More strings automatically make you better?

[bovinehost]

But, then, I wouldn't spit blood or fire at a blues gig, either.

Now that is a bit of disappointing news.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Now that is a bit of disappointing news.

Well. Not on purpose, anyway.

Although, there was this one chili cookoff I played....

 

[bassmonkeee]

Well said Bassmonkee!! I agree with everything, but don't even really have a problem with drummers as I have only played with one and we get along great.


tk

I like my drummers, too. But, they are still drummers. I always enjoy reminding them what key the next tune is in.

 

[cgworkman]

I like my drummers, too. But, they are still drummers. I always enjoy reminding them what key the next tune is in.

This will be my new hobby!

 

[Samingo]

If ever that argument has been ended perfectly, it was just now. Good show bassmonkee... I agree with the wanting to see more fire though. Kind of disappointed in you. I can see it now, blue scene, the tragically hip(the phrase not the band), and in the corner, bassmonkee all decked out in leather, bass level with his toes, spitting fire and blood... And playing on a very well polished, maintained and respected Stingray. We can only dream...

Also, drummers are drummers... I'll grant that, but I'll never discredit them. Let's not forget how much good they can do for the bass community(when they're doing good for the bass community). Now, fetch me my tabla drums...

 

[Bassplyr]

If you want to play a 11 string bass, go for it. It is certainly no skin off of my teeth. I've never understood why people have to "get" why someone would want to play more than 4/5/6/etc strings. Isn't the fact that they want to enough? Apparently not...

Bassmonkee, seems as if you took offense to my question, which was meant to be nothing more than a general opinion of what others' thought. It was not meant to upset you or anyother person who is open-minded to using 6-strings or 10 strings. I wasn't "mocking"other bass players. I didn't see where anyone else did.

As far as I'm concerened this thread is still open. There is no "argument" here- just opinions, and I look forward to reading what other bassists have to say.
Doug.

 

[johans]

But by all rights, if you are in a band, wouldn't the guitar players job to be playing chords? So again, is this nothing more than an ego boost? And for the record I don't even own a 5er either.

well yeah
i think there are some parts during the gig where bass will play solo
or probably parts where guitars just strumming some fixed chord and bass can help it more beautifully by adding sweet chord progression and melody on 6ers ...

back to your topic
does more string automatically better player = NO

there are some bass heroes, wooten, etc they are god with their 4 string main bass
but definitely more string allow more flexiblity in doing what we want to do
richer tonal posibilities and more variety of melody and chords ...

 

[Bassplyr]

Well put Johans. Thank you.

 

[johans]

Well put Johans. Thank you.

np doug

 

[tkarter]

I think bassmonkee has said it best. I would like to ask his permisson to copy and paste his reply in every thread on the Internet that asks this question?

I feel it is one of very low self esteem that even needs to ask this question. I can be the whipping post for those that need one as I don't care what someone else does I care what I do with a bass. I started thinking Fender was the real bass. All my mentors play them. I heard a MM after playing and went with my ears. Love my SR 5. Going to practice more and do better because I am hearing what I want to hear when I play the SR 5. I can still make the Fender sound like a bass too but have little desire to play it. A bongo in a kansas store. I am going to go for that. I doubt not I get to play one I want one and will have one. I still hold true to I don't play it I don't buy it rule and as stupid as that may be it is my decision and rule and I stick to it.

I probably shouldn't even be playing a 5 as I don't figure I play a 4 as good as I would in a hundred years of trying. I bought the SR 5 cuz it was pretty and I was determined to learn to play it. I am working on playing it.

That said I am down to just two basses. One my Fender Jazz. It was my first bass and I love it to the point it will never get sold. Two my SR 5. My wife bought it for my birthday as I was GASSING for it and it is pretty. It will never get sold either.

P bass is what makes electric bass. Leo created a new instrument and that is the P bass. It is what bass is bassically. Now we all know there are other tones and sounds to be had and the Bongo is the answer to that. How bout making some six seven or eight string Bongos? Wow what a thought.

tk

"If getting mad fixed anything the world would have been perfect before you were born son"....... My dad

 

[vonfog]

Sorry guys, 12 strings is where it's at.

my 8 and 12 string OLPs




.

 

[midopa]

You sicko! You must do a fretless conversion on that baby!

 

[tkarter]

YA got fingers enough to play the 12 don't be picking our nose you could hurt yourself.

tk

 

[Psychicpet]

first off, that is one sick bass and only from a Canuck might it be birthed
As for the 6+ string players, I think it's merely a matter of where you want to go on the instrument.Anthony Jackson and Chuck Rainey have done amazing stuff on 4s and continue to do amazing stuff on 6s but then there's our man Von with 12!

 

[dlloyd]

Bassmonkee, seems as if you took offense to my question, which was meant to be nothing more than a general opinion of what others' thought. It was not meant to upset you or anyother person who is open-minded to using 6-strings or 10 strings. I wasn't "mocking"other bass players. I didn't see where anyone else did.

As far as I'm concerened this thread is still open. There is no "argument" here- just opinions, and I look forward to reading what other bassists have to say.
Doug.

I think Bassmonkee was referring more to the sort of comments you typically get on talkbass.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Bassmonkee, seems as if you took offense to my question, which was meant to be nothing more than a general opinion of what others' thought. It was not meant to upset you or anyother person who is open-minded to using 6-strings or 10 strings. I wasn't "mocking"other bass players. I didn't see where anyone else did.

As far as I'm concerened this thread is still open. There is no "argument" here- just opinions, and I look forward to reading what other bassists have to say.
Doug.

Well, you asked more than once if it was simply an "ego boost." Once in the initial post, and then to clarify that you were asking if it was simply an ego boost. To me, the statement of ,"He's playing with two guitar players, so why does he need an extra string? Ego?" is pretty clear. As for no one mocking, statements like, "if it has 6 strings, it better say Taylor," etc also seem pretty clear to me...

My answer was, "no, they aren't about ego." And, then, I qualified that answer. To clarify--I didn't take offense. I stopped caring what other people thought about my basses, or my playing a long time ago.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I think Bassmonkee was referring more to the sort of comments you typically get on talkbass.

Well, I've seen some pretty closed minded attitudes on this board, too. And, some childish trolling of other message boards that originated here. So, the EB forum is certainly not without its faults.

The attitude against ERB is certainly more prevalent at TB, but there are also 20000+ members, and the discussion topics have a much wider range than limited to EB products who don't even make a bass with more than 5 string.

 

[dlloyd]

Well, I've seen some pretty closed minded attitudes on this board, too. And, some childish trolling of other message boards that originated here. So, the EB forum is certainly not without its faults.

Well, that was me, yes I was mocking a particular subsection of bass players and sure it was childish... but you're wrong about it being closed-minded.

I'll clarify... I was having a dig at two recurrent themes that arise on TB. The first was the borderline paranoia that is evident amongst some of the ERB-toting talkbassers every time a question is raised about these instruments. Okay, it's an easy joke to make, but get over it guys... stop taking yourself so seriously that you look for offense in everything.

The other dig was at those that are so enamoured with exotic woods that non-figured, non-expensive woods are equated with poor-quality woods.

 

[JB1]

I just like the word Wanker - thought it was a very English one, but glad you boys across the pond love it as your own!

And that 12 - wow - you gotta agree that's a serious piece of kit.

Jon Paul Jones might be wanting one of those......

Let's not all get ****ty about this - each to his own, if a 5 or 6 is your thang, shake it baby.

Mine are 4's - don't need the other 2 - I downtune for a D when I need it, for like 1 song in our set. If your preference is to have the extra strings availble without the tuning hassle - go for it.

Peace

 

[dlloyd]

Let's not all get ****ty about this - each to his own, if a 5 or 6 is your thang, shake it baby.

For the record, I do like the idea of ERBs. I've only played one six string, and didn't really get to grips with it, but given a few hours with one I'm sure it would come easy enough.