Stay with 4 for now or not?

[dmonroe]

To make a long story short; I stopped playing 20+ yrs ago(long story). The last bass I owned was a lined fretless Hamer Cruisebass. I got the bug to play again last year. Since Father's day of 2010 I have picked up a Traben Array Limited 4, a GWB35 fretless 5 and a Carvin fretless 4. I have very limited time so I haven't spent a lot of time playing any of them.

The 5-string just does not feel right, I seem to be having issues with my left hand and right hand being on the same string. While I realize this is simply a matter of spending more time with it I find myself getting more frustrated and just doing nothing.

Would I be better served selling the GWB? I'm unemployed so could certainly need the money. Stay with 4 strings just to get back to where I need to be THEN possibly look at a 5? It's really like I am starting all over in learning how to play and have very little practice time. I always learned songs as opposed to learning scales and the fingerboard itself. This time I'm trying to do it right and learn to crawl before I run.

I could really use some insight on this from someone.

Thanks!
David

[C.Linton]

I would concentrate on the 4 as you seem to be more comfortable with it, and at this stage of your "re-learning" that could be important in how inspired you are to play and practice. I would say, sell the 5er, concentrate on getting up to speed on the 4, and at some point when you think you are ready and can afford one, then you can always get yourself another five. You might also find, if you've gotten sufficiently fluent on the 4, that it might make it easier to transition to the 5.

[Ben Wilkie]

From what you've told us, it does sound like you've got a superflous five-string lying around that you don't play that often, don't like playing, and probably won't like playing ever.

My advice would be to sell it. Don't be fooled into thinking you MUST be able to play a fiver in this day and age, or that a five string is in some way a 'step up' from the four string - they're just different. But maybe one day when you're inspired to do so, you'll find a fiver that's comfortable in your hands.

Ultimately, a good bass is the one that won't hold your music back, and a better bass is one that makes you feel like you can play better. It seems like the fiver isn't doing you any favours. Sell it, enjoy the money, and take the time to get to know your way around a four string.

[glocke1]

If your not playing it and it does not feel comfortable there is no reason to keep a 5 string.

FWIW, and it probably does not mean much as Im pretty much a no body, but Ive been playing for 20+ years, and have never had a desire to go to more than 4 strings.

[Calamity_John]

my initial reaction after that much time off is that, depending on your background, attacking the fretless and the 5 simultaneously is fighting on two fronts ... also I remember back when I first picked up 5 as a high school kid .. and then came back to it much later ... that it was the string spacing on the cheaper one I used to have as a kid ... far more than the string number that had been creating difficulty for me ..

[Rusty the Scoob]

I would say don't switch back and forth from 5 to 4 too much, and definitely work on scales. The scales will help you coordinate your fingers on the right strings, and spending a decent amount of time on the 5 is key to getting it. It's not really that different once you get used to it.