Six string stigma?

[MattZilla]

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.

That's pretty cool that you got to tour with Clutch.

no. You have nothing to fakpologize for. I find it impossible that longtime TB user BassCliff would play stonerdoom out of stonerdoom uniform.

 

[fjbass78]

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

I think his son does.

 

[John Bess]

I think his son does.

Yeah, Felix does. I think he has two sons who play bass.

 

[JimmyM]

That's pretty cool that you got to tour with Clutch.

no. You have nothing to fakpologize for. I find it impossible that longtime TB user BassCliff would play stonerdoom out of stonerdoom uniform.

I find it impossible that Cliff would play stonerdoom but if he did, he'd likely crush it no matter what he used.

 

[TrevorR]

This is the Internet / musos / humans. Yes, of course there is a stigma against 6 strings. As there is against 4 strings, picks, 5 strings, active, passive, Fenders, not Fenders, Class D, solid state, cab combinations with different size speakers, slap, technical players, beginners, fixed thumb, floating thumb, Mustang Sally, covers bands... you name it. Sadly, it's what some people do. However, those who stigmatise aren't worth your time or emotional effort.

 

[Susqmike]

I regularly play a six and usually get comments of surprise. I haven't experienced Any negativity. I love how Billy Sheehan puts it. He is a Monster. Could certainly play a 5, 6 or 7 but chooses to play four string. His attitude is "so long as you're getting the notes you want..."
What a great attitude! Live and let live! But hopefully it is working for YOU.
(BTW when i play a four, i Never feel the instrument is lacking Anything!...In the grand scheme, 4, 5, 6 or 7? Doesn't really matter-but choose what gets Your goat and enjoy it!...)

 

[bearfoot]

There may be some who will see the six strings, and even if you play only on the inner four, they will claim you're playing too many notes, and can't follow you. That was my impression, when bringing out a 6-string the first time. I never even touched the high C string, only used the low B for occasional notes, but the visual alone combined with the cliche of the 6-string made a bandmate churn out the standard "la resistance" to it.

 

[mikewalker]

If you want to escape the stigma, just get yourself one of those ultra-short-scale six-string piccolo basses...

 

[John Bess]

[QUOTE="MattZilla, post: I find it impossible that longtime TB user BassCliff would play stonerdoom out of stonerdoom uniform.[/QUOTE]
My mistake. I didn't understand you were referencing someone else.

 

[waveman]

I think there could be biases for or against any instrument depending on style or conventions. Either way, I don't care what you play, as long as the playing is good and fits the song.

Personally, I am not a fan of large necks, so I only play 4 stringers, but if I were to go higher, I'd definitely get a 6 over a 5.

 

[Nashrakh]

I am in the fortunate position that people actively enjoy six strings. There's not much of a stigma against them here, on the contrary - people instantly believe you have monster chops. And I routinely disappoint them, I'm just your average joe with two strings too many.

 

[neddyrow]

I love six string basses and just bought a new one after not having one for 15 years. And same as above, people expect a monster player and I would only disappoint. My new six string is a home bass for sure. Until I become a virtuoso.

 

[matante]

The stigma that a lot 6 strings carry is that not only do they have 6 strings, they're almost always coffee table basses, hippie sandwiches, or whatever you want to call them. Those basses are definitely out of style right now.

 

[BluesWalker]

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

Probably

 

[BluesWalker]

I only played 6 string basses in rock and blues bands. Initial reaction was negative, but after they saw what I played, nothing fancy and in sync with the drummer, no one cared.

Look at our own BassCliff, he plays his Carvin 6-string in country bands!

 

[micguy]

Yeah, Felix does. I think he has two sons who play bass.

One son, one nephew.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I was playing some heavy stoner doom on a six and that scene all expected vintage four strings.

Doom/stoner stuff's peculiar brand bigotry really turns me off (and my original music would probably be classified somewhere in that realm). If somebody in that scene sees that you're not playing a beat-up Fender or Gibson (or if you're really going to impress other doom musicians, a Ric or something with an aluminum neck) into a Sunn (O))) rig older than you are, there's a ridiculously high chance they're going to pass on even hearing what you actually sound like. I can only see this keeping the scene small, derivative, unfriendly, and focused on style rather than substance. Snobbery doesn't help with anything except keeping more people from discovering more music.

And I do play P basses, and I did have a Sunn (O))) rig older than I am. I play the P basses because it turns out they're exactly what I need—but one of them has five strings! And I don't play the Sunn (O))) rig because (pound for pound, especially) it didn't suit my needs as well as my newer Mesa and GK rigs do. Only a subset of other musicians really care what gear you use, and if they don't like it, I don't see why you would care. If bringing the six to the audition costs you the gig, consider that a bullet dodged, because there's probably plenty more stupid where that comes from.

 

[Mastermold]

I think I know what doom music is, but what's stoner music?

 

[Thumpin6string]

I mainly play a 6, but I do have a 5 string fretless. I plan on building a 6 string fretless and getting rid of the 5 soon. I don't care about the "stigma". Most of the 6 haters usually say "Jaco only needed 4". Honestly, I don't care what Jaco needed. Some of the best bassists around play 6s. If you want to play a 6 than play one. It doesn't matter what others think. I play my 6 in any and all genres and it sounds great in all of them.

 

[TolerancEJ]

OP, play what inspires you. Create your own musical sound identity.