Jazzers using five strings

droo · #1 04-07-2008, 07:59 AM

Does anyone use a 5-string for jazz?

I can't help but think the B string would get in the way a bit (and not receive the justice it deserves when played pizz).

I ask because I'm looking for my next bass - I play mostly jazz but a bit of amateur orchestral as well and would love to get some huge sub-E notes going.

I'm also 6'8" and would like something that I don't have to pull the endpin out 2 foot...

cnltb · #2 04-07-2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droo

Does anyone use a 5-string for jazz?

I can't help but think the B string would get in the way a bit (and not receive the justice it deserves when played pizz).

I ask because I'm looking for my next bass - I play mostly jazz but a bit of amateur orchestral as well and would love to get some huge sub-E notes going.

I'm also 6'8" and would like something that I don't have to pull the endpin out 2 foot...

Ratzo harris uses a six-seems to work for him...

droo · #3 04-07-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnltb

Ratzo harris uses a six-seems to work for him...

Good tip - cheers - I will check 'im out

Mike Arnopol · #4 04-07-2008, 09:25 AM

French Bassist Remy Vignolo uses one. I used to own a Hawkes Panormo that was switched to 5 string. I keep threatening to get a 5 string again because I double on electric 5 string. No reason not to---but you have to find a bass that sounds good with 5 strings. It's a lot of extra tension, and the many basses sacrifice sound when switched to 5 string.
Funny story. I bought the Hawkes Panormo 5 string from Tom Martin in London. Got back to Chicago and had a relatively important recording session the day I got back. So in my infinite wisdom I took only the Hawkes. During the middle of the second take, I pulled the 5th string off of the bass because I was screwing up so badly. I had never played a 5th string previously. I apparently took my stupid pills that day.

bassist14 · #5 04-07-2008, 09:32 AM

paul warburton
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=34527
he has some tunes in the tb-sampler i think, don´t know the link at the moment, but there is a page where you can download some tunes. maybe somebody else can post it.

edit: Last Activity: 10-11-2007 03:56 AM, hope he is ok

droo · #6 04-07-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I keep threatening to get a 5 string again because I double on electric 5 string.

That's just the thing - I've been playing 5-string BG for years. So I think I'd handle it better than an extension (and I don't think I'd get a bass with C-extension for the kind of cash I'm looking at).
*(Unless you mean an EUB?)

droo · #7 04-07-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

paul warburton
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=34527
he has some tunes in the tb-sampler i think, don´t know the link at the moment, but there is a page where you can download some tunes. maybe somebody else can post it.

wow - check out the pics of his beautiful Bohmann on http://www.thetalkbasses.com/

Ed Fuqua · #8 04-07-2008, 11:23 AM

And check out his comp and solo on MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE of his quartet record....

DownLow · #9 04-07-2008, 11:24 AM

Renaud Garcia Fons uses a 5.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VXt6htVi3C4

This video has been posted before, but it's sooooo good.

Don Carrigan · #10 04-07-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droo

Does anyone use a 5-string for jazz? I can't help but think the B string would get in the way a bit (and not receive the justice it deserves when played pizz). I ask because I'm looking for my next bass - I play mostly jazz but a bit of amateur orchestral as well and would love to get some huge sub-E notes going. I'm also 6'8" and would like something that I don't have to pull the endpin out 2 foot...

==================
JAZZ WITH 5 STRINGS? A matter of choice.

In 2003 ISB Convention Rufus Ried played on my 1820 Prescott 5 string. He sounded great, of course, but didn't like it saying "Too many strings."

Later, Phil Palombi was booked to play my Prescott at a upscale jazz club in Boston (Scullers in Cambridge) and was looking forward to playing a 5 string (low B). However, his Boston gig was pre-empted by a European tour. He owns a 1842 bass by J. A. Allen, one of Prescott's apprentices.

I am too sick to book my big band anymore, but it took a month to adjust to the low B string. I confused it often with the E string. But I can't claim any great proficiency anyway. Where the 5th string comes in strong is on low sustained notes, rallentando and fermata at the end of a piece, or behind a vocal or instrumental solo. I just mounted 5 Tomastik Belcanto strings -- and do they sound beautiful, even pizzacato, even when I play! You may hear some words shortly about a venue where you can see, hear, and perhaps even record on my Prescott, if discussions work out well. Can't say anymore right now. (But you won't have to listen to ME play, so be thankful!)

Don Carrigan, See Prescott data/images: http://home.earthlink.net/~prescottviol/

KSB - Ken Smith · #11 04-07-2008, 01:17 PM

I have used a 4-string with C-extension on quite a few Jazz gigs and it was cool. No B string to get in the way and not so hard to set or finger lower notes. I play in a Symphony so I have that technique developed to some degree. I can't 'think' in 5-string 100% and the 'B' is a problem when I don't use it so my choice is 4-string with chromatic C-extension.

droo · #12 04-07-2008, 04:30 PM

Thanks - some really helpful stuff.

I guess if I can adjust my 5-string playing from slab-mode-only, it shouldn't take long to stop accidentally reaching for the B-string - it would be no more embarrassing than at rehearsal tonight when I temporarily forgot my E was tuned down to a C. (That's the kind of thing I'm trying to get away from

And it was flapping all around the place!

I suppose "give it a try" is the main thing to do really.

craigen · #13 04-28-2008, 10:30 PM

The 5 string that I have now works wonderfully for jazz as well as Classical. Being an electric player with a variety of instruments, nothing beats the growl of a good B string when you need it. Having a B, as opposed to an extension, allows me to get around a little quicker, besides being able to do drops all the way down. The problem was finding a 5 string neck that felt comfortable to my hand.

Craig Nelson

droo · #14 04-29-2008, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigen

The problem was finding a 5 string neck that felt comfortable to my hand.

Thanks for that - I'll be sure to try a few if I can!
My current DB has quite a thick neck for its size I think (I mean I've played larger ones with thinner necks, front-to-back) so maybe that will make it easier? Who knows...

McSpunckle · #15 04-29-2008, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

paul warburton
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=34527
he has some tunes in the tb-sampler i think, don´t know the link at the moment, but there is a page where you can download some tunes. maybe somebody else can post it.

edit: Last Activity: 10-11-2007 03:56 AM, hope he is ok

I'm not a double bass player, but that video is one of the most amazing things I've seen in a LONG time.

Thanks for posting it.

craigen · #16 04-29-2008, 09:25 AM

droo,

I have had 2 of the necks of my 4 uprights cut down by qualified luthiers and had great success. My 5 string feels more like a 3/4, even though the instrument is much bigger, but has an extra wide fingerboard to compensate for the additional string. That work was done a long time ago.

Bob McHenry · #17 04-29-2008, 09:55 AM

Both of my Acoustic Upright Basses have 4 strings but I also own 2 custom made 5 string Electric Upright Basses that were made for me by an EXCELLENT luthier on Cape Cod named Karl Hoyt Both basses have Spiro Core Weich strings on them and the string lengths are 41 1/2 " (just as they are on my 2 Acoustic Uprights). I Play jazz almost exclusively and use these basses a lot. One of my 5 String EUB's has a High C string and the other one has a LOW B. Which one I use is largely dependent on the particular gig I'm playing. If I'm I'm doing a gig backing up a good vocalist, I typically use the 5 string EUB with the Low B string for getting down really low on pretty Ballads.

Of course there ARE acoustic Upright bases that have 5 strings, but a good EUB with 5 strings is also an option worth considering.

Bob McHenry bassman10@comcast.net

damonsmith · #18 04-29-2008, 12:34 PM

Barre Phillips and Barry Guy play 5 strings with a high C, Paul Rogers played a 5 string with a low B before getting his 6 and 7 string basses made.
You could try a 5 string EUB first to see if you like it.

JohnBarr · #19 04-29-2008, 06:10 PM

Rick Eckberg is a fellow using a 5-string in jazz to good effect. He's from the Virginia, Washington DC area, I believe, has a German-built bass and I'm sorry I can not remember the name.

http://12streetmusic.com/dsd.html
do a Google you'll find a few more.

I was lucky enough to catch him in a trio gig where he did a great solo on 'round Midnight.

Bruce Lindfield · #20 04-30-2008, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

paul warburton
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=34527
he has some tunes in the tb-sampler i think, don´t know the link at the moment, but there is a page where you can download some tunes. maybe somebody else can post it.

edit: Last Activity: 10-11-2007 03:56 AM, hope he is ok

I've got his CD "Speak Low" and the bass sounds fantastic - especially the low notes!!

On a more local note - there is a Sussex bass maker who makes 5-strings and I have played one - sounded great and the B-string wasn't in the way at all - in fact the bass was very easy to play!