Bass Guitars Should Only Have 4 Strings

[CaptainSensible]

I find bass guitars with more than four strings repugnant. Six string basses give me the willies. I don't care what kind of music you play, no bass guitar should have more than four strings. Discuss.

[Brad Pittiful]

there are no rules when it comes to music...think outside the box or four string bass

[Frontier9]

I don't really care how many strings they have, I just don't want to hear a note lower than 41.2 Hz.

Ok, ok, I'll go as low as 36.71 Hz. But not a cent lower.

[brookdalebill]

What's wrong, don't like slappin', poppin', and
general wheedly-deedlyin' from the bass chair?
I know I don't.
Mind you, I just play bar band stuff.
My ideal bass has three strings.
I can tolerate a 5 stringer, in the right hands.
When I see a guy with a 6 or 8 string bass, I know
I'm in for a long night.
Yeah, I'm a cranky ol' #@%&!!

[slauson slim]

Jamerson, Dunn, Kaye, Wyman, Macca, Osborne, NHOP, Casady, Panter, Basspeare, Radle, and a few others only needed four strings to speak eloquently.

[Stratburst]

I'm fine with 5 strings because that's a low B. But 6-string basses: if you want to play guitar, buy a guitar.

[mefgames]

I have been playing Bass since I was 16, which is a long long time. I have always been pro 4 string Bass as well, but that's just my preference, just like I prefer Tele's and Strats with single coils. But, sometimes with age comes a bit of perspective. I think there's room for them all. All of my basses are 4 strings, with this exception of this Bass VI that I built last year. It's the only one I ever play now.

[kelnet]

Basses these day, huh? What the hell's the matter with these youngsters? Why, back in the day, some bass players could only afford three strings, and they were damned happy with that!
It's the hip hop, I tell you. Hip hop and those damned baggy pants.

[TheEmptyCell]

As a bass player first, I just don't get this attitude.

5+ strings can be played tastefully. There is a huge difference between 6 string basses tuned B-C and a guitar tuned E-e.

[blue metalflake]

Four strings always seemed fine to me, on the rare times when I played bass.

[stevieboy]

Just watched a Cheap Trick concert on PBS tonight. Tom Petersson played a twelve string bass, and has been doing so for years.

4X3.

[Telarkaster]

Originally Posted by kelnet

Hip hop and those damned baggy pants.

I think you mean cargo shorts.

[Telemarkman]

Eric Haydock was one of the first pop/rock bassists who took up the Fender Bass VI, and in the early/mid 60's he was definitely one of the best. He also played a Precision Bass, but I think his playing style benefitted from the narrower string spacing on the 6-string.

[gitold]

I've always used a 4 string bass figuring that with my small fingers a 5 string would just be to wide. Then I got a great deal on a Jazz 5 and realized that I could play higher up the neck where the frets were smaller and still have that fifth string and get the low notes. Now I'm using a 4 string fretless Jazz with a very skinny neck. Different strokes for different strokes.

[Mike SS]

I was curious about 5 string bass, so I purchased a cheap one to experiment with. My experimentation revealed that the B string made a great thumb rest. I recently traded it in and purchased a Telecaster, which allowed me to join this forum. Good move on my part, eh?

[trailboss]

I used to hate basses with extra strings also. Until I bought a Warwick 5'er the other day. Now it's my go-to bass, the low B string is super-fat/thick no matter which note you play on it, and you can always ignore it if you like. Yup, I think I'll keep 'er.

[w3stie]

I sold my Belman 5-string, and have two 4-strings. The Eb was good and the D. Hardly ever used anything lower. If you use the lower notes and it fits the song, go for it, but I have enough trouble with just four strings ;)

[KenH]

Next you're going to tell us guitars should only have 6 strings.

[bear04]

I prefer 1 string attached to a broom handle and a bucket.

[Ben Harmless]

Pfft. Rules make for a stagnant and boring world.

I think the extra strings get a bad rap because most of the time they sit there doing nothing, and most of the rest of the time the player has an amp that can't properly reproduce a low B.

That being said, one of my all time favorite bass players is Victor Wooten, and he can run circles around most flamboyant 6-string players with his plain old 4-string.