What happened to 6 strings?

[peoriashows]

go big or go home lol
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While I'm a fan of extended range basses, I have to wonder at what point a multi-stringed bass stops being a bass guitar and becomes a different instrument. The Chapman Stick, for example is based on a bass guitar, but people rarely refer to it as a bass, it's a stick.

I think we should come up with a new name for any bass with 9 strings or more. My vote is to call it a "Bass," like the fish, you know? Is that not singular enough? let me know.

 

[uaudio]

Six-string players tend to be the silent type.

That's why I don't play one.

 

[bassdaddyfive]

I think that the 6 string is out there, but by not as many bass players.with 5 strings. like the 6 string so that I can do chords with bass at the ready. It's handy with a jazz trio gig and I can play solos lower on the neck because of the high C.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I think you are lying. PM me for my addy and send me that 635 and then I'll see if you are telling the truth.

I almost went for it.

Actually, I have absolutely no doubt about what you are saying, but the skill, attention to detail and precision fitting of parts on a US MTD, Fodera and Brubaker are light years beyond the Ibbys and MTD KZs I have played. The KZ I actually owned was pretty decent, but if it came within a mile of that 635 I'll eat my hat collection. LIke I said, its not something just any off the shelf bass will likely accomplish just by virtue of having a bigger neck and extra tuner.

Can't say I disagree with you but I would note that I've played several Ibanez sixes that when set up as I prefer them were very nice. Spacing wasn't too tight, action got nice and low. I haven't warmed up to the KZ's, hard to play it and not compare it to my 635. I'm lucky in the fact that I own the absolute best MTD 635 I've come across. It's crazy how nice it is. I've had a few friends sell their MTDs and search for more after asking me to let them compare theirs to mine. Mine is a first year (#29) with Ash body, Burl Maple top, Wenge neck and board and a very rare gloss finish. I string it with DR Sunbeam Nickel strings just to bring the zing down a notch and it's scary nice.

 

[Mark_L]

Yeah, the 6 string is kinda dumb, but I love mine anyway.

Mark

 

[jarrhead]

Well, i had been hunting for a sixer for years. I had my dream 6er picked out and started saving.

Then I got CTS. I can barely wrap around a 5er without issues. It opened my eyes up to how little I would use a High C. And I have forced myself not to listen to Yellowjackets so I don't have an urge.

 

[lousybassplayer]

Brad, you torture me.....

I have played afe ibbys that were decent enough, but the even from B to C thing was tricky. With eqing and adjusting my positioning and attack I could get something going, but it wasn't as easy as I thought it should be. Still, mucho love for a 6. For me, 7 is too much and 5 is just not quite enough for 1 in 10 songs I play. MAy not sound like much, but one tha one song, ya gotta have that 6 string. I'm holding it down with 4s right now to keep from getting carried away in pursuit of another 6.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Well, i had been hunting for a sixer for years. I had my dream 6er picked out and started saving.

Then I got CTS. I can barely wrap around a 5er without issues. It opened my eyes up to how little I would use a High C. And I have forced myself not to listen to Yellowjackets so I don't have an urge.

Jimmy doesn't spend all that much time down low... try a five strung EADGC. MAybe put a detuner on the E.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Brad, you torture me.....

I have played afe ibbys that were decent enough, but the even from B to C thing was tricky. With eqing and adjusting my positioning and attack I could get something going, but it wasn't as easy as I thought it should be. Still, mucho love for a 6. For me, 7 is too much and 5 is just not quite enough for 1 in 10 songs I play. MAy not sound like much, but one tha one song, ya gotta have that 6 string. I'm holding it down with 4s right now to keep from getting carried away in pursuit of another 6.

Keep an eye on the classifieds everywhere... I've seen some great deals on high end sixes, sometimes down in the low teens.

 

[lousybassplayer]

No hexabuzzes in that price range I would venture? If I get a decent re enlistment bonus this time around (not terribly liekly, but who knows), I am treating myself to a semi custom hi end 6er. Not sure what exactly, but I'm think LEJ fretted or hexabuzz fretless. We shall see. In the meantime I am off to the MTD club to dool.

 

[Ziltoid]

Yeah, the 6 string is kinda dumb, but I love mine anyway.

Mark

I'd do dirty bad things to get that bass, haha

 

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

I think the reason why is that a 5 string gives you extended range without having to tune down if your guitarist decides to do drop tuning....thats very valuable. With a 6, you are adding on a high C and many people wonder whether the extra discomfort of a larger neck is really justified by a high C or the need of one.

Everyone has different styles, and I have seen some guys really tear up a 6 string bass before, but I've never thought that going to higher notes was going to do that much for my sonic range as a bassist. If a guitarist is playing something on the high E and B, that gives my low-end a chance to really shine...so I'm going to try and use the thickest sounding notes I can. But for those with an F# string, I personally have a hard time finding amps that will reproduce my E string the way I want, a B would be even harder...an F# sharp would be like a bad nightmare for me lol.

It boils down to personal preference, but I've never really needed more than a 5'er for anything I've played in a band situation, covers and original material.

 

[spade2you]

I think the reason why is that a 5 string gives you extended range without having to tune down if your guitarist decides to do drop tuning....thats very valuable. With a 6, you are adding on a high C and many people wonder whether the extra discomfort of a larger neck is really justified by a high C or the need of one.

Technique is critical on a 6 string. You have some leeway on a 5er and about anything goes on a 4 string. I'm very short, but still comfortable on 35" scale 6ers. It's also true that inherent design of the bass comes into play on a 6 string, too.

Naturally, nobody wants to admit that their technique isn't up to par. We're dealing with musicians here.....

 

[Brad Johnson]

No hexabuzzes in that price range I would venture? If I get a decent re enlistment bonus this time around (not terribly liekly, but who knows), I am treating myself to a semi custom hi end 6er. Not sure what exactly, but I'm think LEJ fretted or hexabuzz fretless. We shall see. In the meantime I am off to the MTD club to dool.

I've seen some pretty amazing sixes for very little over the years. Even a Hexabuzz or two. And Elricks, Roscoes, the Innerwood I just got was under a grand... if you keep your eyes open it's a trip out there, especially now. The custom 6 string jazz I picked up here was a crazy deal. Just got to be ready to pull the trigger. While people were spending time asking questions about the bass, I made the decision to buy it.

There was a newer singlecut Brubaker KXB-6 that went relatively cheap recently (around $2k IIRC, maybe even less). If not for my current situation I would've snapped that up.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Technique is critical on a 6 string. You have some leeway on a 5er and about anything goes on a 4 string. I'm very short, but still comfortable on 35" scale 6ers. It's also true that inherent design of the bass comes into play on a 6 string, too.

Naturally, nobody wants to admit that their technique isn't up to par. We're dealing with musicians here.....

And it's the root to so many "gear" issues.

 

[gotbass1228]

I play a 6 string and am happy with my 6er.

 

[lousybassplayer]

Roscoe would work too. I dig the 6er jazzes since I am a jazz lover by nature. LEJ would be right up there on my list if I could get chance to play a few jsut to be sure. Does elrick make a NJS 6?

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I have three 4-string basses, three 6-string basses, and an unpaired 8-string.

Ignoring the fact that 5 of the basses are completely unplayable right now (making some modifications and refinishing them), the 6-string and 8-string always see a majority of my playing time.

They just feel more comfortable in my hands.

 

[groooooove]

i play exclusively 6 strings. i own 1 four string that has centimental value.

6 strings definately arent going out of style.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Roscoe would work too. I dig the 6er jazzes since I am a jazz lover by nature. LEJ would be right up there on my list if I could get chance to play a few jsut to be sure. Does elrick make a NJS 6?

Never seen one myself. Then again, Rob does one-offs. My semihollow NJS fretless five is one.