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Why do YOU play more than four?

#83
yes these legends may have basses with more than 4 strings. but they have their hits on four strings and more often than not they are seen in fours rather in 5', 6, and etc.

Jaco, wooten, laboriel, jamerson, stanley clark, billy sheehan, stu hamm, les claypool, marcus miller, bootsy, manring, larry graham,flea, paul mccartney..... and the list continues

you can have as many strings as you like (which is good), but (personally) 4's still the best in any genre.
 
#89
john turner said:
but the were for jaco. 4 strings - they were enough for jaco. FOR JACO! I SAID!!! they were enough FOR JACO!!!

four strings! enough for jaco!! :mad:
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Techniclly, two strings are probably enough for most players including myself. I just like irritating my lead guitar player by doubling his solos....in the same octave mind you....that's why I spent a year waiting, and an undisclosed amount of $ for a 9 string.....just to be an ass.
 
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#90
The argument that Jaco only used 4 isn't quite a fair argument in the sense that he died before most luthiers really knew how to make a good 5-6 string bass. Debating what he'd use now is pure speculation. Had he been in a stable state of mind, he'd either play the Bass of Doom (in its' unsmashed state) or maybe pick up a 5er with a high C. Judging by his dynamic playing style, I don't think he'd be too proud to give one a chance, unlike many others.
 
#91
jeremiahjay said:
yes these legends may have basses with more than 4 strings. but they have their hits on four strings and more often than not they are seen in fours rather in 5', 6, and etc.

Jaco, wooten, laboriel, jamerson, stanley clark, billy sheehan, stu hamm, les claypool, marcus miller, bootsy, manring, larry graham,flea, paul mccartney..... and the list continues

you can have as many strings as you like (which is good), but (personally) 4's still the best in any genre.
Click to expand...

Mmmmm, nothing like trolling in the morning.

I use 5 because my technique (floating thumb) makes me love anchoring on the B string. Honestly, I probably rarely play it. Just impact if a song ends on anything lower than an E, or a passing tone if I'm down in those lower ranges. But mostly it gives me a nice constant place to keep my thumb and keep my technique more uniform (no worrying about pickup placement to accommodate my thumb).
 
#92
spade2you said:
The argument that Jaco only used 4 isn't quite a fair argument in the sense that he died before most luthiers really knew how to make a good 5-6 string bass. Debating what he'd use now is pure speculation. Had he been in a stable state of mind, he'd either play the Bass of Doom (in its' unsmashed state) or maybe pick up a 5er with a high C. Judging by his dynamic playing style, I don't think he'd be too proud to give one a chance, unlike many others.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#93
jeremiahjay said:
yes these legends may have basses with more than 4 strings. but they have their hits on four strings and more often than not they are seen in fours rather in 5', 6, and etc.

Jaco, wooten, laboriel, jamerson, stanley clark, billy sheehan, stu hamm, les claypool, marcus miller, bootsy, manring, larry graham,flea, paul mccartney..... and the list continues

you can have as many strings as you like (which is good), but (personally) 4's still the best in any genre.
Click to expand...

I think you would have a tough time arguing that Claypool had all of his hits on a 4 string. Jerry Was a Race Car Driver, Tommy The Cat, My Name Is Mud, DMV, Over The Electric Grapevine as well as alot of the C2B3 stuff and many others was recorded on his 6 and played live for many many years on it as well.

As for Manring....you really can't tell me that without all the hipshot stuff that he would be able to get all those alternate tunings and range out of a 4 string. I understand your argument that he DOES in fact play a 4, but to get all that tonal range without a $10K Zon Hyperbass would require more than a 4.

I currently play in a regional metal band and all of my stuff both live and recorded is on a 6 or a 9. Not knocking a 4 string whatsoever..I in fact have one (and love to shred on it) but it's not what I ENJOY playing most of the time....and isn't that what music is all about?
 
#94
jeremiahjay said:
yes these legends may have basses with more than 4 strings. but they have their hits on four strings and more often than not they are seen in fours rather in 5', 6, and etc.

Jaco, wooten, laboriel, jamerson, stanley clark, billy sheehan, stu hamm, les claypool, marcus miller, bootsy, manring, larry graham,flea, paul mccartney..... and the list continues

you can have as many strings as you like (which is good), but (personally) 4's still the best in any genre.
Click to expand...

BECAUSE 4 STRINGS WERE ENOUGH FOR JACO!!!
 
#95
King V said:
Techniclly, two strings are probably enough for most players including myself. I just like irritating my lead guitar player by doubling his solos....in the same octave mind you....that's why I spent a year waiting, and an undisclosed amount of $ for a 9 string.....just to be an ass.
Click to expand...

but 4 strings were enough for jaco.
 
#96
spade2you said:
The argument that Jaco only used 4 isn't quite a fair argument in the sense that he died before most luthiers really knew how to make a good 5-6 string bass. Debating what he'd use now is pure speculation. Had he been in a stable state of mind, he'd either play the Bass of Doom (in its' unsmashed state) or maybe pick up a 5er with a high C. Judging by his dynamic playing style, I don't think he'd be too proud to give one a chance, unlike many others.
Click to expand...

but 4 were ENOUGH FOR JACO! :mad:
 
#99
john turner said:
but 4 were ENOUGH FOR JACO!
Click to expand...

I'd say, rather, that 4 were all Jaco needed. Those of us who can be wounded by conventional weapons may need a little more help. :D

I'm not a chordy, flashy or solo-y player. I, like others, like extra strings because I can hang out in a particular position and have more range immediately available. I don't do it for lack of wanting to move around the neck, though. I like being able to have tone control by having more options of where on the neck to voice what I'm playing.
 
#100
jeremiahjay said:
yes these legends may have basses with more than 4 strings. but they have their hits on four strings and more often than not they are seen in fours rather in 5', 6, and etc.

Jaco, wooten, laboriel, jamerson, stanley clark, billy sheehan, stu hamm, les claypool, marcus miller, bootsy, manring, larry graham,flea, paul mccartney..... and the list continues

you can have as many strings as you like (which is good), but (personally) 4's still the best in any genre.
Click to expand...

Ok, we all know Jaco.

Wooten: He owns a fretless Compito 5 (used in Big Country) as well as a Compito fretted 6, along with some Fodera 5 strings.

Billy Sheehan has a Yammy 6er, used in Mr. Big's Just Take My Heart.

Stu: Has a Fender Custom Shop Urge 5 string, used on tour with Joe Satriani.

Les Claypool: already covered.

Even though Manring mostly uses the Hyperbass 4, I thought he had a fretted Vinny 5. The Hyperbass is just a 4, but can utilize an expanded range that most basses can't do.

Listening to some Marcus Miller tones, occasionally, I think I hear a low C or D sometimes.

Pretty sure Flea has used a 5 a few times. I've seen tabs back in the day that stated so and sounded correct.

As for being the "best" in any genre. Why does something need to be the best? What are the qualifications?! Why do musicians try to turn things into a competition. Art is art, leave the competition to shredders and athletes. The low B is definitely prominent in modern gospel and modern country.
 

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