Why don’t you play a six-string bass?

[Just Wrong]

I bought my first six-string bass this summer after playing four-string basses exclusively for over 15 years. Honestly, I can’t imagine going back to four (Ok, I could probably do with a five). Having the extended range of the B and, although to a lower degree, the C strings without losing what makes a four a four seems like a no brainer.

Why haven’t you made the change to a six or even five string bass already?

 

[Killing Floor]

Rock what you like. There’s no best.

 

[Bleeder]

Because my bass playing heroes play four strings.

 

[GretschWretch]

Because my fingers are too short. Won't play fives for the same reason.

 

[micguy]

A 4 is relatively easy to play. A 5 is a bit harder - you have a tradeoff of string spacing versus reach - you can have wide string spacing if you want, but then the reach to the G string gets a bit tough. You also have a wider neck to deal with, and tighter spacing at the nut. I found a happy spot with 5's - a little tighter spacing (17.5 mm) than most 4's, a wider neck I (I have huge hands), and somewhat tighter spacing at the nut. bit that's pushing it as far as I want to go - I don't think I'd want more width or reach, and I certainly don't want the strings spaced any tighter. I play the G string a lot, but for octaves or fifths of the main note - I don't play "main notes" up there. I don't see a compelling reason to add a C string, and the tradeoffs aren't worth it, so a 5 is where I stop.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I think the real question is “ why should I play a 6 string ?”.

Wider neck… nope !!!
More weight…nope!!!
Higher notes …nope!!!

Im fine with my 4 and 5 string basses.

 

[James Hart]

I mainly play a 6 and 7 string with 19mm string spacing at the bridge... actually my 4 and 5 string basses all have 19mm spacing at the bridge (except one 4 that has 17.33mm).

Why don't I play my 6 more? Because I'm usually playing my 7

 

[SteveC]

I tried 3 times. Even had Roscoe build me one. I just couldn’t get along with the extra string. I guess 5 is my comfort zone. If I were playing more chords or jazz or improvising, maybe I’d have stuck with it. Idk. It was a beautiful bass.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Depends on the style of music that you aspire to play. I play punk styles mostly. I barely use the G string, let alone 5 or 6 strings. On my jazz bass, I play bossa and just hold down the low end. I am not a guitar player that plays bass. I am a bassist, that holds down the bottom end. The instrument for me is more like a percussion instrument, than a guitar.

 

[GIBrat51]

Well... here are some reasons:
1. Like a 5-string bass, 6-stringers seem to fall into two groups. In one (like an older Rick 4003-5), the neck width is OK, but the strings are just too close together. In the other, the string spacing at the nut is OK for my thick stubby fingers... but the neck is too wide for my short thick stubby fingers. My fingers are why I can't play guitars worth a damn - and why my Frankenstein Epiphone EA-260 12-string guitar - while it does play fairly well - is just a wall hanger for me...
2. I learned to play bass on a friend's '68 Rick 4001 - in 1968. And, every song I've played since then - EVERY song - was, and still is, perfectly playable on a 4-string bass. In fact, I was practicing a new one this morning; Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell. To be perfectly honest? I only need 3 strings for that one. I might even be able to play it with just 2... A 5-string bass doesn't make any of those songs sound better, or make them one bit easier to play. A 6-string bass would just be one string more useless than a 5-er for me...
3. I do not have any need - at all - for versatility; extended range; or any of that... stuff. Anything I want to play (I'm waay past "need to play"), I can easily play on any one of my 20-something 4 string basses. And, finally;
4. A 7-string bass? Don't be ridiculous. I doubt if I could even get my hand around the thing's neck...

 

[jd56hawk]

Why haven’t you made the change to a six or even five string bass already?

For the same reason you don't play this.

 

[ad9000]

I've been playing 5-strings since 1987, and 6's since 1990 (and 4's all the while as well). During the 1990's I mostly played a 6 (Yamaha TRB-6P), and during that time I found it a bit disorienting to play a 5 - something about the asymmetrical aspect of 5 strings vs. 6 or 4, at least in regards to the way my brain processed that change. These days I play a 5 more than anything else, but when I pick up the 6 it isn't difficult to adjust.

For me the biggest challenge on a 6 was/is muting the low B to keep it from ringing while playing on the higher strings - that took some adjustment in right hand technique.

 

[Hot Rats]

I did. I sold it. It was a custom Warmoth Gecko.

 

[YamahaBasses]

I haven't switched for the following reasons:

I don't need a six.

I don't like the way a six string looks. I fell in love with the way the electric bass looks because of the look of a four string bass. Fours looks absolutely awesome. 6's don't look cool at all.

Every single bassist I've ever admired has played a four string. If four is enough for then, then it's more than I'll need.

 

[thebandcircle]

IMO the electric bass guitar should have had 6 strings from the beginning.I think Leo Fender was coming from the viewpoint of replacing the upright bass, but he didn't build an electric upright bass he built a 4 string bass guitar. I started on 4's, quickly moved to 5's, and play only sixes now..Ryan

 

[Killing Floor]

I play guitar and baritone guitar. I am ok-ish with emphasis on the ish at finger picking. So I don’t think I’m afraid of the extra string or spacing. I have big enough hands. Not Troy Aikman hands. But can palm a basketball. I don’t think the neck size would scare me. I don’t care about weight, I’m not asking for a heavy guitar but it’s not a factor I consider when picking an instrument. Maybe I’ll get one some time. I can understand the range benefit.
I tend to believe you can play anything on any bass. Or guitar.
I like my 5 and 4 strings. It’s just another string. More position options.

 

[bherman]

For me it’s simple - string spacing. I play upright bass also and it’s a bridge too far to go from URB fingering to narrow string spacing on a 5 or 6.

 

[YamahaBasses]

I bought my first six-string bass this summer after playing four-string basses exclusively for over 15 years. Honestly, I can’t imagine going back to four (Ok, I could probably do with a five). Having the extended range of the B and, although to a lower degree, the C strings without losing what makes a four a four seems like a no brainer.

Why haven’t you made the change to a six or even five string bass already?

Let me guess, you bought it at a five and dime? And it was the summer of '69?

 

[wysiwyg248]

I play 6 strings. It is challenging due to my hand size/fingers length; however, the Tobias neck is just heaven to me.

 

[PrinceByTor]

I’ve been playing a sixerfor about 23 years now; I love the range, versatility and cross-board thinking that comes with it. However, I still love playing my two four string basses. They’re all their own animal, all play and sound different. Just one of my wrenches in my “toolbox” so to speak; each one complements one another.