Is the 6-string Extended Range bass the best to learn on?

They actually work considerably better for this IMO (again, due to the timbre).

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and also due to the amps that are made for those frequencies :slight_smile:

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For sure. Also, a lot of what I see people do with 6 string basses tends to be tapping, and guitar hammer-ons sound much, much better than bass tapping, IMO :slight_smile:

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I think it’s great that you got yourself a 6-string and enjoy playing - that is really all that matters in the end.

As pointed out by others, some of your arguments are flawed. Also, one could question the underlying “logic” - why stop at 6? Everything you can play on a 6-string you can play on a 7-string :wink:
The answer is obvious, as also pointed out by @howard : it becomes a “cost”-benefit game. More weight/girth, harder to play for most uses vs (a few) more notes and some better manoeuvreability (sp?), i.e., being able to stay in position longer.

For some genres, 6-string basses are almost required; for others, they are a “liability” :smile:

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I am trying to think of notable artists on songs I listen to with any regularity that used a 6 and I can only think of two - Hooky plays a Shergold 6er on a couple songs (but not primarily), and then Boh with his many AtelierZ’s.

I don’t count the standard Fender Bass VI (a la Robert Smith) as it’s more of a baritone guitar (and is tuned and played like one). The Fender Jazz Bass VI is a 6 but I don’t know of a single artist using it.

@joergkutter is it a jazz thing?

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BTW @KevinM - I agree 100% with this too. You found something you like and that’s awesome.

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I agree with this too.

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Or a 17…. :rofl:

Elwood Francis, ZZ Top

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ref: Fender Rumble 100 frequency response. B0 is 30.1Hz.

On a Rumble 100, below about E1 you are increasingly hearing higher harmonics, as the response rolls off.

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I think you’re right, I’m wrong! It just seems like more since you can play the most beautiful chords above the 12th fret.

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Yes, some modern jazz players prefer a six as it provides a bit more range and options for solos (and chordal playing). John Patitucci, Jimmy Haslip, Dane Alderson and many other modern jazz/bebop/fusion players use a 6.

Also, 6-string basses are popular for many gospel players; Andrew Gouché and Sharay Reed being fairly well known examples.

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Yeah a 6 definitely brings more flexibility for chording on the high end.

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Interesting, thanks!

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outch.

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Damian Erskine talked about this recently. He used to be more in the fusion/jazz area (and many still think of him as a jazz player; a bit to his chagrin) and was thus playing a 6-string for a long time.

However, in the past 3-4 years, he got more interested in groove-oriented music, R&B with some funk thrown in, and he ditched the 6-string in favor of a 5-string, as he no longer “needs” the C string really; not doing those jazz-type solos, and fewer solos in general. He still likes the low notes of the B-string and the “staying in position” options of a 5-string though.

So, yeah, what type of music you play should inform the choice of “weapon”

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maybe you’re just a guitarist
:v::grin:

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To be fair I think this is due to the cheaper speakers Fender uses. There are cabs with better responses. You could probably drop a better 12" into the Rumble 100 cab and then only have like -12-24dB or so rolloff there. That’s still a lot but at least it would let more of the fundamental through.

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yeah that’s for sure.

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I enjoy having the extra low B on my 5 string, but have no interest in adding another string. The neck width and weight is fine for me, and for the music I am interested in it is more than sufficient. Not interested in 6 strings of any kind

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Yeah, none of the players I mentioned further above uses a Fender 6-string. It’s all more “modern” designs and pickups (Yamaha, Ibanez, MTD, Fodera, … those kind of brands (and even more boutique)).

And, just apropos:

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