JimBobTTD Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I recall reading a seemingly throwaway comment on Talkbass a while back which went something like this: "[blah blah blah], which is why five string is the new standard for bass guitar." Has there been a shift towards 5 strings to such an extent that playing 4 strings equates to being old fashioned? What do you people think? Do you play "the new standard" or not? Does the author of the aforementioned comment have too strong a bond to modern metal music, and perhaps sees [i]this music[/i] as standard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 To me it is standard as I don't play anything else.. It took too long to transfer over so I can't go back and since I hear tunes in terms of 5 trings now, nor do I want to.. Other people prefers 4's... not a problem, each to their own.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 4 end of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I created a poll on BC a while back and it basically confirmed that 4 is still the standard but perhaps 5 is catching up. That's this side of the pond but I suspect the same would be said over there. Interestingly I'm using a 5 now pretty exclusively as swapping between the 2 isn't helping my acclimatisation. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 As much as i hate to say it (only joking ) I think 4 is still very much the standard. If i use the "thomann test" There are 522 4 string basses in the top 3 categories on the site that you can buy. Compared to 5 strings where in the same number of categories there are only 237. 5 strings is certainly a widely used alternative though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote name='GreeneKing' post='603382' date='Sep 20 2009, 11:04 AM']I created a poll on BC a while back and it basically confirmed that 4 is still the standard but perhaps 5 is catching up. That's this side of the pond but I suspect the same would be said over there. Interestingly I'm using a 5 now pretty exclusively as swapping between the 2 isn't helping my acclimatisation. Peter[/quote] Balls...I searched for a poll etc before this. Must have missed it. Silly me! I too am only using 5 now. I couldn't deal with swapping over, so I put the 4 strings in cases and put them in storage. I don't know what to do with them; I feel quite certain I'm not going to go back. I may sell the Fender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Here we go: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45949&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45949&hl=[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Like someone on Talkbass says.... B is the new E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote name='chris_b' post='603410' date='Sep 20 2009, 10:51 AM']Like someone on Talkbass says.... B is the new E.[/quote] B is the new ollocks ezzer good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote name='GreeneKing' post='603399' date='Sep 20 2009, 10:28 AM']Here we go: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45949&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45949&hl=[/url][/quote] 4 string till you die eh? I've not got a 5 string bass at the moment actually even though i do consider myself more of a 5 string player. I'm starting to get widthdrawal symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I've had a look through my collection and it's all 4's so 4 is the standard for ME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I play 5s pretty much exclusively now. My 4s don't get a look in, except for noodling around at home. Even my 6 sees more action than the 4s. But for me, the 'standard' bass guitar will always have 4 strings tuned E-G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 doing the maths on my smarties calculator... my average bass has 4.28 strings ! and that .28 gives me the edge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbaby Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi I am at the stage where 5 strings would confuse me completely, I'm having enough bother trying to play 4, sad but true. Regards Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) Someone on Talkbass talking rubbish? I find that very hard to swallow! In some circles (amongst 5 string players for example!?!) this may be the case but you have to ask yourself why is it whenever you go into a shop, flick through a tuition book or see a band on TV it's [i]usually[/i] a 4 string bass / player. Edited September 20, 2009 by BurritoBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 i think there are genre standards R 'n B = 5 Punk, Classic Rock = 4 Metal, Prog are varied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 4 strings thats it, any more and you'd have to drive the van! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote name='witterth' post='603380' date='Sep 20 2009, 09:53 AM']4 end of.[/quote] Why does it always piss me off when someone comes out with comments like this End of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterMute Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 When I went to 5 strings, I sold all my 4 string basses, a Wal Pro 1 fretless, a JD supernatural and a precision, never thought I'd go back. Well, I sold the Warwick last year and now have a Geddy Lee and a VMJ fretless, I really miss the Wal, and to some extent the others too. Never say never. GAS'ing for a Wal fretless or something in that league. 4 strings, 5 strings, 6 strings.... Who cares? It's what you do with it that counts, only having 4 strings never slowed Geddy or Tal down, and Jaco did more with 4 than most will ever do with 5 or 6. That said, advances in amps and speakers mean that 5 and 6 string basses are perfectly acceptable in more genres these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I only use 3 of the available four strings anyhow. Were it not for neck / tension issues, I'd dispense with the D string altogether. End of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote name='GreeneKing' post='603489' date='Sep 20 2009, 12:19 PM']Why does it always piss me off when someone comes out with comments like this End of![/quote] OOOHHH!!! sorry! prehaps you care TOO much though, that's not a bad thing end of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) We seem to have this discussion - in one form or another - about once a fortnight. So, apparently, it's never 'end of'. Edited September 20, 2009 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I was just worried I'd peed someone off! didnt mean to!!!soz chaps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Bit moot really as you can tune a 4-string B| E | A | D which for a lot of styles is perfectly adequate. Just play and enjoy, don't worry about standards or what the "norm" is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote name='witterth' post='603530' date='Sep 20 2009, 01:07 PM']I was just worried I'd peed someone off! didnt mean to!!!soz chaps![/quote] I suspect it's the usual limits to written communication that caused my annoyance i.e. it's my problem. You probably said the comment in good humour and I interpreted it as a bombastic arrogant statement of fact. Such is the nature of these things sometimes and I meant no offence either. Whatever floats your boat, there's more important aspects to a bass methinks than the number of strings on it. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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