Would you rather have a 4, 5, or 6 string bass, and why?

[bassbully]

Although I really feel all you need is four I voted 5. I had a long hate for active basses and bad B strings until my travels got me to a Lakland. From their necks to the preamps and pups they are the perfect 5 string bass for me. I playa 55-01 and 55-02 Skylines which are awesome. I can only imagine what their USA basses sound and play like.

 

[mmon77]

I took to 5 strings right off the bat when I switched from playing guitar. I had played 7 string guitars extensively, so the low B string makes sense to me. I also just like the extra options it affords me as far as drop tuned songs, open strings, etc.

I have a 4 string ABG, and I can play it, but I really do miss that B string when I play 4 strings.

I've never really had a need for a 6+ string bass, but I've thought about trying one for fun.

 

[Rickter]

I started with my first bass being a 4, then after consuming too much Dream Theater and Los Lonely Boys I made the leap to a 6. I loved having the range, but the neck is wide (although thin) which was always difficult for me to work with. I had to crank the bass way up high to be able to comfortably traverse the neck. After several instances of people wondering why I had such a big guitar, or being told "we play rock, not jazz", I moved to a 5. I like having the B, but honestly don't use it as much as I thought I would. Have contemplated going back to a 4.

 

[vonbladet]

I've only ever played Fender-shaped 4s, but in my heart and (especially) kidneys I am burdened with an unshakable conviction I am really destined to play a 5-string Stingray exclusively one day.

 

[chuck1073]

All but one of my 5 basses are 5's. I did play 6er's with the swing, jazz, blues band I was with for 16 years though. They're great for a singing bassist who also wants to play interesting walking lines while singing. (almost no position changes needed) These days, playing country, 5 does the job just fine. The C string would be pointless for anything but double stops.

 

[growlypants]

I voted for "5". (Range...plus, in my mind, a "6-er" puts you up in guitar country.)

 

[JW56789]

I prefer a 34.5" scale 5-string. I prefer the two-octave across-the-board fingerings and the occasional low C or D over a four-string, and while I'm intrigued by a six, I'd have no real use for the extra high notes. I do keep one 4-string Jazz around just because . . . . .

 

[Silthis89]

I started on a 4 string and didn't really have any particular complaints however the band I was in and the music we were playing often I felt like it needed the lower D note on the 5th. When I picked up a 5 string at the music store I new immediately that I would be primarily a 5 string player. It was comfortable and I opened up the musical options I wanted. Fast forward a decade and i'm still playing a 5 string.

 

[caledoneus83]

My answer is honestly "Yes" (as in I like to have all of them as an option) but if I were forced to pick just one, it would be the 6 b/c anything you can play on a 4 or 5, you can play on a 6 and more. That's my 2 cents.

 

[dmt]

4.

I can see the advantages of a 5, but I really don’t like the look. Meanwhile, the 4s do what I want well enough, and I sure don’t need a wider neck. 4 it is

 

[Wfrance3]

I was always intrigued by the idea of a 5. Especially since I play P&W music. Once i got to a playing level where I would actually incorporate the B, and not just use it as a thumb rest, I dove in. Ibanez seemed to be the logical plan because I had been playing a PJ with a jazz neck. The SR that I chose was not much wider and very do-able. Was not not long that I was grabbing low E, F# at the 7th fret, low G, low A, the D on the E string right across from it... At one point I tried a Schecter at GC because, that's what you do... The Schecter was just a smidge wider and played well b/c it was used and (miraculous) decently well set up. I decided to go home and cool off. Impulse buys will get you every time. I waited a week and it was gone. Of course it was. looking back it was a good bass and got snapped up like good basses do... I had the good fortune to get an elite 5 neck thru and still have it. At this point i flip between that bass and my VM Jag 5. Necks are completely different and I go back and forth on which one i think is better. Definitely a moving target. The Schecter is a narrower neck, and has a flatter radius, and is 35", but overall a shorter bass. And lighter. The Jag is super comfortable to play. Radius is more arched than the Schecter and the neck is an inch shorter. I do know that it totally messes me up to play a 4 now... I can play a 4, but there are certain things that involve the B and it's easy to get rolling and then, oh, speed bump, when you're going up the neck angling for the A and remember there is no A down south on a 4, well not the one you want anyway....

Thanks for letting me ramble. Hope something in there is helpful...

 

[funkinbottom]

I voted 4 string because in my 40 years of playing, that is all I have ever played. Getting older, I have kinda gravitated towards short scale (own 2 now) because of the shorter reach. However, I have recently strung one of my 34" scale basses to BEAD. Wow, with so many more options of positions, low F, F# and G being able to be played on the B that are even less of a reach than the SS basses. I'm seriously gassing for a 5er. My only problem now is deciding whether it will be a short or long scale 5 string.

 

[rtav]

I switched to 6ers about 5 years ago after playing 4s for almost 37 years.

Never go back to playing any other string configurations.

I use a lot of low B and upper range stuff (Frost* [Nathan East], Dream Theater, Rush, Yes, Pain of Salvation, etc.) so I need it.

In fact, among my videos (link in signature) there is only single video where I don't do something in the far upper register (YYZ), and below E for others.

 

[Element Zero]

I prefer 5 strings. Can do everything a 4 can plus more. Been strictly 5s for 20 years. Ain’t no goin back now. Although, it is fun to play my wife’s P bass 4.

 

[eddie16]

I was always intrigued by the idea of a 5. Especially since I play P&W music. Once i got to a playing level where I would actually incorporate the B, and not just use it as a thumb rest, I dove in. Ibanez seemed to be the logical plan because I had been playing a PJ with a jazz neck. The SR that I chose was not much wider and very do-able. Was not not long that I was grabbing low E, F# at the 7th fret, low G, low A, the D on the E string right across from it... At one point I tried a Schecter at GC because, that's what you do... The Schecter was just a smidge wider and played well b/c it was used and (miraculous) decently well set up. I decided to go home and cool off. Impulse buys will get you every time. I waited a week and it was gone. Of course it was. looking back it was a good bass and got snapped up like good basses do... I had the good fortune to get an elite 5 neck thru and still have it. At this point i flip between that bass and my VM Jag 5. Necks are completely different and I go back and forth on which one i think is better. Definitely a moving target. The Schecter is a narrower neck, and has a flatter radius, and is 35", but overall a shorter bass. And lighter. The Jag is super comfortable to play. Radius is more arched than the Schecter and the neck is an inch shorter. I do know that it totally messes me up to play a 4 now... I can play a 4, but there are certain things that involve the B and it's easy to get rolling and then, oh, speed bump, when you're going up the neck angling for the A and remember there is no A down south on a 4, well not the one you want anyway....

Thanks for letting me ramble. Hope something in there is helpful...

My story is similar (started with a 4, wanted the low B for P&W music), but I didn't like the wider neck, so I landed on a BEAD-tuned 4 (amazingly, never missed the G ). After a few years, I started playing some gospel style, and the PJ with flats wasn't cutting it. I picked up an Ibanez BTB with 19mm spacing, 35", dual humbuckers, and it's SO different from the Jazz neck I have on the PJ, I play it differently and don't mind the change.

So now I switch back and forth as well, just adding a G string when I switch instead of a B. I voted 5 because I need the low end.

 

[Bassbeater]

Would you rather have a 4, 5, or 6 string bass, and why?
Yes.

 

[BassBob1]

I'm at home on a 4. I started on a 4 tried to move to a 5, came back to the 4. Got another 5 a few years later and it mostly sat around until I eventually sold it. I toy around with the idea of getting a 5 or a 6 even to just mess around with but I usually decide that it'll just sit around they they have in the past.

 

[mojomike001]

Playing a 4 versus a 5 or a 6 feels like driving a sports car versus a suv.

 

[Stevorebob]

Playing a 4 versus a 5 or a 6 feels like driving a sports car versus a suv.

I’ve always seen it as a Miata versus a Porsche versus a Lamborghini.

 

[bucephylus]

The range required by the gig depends upon what needs to be played.

95% of the gigs I’ve had the opportunity to play can be performed by a 4 with a Detuner. The other 5% can generally be played with a 5.

Aside from what is actually needed, a great 6 is a blast to play. A Fender 4 just fits certain gigs. Stuff like that.

A good 4 with a Detuner or a 5 is a good place to start with a first instrument. If you can be fiscally responsible and patient, you can own a handful in various configurations. I would actually have a hard time choosing a single instrument. There is no one size fits all for me. If I really HAD to choose, it would probably be my beater Fender J4 with the HipShot. And my upright.