me. No reason to have a 4 or 5 string when a 6 covers both and more.
I started on 4 strings, have also owned 5, 6 & 7 string basses plus a 10-string Chapman Stick.
Honestly it was the 7 that truly made me appreciate the simplicity of 4 string basses in a way I never had before!
Not to mention there are millions and millions more instruments to choose from.
Mostly play 4s with a bit of 5 string and Bass VI these days.
Honestly it was the 7 that truly made me appreciate the simplicity of 4 string basses in a way I never had before!
Not to mention there are millions and millions more instruments to choose from.
Mostly play 4s with a bit of 5 string and Bass VI these days.
I have been playing 4 string basses almost exclusively for the last 15 years. I started tuning my basses to D Standard (DGCF) last year and now all my basses are tuned that way. D Standard gives me access to D1 and Eb1 like on a 5+ string bass, but without the downsides of extended range basses. It's a nice compromise between a 5 string and a 4 string in standard tuning.
I would like to try a 5 string with a low A0 or a high Bb2 in the future. But I'm not sure which tuning I would go with in the future.
I would like to try a 5 string with a low A0 or a high Bb2 in the future. But I'm not sure which tuning I would go with in the future.
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All 4's for me. Fretted and Fretless. I do have 2 with D-tuners but hardly ever go there. In 50+ years of playing, I never lost a gig or didn't get the session because I play 4's. Just works for me.
In fairness, I did try a few 5ers some years back, BEADG and EADGC, but I never heard a great low B on any of those I tried, and between the D-tuners and Octave pedals, I never miss the low stuff below d-tuned D.
I don't discriminate though, if 5's are your thing, it's all good. I kind of don't understand basses with more than 5 though.
In fairness, I did try a few 5ers some years back, BEADG and EADGC, but I never heard a great low B on any of those I tried, and between the D-tuners and Octave pedals, I never miss the low stuff below d-tuned D.
I don't discriminate though, if 5's are your thing, it's all good. I kind of don't understand basses with more than 5 though.
There has always been something about the aura/image of those who exclusively play six strings that is inherently deserving of respect IMO. A commitment to the full range of the instrument, carrying with it the associated added costs for strings, limited selection of instruments, dealing with the tropes associated with a six string. I love them, though, because when I see a six string I usually expect to see a guy who can play!
I've had sixes, fives and fours over the years. Fives are very handy for me as a matter of convenience. They can give you all that low range that bandleaders might want but have relatively few vices. I prefer four strings mainly, but most of my basses are fives. My latest acquisition is a Warwick Dolphin Pro I 4 string and one bass that I've wanted for ages. With a four string I actually think I play my best, the limitation almost invokes a creativity in me and I find myself playing more across multiple positions.
I have owned six strings before though and I still have one, a Manne custom fretless six, although I rarely play it as I prefer my Pentabuzz for fretless stuff. The beauty is having the choice and of course, being flexible enough as a player to manage changing between different instruments.
