Tempted to Go Four String Only

[winston]

I'm equally comfortable on 4 or 5 string basses. A 6 needs to be narrow-spaced for me to like it. Had a Groove Tools 7 but it was way too big/heavy for me.

I find a low B comes in handy for many kinds of groove-based music. I generally don't like the sound of bass strings higher than G--sounds nasal to me, like a guitar with a head cold.

I've heard bassists absolutely slay on 6+ string basses; I've also heard ones who clash with the higher-range instruments and let the bottom drop out. I also feel that the temptation to stay in one position (especially open position) that comes with strings above G can lead to a much thinner sound than other musicians expect from a bass.

This works in certain contexts (solo playing, chordal pieces) etc., but not so much for support work. There's a lot to be said for exploring all the ranges of the bass--one thing I've discovered watching Jaco Pastorius on Youtube is how much he played across all 4 strings above the 12th fret.

There's something about the simplicity and comfort of a 4 string bass that's a relief to me. Also, staying into 4s means that there are literally millions more instruments out there to choose from.

 

[epoxo57]

4 strings do me fine. I have never been denied a gig coz I didn't have a 5'er. A lot of times I'll simulate a low B by doing a "power chord" on the E and A strings and the same for low C and D on the A and D strings. Ain't the same but...eh....what ya gonna do?

 

[mobax]

I have been using fours lately after years of playing only fivers and I am very happy with the results.

 

[Baird6869]

I look at my Geddy Lee Jazz and 2 P basses all the time and get sad when I think how stupid it is that they aren't getting much use.

Unfortunately (and fortunately) I have four high end 5ers and play in one band that really required me having access to low C and D (1st and 3rd position on the B string).

When I used the 4 string for even just a few songs that dont require anything below E, I got screwed up and tended to play on the wrong string from time to time.

 

[T-MOST]

I have no need for a 4. I have not used one (or needed one) for the past 10 years. I guess it depends on what you are playing. I play smooth jazz, R&B (old and new) and lots of Black gospel so showing up with anything less than a 5 ties one hand behind your back.

 

[Busker]

Although I'd like to try a 5 'er, I don't think it's really necessary for the music I play. The last five months or so I've learned upwards of 100 songs (I joined 2 bands that didn't work out, but I learned their stuff, plus the band I'm in now, I've learned their stuff). On only a handful of songs, I have to drop the E to D because I need a bit of extended range. The rest are normal 4 string tuning.

 

[chutsk10]

I have a 5'er and love it, only thing is the B string is only ever used as a thumb rest. You really only gain 5 extra notes with the extra string, althgouh ti does open opportunities to play in positions higher up the neck but i find if the B string is not on a high end bass I don;t liek the sound of it higher up the neck anyway.

Right now I mainly play 4's however I ordered myself a Dingwall 6, I figgure the B will sound amazing plus I really enjoy the High C. I use that much more than a low B.

 

[Andy Brown]

It's strange. A few months ago I was thinking I could go back to 4's, but I found myself really missing the B-string. Since the 5-string basses I own have really, really good B's, even in the 5th ~ 10th positions, I find myself using it up even up there.

On the flip side, I'm getting more and more into fretless, and prefer a 4-string for that. It's funny, but I can't see myself playing an unfretted b-string.

 

[JimmyM]

Sorry, but I don't consider losing 4 notes as a "lack of options." What I liked best about going back to 4 from 5 had nothing to do with rejuvenated creativity over lack of options. It had to do with being irritated with a 5th string I used once or twice a night unless I crowbarred it in.