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Why do YOU play more than four?

#241
I played four for twenty years. I now play five because it is the perfect number of strings for me.

Yes, I have tried sixes and sevens and eights... but I'm a bottom-dwellin' rocker and don't need extra range up high, nor do I like the way the thinner strings (C and above) sound even when played down near the nut.
 
#242
I remember some of that BS on the Bunnybass page.:hmm::rollno:

It's been going on on this site, too, ever since the early days of TB. So, (and I realize fully John can defend himself, and doesn't need me to help here:p), these guys have been putting up with a LOT of **** for a lot of years.

I've never ventured into the world of 7+ strings, but I did spend about 3-4 years playing 6 strings exclusively. Just the crap I took around the tri-state area where I was playing them from some other "musicians" was enough to maybe give me a small taste of what these guys have been dealing with:

"No way someone with a bass like that would EVER play in my band"

"Oh, you're one of THOSE guys--who thinks more strings makes you better"

"Why don't you just play a friggin' guitar?"

Or, just simply looking at one of my Roscoes with obvious disgust, and rolling eyes at me, making sure I noticed.

etc.

etc.
 
#244
#246
Ryan L. said:
"No way someone with a bass like that would EVER play in my band"

"Oh, you're one of THOSE guys--who thinks more strings makes you better"

"Why don't you just play a friggin' guitar?"

Or, just simply looking at one of my Roscoes with obvious disgust, and rolling eyes at me, making sure I noticed.

etc.

etc.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's pretty bold and bad. It was very rare that many people would say something to my face, but were more than willing to talk a lot of #%$^ on a local message board.

I think one major problem with bass is that non-bassists think they know the bass more than an actual bassist. Quite simply, whatever they don't understand "doesn't have groove", etc.
 
#247
When I pull out my six string Roscoe, I generally do so with the disclaimer that I'm not "One of those guys," (even though I've never even met ONE of "those guys"), because I never got any funny looks or questions until I took my Pedulla 6 to a handfull of auditions. Which always struck me as odd, because my Spector 5 strings got nothing but compliments. Who knew one string made such a big difference? 8 string guitars are starting to pop up, and it's the same way. "Man, I mean...a 7 I understand...but 8?" I mean, I'd understand if there was some hate between 4 and, like, 8 string basses, but between 5 and 6?

People are weird, man.
 
#248
Brendan said:
When I pull out my six string Roscoe, I generally do so with the disclaimer that I'm not "One of those guys," (even though I've never even met ONE of "those guys"), because I never got any funny looks or questions until I took my Pedulla 6 to a handfull of auditions. Which always struck me as odd, because my Spector 5 strings got nothing but compliments. Who knew one string made such a big difference? 8 string guitars are starting to pop up, and it's the same way. "Man, I mean...a 7 I understand...but 8?" I mean, I'd understand if there was some hate between 4 and, like, 8 string basses, but between 5 and 6?

People are weird, man.
Click to expand...

Yes they are. Today at church I got asked if I was interested in playing a 6-string bass. This was from the drummer and one of the guitarists who thought I might enjoy playing chords under some of the tunes. I was kinda of impressed...and floored!

I used to get the gears about my 5's (and the fact they weren't Fenders) all the time until I switched fulltime into CCM and P&W. Those two genres are all over the place with the number of strings on a bass :)
 
#249
christle said:
Yes they are. Today at church I got asked if I was interested in playing a 6-string bass. This was from the drummer and one of the guitarists who thought I might enjoy playing chords under some of the tunes. I was kinda of impressed...and floored!

I used to get the gears about my 5's (and the fact they weren't Fenders) all the time until I switched fulltime into CCM and P&W. Those two genres are all over the place with the number of strings on a bass :)
Click to expand...

I definitely noticed a dramatic improvement when I left the world of hard rock and cover tunes. It was like going from peon to king.
 
#255
john turner said:
what i would like to se more of is bassists starting their own bands, recruiting their own folks, and even -gasp- paying em for gigs/rehearsals, if need be. -shrug- where there's a will there's a way.

:).
Click to expand...

I've tried that before, but it's a big hassle trying to nail down several musicians while they're trying to find other stuff and most aren't patient enough to wait for the band to form.
 
#256
Ryan L. said:
:
...

"No way someone with a bass like that would EVER play in my band"

"Oh, you're one of THOSE guys--who thinks more strings makes you better"

"Why don't you just play a friggin' guitar?"

...
Click to expand...

These are obvious comments made by OBVIOUS ignoramuses who don't realise that it's about the MUSIC and really nothing else.

If you want to play a single string bass banjo and you can rock it out, GO FOR IT!

if you want to play a 12-string ERB and you can rock it out...then GO FOR IT!

I play a 5 string bass for 2 reasons:

1) I wanted an active Jazz for some of the sounds I was after.
2) I decided that the extra B string would be a welcome addition as I was already playing a lot of key-of-E songs transposed down to key-of-D for the singers' benefit and drop D tuning just didn't do it for me (I tried).

Since going with the B, I've found a lot of uses for the low C and C#, as well

(B, not so much, interestingly enough)...but I leave it tuned to B to keep the pattern shapes regular.
 
#259
HA HA HA HA HA!!!!! ^+10000!!!

I like this guy already...and I don't even know his music yet!!!

Actually...I was introduced to a 5 string by the church band that bought my first 5 string bass! Ever since then, it feels natural to me. Not to mention the expanded range of notes (as previously mentioned by Capn) in one position.

I will play any bass that sounds and feels good. 4, 5, or 6 string.

But I currently prefer a 5'er


:D
 
#260
For the longest time I disliked my fiver, I bought one in high school. I was pretty into a lot heavy music at the time and they did all those low tunings.

Moving to today, I switch between the four and five. I like the extended range and the boom of the low notes.
 

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