Six string stigma?

[John Bess]

I was blessed in my early career (89-90) to study under Steve Bailey. I specifically wanted to study the six string with him, as the instrument was still in its infancy. This led to me buying my first professional bass, a Modulus Quantum 6. I played that bass exclusively for over twenty years. It was my voice, before I traded it for a sweet 70 fretless P. Now a Yamaha TRB6 is for sale locally at a fair price and I'm thinking of getting back into playing six again. So here's my question:

Does a stigma still exist against six string basses? All those years I played one, other musicians would give me weird looks when I pulled it out of the case, often expecting me to play too many notes. I was playing some heavy stoner doom on a six and that scene all expected vintage four strings. Do people give you a hard time for playing a six?

 

[mikezimmerman]

My main instruments are 5's, but I've never had anyone give me a hard time about playing my 6. Mostly, I just get remarks about the neck being big...or it being "pretty", deepening on who's remarking.

I was blessed in my early career (89-90) to study under Steve Bailey. I specifically wanted to study the six string with him, as the instrument was still in its infancy. This led to me buying my first professional bass, a Modulus Quantum 6. I played that bass exclusively for over twenty years. It was my voice, before I traded it for a sweet 70 fretless P. Now a Yamaha TRB6 is for sale locally at a fair price and I'm thinking of getting back into playing six again. So here's my question:

Does a stigma still exist against six string basses? All those years I played one, other musicians would give me weird looks when I pulled it out of the case, often expecting me to play too many notes. I was playing some heavy stoner doom on a six and that scene all expected vintage four strings. Do people give you a hard time for playing a six?

 

[garp]

I no longer play a six, but I'd say yeah – the stigma still exists in certain circles.

I can still recall an audition from a few years ago where, based on the band's repertoire, I made the conscious decision to leave the six at home and bring a rather pedestrian 4-string Jazz instead. When the audition was done and I was offered the slot, the guitarist/BL told me that the bass player who had auditioned prior to me [paraphrased] "opened up his case and pulled out some six-string monstrosity, and right there, I knew he wasn't going to be a good fit."

So even before playing a single note, the bias is still alive and well. But it exists well beyond the number of strings on an instrument. Don't even get me started on brand names...

 

[Ed Goode]

I've played 6's & 7's for the past 20+ years ... no one really cares what I play, as long as I do my job. The only somewhat negative comments I ever get are from players responding to a picture post, usually from "4 string only" types that have no idea what I play or how well (or poorly ) I do it. I really don't worry about it at all ...

 

[mikezimmerman]

Maybe it depends on where you live, and what kind of music you play?

 

[Wisebass]

Hi John Bess

There is a similar thread about 5ers

Are 5 strings on the way out?

Does a stigma still exist against six string basses? All those years I played one, other musicians would give me weird looks when I pulled it out of the case, often expecting me to play too many notes.

The "who do you think you are, Anthony Jackson or what?" look is still there. (Jaco only needed 4 etc.)

You can play 10 notes more with a 6 string => You must be some kind of weirdo!

I will quote myself frome the thread above:

The extra range that you have is not huge (5 notes / added string)

but you can play with less position changes!

Some folks will never understand how comfortable it can be to have more than 4 strings.

Because they never tried or because they never learnd to use the extra string(s) to their advantage.

I traded it for a sweet 70 fretless P. Now a Yamaha TRB6 is for sale locally at a fair price and I'm thinking of getting back into playing six again.

I hope the Yamaha is a fretless 6 string! That would give someone a reason to look!


I say go for it! Live is too short to worry about stigmata!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[CatchaCuda]

I wonder if @BassCliff has anything to say about this.

I'd suspect he may get some looks from someone who hasn't seen or heard him play.

 

[John Bess]

[QUOTE="Wisebass, post:

but you can play with less position changes!

Some folks will never understand how comfortable it can be to have more than 4 strings.

Because they never tried or because they never learnd to use the extra string(s)[/QUOTE]
Exactly!

 

[John Bess]

I always wonder if Jaco had been born twenty years later if he'd play a six.

 

[MattZilla]

I doubt the stigma is or ever was homogenized. The stink face which I'm sure I can't stop my face from contorting to is the same one I'd get if I had to work with a carpenter who had a 9lbs sledge hanging from his belt in lieu of a regular clawback.

It's not the the same stinkface as if an engineer shows up to the office wearing a Zep shirt and tattered jeans. "Go home and take a shower, Josh."


I can't believe you traded a Quantum for any P. I wouldn't trade my favorite golf polo for my favorite old t shirt, or vice a versa. Nor would I trade a solid Silverado for a Corvette, or vice a versa.



No offense to BassCliff, 1) I find it difficult to imagine him playing a full set of stoner doom 2) I find it impossible to imagine him playing a stoner doom set without dressing the part- which would include some actual 60s-70s, or 60s-70s inspired, four banger.

 

[Chasarms]

I think "stigma" is probably a little too strong of a word, but even myself as a bass player of 33+ years tend to raise a brow when I see a six at a "conventional" gig. If a player breaks out a sixer, I can't help but expect that he or she is going to be featured beyond what I would see in a typical pop/rock setting. Of course, I think featuring bass players is awesome and I love it, but I do admit to that stereotype.

 

[Chad Michael]

Do people give you a hard time for playing a six?

No. because I played bass on it...

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I was blessed in my early career (89-90) to study under Steve Bailey. I specifically wanted to study the six string with him, as the instrument was still in its infancy. This led to me buying my first professional bass, a Modulus Quantum 6. I played that bass exclusively for over twenty years. It was my voice, before I traded it for a sweet 70 fretless P. Now a Yamaha TRB6 is for sale locally at a fair price and I'm thinking of getting back into playing six again. So here's my question:

Does a stigma still exist against six string basses? All those years I played one, other musicians would give me weird looks when I pulled it out of the case, often expecting me to play too many notes. I was playing some heavy stoner doom on a six and that scene all expected vintage four strings. Do people give you a hard time for playing a six?

I don't care for 5 string basses and have no interest in them. I think 6 string basses are silly! I'm old and opinionated. However, don't let the "weird" looks and other "commentators" sway you away. If you like it (and I am sure you do), that's all that matters. If I were to jam on guitar (or any other instrument) with you and I was blindfolded, I doubt if I would even recognize you were using a sixer. In fact, I may even be asking you, "hey man, what kind of bass are you using? That thing sounds bad a**"! Get another 6 stringer and get back your "voice"

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Maybe it depends on where you live, and what kind of music you play?

What kind of music you play, fo sho!

 

[TolerancEJ]

Until someone else starts paying for my gear, I'll bring whatever I wish. I offer the same respect to others. As long as your instrument functions and sounds good, that's all that matters to me.

Bring your Bass of any number strings, whether it's an Atlansia Solitaire 1-String or a Conklin Custom 15-String.

Edit upon further reflection: I understand a situation where the band may be going for a specific look. If someone is doing a tribute to Kiss, their bassist better have an Axe Bass or Punisher. Many country acts probably prefer a P-Bass in the line up. (If it's a paying gig and/or I really enjoy it, this might technically meet my requirement of "Unless someone else is paying for my gear...")

 

[maturanesa]

Depending on the gig. If you bring your Ken Smith 6'er for your beatle gig you will be stigmatized...

 

[cardinal]

To some extent bringing anything but a four-string P-Bass might get some eyes rolling from some people. Can't worry about that unless it's something like a job interview, then I guess you do kinda need to worry about it.

 

[John Bess]

No offense to BassCliff, 1) I find it difficult to imagine him playing a full set of stoner doom 2) I find it impossible to imagine him playing a stoner doom set without dressing the part- which would include some actual 60s-70s, or 60s-70s inspired, four banger.

Unclear, are you saying you find it impossible I played stoner doom with a six string? Check my profile pic. That was taken while I was on a Metal Hammer magazine-sponsored European tour with Clutch. I am an artist. I didn't play a 60s-70s bass, just like I didn't have long hair when most other stoner musicians did. I don't do what everyone else does. Sorry if you find it impossible. Can't help you there.

 

[micguy]

We expect keyboard players to keep out of our way. We don't roll our eyes if they have keys below middle C, so long as they don't muddy things up with them. So long as what you play doesn't get in other people's way, I don't think it's an issue.

Racism, Sexism, and Ageism exist in our culture, but we're working to get rid of them. Is Stringism next?

 

[Crash 56]

I played a six in a cover dance band for years, and nobody ever said anything. These days its mostly fives, because I like the narrower neck and don't climb up on the C that much. Play what you want!