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Why play a four string?

#321
If you want to play a 5,6, or a 11 string bass thats great, be creative on whatever floats your boat.

The fact is more music has been played and recorded on a lowly 4 string than any ERB will be for the next century.

before you look down your nose at the four lets at least acknowledge and respect the elder statesman of bass, where you go from there is your business
 
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#323
joel406 said:
And how do you determine a post is a “troll” posting?

Aren’t all postings troll post?

Aren’t troll postings designed to elicit a reaction from people that read them?

Then I guess every posting is a troll post!
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. A trolling post or comment, to me, is designed to elicit a certain negative response or deliberately stating an unpopular opinion or contradicting a popular opinion just to bug people. That is how your original statement came off, at least to me. The posts that ask a question or seeking assistance or advice are not necessarily troll posts. Posts/comments stating a certain opinion in such a way that will elicit strong feelings to the contrary are trolling posts/comments - to me.
 
#324
I played a 5 exclusively for the past 6 years or more. But I got a short scale 4 and the response across the fret board was so much better than any full scale I’ve played. I switched back to 4 and learned a lot towards become a better player than I had been with a 5. Tried to pull the 5 back out but the b just got in the way and limited my movement
 
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#326
I have played a five string exclusively for the last 20 years, and recently moved back to a four with one of my bands. We are mainly doing Motown and 70's rock, so I really don't have a need for a fiver with them. My other band is mostly country and I can get more use from 5 strings in that band. I will say that it feels liberating to pick up the 4 and just have fun. The slim neck is so comfortable, it feels like home.
 
#330
I've been playing for 52 years, and typically play a four. I've only been on a few gigs (out of thousands--I started playing for money almost immediately after starting) that required a B or a drop D. For those, I have a six, but rarely play it. I don't begrudge those who chose to play 5 or 6 stringers--and don't understand those that do want to bash them. But with my loooong investment in fours, that's my preference. And...very few basses have a good enough sounding B string where the fundamental is tight and punchy, and stronger than the sympathetic tones.
 
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#331
Alembics 5s sound lousy, I've had 3. Ken Smith makes a decent 5. But for me, I've toured with several acts during the 80s and early 90s, no one ever requested I implement a 5 string bass for their shows! I figure it's all about what you're capable of creating with the tools available to you or those you choose to work with and, as of 1997, I've quit "experimenting" with 5s and stayed with 4 string exclusively.
 
#332
Obviously, whatever works for you is what you should do.

I have a 4 and a 6 string. The four string feels like home, and that's how I like it. The 6 string challenges me to play in new ways, and I think it makes me better on my 4 string. If/when I get a 5er I will probably string it EADGC.

And just to play Devil's Advocate: A five string only gives me 5 more notes than my 4 string. Drop tuning to D is trivial, so really that 5er only gives me 3 more notes. It's not worth my time retraining my brain and fingers for 3 more notes.
 
#334
Nice rig, I'd accept gladly anywhere, anytime... :)

Well, 4 or 5 question reminds me the android-ios, active-passive, questions
and so on...
When I started with 4 strings bass, I felt it unsatisfying always. And prepared for a 5er, while playing the 4er, hardly awaiting the chance for buyin it. Never liked a 4 str thing.
 
#335
aurex said:
as a theater bassist i find this to be true, the more music you play the more you find out you need a 5 string its just true, thr only qualm i have with this ppst is that you bought two jazz basses and not some other bass for other textures and tones
Click to expand...

Surely there must be 5's out there that aren't J basses? ... which leads me into a wish I have that bass makers and players as a group would stop with the "all basses are necessarily a J or a P" thinking, as to me it seems as narrow and limiting as classifyng all music as only either Country or Western.
 
#336
joel406 said:
I wrestled with the title of this post.

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.

Some people have small hands. Same here. I tried them all. Well those I could afford. I’m sure Alembic make a very lovable fiver. But I love my house too.

No one was more surprised as I was that Fender made the five string bass I would love so much.

And after a great while playing only fives I wonder why anyone wouldn’t just play those and let the four just go extinct.

I’m sure the flamers are writhing their hands as they read this.

I think I just heard a MMBWAAAAHAHAHAHA in the distance.

My point is I moved away from fours and I don’t see any reason to ever go back.

So I doubled down.

View attachment 3714769
Click to expand...
I actually own a very similar bass...a sunburst Fender American Standard Jazz V... Mine is a 2002 with all the pegs on the same side. However, I also own a 1995 Fender American Standard Jazz blonde IV. Why do I play the IV sometimes? Because it has incredible tone! Tone alllllll day! It has the same pickups as the V (Fender on the neck, Seymour on the bridge) I’m not sure why...perhaps it’s the natural wood or the tree it came from but it just sings! It has a tighter string tension feel which I really like and with the thinner neck, it’s so nimble. So, on the music that does not require the lower register, she is my go to!
 
#337
joel406 said:
I wrestled with the title of this post.

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.

Some people have small hands. Same here. I tried them all. Well those I could afford. I’m sure Alembic make a very lovable fiver. But I love my house too.

No one was more surprised as I was that Fender made the five string bass I would love so much.

And after a great while playing only fives I wonder why anyone wouldn’t just play those and let the four just go extinct.

I’m sure the flamers are writhing their hands as they read this.

I think I just heard a MMBWAAAAHAHAHAHA in the distance.

My point is I moved away from fours and I don’t see any reason to ever go back.

So I doubled down.

View attachment 3714769
Click to expand...
I use a 7.25" fretboard. I don't like the radius if any 5 string I've tried.
 
#338
Fivers for me also. Can do anything a 4 banger can plus more. Makes life easier.

I suppose if I were in a motown revue band I would use a vintage type p or j for aesthetic reasons.

But the music I play calls for a lower note occasionally. Easier for myself to use a 5 string than a drop tuner.
 
#339
This is an ancient and oft-debated question. But here are my two folded responses...

My seeker/imaginative response would be: Use an instrument that feels, sounds, and plays most comfortable to you, and also works well for the style(or styles) of music you're playing.

OTOH, my 'traditionalist/conservative' response might be: Jamerson, Jaco, Duck, and Graham only needed FOUR strings!

LMBO!!!
 
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