'Basses for Sale' Section at Basschat

[Spoombung]

The Basschat 'for sale' section is choka -block with 5-string and 6-string basses. It's a shame for us traditional 4-string players: not much variety or choice there.

Do people get fed up with 5 and 6 strings really quickly and go back to their 4-strings? Why are there so many 5 and 6 string basses for sale there? I thought most bassists played 4?

[implo]

[quote name='Spoombung' post='786945' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:13 PM']The Basschat 'for sale' section is choka -block with 5-string and 6-string basses. It's a shame for us traditional 4-string players: not much variety or choice there.

Do people get fed up with 5 and 6 strings really quickly and go back to their 4-strings? Why are there so many 5 and 6 string basses for sale there? I thought most bassists played 4?[/quote]

Can't speak for anyone else of course, but after playing a 5 for many years I found myself inexplicably yearning for 4 strings. Can't imagine owning a 5 string again*, but finding the 'right' 4 is another matter entirely...

[size=1]*Subject to whimsy.[/size]

[Dr.Dave]

I reckon basses with more than 4 strings are a great idea - bloody useful tools in my opinion , esp 5's - but I do think you have a point. Many 4 string players get one and they either don't get on with it or can't find a use for it so it ends up on here.

I've noticed too that a fair number of 5's for sale were taken in trade and are being sold on.

I've had a couple of fives but my solutions for bit of extra lowness has been to stick a de-tuner on my Shuker and keep my Status 4 tuned down to D. An even better one would be a Kubicki ex-factor which I keep meaning to pick up. The idea of my plucking hand finding a string in the middle doesn't seem to work for me , as I sing I have to play naturally without thinking too much.

A 6.... no use to a plumber like me at all though I can see the logic in a bass version of the guitar family having six strings. I suppose being able to play across the neck rather than up and down it is a blessing to many musicians but I'm not much more than a bloody show off and I like folk seeing my hand whizzing up and down. Makes it look like I know what I'm doing!

[XB26354]

Er... page 1 of the Basses for sale has 27 basses, of which 19 are 4-strings.

[Spoombung]

[quote name='XB26354' post='786989' date='Mar 26 2010, 02:50 PM']Er... page 1 of the Basses for sale has 27 basses, of which 19 are 4-strings.[/quote]


There must have been a rush of 'em! Fenders don't count by the way; they're omnipresent.

[Spoombung]

You know, I don't think I've ever seen anyone play a 5-string at a gig (and I go to a lot of gigs) or met anyone who owns one. Where are they then? They're all here in the 'For Sale' section or the Basschat 'Porn' section.

[XB26354]

So?

[Spoombung]

[quote name='XB26354' post='787013' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:09 PM']So?[/quote]

Well hurrah for 5-string basses, I suppose.

[Rich]

I haven't gigged with a 4-string for about 5 years now.

[MB1]

MB1.
..Theres a Seven string! in there Now!

Edited March 26, 2010 by MB1

[XB26354]

I've long thought that there are too few decent 6-strings for sale on the forum. 5-strings, yes plenty.
It does reflect what people tend to play, and move on. Lots of Fenders, Musicmans and Warwick Corvettes in the last year or two. Bear in mind that Fenders seem to be by far the most popular for sale and tend to go fairly quickly, leaving behind those basses that less people want to buy (maybe [i]that's[/i] 5-strings?)

[cheddatom]

[quote name='Spoombung' post='787006' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:06 PM']You know, I don't think I've ever seen anyone play a 5-string at a gig (and I go to a lot of gigs) or met anyone who owns one. Where are they then? They're all here in the 'For Sale' section or the Basschat 'Porn' section.[/quote]

Weird! Maybe you don't go to many gigs?

If anything I wish there were more 6ers, but only to perv at as I have no dosh.

[Spoombung]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='787039' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:23 PM']Weird! Maybe you don't go to many gigs?

If anything I wish there were more 6ers, but only to perv at as I have no dosh.[/quote]

No, I go to quite a few!

Sometimes I think the 5 strings+ bass culture only exists on bass forums (a bit like slap bass only exists in trade shows) although I'm obviously mistaken about this as there have been sightings of 5-string bassists at gigs - and maybe bassists also slap at gigs too (again, I've not seen that either)!

I'd quite like to know the percentage of 4 string players to 5. A quick look at Ebay reveals there are [b]86 4-strings[/b] for sale, [b]76 5-strings[/b] and [b]42 6-strings[/b] - that is similar to the percentage here on Basschat. So it looks like they're becoming lot more popular although I suspect they're recycled more frequently.

I'm getting old.

Edited March 26, 2010 by Spoombung

[bartelby]

What I think is wrong is no one is selling a bass I want!

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Spoombung' post='786945' date='Mar 26 2010, 02:13 PM']The Basschat 'for sale' section is choka -block with 5-string and 6-string basses.[/quote]
Good, that will save me some money.

[Spoombung]

[Delberthot]

good job we're not on Talkbs - you won't find anything with less than 9 strings on there


I jest of course, or do I?

[noelk27]

[quote name='Spoombung' post='787006' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:06 PM']You know, I don't think I've ever seen anyone play a 5-string at a gig (and I go to a lot of gigs) or met anyone who owns one. Where are they then? They're all here in the 'For Sale' section or the Basschat 'Porn' section.[/quote]

You didn't come to see me play in the mid 80s then - my main gigging bass was a Yamaha BB5000A. But seriously, from Bon Jovi to Garbage, Beyonce to Kylie, spotted plenty of bassists using 5-strings on stage.

[Cat Burrito]

Stuff comes around soon enough. I always find whenever I'm interested in a certain bass it seems to suddenly go from 3 being available of that model to nobody listing one for months. Patience is the key.

[lojo]

Thought the extra strings were added to get singers out of trouble when they cant cover the original recorded key and still want the same bass line

[hillbilly deluxe]

My thumb rest is cunningly disguised as a B string.

[Raslee]

4 strings are more of challenge!

[JTUK]

[quote name='Spoombung' post='787006' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:06 PM']You know, I don't think I've ever seen anyone play a 5-string at a gig (and I go to a lot of gigs) or met anyone who owns one. Where are they then? They're all here in the 'For Sale' section or the Basschat 'Porn' section.[/quote]


?????? I find this odd.

I haven't owned a 4 since at least 1995 and currently have 3 5's..

just sayin'

[Bassistclem]

To be honest I have gone back to mainly playing four strings.
Like puting on an old pair of slippers! Just fits...yeah nice...

[cLepto-bass]

I used to play 4's exclusively before seeing the light and shifting to a 5 string (high c of course)

Now everytime I play a 4 string I find it too small and my hand cramps up really easy.

Different strokes.... and all that, yet to play anything more than a 6'er though I would love to.