Looking towards that extra string

Dusty89 · #1 04-04-2011, 10:21 PM

I'm in a rock/blues band and have been thinking about moving from 4 to 5 strings. I have not seen other bassists, in my genre, play five strings, but I'm sure I must be missing well-known bassists. Names would be much appreciated. I feel that I just can't go as deep as I want to. Sometimes I hum a bass line in my head only to find out later that my fifth fret D is just not deep enough to make it come to life. Basically, I am wondering about the practical application of a 5 string bass in the midst of a southern-muddy-swamp type of sound.

Again names of bassists that fit this description would be great.

joe vegas · #2 04-04-2011, 10:32 PM

Roscoe Beck. great swamp blues work, also high-chops solo stuff. also, go with your instincts- that low D note you hear will sound amazing when growled deep into a tune. if you drop the B string's low notes into a set periodically, in the right moments, they'll surely enhance the vibe of the song.

5StringBlues · #3 04-04-2011, 10:35 PM

Chris Chew from The North Mississippi Allstars uses a 5'er from time to time.

mward69 · #4 04-04-2011, 10:52 PM

It was a bit odd for me, played 4 for 15 or so yrs. Got out of playing and started again a few yrs back, went with a 5er because of the cover band I was in and got tired of changing tuningss
The strings were a little closer together, too a few days of hours of playing to get used to it, and had to "re-learn" some songs because I was used to playing them in drop D...took me awhile to get used to that....lol
Now, I LOVE it..play it more than my 4

5StringBlues · #5 04-04-2011, 10:53 PM

Johnny B. Gayden from Albert Collins' band ( And house bassist for Alligator records)

John Jordan ( Chris Duarte ) plays a 7 string Conklin

Nathan East on his Eric Clapton recordings

Jimmy Earl with Robben Ford

Dusty89 · #6 04-04-2011, 11:04 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm new to this forum, but see that there are plenty of cool cats. "5stringblues," the name is all I needed to see that this occurrence must not at all be that uncommon. I'll be researching all the names you've provided. I got some studying ahead of me. Thanks again.

tylerwylie · #7 04-05-2011, 12:30 AM

I rarely find myself playing 4's now unless it's for a very specific tone that only my P/J can give me. Even most 4 string neck's feel...off for me now. Get the low B, if you don't like it you can always string it high C!

KsPiNeSh · #8 04-05-2011, 04:58 AM

What is your exact concern? Are you looking for a 5 with a specific sound, or just wondering about picking one up in general? If it's the latter, who cares what other people play - snag a used fiver and go to town, especially if you already know that you'd like the extra range and extension