For players with disability:..... 4 vs. 5 string guitars ?.

[basscountry]

I hate to keep harping on this disability thing,... but given that I myself suffer with carpel tunnel in both hands and arthritis in the fingers, I am curious to hear from you 5 string players on how hard it was to transition from 4 to 5 string bass. I have played a 4 string for most of the 40 + years that I have been playing. Before I go and shell out the money for a new bass, I was wondering how much more I would gain from a 5 string ?, and is there any certain brand that has a smaller neck for 5 string ?, so as to keep the discomfort at a minimum ?.

I made a mistake by not keeping up on equipment and now I'm behind the times. When I play it is 95% old - time country and a little bluegrass from time to time, if it's requested.

I have pretty much settled on an amp, but now what guitar to buy, a good old 4 string, that I'm used to or a 5 string that I hear and read so much about ?.

I'm sorry if I sound dumb about this, but like I said I have been out of the loop for a few years.

[EADG mx]

I'm no expert on your injury but you do need to pay more attention to technique as you go up in strings

not saying that you don't need to pay attention to technique on a 4 as of course as it's very important as well, just that more strings tend to cause problems in sympathetic vibration, overtones, etc.. not to mention that improper fretting technique can kill your wrist.

my question is - do you think you need a 5? If you're not going to be using the extra string I would likely with the 4 in your case. If you do want to go with a 5 you do have options for smaller necks. I'm sure lots of guys here would happy to drop the names of some brands with thin necks and tight spacing - Ibanez is one.

Another thing you could look into is converting a 4 string into a 5 (leaving you with the same size neck but very tight spacing), or going custom.

[Lifto]

Altough I already sold my 5 string I tought you might find this interesting. I used to have a Rickenbacker 4003/s5. This bass has a very tight string spacing. Altough it's called an 4003 model I think it's more a 4000/4001 model. It doesn't have the stereo output and the neck inlay and body lining is different.

I can't realy judge about your injury tbh. But if you're searching for a tight spaced bass it might be worth a look.

[basscountry]

Good advise, so far.
As to injury, it is carpel tunnel, so bending the wrist to fret properly is probably what caused the problem in the first place ?. The other problem is R - arthritis in my entire body. I Also have severe back and neck problems, but those can be dealt with by using a stool to sit on. The carpel tunnel is what I'm concerned with, as far as big neck guitars go.
I figured there would be neck- width issues with a 5 string, that's why I was looking at maybe a "Jazz or a T-40," something along that line, for smaller neck-width ?. My other question was what I might gain by having that low B string, for mainly country music application ?.

Maybe I'm just to old, and set in my ways, to get out of this " comfort zone " that us older players tend to get in to ?. I am just nervous about buying a guitar that I won't be happy with, so thats why this " feeler " thread, to gather thoughts from players that have made the transition.

[Jim Breece]

I don't have the problem myself, but most of the things I've read from people with carpal tunnel syndrome led me to think that generally a thicker (not necessarily wider) D shape was what most people found to be comfortable. One guy said it "gave more support", which I didn't understand, but it worked for him. The impression I've had is that players immediately felt more comfortable with the right neck- it wasn't something that took a month to decide. If you can play a bunch of different basses it might settle it for you pretty quickly. Again, I'm repeating what I thought I understood, not my personal experience. There was a lot of discussion about the issue in Guitar Player 10-15 years ago and I'm kind of parroting what I read. As far as the five string, it doesn't sound like you have to have it for the music you love. On the other hand, it's fun to drop in those low notes here and there. If the wider neck is uncomfortable I'd say don't do it. Again, even just wrapping your hand around one might tell the tale. Regardless, good luck on all fronts.

[basscountry]

I'm with you, I don't understand a wider neck giving more support ?.
This is the feed-back that I was looking for, as to what I might gain from a 5 string, as it applied to " hard-core country " music. When I stopped playing bass and went to pedal steel, the bass players that I worked with all had 4 strings, and they hadn't come out with the 5 string, so I've never even had my hands on one, I'm just going on what I read.

I always played a jazz and I think I should maybe stick with that or maybe a T-40 ?.
I was also curious about the OLP ?, I like its look.

[Ibanezzer]

I've got carpel tunnel in both hands, its not severe though. I play 5 string and find that it makes my hand fatigued much faster--I've gotten used to that but it does make a difference. For the record I play on a pretty wide neck. 4 string seemed easier on the hand to me but I like my 5 string better as it sounds a lot sweeter. For country music though I don't know if I could see a whole lot of benefit with the low B string.

[basscountry]

That is my concern as to what benefit I will get by adding that low B string for country music. I understand that the low notes it produces can have a dramatic effect of some songs, but couldn't I also get close to the same effect, with pups, strings, and amp combination/settings ?.

[Ibanezzer]

Originally Posted by basscountry

That is my concern as to what benefit I will get by adding that low B string for country music. I understand that the low notes it produces can have a dramatic effect of some songs, but couldn't I also get close to the same effect, with pups, strings, and amp combination/settings ?.

It depends on what effect you're going for...I use the low B during heavier rock songs.

[morf]

You might want to check out Peavey basses, tight string spacing and generally lightweight.