6, 7, and 9- string basses......

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

What level should a plyer be at before they take on these two basses.  I was going to purchase a 7-string with the thought that it would force me to be a better player.  I wanted to have an unlimited range to improvise with.  My best friend who is one of the coldest bassists in my city, told me it would make me lazy when i play.  I'm not really a soloist, so I figured 7 strings may be overkill.  I've done one gig with a 6-string.  Rehearsals with it were great, but at the gig, I kept forgetting about that extra string so I kept getting tangled up.  i played it off well though.  But since then I have somewhat been afaid of 6 and above.  My attitude now is I should wait until I can do wonders with a 4-string.

[funkStrat_97]

Having more strings will NOT force you to play better.  Nor will it make you lazy which is a common argument heard in the age old 4 vs 5 string debate (it's amazing how one silly string can generate such strong feelings among bass players).

[ddwilkins]

Its up to the player.

[MikeGee]

I usta think that I was not good enough to play a 5, I bought one and practiced it took me about a week to get my 5 chops up to par with my 4 chops. I don't own a 6 but I am confident that that'll take me a week also. If you practice with a 9 string you'll get in sooner or later. Nothing in life is hard it's a matter of are you willing to do it long enough to be good at it.

[B3Wannabe]

Yep.

I went from 4, to 5, to 8. It definitely won't make you lazy. In fact, you have to work harder to keep it quiet, while you're moving around!

[KurzLand]

6 strings don't scare me. I prefer a 4-string, much easier to me. 6-strings are heavy.