Why do you play fours?

[mobdirt]

feels the most natural to me helps me not think while playing

 

[sawzalot]

I started on a four, then moved to five-ers almost 30 years ago and played them almost exclusively for a very long time. But I always kept a four-banger in the arsenal. In the last couple years I've moved almost completely away from fives back to fours. I find I can mute better, play faster, and keep my head straight better on a four. I keep a five-er around for when I really need one but otherwise I play four-bangers with Hipshot D-tuners.

 

[hsech]

Started playing a four in the 1960's and I've been comfortable with them since. I've owned five's and six's, but didn't care for them. It's always been back to a four.

 

[HolmeBass]

Although I am a "four" guy for the most part and do own a B-G five string, I am very much enjoying my recently acquired Ibanez BTB33, which is just such a 33" E-C tuned 5-string bass as you describe; it's about my favorite to play right now, though I am still bringing the four to most gigs.

I like it because I can still do my mental "E is the low string" mental reference, and it has a lot of melodic and harmonic possibilities which I am kinda into right now. I find that a reg'lar B-G fiver is good tonally for more high-volume-type and rock/vintage type things, but I am playing a lot of quieter gigs, and jazzier things, where the fat deep tone of a five is not needed or ideal; and IMO best B-string reproductions requires some volume/power behind it or it'll sound somewhat anemic.

A 6-string would give me the same melody/harmony options as the E-C while still giving me the low B when needed-- but I find 6-string necks to be cumbersome esp. for muting (though I have one of those too-- which isn't getting played a lot right now).

Back to my point: you might like an E-C 33" scale five-string; I believe there is currently an Ibaniez BTB33 Volo, like mine, in the classifieds right now.

I tried the 33” E to C at Dave LaRue and Beaver Felton’s shop in Fla when I visited there. It was a Matt Garrison Fodera. It was very cool!

 

[twinjet]

I don’t really have a desire/need to play lower notes than I already have. Occasionally it’d be nice to hit a low D or a low B but not a necessity. I think I’ll add a 5 string to the stable one day, but Id have to get a heck of a deal on it because I wouldn’t play it as much as my fours.

Heeeeck yeah.

View attachment 2877900 What are the freakin’ odds that the upright bass picture I chose to help communicate my desire to play a traditional four string just happens to be a three string? The h€llol.

 

[rtslinger]

I have no idea is my best answer, I've been banging on 4 strings for so long I just never moved to more. I like the sound of the low B so I have no excuse. Maybe if I spring for bass # 15 it will be a 5fer

 

[capnsandwich]

Because, Jaco did. (Just kidding, but he did play 4's)

I find that slapping is a lot easier when I slap on a four string. I don't need to mute the low B like I do on a fiver or sixer.

 

[briandavismurph]

The idea for this thread was spurred by curiosity. There are so many options to choose from these days. There is a thread posing the question of why you play more than four - this is not that thread.

I want to know why you play a standard four-string bass. That's it!

My reasons:
*It's comfortable.
*I enjoy the "classic" aesthetic of a four-string, Leo Fender-designed electric bass.
*Less is more (subjective!!)

Let's hear it.

I play 5 and 4 but the 4 lets me hammer the E with no floppy B in the way

 

[Wesley R]

I nee a 2x2, or 4 in a row head-stock, my capabilities have yet to exceed a 4, I am to cheap to buy another bass just to get an extra string, and multiple other nonsensical reasons

 

[Holdsg]

basses have had 4 strings since the 16th century or so. I don't mind a good 5, but 4 is my happy place.

 

[SideshowDom]

If 4s are good enough for Geezer and Lemmy, they're good enough for me.

 

[Uncle Hanky]

Because it's tuned differently than my five string.

 

[socialleper]

It has been too hard for me to find a five or a six that I am comfortable with, meets my playing needs, and that is in my price range. I've had two 5s that I really wanted to like, but just couldn't gel with (Warwick $$ Corvette & 55-02.) My third five is comfortable, but simply not the right tone for what I'm doing.
For now I have a 44-02 setup for CGCF and have tried a few different 4 strings tuned BEAD. Fours are more comfortable for my smallish hands, but getting one to sound and play just right tuned to B is a challenge. So, I play a four because the right 5 hasn't presented its self.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I don't need more than 4 strings for all my gigs. Also, I'm a traditionalist.

 

[Anders Barfod]

Touch, EQ, feel makes up for the lack of those lower notes available on the b string.
My band had a bassplayer without much of that "Touch". My brother the keyboard player thought our mix was thin at Times and would add a lower note on the keys
Some practice nights when the bass player was absent i would sub. (I play guitar). Those nights my brother Said the mix was fatter and he would not add bass notes on the keys. Bass was a 4 string jazz tuned in standard.

PS
tune to A4=435Hz (-20 cents). Vocally A4=440Hz is often a little too sharp. Something I realised after 22 years of playing pop and rock covers with many different vocalist. Beatles first two albums are pitched at A4=435Hz.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Most of the music I play was originally recorded and performed on 4 string electric bass, so that is what I keep in my stable. I also simply love the 4 string bass guitar, however if I needed a 5 string for a band or bigger project, I wouldn't hesitate to get a nice one. I played 5'er all through my teen years and also enjoy the instrument. I actually sold my original Yamaha 5 string BB series with the jazz style pickups to my wife's friends husband about 15 years ago, and he still has it! We were visiting them at their farm near Stratford ON, about 3 years ago and he pulled it out for me to do a little setup on. I had forgotten what a sweet, thick tone it had. Nice to know that my main axe from my early playing days is "still in the family".

 

[Smooth_bass88]

This is the post the OP said this thread is not about. I'm sure if you look around, there is a thread for people who like 5s.

sorta true

 

[Topkat13]

It's fun.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Hello all. I have a question for you 4-string guys. I enjoy the thinner neck and wider string spacing of a 4-stringer, but I play and enjoy a LOT of music that goes below E. Plenty of gospel music too. My favorite Johnnie Taylor song has an low B in the main bass line! And this song is over 20 years old.



What do you guys do when you encounter a song that goes below E, and even lower than D? I tried playing an octave higher and it just doesn't sound good.

I'm currently considering the Schecter Apocalypse C4 Ex which is a 35" scale tuned BEAD. Since it's 24 frets, I am only one note short of a Fender 4-string highest note.

 

[ArteK]

I've tried playing maybe a half dozen five strings (3-4 of which I actually owned), but they all seem to have such heavy and rigid necks that tend to remove any warmth from the sound. I can reach the notes and they're reasonably comfortable, but every one I've ever played seemed to have this hi-fi clean sound that just isn't me.