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Why play a 6 string?
- Thread starter castleshade13
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spade2you said:
I agree! I think the 6-stringed bass can only get better over time, as with all instruments pushing the envelope.
SGD Lutherie said:
SGD Lutherie said:
These kind of comments are unhelpful, and frankly make me want to drop my side of a discussion I was actually quite enjoying and learning from. Don't endeavor to tell me what I am and am not missing. You have all made very cogent points to answer the tagline of this thread, and good rebuttals to the points I raised. Bravo! My mind is opening.
SGD, I appreciate that you care enough to record an excerpt and post it... Having said that, I felt that it only reinforced my point! I don't like the tone of your low E. Its pitch and clarity waver against the backdrop of chords and higher octaves. This is where, I think, my "tomato" becomes your "tomayto".
As it concerns ego, I think we could all use a bit less of it.
I play sixes for the same reason I play bass... because I like it. I have fun playing them and the majority of times it's in what most would consider a traditional role.
My sixes also sound great. That heavily contributes to the fun factor. Then again, I don't play a hypothetical six, I play real ones... so they don't suffer any of the hypothetical shortcomings.
My sixes also sound great. That heavily contributes to the fun factor. Then again, I don't play a hypothetical six, I play real ones... so they don't suffer any of the hypothetical shortcomings.
Do not, under any circumstances, buy a 6 string bass. Because....
the intonation suffers alot
they are heavier
wider neck makes handling harder
string spacing is narrower and you can't slap
bass doesn't need to go that high
bass solos sound bad
and
you are not Jack Bruce (and even he gave up playing 6 string).
the intonation suffers alot
they are heavier
wider neck makes handling harder
string spacing is narrower and you can't slap
bass doesn't need to go that high
bass solos sound bad
and
you are not Jack Bruce (and even he gave up playing 6 string).
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
Unhelpful? I asked you a question and you answered with something I didn't ask. Was that helpful? You made a statement with nothing to back it up.
If you only enjoy discussions when someone is agreeing with you, that's not a discussion. I'd drop it too, since you weren't contributing anything meaningful.
There's nothing wrong with the low E. It's pitch doesn't waver, and if you need to view it on a scope to show that, I can do that also. If you didn't like the tone of that low E, then you also don't like the tone of the A string, since they sound alike, just in a different pitch. They sound like a Tele.
You are simply hearing something that isn't there to prove yourself right. I have perfect pitch, so I know that pitch wasn't wavering.
And I'm not the only person who didn't agree with you.
You should be looking at yourself then. You were wrong on a number of points, but wont admit it. Others have pointed out that much of your post make little sense. It seemed more that you like to hear yourself talk without looking at the facts.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
Ha! Reminds me of a story...
Back in the 70's I went into Manny's music in NYC to buy a Maestro Bass Brassmaster fuzz pedal. I wanted one because Chris Squire was using it, and I was a big Yes fan.
So I walk into the place and they have one on display with a sign saying "Chris Squire's fuzz". I spot a salesman, and older gent that looked like he was into jazz, and ask to try the pedal out. He says "You don't want that! I sounds like thunder and lightning!" I insisted I did want it, and I did want to sound like thunder and lightning! (what does lightning sound like anyway?) He refused to sell it to me!
So I walked across the street to Rudy's and bought it, untried.
Funny how people seem so concerned about what instrument you want to play, and what you want to play it through!
Ok, forgot to note that luthiers can employ using 2 body woods to get a more consistent tone. My Rob Allen 6er has an ash body on the bass side and alder on the treb side. Tight lows and warmer highs. Dingwall does something similar, too.
I play mostly 6 string, but one of the groups I'm playing with now covers a lot of the numetal drop/flat tuning stuff - if not outright weird alternate tunings. I hate retuning as it really doesn't let me play the bass only lets me play a song (perfect pitch is both a blessing and a curse).
So I got a 7 string with the low F# - all of my alt tuning hatred went away.
I thought about restringing 6 with a low F#, but I use the C a lot.
--
Also the only reason you should be dictated to on what gear you should use is if $$ is in involved. If you are getting paid/endorsed/whathaveyou, then obviously you should go in that direction. Otherwise, you're the one playing the instrument, not your bandmates. As far as image goes, rock star doesn't come from the bass you play, it's how you play that bass.
So I got a 7 string with the low F# - all of my alt tuning hatred went away.
I thought about restringing 6 with a low F#, but I use the C a lot.
--
Also the only reason you should be dictated to on what gear you should use is if $$ is in involved. If you are getting paid/endorsed/whathaveyou, then obviously you should go in that direction. Otherwise, you're the one playing the instrument, not your bandmates. As far as image goes, rock star doesn't come from the bass you play, it's how you play that bass.
...Let's see.I'm trying to convince my band mates to let me by get a six string but every point i make they seem to counter with 10 come backs!
the bass is an Ibanez SR5006E
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i've said so far: for solos
more versatility
more notes under one hand posotion
easier to hit higher notes
chords
and they've said: the intonation suffers alot
heavier
wider neck makes handling harder
string spacing is narrower ( i do do alot of slap)
they say bass doesn't need to go that high
bass solos sound bad
they want me to name 5 bassists form BIG bands and no solo artists which i couldn't do so
can anyone load me up with parts for my arguement!
i play light metal/metal, rock, solo slap stuff (on my own solo type not during band songs) Jazz that kinda stuff mainly rock and slap though and i'm not an amazing bassist but i'm not too shabby!
Thanks!
Adam
Six strings...
Les Claypool.
Jack Bruce.
I'm pretty sure Robert Trujillo has used one.
I can't name five, but that's three big ones!
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
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- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
Tim Bogert is very underrated! I loved his playing with BBA.
A few more for the list...Extended range bassist, not just six string players:
Al Caldwell
Alain Caron
Bill Dickens
Yves Carbonne
Jauqo III-X
Adam Nitti
John Patitucci
Jay Terrien
I seriously hope that, you sir, are a troll.
However, In case you are not, I will provide a few short answers to your statements (Free of charge for all parties involved
):the intonation suffers alot
- Nope.
they are heavier
- Yes, but gold is heavier than lead, and I could say that the gold is more valuable
. Seriously though, What were you expecting when you saw one?wider neck makes handling harder
- It can, but with correct technique, that shouldn't be an issue.
string spacing is narrower and you can't slap
- Bill Dickens
bass doesn't need to go that high
- Says who? That is an old idea that was shot down a long time ago on the double bass, especially when you look at bass parts after Dragonetti worked with Beethoven.
bass solos sound bad
- That's not what I hear when I listen to Matthew Garrison or John Patitucci (Both have High C strings, BTW).
you are not Jack Bruce (and even he gave up playing 6 string).
- No, none of us are (except Jack Bruce
). That's what makes music so exciting though; None of us are exactly the same when it comes to taste.
they are heavier
- Yes, but gold is heavier than lead, and I could say that the gold is more valuable
string spacing is narrower and you can't slap
- Bill Dickens
Weight will greatly vary among 6ers....as it does on 4 strings!!!!! My local music shop had some sort of Stingray Anniversary model that had to be 15-16lbs! My Conklin is about 10lbs, so still less than a lot of mass production 4 strings out there. My Rob Allen 6er must be about 8-ish.
It's very true that you can slap on narrow spacing, although you can often order any spacing you'd like.
The heaviest bass I own is a five string... and my Hagstrom Big Swede 4 string was even heavier than that. So yes, six strings are heavier.
And my sixes are all at least 19mm/3/4" spacing. That's pretty narrow.
Hey, maybe it was a troll post.
And my sixes are all at least 19mm/3/4" spacing. That's pretty narrow.
Hey, maybe it was a troll post.
The heaviest bass I own is a five string... and my Hagstrom Big Swede 4 string was even heavier than that. So yes, six strings are heavier.
And my sixes are all at least 19mm/3/4" spacing. That's pretty narrow.
Hey, maybe it was a troll post.
Hey. I figured that I'd give generic general answers for generic, general statements.
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