There's this Mild but Bitter fight taking place in the midst of modern Bass Playing.

I call it the:

I WILL DO AS I PLEASE WITH MY MULTI STRING BASS
(7 or more strings)
NO MATTER WHAT

If that is indeed the attitude, then maybe I could offer a more fashionable or image friendly method of cutting one's own head off. In all logic do you really think that you walking into 90% of Pop or R&B auditions, the MD (or maybe even the Artist) will not think that maybe so many strings is over doing it?

There is a time and place for such a Bass -

1. It's your own Band / Project.

2. The leader of a particular Band / Producer is looking for such a Bass or is very open minded.

I personally play 4, 5, 6, 8 (non doubled) and 15 string (5x3) Bass. I rarely take my 8 or 15 string Bass on a gig outside my own projects unless it's requested and the same applies to auditions. I see my personal multi string Bass situation as if I'm a Painter with a multitude of Colors to choose from or a Carpenter with all the proper tools for the gig. There are always exceptions and that's a good thing. But even those Multi stringers within their deepest inner logical reasoning have a 4 / 5 string and when it's all said and done that is what's going to get them 90% of the gigs they're striving for. I have great respect for the Multi stringers who are at the hilt of the Battle but really maybe it's a battle that derives from the making of their very own Unnecessary Evil. Believe it or not Suicide is a very Natural Thought

- JAUQO