Five-String Bass Unappreciation Thread
soulmarcosa
4,296 Posts
From the formless sub-tonic mush that renders the groove D.O.A. in instrumental hiphop groups to the overbearingly annoying clickety-clack rattle that provides the only identifying feature (other than creative facial hair) of most metal bassplayers of the past decade or so, the five-string bass' contribution to the musical industry apparently has been solely to provide guitar-shop clerks with yet another useless product to hoist upon well-meaning parents hoping to give Junior a leg-up in his entry into the school of rock, only to end up consigning him to a lifetime of playing not only out of the pocket, but out of the entire fucking pair of trousers. Or to put it colloquially: "The five-string bass? It's pants."
Comments
damn that thing looks crazy
What you got against the six string?
Pointless and stylistic, but harmless.
it's even worse when they start with that theme-from-Seinfeld thumb-popping mess
A: SUNSHINE DAYDREAM
Any defenses of the 5- and 6-string bass that involve entering "The Phil Zone" will be considered as hostile posts.
but the strings are laid out like a 12-string rickenbacker so doesn't the tone sound fuller just like a 12 string guitar? i agree it is mostly for show, but it does sound different doesn't it?
Yeah, double-octave basses like that do sound different. Still, 80s-90s altrock outfit Das Damen's bassist had a pretty cool vintage 8-string Hagstrom but I don't recall it making that much difference in the scheme of things.
But back to the point: my hatred is pretty much aimed at the subwoofer-emulating 5- and 6-string models that, far from adding a "deeper and richer tone" to the music, end up weighing it down like a pair of concrete dunks, with the added bonus of making the player in question look as if they worship at the temple of Les Claypool rather than Geezer Butler.
And if I may be blunt, it's quite telling that the majority Soustrut massive has failed to concur with me on this point. Senseless banning, rampant homophobia, endless west coast in-jokes I can deal with. Five-string bass admiration I cannot. Expect my permanent exit from this board if this thread doesn't continue in a more acceptable direction post-haste.
I'm guessing the 4 "main" strings are tuned in 4ths, (E A D G) and each string has a smaller string above it tuned a 5th up so you're basically playing a power chord for every note you hit.
but everyone knows REAL bassists play 8 strings
whoa look at that thing! 8-string picasso bass =
sidenote, my janglepop sense is tingling and i am really tempted to start a 12-string rick appreciation thread
-k
AYO, "Got Ch*d?" Dept.
ah ha! oh shit. Well, as long as we all know who is on the bottom!
Plaese to clairfy your position on the 3-string bass/5-string guitar. By string count, this would pass, yet somehow I see you having beef with "Da Hunter"!
Bass-plus-Guitar hybrids? Obviously unacceptable.*
*unless operated under the supervision of Jimmy Page or Rick Nielson.
this is all you need if you want BASS
Aesthetically, 5 lose the symmentry of four string basses and usually don't look as good imo.
"well, I guess I'm retarded"
In the guitar/bass gray area there's also the Danelectro 6 string bass from the sixties, used by Duane Eddy and the like. It's kinda like a low-sounding guitar more than a bass though. Found this pic...
Srs doe, he has the best mugs, the other one he does is like the "Scanners" poster (head-about-to-pop-R)
But the boy can play, if you hatt the 6, then at least check him on upright with Vinnie and Chick "Akoustic Band Live at the Blue Note, Tokyo".
Sack Metal - The gospel guys got the 30Hz down pat, check John B. Williams with Chaka and Andew Gouche.
I used to have a Yamaha 6 and regret selling it. I guess you either feel it or you don't. Chopped in for an incredible-sounding 4-string Musicman that was once owned by either Captain Sensible or Rat Scabies (The-Damned-R).
behold the softness: