Any Reason NOT to buy a 5 stringer?

[343 Salty Beans]

I actually learned on a 5-string, play a 4 now, but I'd love to get a 5 again. People are right - the low D is a nice option (IMO I like playing C, C# on the A string, it's more defined).

I love to futz around with chord melodies, and have actually played some solo stuff with voice where I play bossa-style bass chords. The low B would help you get some additional chord shapes there.

The 5-string I learned on (a Schecter of some sort, I don't remember the exact model), the low B was a little flabby. The neck was also REALLY chunky. I prefer J-style thinner necks as a rule, if you prefer slimmer necks you'll need to shop around and find the right fit.

[brad houser]

unless one has a burning desire for it, I wouldn't bother playing 5. myself, I was too intrigued by the 5 not to try it. these days most situations at least here in austin are overwhelmingly 4 string - centric. generally, most musicians in the roots/ alt country/ country/ blues / americana "scene" overwhelmingly prefer to see/ hear a 4.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by brad houser

generally, most musicians in the roots/ alt country/ country/ blues / americana "scene" overwhelmingly prefer to see/ hear a 4.

agreed! 5-strings just aren't "cool".

i've read where now nashville guys will stick with 4s, but tune them down to like C# or C and just transpose everything as it comes up, rather than bust out the 5-strings that bandleaders don't wanna see.

[inthevelvet]

Originally Posted by thisSNsucks

Aside from personal preference the only reason not to go with a 5 is to avoid hearing "Jaco only needed 4 Strings." comments.

...or "Steve Harris only needs 4 strings"

[DrSpunkwater]

I tried playing a 5-string once. About five minutes after picking it up, I said to myself: "Never again."

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by SquierJazz72

Only reason I can think of NOT to get one is if you honestly don't need 5 strings, otherwise, as always, get one you're comfortable with.

I've never felt justified in getting a 5 string for the stuff I do, but had I ended up with one, I likely would experiment until I found my own uses for the extra string.

Best way is to learn from other people's experience.

Next best way is to figure it out for yourself.

Worst way is to just keep doing the same hosed thing over and over hoping that next time will be different...

The best reason NOT to get a 5er is to make sure that you WON'T play any notes on the B string. My problem (these days I only play 5+) is that encountering a classic bassline, I have a bad tendency to start to "adjust" it to a 5er. Not good if you want to keep things authentic.

[JimmyM]

I bought a 5 in 91 because I was missing out having only a 4. But then I'd find myself shoehorning the low notes in inappropriate places, and once I talked myself out of doing that, I may have used the low notes twice a set, so I went back to 4's after a while. I dig practicing on it sometimes but 4's are my thing. I still have it for times people want low notes, but that's happened once in the last 7 years.

Doesn't hurt to have one in the collection, though. And some people do prefer them. I'm just not one of them. I'd rather tune down.

[Profania_bass]

There is no reason to not get a 5 string bass.

But in all seriousness, id a band leader told me not to play my 5 string, I'd give them one hell of a look. Who do you presume to be, telling me what to play or not play? Are you the bassist? No! Then back off, you arrogant turd.

[Beano_z]

Maybe this helps:

I started out on 5 string basses (6 string actually, but that doesn't matter), okay, I played guitar for 10 years before switching to bass, but coming from the other way I would say going from 5 to 4 strings:

1) Made me feel insecure, because somehow I think in terms of shapes when I improvise and having that B-strig can help out in awkward situations
2) The E string on a 4 has much higher tension (why am I so sensitive to that?), which makes me want to switch to 4 strings permanently
3) The B string acts like a permanent continuous thumb rest, which I miss with a 4 string
4) The neck is too thin (don't laugh) to be comfortable for me, I love beefy necks (no jazz basses for me)
5) Trying to slap a 5 string is difficult for me, string spacing and tension of the E string are issues
6) The B string is picky about equipment, with some amps you have mo problem, with some others things can get messy (I play a lot using available on location equipment, my own amp stays at home most of the time)

Sorry for the no structure, messy reply, just thought I'd share my experiences and give you a slightly different point of view.

[Mr_Music90]

Originally Posted by inthevelvet

...or "Steve Harris only needs 4 strings"

But he does tune it BEAD, which are the 4 lowest strings of a 5 string bass

[bassdude51]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Off the top of my head:

a) You dislike heavier basses
b) You dislike wider necks
c) You dislike paying more for strings
d) You don't want to adjust to new hand positions

I'm not anti-5 string, but those all seem like viable reasons to go against it if you're looking for them. There's certainly a list of similar advantages as well.

+1 All these reasons and all ya get is 5 extra notes and they are notes that are so floppy sounding.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by bassdude51

...all ya get is 5 extra notes and they are notes that are so floppy sounding.

This goes in the trash bin along with the common suggestion to try a cheap 5-string before committing. I wouldn't judge all 4-bangers by banging on a starter bass for 10 minutes. Why do it with fivers?

If you're going to commit to an extended-range bass, it needs to be one that's good enough to inspire you. The fives I've considered keepers have all sounded very tight at the low end, through FOH or through suitable backline gear. Dingwalls in particular, sound tighter than any conventional bass, regardless of whether they have four, five or six strings...

On a related note, there's much more going on with a 5-string than just the notes below low E. There are some interesting tones, hand positions and open-string drones available further up the neck with a B string, just like there are on the E, A and D.

[The Nameless]

Original post was about the Standard P 5, get it. Try as many azya can, buy yer fave. Whether Sadowsky, Valenti or Nordy, or Fender or lower lines, all basses different. Within or btwn companies. I play Fenders exclusively at moment, after spendin years wit boutique extended range instruments. My experience wit the P 5 was awesome, however I have a Deluxe J 5 that I could cop the tone of the P pretty close, so stuck wit my J. The neck of the P an J were very similar, and Fender's general quality overall has improved to the point that you gonna get a pro quality, great soundin P, wit a great B string at a fraction of the cost of the boutique copyists.

Now, personally, on 5 strings in general, ya gotta have one. First, it much more than 4 extra notes. It's an overal register discrepency, the 5 as a whole deeper, more resonant. Imagine takin an octave away from a piano. Not the same. The Low B created to compete wit that range, and I feel the "bass" range should be lowest of instruments present, or at leat equal to. It's the BASS! ;-) Bandleaders have looked at my 5s a bit strange when I bring them. However, once they here me drop a B on the V of an "E" blues, then walk into the I from below? They ask me to bring the 5 now. For newer metal, no more tunin on stage or carryin multiple basses for tunings. For country and folk, the B string GREAT for root/Vs. Goin below opens up sound on stage, addin depth and impact, stayin outta piano/vocal/guitar ranges. No bandleader has ever told me ta play a 4. Ever! In thirty years of playin, an 20 years of playin 5s.
My history on ERBs one of necessity and desire. Was playin a lotta metal when young. Heard Dream Theater's John Myung playin "Lie" an no matter how I tuned my P 4, couldn't get those low notes. Saw the video, saw his Tung Wing 6 and HADDA have that sound. The transition was a beyotch! But slowly, I managed over the years to completly integrate the B into my style, and now it is so ingrained as to make it difficult to go to just a 4. Ta answer bout Jaco/Harris/Lee only needin 4? Well, they better'n me. But most of my heroes play 5s, 4s, 6ers, includin old masters as Chuck Rainey, JPJ, Joe Osbourne, Will Lee, et al. They play all basses, and succed no matter. My friends and I challenge each other onna weekly bassis wit crazy stuff like usin smallest rig available for massive shows, playin no octaves for a whole night, or for me, do all my regular gigs without my ERBs, usin just 4s. Heh... Very difficult for me! Overall? A 5 must "B". Whether you must B, is upta you. But, takin the time to integrate one is a worthwile investment, if you, like me, want extra impact, convenience and just plain fun. Long live "B" :-)

[The Nameless]

Oh, also... B string eliminates the need fer the goofy ramps folk stickin on their basses tween pickups (goofy MY opinion, no offense meant), and also for you guys drop tunin ta C, try tunin a B string UP to C... Tighter, no flab, both in feel an tone. I tried tunin down for Myung's lines long ago. Tried tunin 4s down while I performed new metal for years, it never worked. Strings all over the place. Tunin my B UP to C eliminated flab. :-)

[dmrogers]

Originally Posted by rotis

In my quest for the tone I have been looking for I finally realized that the tone I am after is the classic P-Bass sound. Initially I was not a fan of the look of the Precision bass but it has really grown on me because of the sound.

Since I realized all this I have had my heart set on a Fender American Standard P. While I have been shopping I have begun to look at the P5 which leads me to the question:

Is there a reason NOT to buy the Fender American Standard P Bass V? Help a brother out.

For me? Yes, that 5th string is the reason I don't have one.

ETA:
Not trying to be funny. I just don't care for a 5 string bass. I started playing bass back in the '60's. 4 string p bass. I have tried to play a fiver 3 or 4 times. It just didn't do anything for me. I guess the sound, playing style, and functionality that I am looking for is perfectly served with a four string bass.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by SquierJazz72

Only reason I can think of NOT to get one is if you honestly don't need 5 strings, otherwise, as always, get one you're comfortable with.

I've never felt justified in getting a 5 string for the stuff I do, but had I ended up with one, I likely would experiment until I found my own uses for the extra string.

I don't need 5 strings but I need the Low B. currently working on picking up a used Sterling by MM or a MM sub to mod the nut to be strung BEAD

i'm sure i'll miss the 5 string when it's gone tho.

[nukes_da_bass]

DON'T buy a 5 string P.

BUY a 5 string P/J!

[Fullback32]

I have both five string and four string basses. I only play my five string when I absolutlely have to. Nothing against five string basses, but I have been playing four string basses for a really long time and prefer them. In fact, just this week I was working out songs I normally play on the five string to my four string in order to eliminate having to play the five string at all. I'll see how it all sounds when my band reconvenes this weekend.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by Profania_bass

There is no reason to not get a 5 string bass.

But in all seriousness, id a band leader told me not to play my 5 string, I'd give them one hell of a look. Who do you presume to be, telling me what to play or not play? Are you the bassist? No! Then back off, you arrogant turd.

This is exactly how I look at it!
There seems to be a lot of arrogance & ego being tossed around by the non-5 players here, too.

I love all the "harder to play" comments. It's only hard if you don't under stand the tuning progression of each string & their relevance to where the lower notes are going to be placed on the B string.

Personally, I started on a 4 string bass, and still go back to one for playing songs by certain bands (Rage, Tool, SOAD), but my 5 strings are just as comfortable as my 4 and just as easy to play. I've even dabbled with 6 string basses and had no issue playing those, either.

Am I a virtuoso? Hardly. I don't even have my major scale modes memorized & I can't improv for ****. What I can do is understand the relationship between strings tuned to fourths (regardless of standard or drop tuning) and where their respective octaves will be. If you can do this, you'll be fine on a 5 string.

[ggvicviper]

If you never need to go beyond the range of a standard 4-string bass, nor want to, then you have no reason to buy a 5-string bass.

I am not one of these people. I love the low B.