Advances... hmm... I just can't see an improvement in the basic 4 strings that I've got - back in the day, I played more HM than what I do these days, mostly 3 piece + vox, but I filled in just as well with the odd chord, here and there (God bless the Lemmy); nothing new in that; plenty of chords going on, even more laid-back players, a-la-Andy Fraser, used them. Yes, there are 4/5/6/8/12 string basses, and variations thereof, and I know they have there fans here, but it is all up to the individual...
I find that when I play my "
Tequilabird" there's a more agressive edge to my playing that occurs (the "tequila" influence; either that or the "brown acid" noted elsewhere by one of the bretheren
), but the RD, being fretless, then its "
Mellow-time"...
Uwe's said it before about the Precision - it
is a tried and tested formula - if it ain't broke...
ps - still don't and never have owned one...
pps - get the soundman to put the effects in later, where you have the opportunity - for everyone else it's "blueray" v "Ipod" - on a busy stage, the audience won't know the difference...