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What professional bassists only used 4 strings?

#81
DeliriumTremens said:
B72739.jpg


and watch this

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:cool:
You got me, I forgot.
Did Paul ever record with the 5-string?
 
#85
#87
malthumb said:
Almost all professional bassists use 4 strings at some point or another. I think the OP's question was about professionals who ONLY use 4 strings. Fact is, even Jaco was experimenting with 5ers before he died.

Victor Wooten PRIMARILY uses 4 but he does do some 5 string work. Same with Marcus Miller.

Of the bassists I follow, here are 10 that I've known to ONLY use 4 strings:

  • Stanley Clarke
  • Verdine White
  • John Entwistle
  • Bootsy Collins
  • Bernard Edwards
  • James Jamerson (although he tried a 5 and hated it)
  • John McVie
  • Louis Johnson
  • Prince
  • Larry Graham

I'm sure there are others and wouldn't be too surprised if some of the guys I've mentioned above have thumped a B string or two.
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hate to mess with your list but prince was seen from time to time with a 5 string warwick (fretless also) around 97. no scanner here with me but theres a good pic of it in bass player nov 1999
 
#90
What about Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree? Can't say I know the full details of every bass he's ever used live, or on an album, but it does appear that he only uses 4-strings and de-tuned 4-strings, plus double-bass, for all his work.

And on a Wal-bass related note, does Justin Chancellor count as a 4-string only user? (I'm not sure, he *may* have used a fiver.)

Cheers,

EG
 
#91
Hate to be Captain Obvious but Cliff Burton???

Wonder why nobody's mentioned him. He never used a 5.

Also, how about Jeff Berlin? (And here's the compulsory hiding smiley which must accompany every mention of his name on TB: :hiding:)

And Sting? I'm a huge fan but have never analyzed his gear. I've never seen him use a 5.
 
#92
You also have to remember that basses only had four strings until 1987 or so. Thats when 5 stringers started hitting the R&B and contemporary jazz scenes. So naturally everyone before 1987 was set with a four. If 5 and 6 string basses were available from the inception it would be a different story for sure. The bottom line is that "today" ERB's are as much a part of the musicscape as 4 stringers... and they are not going away.
 
#93
T-MOST said:
You also have to remember that basses only had four strings until 1987 or so. Thats when 5 stringers started hitting the R&B and contemporary jazz scenes. So naturally everyone before 1987 was set with a four. If 5 and 6 string basses were available from the inception it would be a different story for sure. The bottom line is that "today" ERB's are as much a part of the musicscape as 4 stringers... and they are not going away.
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This
 
#94
T-MOST said:
You also have to remember that basses only had four strings until 1987 or so. Thats when 5 stringers started hitting the R&B and contemporary jazz scenes. So naturally everyone before 1987 was set with a four. Also, if you recorded with a four your whole career you wouldn't need anything more. If 5 and 6 string basses were available from the inception it would be a different story for sure. The bottom line is that "today" ERB's are as much a part of the musicscape as 4 stringers... and they are not going away.
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Funny how people never think of this when they mention people who played well before the late 80's as only using a 4 string.
 
#95
T-MOST said:
You also have to remember that basses only had four strings until 1987 or so. Thats when 5 stringers started hitting the R&B and contemporary jazz scenes. So naturally everyone before 1987 was set with a four. Also, if you recorded with a four your whole career you wouldn't need anything more. If 5 and 6 string basses were available from the inception it would be a different story for sure. The bottom line is that "today" ERB's are as much a part of the musicscape as 4 stringers... and they are not going away.
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Yup, that's right actually. But many bassists from back then have gone on to try and use extended range basses.
 
#96
4 or 5 will be debated endlessly. I have played a 4, 5 and 6, fretted and fretless. For the last few years my main bass has been an active fretted 5. That may change when my Geddy Lee Jazz arrives today.
 
#97
It always interests me how a thread asking for names takes a giant turn for personal opinion LOL.

Of the bassists I follow, here are 10 that I've known to ONLY use 4 strings:

* Stanley Clarke
* Verdine White
* John Entwistle
* Bootsy Collins
* Bernard Edwards
* James Jamerson (although he tried a 5 and hated it)
* John McVie
* Louis Johnson
* Prince
* Larry Graham
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zogarsag said:
What about GEDDY LEE --the best of the bunch and you KNOW it....
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Im gonna need you to not ever say that again. :rolleyes:
 
#98
evilgus said:
What about Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree? Can't say I know the full details of every bass he's ever used live, or on an album, but it does appear that he only uses 4-strings and de-tuned 4-strings, plus double-bass, for all his work.

And on a Wal-bass related note, does Justin Chancellor count as a 4-string only user? (I'm not sure, he *may* have used a fiver.)

Cheers,

EG
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His main basses are 4's. He's probably played with a 5 at least once, lots of us have. It's not like people who play 5's have never played 4's, either.
 

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