Do Bassists who start out as Guitarists prefer 6- or 5- or 4-string basses?

Do Bassists who start out as Guitarists prefer 6- or 5- or 4-string basses?

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    143
  • Poll closed .
#61
I started on guitar in the 70s before 5 string basses were being widely used. I am primarily a bass player but still play guitar and own 4 and 5 string basses. I play what I need for the song.
 
#62
I started with guitar, but went to bass because I fell in love with the sound. Have played 5s (mostly to get away from detuning for drop D songs), but would recommend a 4 in order to break "guitar player habits" of trying to playing like a guitarist on the bass. Get familiar with the fundamentals and explore from there if you feel the need.
With only 4 strings, you really do need to do more with less and a lot of that is groove and feel. The best way to get in touch with that, IMO, is to start with the 4.
 
#66
I've played guitar for over 20+ years, and solley (or is it souly?) only play bass (the reason for the nickname); I prefer a 5er, but I like to record with a 4 banger (if lower notes are not needed) for better control of muting the strings.
But, having said all of that, I started with a 4, and I now have 6 basses and 4 of them are 4s.
 
#68
I "dinked" away at guitar for five years.
I'm a "failed"guitarist.
The reasons?
High action,strings too skinny and too close together.

But when I switched to bass in 1980,six and fives didn't exist yet.
Well.
Maybe they weren't commercially available yet.
But I didn't pickup a five until 1997.
And a six until 2007.
So any guitar "failure' has nothing to with my now playing a six.

There are some who play a six string like a guitar.
With the major third.
That's so they can play guitar chord voicings.
 
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#69
I started on, and still play a lot of guitar, as well as piano.

I have several 4-string, and one 6-string, bass. I do like the range of the 6-string, but the 4 is much lighter, and easier to mute and slap. I experimented with Spanish guitar tuning on the 6-string bass, but didn't like it. Sounded way too guitarish that way, like a baritone guitar on Thorazine.

As much as I enjoy the 6'er, my Vantage 4-string P/J is the center of my bass world, I've played it continuously since '96.
 
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#70
I struggled with guitar for decades before giving it up to play bass. Then I start on a four string P-bass which was stolen. When I could afford it, I got a low priced five string Ibanez because I liked the placement and sound of the Soapbars.

What I like about the five string, aside from the lower range, is that it has more unisons with different tone colors. I can also go from an Eb or D grace note up to the E natural on the 5th string without downtuning. I also love that I have a two octave range in the span of two frets. And I can also string it up as a four or even three string bass if I want. ✌
 
#72
Well, I started out as a guitar player. When I started playing bass.. I had no idea 5 and 6 string basses existed. Fast forward 100 years :D, I have been playing 5/6 string basses. My go to is currently a 5 string.

I doubt I would have started out playing anything other than a four string bass. It took years before I could even afford any instruments. But truth be told I am sure as a kid- I never thought I would actually become the musician I am today.

Which isn’t saying much (coincidentally of course).
 
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