What happened to 6 strings?

[uaudio]

Is it just me, or are 6 strings basses 'out?' I've been around here for years as a registered user and lurker, and haven't seen much talk in the forum about them for the last year or so. I don't see them in the classifieds either. Did everyone decide in secret to stop playing and talking about them? Or is this just confirmation bias?

I used to have one, then moved on to passive Precisions. Don't see many of those with six strings. Nothing against you guys who play and love them, just wondering if others have noticed.

 

[TortillaChip520]

I don't know, but i really want one. Just make the jump straight from 4 to 6. If anybody feels their 6 is uncool, i'll take it

 

[Flaked Beans]

Jaco only needed 4 strings.

 

[stflbn]

Personally I love 5-strings, but just never have the need for higher.

 

[Baird6869]

They are out for me personally and I just couldn't find enough use out of the high C string.

Seems to be a lot of them still being played by TBers though....

 

[Jefenator]

They certainly used to be more trendy than they are these days. But they're a long way from vanished IME.

I just made the leap again, and the second time around, I appreciate the concept quite a bit more. Some of that has to do with me changing over the years. Also doesn't hurt to find an instrument that really sings and inspires you in every register.

 

[lowfreq33]

All I have at the moment are 6 string basses. I've been itching for a 5 though. Easier to slap on for me.

I will say that I don't think the 6 is all that useful for most people playing pop, rock or country. My C string doesn't see that much use really. It came in really handy when I was doing more proggy stuff, but these days my job tends to be more "bottom" oriented, and it's pretty rare that I get called on for a solo.

 

[lousybassplayer]

It took me getting a six to realize I only needed a 5, but I got rid of it for a 7, which told me if I couldn't get a low F# that was usable, I only needed six. THerefore I got rid of it for a 4. I know, confusing huh? For all that my next purchase will be a fretless 6 and then I think I am done with adding strings.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Personally I love 5-strings, but just never have the need for higher.

+1.

 

[spade2you]

Nothing from my perspective. Getting a few more.

 

[lousybassplayer]

The problem is they have so much sustain you can't ever play them. Or touch them. As a matter of fact don't even look at them.

 

[Rebmo]

Same thing as 20 strings

 

[cmlax21]

I got one they're nice for walking bass lines and stuff but I feel like the C gets in the way more than it is useful.

 

[csala]

I like the fact that you don't need to shift positions as much, but the high C always sounded really thin to me. I could never get past that.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Same thing as 20 strings

Except with 14 less strings

 

[lousybassplayer]

I like the fact that you don't need to shift positions as much, but the high C always sounded really thin to me. I could never get past that.

That is a good point. I hear dingwall and other novak fannedfret designs cure this, but it seems tough to find a c that doesn't sound thin and peircing unless you have a B thats muddy and not well defined. This is IME, and I have not had the fortune to play any really top notch 6ers.

 

[hover]

Except with 14 less strings

I've heard this!

 

[elavate7]

bass handles the bottom....so i say theres no need for the C. G is the highest bass needs to go IMO.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

bass handles the bottom....so i say theres no need for the C. G is the highest bass needs to go IMO.

So a tenor sax should handle the....tenor? There goes all those great Coltrane solos- he should have stayed in his place

 

[lousybassplayer]

git 'im BRT! Dang you and your logical arguments. And really, how many notes on a 20 fret 4 string are higher than middle C?