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Reassessing the 6 string
- Thread starter IamGroot
- Start date
I can see the point of a six. I've strung my five string with a high C in the past. Unfortunately it doesn't work well as the scale is too long. It's a 35.5" scale, which makes the C much too nasal - as if it's a different instrument. The extra long scale gives a great piano sound on the B, though. And that's what worries me about sixers. The play-off between scale and pitch, it seems to me, is just a bit too extreme for comfort. Perhaps a Dingwall would be the answer....
I've played a Dingwall and it was nice. But I can tell you Roscoe's 35" scale manages that balance quite well on a wide variety of string types.
Play whatever you want if you like it! I've had a couple of 6 strings, a 7 string, and a 10-string Chapman Stick.
These days it's 4s, 5s (low B), and a baritone Schecter 6 (30", really narrow spacing, EAGDBE).
To my ears strings above G on a long-scale bass can sound like a guitar with a head cold and really stick out in more traditional groove-based styles of music. Also - this isn't a problem for 6 string masters like Anthony Jackson or Oteil Burbridge - but I've seen/heard many less-experienced bassists hang out in the lower frets/higher string of a 6 string bass and really thin out the sound compared to if they were playing 1 string lower/5 frets up or 2 strings lower/10 frets up. It's not that you can't play up the neck on a 6+ string, but it seems many choose not to even if it sounds better in a given context.
These days it's 4s, 5s (low B), and a baritone Schecter 6 (30", really narrow spacing, EAGDBE).
To my ears strings above G on a long-scale bass can sound like a guitar with a head cold and really stick out in more traditional groove-based styles of music. Also - this isn't a problem for 6 string masters like Anthony Jackson or Oteil Burbridge - but I've seen/heard many less-experienced bassists hang out in the lower frets/higher string of a 6 string bass and really thin out the sound compared to if they were playing 1 string lower/5 frets up or 2 strings lower/10 frets up. It's not that you can't play up the neck on a 6+ string, but it seems many choose not to even if it sounds better in a given context.
Same here.
I have a couple of really nice six strings that I bought to try and get into it. But I found myself avoiding the C string more than embracing it.
But I totally embraced the B string and I love it and use it on almost every song I play.
I've considered pickup up a 6 string. Now that I'm doing floating thumb, I can play 5,6,7,8 strings without much issue other than remembering what notes are what on the high strings.
I don't tap. I couldn't play the bass lines I need and want to even if I had spent more than the the .6 minutes I have thus far in my life working on that technique.
My 8 isn't an octave type. Suckers got a fret board you could practically land a plane on. I've got it tuned F#BEADGCF.I don't quite understand how a 8 string bass extended range works
8 Individual. Here it is next to my 6.
I absolutely love 6 strings. I just feel they make me play at a better overall left hand position. I am more aware of my muting and then you have all the extra fun of the C string which adds a huge amount to the upper register playing. The clearness and crispness of the C string is excellent. I don't think a bass thats not a 6 will be my main
I enjoy 4s for their limitations as much as anything (being forced to get creative is what developed a lot of fun slide technique and science behind the compromises inherent in bass string design), but playing my Ibanez BTB7 7-string mutant monster in this R&B outfit has gotten me really developing my fretboard awareness, and having infinite room to spread out with inversions and whatnot, I'm getting a whole new perspective on chord voice leading.
A few weeks ago I hit up my local GC to try out a delay pedal, and they let me grab some beat up old SR 6-string to play it on. It was positively effortless after spending time on the 7, which had me "testing" the pedal for a long time. haha
I'm a fan of 'em.
A few weeks ago I hit up my local GC to try out a delay pedal, and they let me grab some beat up old SR 6-string to play it on. It was positively effortless after spending time on the 7, which had me "testing" the pedal for a long time. haha
I'm a fan of 'em.
I've never owned one but I have played a bunch. Every time I pick one up I think it might be fun to have as an option, and then I realize that I'll never use it and forget about it. I barely use my 5 as it is. But maybe one day...
Yeah, I have that exact tuning on my bass, except its a high B for chords
I feel I end up using the high B more than a low B
I love my LTD B206SM.
Same!!! I used my LTD for about 2 or 3 solid years, but then i got into an accident and it became too heavy
