Why play a four string?

[FunkHead]

We mock what we don’t understand.

 

[zapped777]

Because OC2

 

[Andy Daventry]

I make different note choices, and swing differently on a four, and sometimes that's what I want so that's what I play.

 

[chadds]

I’m speaking of variety of designs and colors. There is plenty of what there is. It’s what doesn’t exist that’s missing.

So that’s not existential.

 

[eccles77]

I only play 4 stringers but to be honest, I could get away with 3 or sometimes 2!

But I would love to get a 5 string Jazz and try it.

 

[red_rhino]

We mock what we don’t understand.

I'm not sure what you mean by that, but you're a fool for thinking it.

 

[chadds]

Seriously the complaint committee seems unsatisfied with the Fender 5s.
That comment about the sterile actives is so subjective.
You can these days have almost anything you want and not spend a ton. You might spend at least a grand.
Floppy or different sounding unbalanced Bstring? Why did you buy it?

 

[el murdoque]

I have been a four string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” lower register. A lot of music diving down to low D, C and even B.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo fake Fender fiver I pulled the trigger on a quality fiver.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a four string anymore. I can play everything on the five. Even if I never drop below the E it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last four string I had for 7 years. And we had a bond. But when the fiver came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1600 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in four string entirely.

I understand fivers aren’t for everyone.

I have been a five string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” higher register. A lot of picking chords above G.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo sixer I pulled the trigger on a quality sixer.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a five string anymore. I can play everything on the six. Even if I never go above the G it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last five string I had for 6 years. And we had a bond. But when the sixer came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1900 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in five string entirely.

I understand sixers aren’t for everyone.

 

[WhenTheDrumsStops]

A 5 string never worked for me, because I am to much of a slap junkie. If I really need to go lower than an open E then I can still drop it to D. I actually see more benefit in having an extra C string, never tried that out though.

 

[joel406]

I have been a five string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” higher register. A lot of picking chords above G.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo sixer I pulled the trigger on a quality sixer.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a five string anymore. I can play everything on the six. Even if I never go above the G it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last five string I had for 6 years. And we had a bond. But when the sixer came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1900 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in five string entirely.

I understand sixers aren’t for everyone.

A six would be cool. Tried a few. Always to wide a neck for my hands. This the reason it took me years to settle on a Fender Pro V.

I’m pretty sure I’m done growing so my hands will stay the size they are.

Enjoy your six string. I’m sure it’s awesome.

 

[el murdoque]

A six would be cool. Tried a few. Always to wide a neck for my hands. This the reason it took me years to settle on a Fender Pro V.

I’m pretty sure I’m done growing so my hands will stay the size they are.

Enjoy your six string. I’m sure it’s awesome.

It is ... for me. I picked a wide neck one. I'm sure it'd be terrible for you.
As would a five be for someone else, someone who loves playing the four.

 

[joel406]

It is ... for me. I picked a wide neck one. I'm sure it'd be terrible for you.
As would a five be for someone else, someone who loves playing the four.

As of now I no longer recognize four string bass as a true bass. Anything with more than five is a guitar.

 

[JimmyM]

As of now I no longer recognize four string bass as a true bass. Anything with more than five is a guitar.

Good on ya, pal! Down with 4-string!!! Buncha losers!

 

[Tommydlbass]

If you need a barely listen 5th string for play heavy metal and call all the others that play normal bass idiots you have a problem LOL

 

[TuneIn]

What about something like this?

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Pretty cool, I'll have to try one sometime and check it out!

 

[tylerwylie]

I'm so used to 16.5mm spacing, so if I were to go w/ a 4 I would need something narrower than the standard 19mm spacing.. but now I'm wondering lol

 

[4sight]

I struggle enough with 4, 5 would baffle me totally. 6 and you might as well be a guitarist

All of my influences and all of the music I play is doable on a 4. I never see myself making a living at this, so I'm happy to stick with what I know. It makes no difference to me what anyone else plays, we're all still bass brothers and sisters.

 

[Hambone70]

I'm liking the idea of a 35" BEAD. I almost never touch the G string. The notes on the G sound so weak, and I like bass notes! And there are SO many more 4-stringers on the market to choose from. Why is that, I wonder?

Are there any issues concerning 4-stringers being specifically 'voiced' to EADG (pickups, active electronics, EQ center freqs, etc)?

 

[BarfanyShart]

I'm liking the idea of a 35" BEAD. I almost never touch the G string. The notes on the G sound so weak, and I like bass notes! And there are SO many more 4-stringers on the market to choose from. Why is that, I wonder?

Are there any issues concerning 4-stringers being specifically 'voiced' to EADG (pickups, active electronics, EQ center freqs, etc)?

I don't think there is any issue with it aside from filing out the nut and dialing in the setup. My first bass was a cheap Ibanez P copy, and I did AEAD for a while in metal bands before getting my 5.

 

[5StringBlues]

Jaco only needed four.