How much range do you need out of a bass?

[ThinCrappyTone]

So, as everybody knows the bass guitar has seen a fair share of evolution since it's inception only upwards of seventy years ago. In recent years, with the seven-strings arriving, some basses now possess a range almost equal to that of a piano, an impressive feat.

Now I'm asking - how much range do you TB'ers need? I get by with 4, occasionally 5 strings, a 22-24 fret minimum and that's about it. There's a huge amount of versatillity to choose from, so do you guys stick with the classic 4-string 20-fretters, (maybe some of you don't even use the full range), or do some of you play symphonic range 7-string 36-fretters? I'm quite interested to hear.

I mostly record, and can cover all my crappy thin needs with a four and a five. Sometimes I tune the fiver’s low B lower to match the key of a song. Lowest so far was a super duper low (f#) for a part or two. Floppy af, but did the job for that moment.

On the higher range, I probably could live without the G string. Not the pants. I need those. But the actual bass string doesn’t get much action in my world.

I have a six string, but rarely bust it out, as I just never seem to want that high C in my life anymore.

 

[Ric5]

probably the perfect bass is a 6 string tuned BEADGC with 21 frets

 

[juggahnaught]

Six-string player here, 24 frets.

I find that I use the lower register a lot depending on the music. Having a B string isn't so much about the open string - it's about having the low E flat and the low D on call when you need them without changing tuning. Sometimes it's nice to be able to hit the notes below that.

The higher register is nice for chords and doubling guitar parts when needed. I don't often go above fret 18, though. Truthfully, although I have 24 frets, the fret access isn't always conducive to using that range efficiently. (I have found myself sometimes wishing for a seventh string.)

For average, everyday playing, I get more out of the lower register than the high, for sure.

 

[john m]

5 strings, high C.

24 fret neck preferred but 21 is acceptable.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I play 4 and don’t really care about the number of frets. If I need more range, I tell the guitarist to play somewhere else on the neck.

 

[gln1955]

4 strings and 19 frets (Fender Mustang) works for well enough me.

I have used basses up to 24 frets many times though but I've never had to go above the 15th fret on the G string using any bass.

I was in a band where I needed that 20th fret on my Mustang and it wasn't there. I quit that band.

 

[mrcbass]

I need the 5 string BEADG. I love my P, but I do miss the extra few frets a jazz provides on occasion. That said, I mostly hang in the first 10 frets and use the B string way more than the G string - some for lower notes, some for positioning.

 

[Dexterzol]

I was in a band where I needed that 20th fret on my Mustang and it wasn't there. I quit that band.

What, why? I'm confused haha

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I spend most of my time in the money, and rarely venture above the 7th fret.

When I was a young lad I used the 19th fret a few times doing the All Right Now thing, but I haven't done that in decades.

 

[gln1955]

What, why? I'm confused haha

Unrelated, actually. There were lots of other bigger issues.

 

[arbiterusa]

Kinda need the low B but it's been difficult to find a GOOD unlined fiver under a grand. So whether BEAD or standard tuning, I'm running 4 stringers with 24 "frets". Works pretty well.

 

[Dexterzol]

Unrelated, actually. There were lots of other bigger issues.

Okay, I was picturing some kind of funny blowup over the missing fret or something

 

[Lesfunk]

I consider anything over four strings and 20 frets additional tasty gravy

 

[micguy]

I've had a few 24 fret basses (and one with zero). The thing I liked about the 24 fretters is the presence of the upper frets means that they have to carve away more of the body for access. I don't play that high, but it's still a benefit for me, as I like light basses.

Anyway, practically speaking, I could probably live with 4 strings and probably somewhere around 15 frets, maybe 17 on the bass I keep tuned in D standard. I am building a 5'er (which has 22 frets - the extra fret or 2 came along with the other stuff involved in the build), so my answer may change in the relatively near future.

 

[TheLowDown33]

Despite my efforts to the contrary, I feel "limited" with anything less than 5 strings, 24-frets.

To be clear, when I say "limited," I mean when I'm sitting around playing, I find myself frustrated that I can't play certain things that come to me. I'm currently in a punk band where I play a 4-string Fender J and I feel just fine.

This is my experience as well. While I dont need 5 strings and 24 frets for everything I play, I am certainly more creative and comfortable when I do.

 

[Plectrum72]

I prefer 4 string 20 fret, but require a 5 string for certain songs in my current band. Uptown Funk, Havana, and In the End don't sound right an octave up from the recording. I used to use a digitech drop when it was just In the End, but it sounds too artificial when the bass is more prominent in the mix as it is on the other songs.

 

[AcridSaint]

I prefer a 24 fret bass simply because they usually have much better access at and above the 15th fret, although I rarely am playing anything above 20th. I mostly play 4 strings, but the jump to 5 makes a lot of sense in several genres and playing positions.

 

[bfields]

Confession: I don't find that plinky top octave of a piano very useful.

(Having great fun with my new six-string, though. I should have tried this years ago! Only thing I'm a little worried about is my shoulder.)

 

[Koshchei]

A 4 string with 20 frets. I haven’t been playing bass long enough to have developed a repertoire that can creatively make use of the greater range. As well (for now), the range limitation forces me to be conscientious about my note choice, which is what I need to learn the instrument fluently as a novice bassist.

 

[And I]

i'd be fine with 16 frets...