4 strings on my 5 = bad?

nathanhughes · #1 03-07-2011, 08:49 PM

Is keeping 4 strings on my 5 eventually going to screw the neck up? It's a neck through carvin from '97. I no longer want that B string.

It HAS to be slowly warping the neck, right?

LilloEsquilo · #2 03-07-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanhughes

Is keeping 4 strings on my 5 eventually going to screw the neck up? It's a neck through carvin from '97. I no longer want that B string.

It HAS to be slowly warping the neck, right?

I would doubt that. If it is, then the neck had a problem from the get go.

Shouldn't hurt it a bit.

Ric5 · #3 03-07-2011, 08:56 PM

It won't hurt the neck. It will just look funny.

nathanhughes · #4 03-07-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

It won't hurt the neck. It will just look funny.

If by funny you mean awesome!

The thing is that I have gotten used to the extra space where the B string was, and I can't afford a new bass anyway.

Thank you for your replies!

RCCollins · #5 03-07-2011, 09:00 PM

remember that the low B presents the least tension of the 5 strings. I wouldnt lose any sleep over it, but personally, i"d keep the low B on just for thumb placement when playing the E string

darkstorm · #6 03-08-2011, 03:05 AM

Why not get a new nut and new bridge and make it a four string then? Spaceing the strings as you want at the nut and with adjustable spaceing bridge for new bridge.

bassyes · #7 03-10-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Why not get a new nut and new bridge and make it a four string then? Spaceing the strings as you want at the nut and with adjustable spaceing bridge for new bridge.

This is exactly what I did changing a 6 to a 5 string. For me the tight string spacing was a reason to change and I didn't use the high C anyhow. More convenience afterwards.

nathanhughes · #8 03-11-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Why not get a new nut and new bridge and make it a four string then? Spaceing the strings as you want at the nut and with adjustable spaceing bridge for new bridge.

This old carvin 5 was made with extra space between the strings, conserving the normal spacing of their 4 string basses, but adding a fifth.

So as a 4 string it's already quite comfortable, and in fact now I've gotten used to that extra space on top.

Their is only one original song of mine that actually requires the string, and having been raised on Cello, 4 just feels True.