What's so great about 6 strings?

[Dave Grossman]

OK, I didn't read the WHOLE stinkin' thread & someone likely already said this: Yeah, 6 is dumb. 7 is the only number of strings for a real bass.

Seven's the key number here. Think about it. Seven-Elevens, Seven doors, Seven, man, that's the number. Seven chipmunks twirlin' on a branch, eatin' lots of sunflowers on my uncle's ranch. You know that old children's tale from the sea. It's like you’re dreamin' about Gorgonzola cheese when it's clearly Brie time, baby. Step into my office, 'cause you're fired!

- Dave

 

[oversoul]

But what if Jaco had 6?

he would have named it "extended portrait of tracy"

 

[pulseczar]

LMAO oversoul, though I'd like to hear an extended version of PoT becuase its an awesome song.

How about the drawbacks? One I can see is having a really big neck.

 

[rosnes]

i have been a 4'er since i start playing bass,i only tried playing a 5'er once but im having difficulty in playing it. i was playing the 5'er like i was playing a 4'er. most of the bass player i see, doesnt use the B string that often.correct me if im wrong but this is only my opinion....

 

[HMZ]

i thought the more strings, the bigger your manhood?

Correction it only makes up for a lack of manhood.

 

[therealting]

i have been a 4'er since i start playing bass,i only tried playing a 5'er once but im having difficulty in playing it.

Most people take a little while to get used to it.

i was playing the 5'er like i was playing a 4'er.

It's still bass, adding a string doesn't make it a tuba. You'd likely play it a similar way. Also, I note you were having difficulty playing it above - might be a part of it.

most of the bass player i see, doesnt use the B string that often.correct me if im wrong but this is only my opinion....

If they are playing four strings tuned EADG, chances are they don't use the B all that often. Kidding aside, even on a 5+ string bass, it is perfectly possible to play whole songs without using the low B, and why not? You play what's appropriate, or convenient, and sometimes a song doesn't need those low notes. Sometimes it does, and it's nice to have them there if you'd like to play them... or if you 'd like to play a note in a higher position without a big shift down the neck, or with a thicker tone.

 

[Magman]

Do any of you 6 owners find yourself under more pressure to be a good player?

5's seems to be standardized...but 6's.... theres something a little ostentacious about them, or <ahem> "overcompensatory" foer some insecurity like those Dodge RAM trucks some ppl use for commuting to the office
- like if you don't have the chops you'll just shame yourself for trying to handle the big-boy

I use my low B all the time, its my favourite string. I sometimes downtune that as well.

I wondering wether a six with a low F# Or A flat could be actually work very well for me. So many of you here do that - how does it work out?
Does the bass handle more normal applications (ie not just metal or avant) without to much hassle of muting the F# most the time?

 

[Philbiker]

Do any of you 6 owners find yourself under more pressure to be a good player?

I kind of feel that "pressure" regardless of how many strings are on the bass that's in my hands at the time I'm playing.

Look, I'm not a fast player. I'm not a chopsmaster. I'm not going to wow anybody. So I don't bother trying. All I can do is groove, and that's really all I care to do. I consider myself to be a competent player. When I play with the six string I play with the same mentality as I do with the other basses.

 

[Bassmanbob]

I've replied to this thread before, but now I've changed a little bit. I bought a six string about three years ago from playing fours only. It didn't take me as long as I thought to make the transition. I was going back and forth about getting a five or a six and decided on the six. I really wanted to work on making myself a six player, and was interested in playing more solos. And yes, the C string does help having it there for solos. But now three years have gone by and I hardly use my C string. I'm not a soloist and currently have no intentions on being one any time soon.

So last year I wanted a fretless and got a five. I love the extra B string and use it frequently- not to play notes below low E, but to prevent myself from going down to the lower possition. It's great, and I may never buy another four string again.

Now I'm seriously thinking about selling my six and buying a really good five. Five just feels comfortable to me, I use the five strings.

So six may be great for others, but for me at this point, I'd have to say that the extra C string is not worth it when you have to deal with extra strings and wide neck. To each his/her own.

 

[bassteban]

Hey, Bassmanbob, it's also good that you can recognize when you have something you don't use. That took a few years for me; now when an instrument gets dusty, I usually try to find a new home for it. As for the C, I'm using mine, so the 6 stays. I'll let everyone know about 7 in(hopefully)a couple of weeks.

 

[Ed Goode]

There is nothing magical about a six, just another tool for us to use to achieve whatever sound we're looking for. I'm a confirmed 6 string player for sure, it's my main choice for most everything I do. I dabble with a 7 and occassionally use a 5 or a 4, but 6 is the deal for me.

It's been interesting to see how many players on this forum that were high string count guys have stepped back a bit to 5's & 4's. I guess as your playing styles/needs change, so do the basses ........

 

[T. B. Player]

There is nothing magical about a six, just another tool for us to use to achieve whatever sound we're looking for. I'm a confirmed 6 string player for sure, it's my main choice for most everything I do. I dabble with a 7 and occassionally use a 5 or a 4, but 6 is the deal for me.

It's been interesting to see how many players on this forum that were high string count guys have stepped back a bit to 5's & 4's. I guess as your playing styles/needs change, so do the basses ........

Ed speaks the truth again.

Loved my MusicMan StingRays when 4 strings was sufficient - but moved to the 5 when everyone started with the low D and C tunes.

For Country, a 5 worked; for the Jazz and Celtic Rock I'm doing now, I LOVE my sixers. When you get a good fiddle line going, the guitarist doubles it, and then the bass triples it, the crowd gets a little boisterous (then again, maybe it's the Guiness and Harp....)

 

[mark beem]

When you get a good fiddle line going, the guitarist doubles it, and then the bass triples it, the crowd gets a little boisterous (then again, maybe it's the Guiness and Harp....)

Mmmmmmmm.. Guinness..........

Invalid Link Removed

 

[ShoeManiac]

I love my Zon 6 string. It's probably the best instrument I've ever owned. I'll tend to pick this up instead of a 4 or 5 when I think either the tone of that particular instrument is needed, or when the material calls for what that instrument can offer in terms of how many notes are available in each position or for chording. But do I still play my 4's and 5's? Yes. They all have something to offer.

It was said before and it should be said again. A 6 is just a tool. The same as a 4 or a 5. Does it have more to offer? Physically, yes. Will it give you better ideas? No, but it may make it easier for you to express an idea.

 

[jwsamuel]

What's so great about 6 strings? I go on this site and everyone talks about their 6 string basses. I own a 5 string. Is the 6 any better?

Here's the real deal. More strings is manlier.

A 5-string is 25% more manly than a 4-string bass.

A 6-string is only 20% more manly than a 5-string, but it's a whopping 50% manlier than a 4-string.

Got it?

Jim

 

[Magman]

Sitting in the pocket and keeping a groove is a sorely underestimated skill I think, by listeners and musicians alike.

Wether its AC/DC, james brown or Fela Kuti - the non-flashy stuff is often harder than the flashy-stuff, in its own way: like playing slow is typically harder than playing fast.

I kind of feel that "pressure" regardless of how many strings are on the bass that's in my hands at the time I'm playing.

Look, I'm not a fast player. I'm not a chopsmaster. I'm not going to wow anybody. So I don't bother trying. All I can do is groove, and that's really all I care to do. I consider myself to be a competent player. When I play with the six string I play with the same mentality as I do with the other basses.

 

[mark beem]

Here's the real deal. More strings is manlier.

A 5-string is 25% more manly than a 4-string bass.

A 6-string is only 20% more manly than a 5-string, but it's a whopping 50% manlier than a 4-string.

Got it?

Jim

LOLOL!!!!

 

[therealting]

Here's the real deal. More strings is manlier.

A 5-string is 25% more manly than a 4-string bass.

A 6-string is only 20% more manly than a 5-string, but it's a whopping 50% manlier than a 4-string.

Garry Goodman lives up to his name, with 300% regular manliness.

 

[Alex]

What's so great about 6 strings?


They are better. Playing a bass with more strings than someone else makes you better than them.

 

[godoze]

I change my mind so often about how man strings i want that i just keep one of everything around; that way i can keep myself and my employers happy !