I am standing outside the gig with the drummer. I am smoking a roll-up and he has a small cigar.
Drummer says 'My mate's coming tonight, he's a bassist. Proper bassist, five strings, everything'.
I say 'Jaco only needed four strings'.
Drummer says 'Yes, Jaco only needed four, but you can't manage any more than four'.
I say 'It doesn't really matter how many strings'.
Drummer says 'Yes, that's true, you've either got it or you haven't, however many strings'.
His mate never turned up.